I just recently watched the 2015 BBC mini-series "Wolf Hall" based on the novel of the same name. It follow the early career of Thomas Cromwell until the execution of Anne Boleyn. From the standpoint of directing, acting, casting, cinematography, musical score, and set design it is extremely well done. Mark Rylance and Damien Lewis are both great in their respective parts as Cromwell and Henry VIII. Clair Foy dominates nearly every scene she's in as Anne Boleyn. From a pop culture perspective Tom Holland, the reigning Spiderman makes an appearance as Cromwell's son Gregory. It's six episodes are vastly superior to the very bloated and over the top "Tudors" series that ran on showtime back in 2007.
Unfortunately, in sticking closely to the source material the series also imparts the vehement anti-Catholicism of Wolf Hall's author Hilary Mantel. Thomas More's only purpose in the series seems to be to hammer home the point that the Catholic Church is evil and backwards. If you're a fan of "A Man for All Seasons" Wolf Hall will probably bother you a great deal. Luckily, I was prepared for it as I knew about Mantel's prejudices from the start. She caused a stir a few years ago by asserting that the Catholic Church "was not an institution for respectable people."
I'm fairly immune to displays of anti-Catholicism, but still found myself very annoyed with the fact that Mantel and the series creators seemed very keen on pushing the idea that Wolf Hall is not only great storytelling, but great history. It isn't, and only someone with a cursory knowledge of the era would buy that claim. The series actually stands out as a work of characterization not history. Flaws aside, I enjoyed the show immensely and although I don't follow TV closely I highly doubt there was anything as well executed on the old "idiot box" back in 2015 when it originally aired.
