Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Episode 2 recap: Meg's secret romance, Henry's demand, and Cromwell meets Dorothea

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Season 2 Episode 2, titled Obedience, was released in the U.S. on April 30, 2025, on PBS's Masterpiece. For those who missed it, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Episode 2 will be available to stream on PBS Passport and the PBS app from April 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The synopsis of the episode reads:

"A secret marriage brings scandal to court, giving Cromwell the opportunity to bring his adversary Norfolk down for good. But an unexpected encounter forces Cromwell to question where his loyalties lie."

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 1, opened in the aftermath of Anne Boleyn's execution. King Henry VIII is now free to marry his third wife, Jane Seymour. With Anne Boleyn's death, Mary, King Henry VIII's daughter from his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon, demands to be Henry's heir. However, Henry wants her to prove her allegiance by signing an oath recognizing him as the head of the church.

Even though Mary initially refuses to acknowledge Henry as head of the church, Thomas Cromwell engineers a plan to bring her back and avoid her execution. Henry is quite pleased with his advisor, Cromwell, and rewards him. However, at the end of the episode, Cromwell remembers Cardinal Wolsey's warnings that Henry, the man he serves, might one day become his enemy.

Here's what we know about Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 2

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Meg Douglas's secret romance in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 2

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light opens with King Henry worried about finding suitable husbands for daughter Mary and niece Meg Douglas. The King instructs Cromwell to make a list of the potential suitors, as it is an important task that would determine the future of England's throne.

It is revealed that Meg has a secret affair with Thomas Howard, the younger step brother of the Duke of Norfolk. When Cromwell's associate Thomas Wriothesley digs deeper, he finds out through the servants that Meg and Thomas are indeed having an affair and have been exchanging letters that he signs as Tom Truth. Even though Cromwell tries to protect Meg, she stubbornly claims that they are married. The revelation of the secret affair angers the King, who suspects a political play by the Howards.

Meanwhile, Cromwell asks the King to give a ring of obedience to Mary. Even though Mary has no wish to marry, she decides to obey her father. She tells Cromwell that even though she wants to bear a child and have a family, her mother's miscarriages haunt her.

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Henry's Demand for Reginald Pole's Death in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 2

The Poles, one of Henry VIII's strongest and dangerous rivals, played an important role in engineering the downfall of Anne Boleyn. Reginald Pole, the elder Pole son, is not just Henry's cousin but also a staunch opponent of the King's religious reforms.

Reginald Pole had been trying to gather support to overthrow King Henry VIII's rule and restore Catholic rule in England. To do so, he had been asked by the Pope to ally with France. This angers the King, who orders Cromwell to assassinate Reginald Pole.

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Cromwell meets Dorothea in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Episode 2

Cromwell visits the Shaftesbury Abbey under the ruse of overseeing the destruction of monastic communities with Lord Chancellor Richard Rich. Cromwell, however, has a personal agenda to fulfill during his visit to the Shaftesbury Abbey. He meets Dorothea, the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Wolsey. She has been sent to the abbey to protect her identity. Dorothea isn't too thrilled to see Cromwell as she believes it was Cromwell who betrayed her father Wolsey. She accuses Cromwell of framing Wolsey as a traitor. Even though Cromwell offers her help and the assurance of her well-being, she refuses to be provided for.

Cromwell breaks down as he seeks assurance from his servant Christophe and the Lord Chancellor that he did not betray the Cardinal. After his brief emotional encounter with Dorothea, he realizes he might hold power in the present, but his past will haunt him throughout his life.

Also read: Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light release schedule

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