This article originally appeared on Rewire.
“Poldark” has wrapped up for the season and “Sherlock” and “Victoria” don’t start until 2017, but we can try to fill the void with some Shakespeare (and Cumberbatch) in these last few weeks of 2016 with “The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses.”
The three-part mini-series adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Henry VI” and “Richard III” from “Great Performances” is the second installment of The Hollow Crown—a series featuring Shakespeare’s “Richard II,” “Henry IV” and “Henry V” that originally aired in 2013.
If you’re not up on your Shakespearean repertoire, let’s set the scene for “Henry VI, Part 1,” which drops Dec. 11. The Wars of the Roses were fought for control of the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches—The House of Lancaster (whose symbol was the red rose) and The House of York (whose symbol was the white rose). We start with England in crisis mode after its defeat at Orleans against France and the death of Henry V. An infant Henry VI is named King and we cut to 17 years later. The war continues with France and divisions in the house threaten the crown. Young Henry VI marries Margaret of Anjou causing an unwanted truce amongst the Kingdoms of England and France. All this and more happens in just part 1 of the series.
The mini-series features battles, deceit and romance. What more could you ask for?! If you’re a Shakespeare aficionado you’re especially going to enjoy this version of his history plays. The cast is RIDICULOUS. Let me name drop for a second: Hugh Bonneville (“Downton,” I MISS YOU), Ben Miles (of Netflix’s new “The Crown”), Sophie Okonedo (“Æon Flux”), Dame Judi Dench (the “James Bond” franchise, “Philomena” and endless credits more) and BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH (“Sherlock” himself), although he doesn’t appear until “Henry VI, Part 2.”
I would’ve loved to have watched this during high school English class after our Shakespeare lesson–the filmmaking is fantastic and the acting is phenomenal. It truly is a great performance.
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2016. All rights reserved.
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