Shardlake Review: A Cut Above the Ordinary Crime Drama

In Hulu’s latest historical drama Shardlake, lawyer Matthew Shardlake ventures into a dark world of secrets and danger. Adapted from C.J Sansom’s acclaimed novels, the series thrusts us into turbulent 16th century England under King Henry VIII.

We meet Shardlake at an intriguing point in his story. A hunchbacked barrister living with scoliosis, he nevertheless possesses a keen intellect and sense of justice. When the head of a remote monastery is found beheaded, Shardlake is called to solve the crime by Thomas Cromwell himself. But in truth, Cromwell cares little for justice – he wants cause to shut the abbey down as Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries rampages across the land.

So Shardlake travels to the foggy town of Scarnsea, accompanied reluctantly by Cromwell’s man Jack Barak. There they find a community cloaked in shadows, sheltered within the abbey’s looming walls. As bodies begin to accumulate, it soon becomes clear more sinister forces are at work than a single murder. Shardlake must battle not just to uncover the killer, but to protect the innocent lives trapped within the monastery’s walls.

Through four tightly-plotted episodes, the series brings Sansom’s detailed world vividly to life. But at its heart lies Shardlake himself, brought to complex life by Arthur Hughes. Determined, principled yet flawed, he cuts a compelling figure tackling complex truths in a time where darkness seems to be closing in from all sides.

The Haunting of Scarnsea Abbey

In 16th century England, change is coming to the monasteries. Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer working for Thomas Cromwell, finds himself tasked with investigating a grisly murder. Sent to the remote abbey of Scarnsea, Shardlake discovers mysteries abound behind the monastery’s dreary walls.

Arriving with his partner Jack Barak, Shardlake is told a commissioner looking into shuttering the abbey was beheaded. With falling muds that can swallow a man whole and a building full of hostile monks, this will be no easy case to crack. As Shardlake and Barak dig deeper, they learn the abbey holds more secrets than any prayer book. Missing relics and unexplained deaths point to dangers far beyond any single killer.

Shardlake must work quickly to uncover the truth, not only to catch a murderer but to provide Cromwell grounds to seize the abbey’s riches. Yet his quest raises troubling questions about King Henry’s dissolution of the monasteries. With England tearing itself from the Catholic Church, faith and justice walk a knife’s edge. As Shardlake feels unseen eyes watching his every move, he realizes some at Scarnsea would kill to keep their sins buried in the bogs.

Weaving politics and mystery, the first season follows Shardlake through twists and betrayals as the abbey’s ghastly past rises to light. With an innocent life at stake and pressure mounting from Cromwell, Shardlake must cut through a web of deceit to expose the monastery’s darkest heart before it’s too late.

Tales From Scarnsea Abbey

The small town of Scarnsea comes alive as a vivid setting for mystery and intrigue. Transported to fog-shrouded lanes and bleak marshlands, viewers feel the isolating atmosphere. Within the towering abbey’s Gothic walls exists a world unto itself.

Lavish production brings 16th century England to life, with meticulous care for historical veracity. Expert craftsmanship dresses every scene, from ornate monk’s robes to leather jerkins and linen dresses worn by townsfolk. Traditional materials breathe authenticity into daily lives and significant events. Backdrops showcase a bygone era, as marshlands and winding roads contribute to the sense of being cut off from the world.

Skillful camerawork captures both sweeping vistas and intimate moments. Glimpses from above note the abbey’s dominating presence, while tight shots imbue private discussions with suspense. Strange occurrences emerge from shadows and dim chambers, keeping audiences guessing along with Matthew Shardlake. Murky settings enhance an atmosphere of distrust, fueling accusations arising within monastery walls.

Inspired choices for atmospheric Hungarian and Austrian locations transport viewers straight to Tudor England. Stately architecture towers as an organizing force over humble villages and winding footpaths disappearing into misty foliage. Viewers feel surrounded by the natural environment’s isolating forces alongside Matthew Shardlake and Jack Barak in their investigations.

Lavish production presents a world as richly complex and enveloping as that of Game of Thrones in its heyday. No detail appears too minute to lend authenticity, keeping audiences immersed in a bygone era. Tales From Scarnsea Abbey invites disappearing into a spellbinding historical landscape at the height of English political and religious upheaval.

Life in Tudor England

Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries profoundly impacted life across 16th century England. Shardlake immerses viewers in this tumultuous period through its portrayal of ordinary people navigating turbulent religious politics.

