Every fan of quality drama and accurate history should watch this series without fail. The casting, script, direction and acting are simply faultless.
Keith Michelle provides an sharp insight into King Henry that no other actor has managed. Whilst Ray Winstone was far too brutal and Johnathan Rhys Myers too cerebral in more recent TV productions Michelle was able to combine the raw edge of a 15th. century warrior with the artistic soul of the Renaissance. This was the great contradiction of Britain's most famous king and he caught it perfectly. All the other cast members are equally superb in their performances providing such clarity and stage presence that the simple studio sets in which the production was filmed are illuminated more than any special effects or expensive locations could provide.
Wolfe Morris as Thomas Cromwell is particularly splendid in revealing the viscous and desperate nature of the times whilst the proud and majestic portrayal of Queen Katherine by Annette Crosbie cannot but remind us that modern drama has simply failed to capture the spirit of the past.
Do not miss this production.
Keith Michelle provides an sharp insight into King Henry that no other actor has managed. Whilst Ray Winstone was far too brutal and Johnathan Rhys Myers too cerebral in more recent TV productions Michelle was able to combine the raw edge of a 15th. century warrior with the artistic soul of the Renaissance. This was the great contradiction of Britain's most famous king and he caught it perfectly. All the other cast members are equally superb in their performances providing such clarity and stage presence that the simple studio sets in which the production was filmed are illuminated more than any special effects or expensive locations could provide.
Wolfe Morris as Thomas Cromwell is particularly splendid in revealing the viscous and desperate nature of the times whilst the proud and majestic portrayal of Queen Katherine by Annette Crosbie cannot but remind us that modern drama has simply failed to capture the spirit of the past.
Do not miss this production.
