The through-line of season one was Wolsey, season two was Anne, this one is Cromwell. It covers the queenships of Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleeves. They try to boost Jane Seymour by making her something of an early feminist, which was a noble attempt but Jane Seymour depictions never seem to get the blood racing – she’s always overshadowed by the other wives. Also to much time is spent during this section on the Pigrammage of Grace and it’s dull leader Mr Aske – I think to give Henry Cavill something to do (mostly guilty brooding). But it overstays it's welcome by an episode.
In the second half, though, things really pick up, with better drama such as the persecution of Cardinal Poe's family, and the travails of Cromwell. Cromwell becomes a great character - a crawler, consummate politician, ruthless and unpopular, but also devoted family man, loyal to the king, emphatic in his belief the reformation is needed, touching in his final defeat and speech before execution (the executioner botches it, poor guy - but then you live by the sword you die by it).
Henry VIII also has more to do, going increasingly mad – I love the scene with him and his court jester (I looked this up, it was true). Anne of Cleeves is touchingly out of her depth with Henry (she’s effectively played by Joss Stone – who’s quite pretty – it’s made clear the poor thing just wasn’t Henry VIII’s cup of tea).
Princess Mary is very sympathetically depicted – alone, scared, hungry for love, wanting a good looking boyfriend, but also determined to hold on to her principles, very aware of her father’s flaws; you see enough steel in her eyes to see how she could evolve into Bloody Mary (why no season 5? This lot could have done it brilliantly)
There’s comedy too, such as Henry VIII chucking a tantrum on meeting Anne of Cleves and then being enamoured of Katherine Howard, who here is depicted as an extremely stupid nympho. I did laugh at the initial appearance of Sir Francis in the credits – with his eye patch and glowering it was almost as if the words “this is our new bad boy to titillate the ladies” flashed across screen – but he turns out to be an effective character, ruthless and scary. Excellent series.
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