Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5 recap: Why is Cromwell directing Henry to the wife he didn’t want?

Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5 focuses on Cromwell trying to secure a befitting match for Henry after Jane Seymour's death.

Since marriages were all about political alliances back in the day, Cromwell also sees this as an opportunity to secure a strategic union between England and the German Duchy of Cleves, and he matches Henry with Anne of Cleeves.

While Henry is not pleased with his new wife, Cromwell asks him to make this marriage work because of the Protestant Reformation it will bring to Northern Europe, resulting in England's powerful standing.

As Wolf Hall is approaching its Season 2 finale, events leading to Cromwell's tragic fate are unfolding and this episode is another stepping stone in that process.

More on Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5 in our story.

Henry meets his new wife in Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5

After Jane Seymour's death in the previous episode, Henry sought a new wife. Cromwell finally resolves his wish, seeing this situation as an opportunity to strengthen Europe politically and religiously.

Henry's match is finally made with Anne of Cleeves, and the king decides to disguise himself to meet his bride for the first time. After being smitten by her portrait, Henry decides to surprise her in disguise. He is warned that this famous French tradition would be unfamiliar to Anne, but he goes with it anyway.

While Henry thought that his new bride would be delighted to see her, Gregory tells Cromwell that Anne is not thrilled to see her new husband and ignores him.

Henry is displeased with his new wife in Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5

Just like a child who is not given his favorite toy on his birthday, Henry throws tantrums when his new bride is not thrilled to see him in Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5.

He finds everything wrong with Anne—her height, her bonnet, her breasts, her “displeased airs”… Henry could not take the insult when she even pushed him away, assuming he was a stranger and didn't want anything to do with her.

According to Historic Royal Palace's head of research Professor Anthony Musson on the HELLO!'s Right Royal Podcast, this is a true incident,

"She was due to meet him in a couple of days' time, so she was probably thinking she'd get organised for that so was off-guard, off-duty, and certainly not expecting the King. He wasn't what she expected. She might have thought of a younger man, less overweight. There are two elements there. She was perhaps plainer than what he was used to, and he makes a big deal out of it."

Cromwell continues to strengthen England through political alliances in Wolf Hall Season 2 Episode 5

Cromwell's motives in marrying Henry with Anne of Cleeves were simply to solidify England's position with the Holy Roman Empire, which would result in a Protestant superpower in Northern Europe.

Cromwell tries his best to make England strong on both political and religious fronts and is adamant about the Reformation. However, as the final moments of this episode of Wolf Hall see him getting plucked out of the office, Cromwell gets close to his tragic fate, as history records.

Catch the next episode on December 15, 2024, on BBC.