The Big Picture While Hollywood certainly has its fair share of murder mystery shows that take place in Victorian times — I mean, how many times have we seen Sherlock Holmes adapted for the silver screen? — it’s rare that the format extends any further into the past. It’s a fairly specific one, all things considered, but it seems that Hulu’s taken that idea as a challenge, taking us all the way back to the Tudor era for their newest series, Shardlake.
It’s an element that enhances what might otherwise be a fairly cut-and-dry murder mystery with a couple of Shakespearean plots tossed on top. Rather than solve the murder to bring justice for the dead or to take a killer off the streets, Shardlake is embroiled in Henry VIII’s theological upheaval that changed the face of religion in the United Kingdom forever.
However, that flashiness does mean that Hughes is underserved as the show’s lead, despite his clear ability to stack up against the more popular Boyle. Seeing a disabled actor playing a role of such intelligence and weight is a welcome sight, and Hughes carries off Shardlake’s inner turmoil with impressive strength and ease.