I have been putting off seeing this as I was so busy finally I have binged through it with my husband and we thought that it was superb. The whole series was executed, pardon the pun, extremely well, with amazing costumes, settings, location. Season two, we can't wait!!!!

Riveted by Wolf Hall. No gristly Boleyn decapitation, but a subtle portrait of a French swordsman, sidestepping the blindfolded Queen, who turns her unseeing head to one side before the huge broadsword sweeps it off. It is done without vulgar drama. The hand maidens wipe their bloodied hands clean after placing the body in the coffin. No emptying of arteries, no rolling head, no eyes in close up. Thus are the first two books in this great trilogy masterfully achieved, giving us the quidditas of an age that is almost our own. Complex allusive prose has been properly adapted and not simply eviscerated into a crude bloody caricature of Tudor intrigue (such as the awful 'Elizabeth' a few years ago). It is undeniably brilliant, subtle and all the more moving. You don't need everything underlined. By implication we are presented, in the two books as here, with a nascent modern nation, a step away from the grasp of theocratic Rome, which crept into the heart of Europe and nearly dominated and stultified the progress of secularism. Contemporary statecraft approaches in this wonderful creation by Hilary Mantel. And we all learn something; 'Wriothesley', if that's how it's spelt, is pronounced 'Risley'. So there.

The PBS miniseries "Wolf Hall" based on the novels by Hillary Mantel, as both a dramatic narrative and a visual feast beats "Game of Thrones", which has very similar themes of personality and power, by a long shot. One is based on true events and the other is imaginary, but it's hard not to think of them as shooting for similar targets, the PBS production achieves distinction with writing, acting and cinematography that relies more on character than on spectacular effects (or gratuitous sex) to get across its dramatic message. The emphasis is on beauty rather than on spectacle, and every scene, partially owing to the authenticity of the costumes and the on-location shooting, is absolutely gorgeous to watch. There is a deep respect for the dramatic moment, with an appreciation for silence that allows a scene to play out through subtleties of lighting and acting without needing the contrivances of cutting or background distractions. Although we don't get to see much of war and slaughter and thrashing bodies, there's plenty in "Wolf Hall" to look at. The settings are never purely backdrop, but play almost as a distinct character that performs a crucial role in immaculately framing the emotional content of every scene. Mark Rylance is superlative as Thomas Cromwell. His performance has more than a little in common with characters like Tyrion Lannister, played by Peter Dinklage in G.O.T., but Rylance has more opportunity to get across the point without having to shout through so many layers of bells and whistles. Of course, to be fair, whereas 'Wolf Hall" focuses on a few central characters, "Game Of Thrones" involves a huge cast of principles and secondaries and covers an enormous amount of imaginary territory, so it would be a true challenge for any one character to stand above the whole spectacle. I think Dinklage as Tyrion is perfect in "Game Of Thrones", as is most of the cast, but, perhaps because I've read the books years ago, the HBO version hasn't held my interest or added much of anything to my original experience of the narrative (I'm sure I'll get back to it).

no dialog or very little of it , jumping around with no detail -shallow characters, good acting when they actually had something to say. Im on the last episode and I got to say its basically a snooze fest. if you want entertainment watch the Tudors it may not be historically accurate but at least you will not fall asleep. SO disappointed in it. I mean King Henry has like 20 line in the whole show and Cromwell is so quite with his piercing looks you think when will he actually say something of note. I had just finished watching the Tudors because I would soon be watching this series. I really don't know why it has such high ratings. With jumping years between episodes and little dialog,I think it would make someone who does not know about this story ever want to try to learn about it again. which is a shame.