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The Hollow Crown
S2.E2
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IMDbPro

Henry VI Part 2

  • Episode aired Dec 18, 2016
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
502
YOUR RATING
Sophie Okonedo in The Hollow Crown (2012)
  • Drama
  • History
  • War
Five years on the country is in the midst of civil war with Suffolk and Buckingham among the casualties at the battle of St Albans and the triumphant Plantagenet claiming the throne for the ... Read allFive years on the country is in the midst of civil war with Suffolk and Buckingham among the casualties at the battle of St Albans and the triumphant Plantagenet claiming the throne for the Yorkists. To avoid further bloodshed Henry agrees to make Plantagenrt his heir on his deat... Read allFive years on the country is in the midst of civil war with Suffolk and Buckingham among the casualties at the battle of St Albans and the triumphant Plantagenet claiming the throne for the Yorkists. To avoid further bloodshed Henry agrees to make Plantagenrt his heir on his death, angering queen Margaret, who shocks her husband with a violent counter action. However ... Read all
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
502
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Dominic Cooke
  • Writer
    • Ben Power
  • Stars
    • Simon Armstrong
    • Jamie Ballard
    • Archie Bradfield
Top credits
  • Director
    • Dominic Cooke
  • Writer
    • Ben Power
  • Stars
    • Simon Armstrong
    • Jamie Ballard
    • Archie Bradfield
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Geoffrey Streatfeild in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Tom Sturridge in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Ben Miles in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Andrew Scott in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Judi Dench, Hugh Bonneville, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Sturridge, and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Judi Dench, Hugh Bonneville, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Sturridge, and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hollow Crown (2012)
    Jeremy Irons, Tom Sturridge, Ben Whishaw, Tom Hiddleston, and Benedict Cumberbatch in Richard II (2012)
    Judi Dench, Hugh Bonneville, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Sturridge, and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Hollow Crown (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Simon Armstrong
    Simon Armstrong
    • Grieving Father
    Jamie Ballard
    • Grieving Son
    Archie Bradfield
    • Young Ned
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Richard
    Ben Daniels
    Ben Daniels
    • Buckingham
    Alan David
    Alan David
    • Bishop of Ely
    Adrian Dunbar
    Adrian Dunbar
    • Plantagenet
    James Fleet
    James Fleet
    • Hastings
    Phoebe Fox
    Phoebe Fox
    • Anne
    Mariah Gale
    Mariah Gale
    • Lady Bona
    Christopher Godwin
    • Shepherd II
    Tom Godwin
    Tom Godwin
    • Shepherd I
    Barney Harris
    Barney Harris
    • Ned
    Keeley Hawes
    Keeley Hawes
    • Queen Elizabeth
    Angus Imrie
    Angus Imrie
    • Edmund
    Anton Lesser
    Anton Lesser
    • Exeter
    Richard Lynch
    • Westmorland
    John Mackay
    John Mackay
    • Brakenbury
    • Director
      • Dominic Cooke
    • Writer
      • Ben Power
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite being titled 'Part 1' and 'Part 2,' the two episodes are actually adapted from 'Henry VI' Parts 1, 2, and 3 and then broken into two parts.
    • Crazy credits
      The opening title doesn't appear until 14 minutes into the film.

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A far from bloodless war
    All of William Shakespeare's history plays are at the least well worth reading and watching at least once, my personal favourite being the most famous one 'Richard III'. Which is why 'The Hollow Crown', both seasons but especially the first consisting of the Henriad tetralogy (with 'Henry V' being the one slight disappointment), is so highly recommended, its acclaimed reception being more than justified.

    'Henry VI Part 1' was a very good start to the second season coined War of the Roses'. Found Part 2, which has the same strengths and not quite so good things, even better, found the performances even stronger, that it had more tension and it was a little more tasteful. Neither part of 'Henry VI' make 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 again 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.

    Visually, 'Henry VI Part 2' is very handsome, as can be expected with 'The Hollow Crown' series, 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 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.

    The performances are even better here, and they were fantastic in the first part too. A big standout being Benedict Cumberbatch's goosebump-inducing Richard. Sophie Okonedo is very commanding without over-playing as Margaret, no mugging or looking bored in sight, her out-and-ahead-of-her-time portrayal is still interesting. Tom Sturridge is a charismatic and sincere Henry, while Ben Miles' Machiavellian Somerset stands out again. Adrian Dunbar plays Plantagenet with plenty of fire, and Keeley Hawes has seldom been more pert.

    In conclusion, great and even better than the very good first part. If you don't like cuts and uncompromising approaches to material this won't be for you, but if you like something brilliantly made, compelling and with more than great performances this shouldn't be missed. 9/10
    helpful•2
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Aug 16, 2019

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 18, 2016 (United States)
    • Filming locations
      • Cathedral Green, Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Thirteen / WNET
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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