Drama
Andor
The critically acclaimed Star Wars series ‘Andor’ is back. For fans, it is a return to form. For families, the show is still potentially a ride through an asteroid belt.
If you ever get stressed out by your job, just remember: it could always be worse. You could be Thomas Cromwell, newly promoted Lord Privy Seal to King Henry VIII.
Cromwell may have been born to lowly blacksmiths, but he didn’t stay lowly for long. His rapid rise to power (chronicled in the first season of Wolf Hall) led him straight to Henry’s royal court. Being one of the King of England’s closest advisors may come with a lot of perks, but there’s a reason for that: His duties are not for the faint of heart.
Take his most recent accomplishment, for example: organizing a conspiracy against Henry’s wife Anne Boleyn, which led to her swift execution. He carried this out so well, in fact, that the king has given him a new assignment. He must either ensure that Henry’s daughter, Princess Mary, signs an oath of obedience to him, or ensure that she’s sent the way of Anne Boleyn.
After so many schemes and so much treachery, however, the Lord Privy Seal’s conscience is catching up to him. And in the court of Henry VIII, when one misplaced word could send you straight to the chopping block, a conscience is a very dangerous thing to have.
The 16th century Tudor court was a brutal place, and any dramatization that’s even slightly accurate must be similarly brutal. Still, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light does its best to temper the historical horrors. Scenes cut away when violence is at its worst, and sexual politics are left to the imagination rather than shown onscreen.
Of course, given the time period and subject matter, these themes can’t be avoided completely. Anne Boleyn’s execution occurs offscreen, but we catch glimpses of her body as her handmaidens take her away. Henry’s more intimate affairs are discussed through suggestive references.
Religion is also a recurring theme in Cromwell’s dealings. Historically, Henry VIIII split from the Catholic church in order to divorce his first wife, naming himself head of the newly formed Church of England. This caused major conflict both in Henry’s family and the country as a whole, which Wolf Hall heavily explores. Most discussion of religion occurs in a political and historical context; however, several characters express their devout faith. The tricky part is deciphering which of these characters speak from the heart and which are only going through the motions of the court.
Of the many dramatizations of King Henry VIII’s tumultuous reign, few are as tame as Wolf Hall. While you’ll have to navigate a few unfortunate themes, you won’t have to stress about sudden strong violence—which is more than could be said for many in Henry’s court.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
After his wife, Anne Boleyn, is executed, King Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour and gives Thomas Cromwell a sensitive task: ensure his daughter, Lady Mary, returns to court and signs an oath of obedience to her father.
Anne’s beheading happens offscreen, though we hear it occur and see the reactions of the crowd. We catch a glimpse of her handmaidens covering her head with a bloodstained towel and taking away her body. Nothing grisly or detailed is shown.
A few members of the court express concerns about Henry’s wedding night after he marries Jane Seymour; Cromwell’s son, Gregory, makes subtle jokes about the king’s sexual incompetency.
Religion is a major topic of discussion throughout the episode. Mary is a devout Catholic, and she is hesitant to swear fealty to her father after his split from the Catholic Church. She tells Cromwell that God must have a design for her and that she trusts in his will. Cromwell agrees, though he argues she should obey her earthly father while her heavenly Father’s plans are unclear. One of Henry’s advisers exclaims “Jesus save us.” Another councilor delivers a letter to the Henry and tells Cromwell that the king read it “as if it came hot from the pit, signed by the devil.”
God’s name is taken in vain twice.
Lauren Cook is serving as a 2021 summer intern for the Parenting and Youth department at Focus on the Family. She is studying film and screenwriting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. You can get her talking for hours about anything from Star Wars to her family to how Inception was the best movie of the 2010s. But more than anything, she’s passionate about showing how every form of art in some way reflects the Gospel. Coffee is a close second.
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