A Rebellion Rises as 'Wolf Hall: The Mirror & the Light' Reaches Its Halfway Point

As Wolf Hall: The Mirror & the Light reaches its halfway point, being Thomas Cromwell isn't as easy as it used to be. Sure, the former blacksmith's son has never been as powerful as he is at this precise moment, with the king's ear and a reputation of such size and scope that he's become a cautionary tale to children throughout the country. But he's also increasingly and evidently miserable, and even the prominent symbols of his power and influence tend to have hidden sharp edges.

Last week, we saw Cromwell have a breakdown over the thought that his beloved mentor, Thomas Wolsey, might have gone to his grave, believing him to have betrayed their friendship. (Also, at the realization that Wolsey's daughter will go to hers hating him for it, no matter the truth of his guilt or innocence.) This week, Cromwell's public persona begins to take a beating — a shift from which he will never fully recover.

A rebellion has begun in Lincolnshire. Historically sparked by the closure of Louth Park Abbey, it has many antecedents in the world of the show, most of which are connected to Cromwell. Many northerners believe Henry to be dead, and his chief minister is ruling in his place. They insist Cromwell is a devil who wants the king's daughter for himself, who plans to pull down the parish churches and melt down the crucifixes and holy objects to use as weapons against the poor. Of course, this is all so much misinformation, but as any modern viewer will recognize, a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth pulls on its boots.