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Viewers left 'traumatised' by graphic opening scenes as hit BBC drama returns after nine years

Home> Entertainment> TV

Updated 16:01 11 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 16:02 11 Nov 2024 GMT

Viewers left 'traumatised' by graphic opening scenes as hit BBC drama returns after nine years

One of the opening scenes of Wolf Hall season two left fans with their jaws on the floor

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: BBC, History, TV, TV and Film, Entertainment

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

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@joshnair10

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BBC viewers were left shocked after seeing one of the opening scenes of Wolf Hall's second season.

The Tudor period drama is back, more than nine years after the finale of season one, with the likes of Mark Rylance returning as main character Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII, and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn (for a brief time).

Wolf Hall follows the rise of Cromwell to King Henry VIII, as he helps free him from his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

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The series opens up with a powerful, gruesome scene (BBC)
The series opens up with a powerful, gruesome scene (BBC)

Fans of the BBC show are ecstatic after a near-decade wait for the follow-up season, which has been called Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light.

It is intended to be the final season of the broadcaster's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's historical novel set in Tudor times.

So, how disturbing is this early scene, really?

Well, as Cromwell manages to get the King out of his second marriage by accusing her of treason, she is sentenced to a beheading - the standard procedure about 500 years ago in the UK.

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The chilling thing about this scene is how it is contrasted and cut between the King getting married to his third wife, Jane Seymour, in a lavish gold outfit.

The dark scene with Boleyn, played by The Crown's Claire Foy, shows her being being brought to her death on a row boat, before getting to the location and being blindfolded.

A crowd looks on, as a French swordsman swings back, before chopping her head clean off, though this action isn't shown in the scene, instead focusing on the reaction of Cromwell and the crowd.

Her ladies-in-waiting are clearly distraught and upset, gently picking up her head and body before placing it into a coffin.

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Boleyn can be seen looking fearful throughout the scene, up until her beheading (BBC)
Boleyn can be seen looking fearful throughout the scene, up until her beheading (BBC)
The scene is a re-cut version filmed in the finale of season one, but the music, editing, and acting have gotten fans excited of what's to come.

Viewers shared their thoughts on the return of Wolf Hall on social media.

One user said: "Have watched Wolf Hall three times. This clip always makes me cry."

Another commented: "Me every time Henry VIII comes on screen: 'TRAITOR!'"

A third said: "I've just watched this as a prelude to the return of Wolf Hall this weekend on BBC one.

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"Such powerful TV, such evocative scenes, such fine acting.

"British drama at its very best."

The first episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light is available to stream on iPlayer.

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