The first season (coined the Henriad tetralogy) of 'The Hollow Crown', a must see series of adaptations of Shakespeare's history plays (all worth reading and watching, 'Richard III' especially in my view), was utterly riveting. It ended a little disappointingly but still more than solidly with 'Henry V', most of its many good points being exceptional, but only because of loving 'Richard II' and both parts of 'Henry IV' so much.
'Henry VI Part I' is a very good start to the highly anticipated second season, coined The War of the Roses, the others in the season being Part 2 and 'Richard III'. Do not consider the play a favourite of mine, but it is one of Shakespeare's darkest, longest and most difficult to perform and worth getting acquainted with regardless of whether it does much for you or not. It is one of the least faithful adaptations of 'The Hollow Crown', with there being omissions/truncations in the text which can make the adaptation feel a touch rushed on occasions. It is though in my view a better performance of the play than the 1983 BBC Television Shakespeare production, although there is much more of the play's content in that this production was more appealing visually and was more consistently staged and acted.
It's a very handsome looking production visually, with a lot of effort put into making the costumes and settings as evocative and detailed as possible, neither being too stark or too elaborate. The photography is often cinematic-like, expansive in places without being overblown and intimate in other places without being restricted. The music also achieves that balance, didn't find it over-scored anywhere which is so easy to do with such a big, bold approach to the material.
Shakespeare's text, even when not complete, is as poetic and thought-provoking as ever, while Dominic Cooke does wonderfully with not making the adaptation feel stagy or too much of a filmed play. Instead it's opened up without being too over-theatrical, it is often dark, bold stuff that doesn't jar that much with the material. The pull no punches direction of some scenes, like the brutal exit of Joan, is hard to watch but also powerful and didn't find it that tasteless. There were times though to me where some of the uncompromising approach was taken too far, it did for my tastes go over the top with Margaret occasionally.
All the performances are fine. Sophie Okonedo has been criticised for being out of place by some, actually am going to agree with the vast majority that praised her and found her out-and-ahead-of-her-time portrayal interesting (the "multi-cultural" aspect was not a problem for me). Found her very commanding without over-playing as Margaret, no mugging or looking bored in sight, and . Tom Sturridge, much more age appropriate than Peter Benson in the 1983 performance, is a charismatic and youthful Henry, the inexperience played with sincerity. Just as good are Hugh Bonneville's thoughtful Gloucester, the dignified Joan of Laura Morgan and particularly Ben Miles as a Machiavellian Somerset.
Overall, a very good start to Season 2. 8/10
'Henry VI Part I' is a very good start to the highly anticipated second season, coined The War of the Roses, the others in the season being Part 2 and 'Richard III'. Do not consider the play a favourite of mine, but it is one of Shakespeare's darkest, longest and most difficult to perform and worth getting acquainted with regardless of whether it does much for you or not. It is one of the least faithful adaptations of 'The Hollow Crown', with there being omissions/truncations in the text which can make the adaptation feel a touch rushed on occasions. It is though in my view a better performance of the play than the 1983 BBC Television Shakespeare production, although there is much more of the play's content in that this production was more appealing visually and was more consistently staged and acted.
It's a very handsome looking production visually, with a lot of effort put into making the costumes and settings as evocative and detailed as possible, neither being too stark or too elaborate. The photography is often cinematic-like, expansive in places without being overblown and intimate in other places without being restricted. The music also achieves that balance, didn't find it over-scored anywhere which is so easy to do with such a big, bold approach to the material.
Shakespeare's text, even when not complete, is as poetic and thought-provoking as ever, while Dominic Cooke does wonderfully with not making the adaptation feel stagy or too much of a filmed play. Instead it's opened up without being too over-theatrical, it is often dark, bold stuff that doesn't jar that much with the material. The pull no punches direction of some scenes, like the brutal exit of Joan, is hard to watch but also powerful and didn't find it that tasteless. There were times though to me where some of the uncompromising approach was taken too far, it did for my tastes go over the top with Margaret occasionally.
All the performances are fine. Sophie Okonedo has been criticised for being out of place by some, actually am going to agree with the vast majority that praised her and found her out-and-ahead-of-her-time portrayal interesting (the "multi-cultural" aspect was not a problem for me). Found her very commanding without over-playing as Margaret, no mugging or looking bored in sight, and . Tom Sturridge, much more age appropriate than Peter Benson in the 1983 performance, is a charismatic and youthful Henry, the inexperience played with sincerity. Just as good are Hugh Bonneville's thoughtful Gloucester, the dignified Joan of Laura Morgan and particularly Ben Miles as a Machiavellian Somerset.
Overall, a very good start to Season 2. 8/10
