Tudor intrigue and murder in a taut four-part thriller
Shardlake, Disney+
Television seems to be getting right into sectarianism at the moment. One of Shogun’s themes was the religion-fuelled 17th century clash between Catholics and Protestants, and now the same clash is featured in Shardlake.
What next? An Appletv+ thriller about Mo Johnston signing for Rangers? Although that merely only felt like it happened in the 17th century.
The late C J Sansom’s first novel about Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer employed by Henry VIII’S fixer Thomas Cromwell, is adapted into a four-part thriller by Disney+.
Sent to the town of Scarnsea to close the Catholic monastery, Shardlake is caught up investigating a series of murders amid a Tudor vibe: if you like Medieval feasts you’re going to love a bit of Shardlake.
Arthur Hughes takes the lead role, and he brings a touch of menacing energy to the role. Conversely, Anthony Boyle is his muscle, but he feels a lot more congenial for a supposed religious fanatic.
He’s also a swordsman in other ways, with a distracting codpiece to match.
As a thriller Shardlake only mildly excites, but it is an atmospheric yarn. Crucially it only lasts for four episodes. The makers clearly didn’t believe in needlessly stretching a story out over 10 episodes: a creed we can all surely unite behind.