The series is set in 1536, amid Henry’s suppression of Catholicism and seizures of church lands. We meet lawyer Matthew Shardlake in the remote town of Scarnsea, investigating a murder at a monastery soon destined for closure. The looming shadow of dissolution hangs over every character. For monks like Jerome, clinging to tradition despite risk of punishment, and ordinary townsfolk reliant on church charity, these reforms threatened livelihoods and way of life.

Yet the drama doesn’t preach; it observes these changes through authentic human stories. We feel monks’ fear watching investigators like sharp-tongued Barak, there only to expedite the abbey’s end. And Shardlake, for all his idealism, serves a system targeting people’s faith and community. The mystery draws us deep into this turmoil, where religious and political agendas collide at every turn.

Nowhere did these upheavals weigh heavier than on England’s poor. When Cromwell claims reforms aimed to curb clergy greed, the abbey’s records suggest otherwise – monks provided vital welfare. Without this support, what becomes of Scarnsea’s destitute? The series poses difficult questions about reform’s true costs. Ultimately, it transports us to a time when enormous change came at the hands of those in power, and ordinary lives paid the price.

Tudor Trouble at Scarnsea Monastery

Within the grim walls of Scarnsea Monastery, none face a tougher task than Matthew Shardlake. As a lawyer with scoliosis in 16th century England, Shardlake battles low expectations at every turn. Played with nuanced grace by Arthur Hughes, we see pain hidden behind eyes that miss little. Shardlake speaks calmly yet thinks ten steps ahead, relying on intellect where others wield strength.

At his side, the brash Jack Barak cuts a bold contrast. Brought to vibrant life by Anthony Boyle, Barak believes answers lie in force alone. But beneath bravado lies buried grief, hinted at through fierce loyalty to a friend in need. Their clashes amuse as much as frustrate, showcasing two equals who’d best solve crimes together always.

Towering above all is Thomas Cromwell, played with chilling command by Sean Bean. A shadow more than man, Cromwell’s slightest gesture spells doom for monks or commoners alike. Through him we see a kingdom ruled by fear, putting reform before people. Yet Bean ensures we pause to ponder motivations, not judge characters as good or ill, but human.

Within Scarnsea’s walls also lie deeper mysteries. Brother Jerome, so unnervingly embodied by Paul Kaye, hints at psyche’s unknown depths. Did madness or vision move him against the crown? The other monks remain farther puzzles, sketched only through others’ eyes. More time within their cloister may have lent their faith dimensions beyond two-dimensional zeal.

Overall, character explores the spaces between facts. With more episodes to inhabit their minds and hearts, this story’s people could have felt more profoundly human, and left impressions harder still to forget.

The Perfect Length

Shardlake moves at a brisk pace across its four episodes. There is little fat to trim – each scene advances the plot in meaningful ways. Viewers are swept up in the mystery as new clues are uncovered and suspects examined. Like the changing tides in Scarnsea, the narrative flows smoothly from one development to the next.

However, for all its efficient storytelling, some elements feel hurried. Key revelations lack sufficient build-up to truly surprise. We are told of suspicions but not shown the subtle signs that lead there. And in the finale, loose threads are tied up with such haste that satisfaction evades us. Viewers are left wanting to linger longer in this richly imagined world.

Perhaps with a couple more episodes, plot points could have been breath. Clues teased out over time to foster real intrigue. Character moments added flesh to bones and informed their choices. As it stands, the resolution arrives too abruptly to feel earned.

But these are minor quibbles. By keeping the pacing taut yet balanced, Shardlake sustains interest all the way to the credits. It understands that less can be more when it comes to telling a story. More shows would do well to heed this lesson and respect viewers’ time in such an elegant way. Quality over quantity is the right mantra here.

Shard of What’s to Come

So in summary – this adaptation of Shardlake captured the intrigue of mystery along with the flavor of Tudor times. The layered characters and creepy atmosphere kept viewers guessing throughout. While the plot didn’t break new ground, it served well as a vehicle to explore critical themes around faith, justice and power dynamics during that tumultuous period.

Hughes and Boyle were clear standouts in their roles, bringing the lawyer and his partner to life with nuance beyond the page. It’s a shame we didn’t get to unlock more of their backstories over more episodes. Still, their rapport left us wanting to follow further cases down the line.

With a full range of novels available for source material and a dedicated fanbase, one hopes this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Shardlake’s adventures. For those seeking an immersive sense of history alongside a suspenseful core mystery, or fans of shows like Peaky Blinders, this four-part series delivers intrigue from start to finish. While not perfect, it offers a promising shard of what could come, if given chance to flourish further. I’d recommend giving it a watch to be transported back in time, if only for a few hours. The past remains a gripping place, when explored through the right lens.

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