Series / Shardlake

Shardlake (2024) is a mystery series set during the reign of Henry VIII and follows disabled lawyer Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) as he uses reason to solve mysteries in an era of religious and social upheaval. The series is based on the novels by C.J. Sansom. It also stars Anthony Boyle as Jack Barak and Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell.

The first season consists of four episodes and was adapted from the first novel in the book series, Dissolution. All four episodes were released on Hulu in May of 2024.

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This show provides examples of:

• Advertised Extra: Sean Bean as Cromwell features prominently in the marketing and the trailer, but he is a minor, if pivotal, character only appearing in a few scenes.
• Crusading Lawyer: Shardlake is a reformer who believes that the Catholic Church and its monasteries are corrupt. Initially, he believes they should all be shut down and their wealth given to the poor, though he eventually realizes that his own side is corrupt and the poor aren't going to benefit from the dissolution.
• The Charmer: Barak turns out to be this, and his interest in Alice is genuine.
• The Cynic: Barak starts out as this, while Shardlake is The Idealist who believes in reform, but both men's positions shift as the series progresses.
• Deliberate Values Dissonance: Many people treat Shardlake with contempt due to his disability and he is often referred to as a crookback. Shardlake himself, as well as Barak, also have open contempt for the monks, suspecting that many are sodomites. This is all in line with the values of the era.
• Dirty Old Monk: There are more than a few predatory monks at Scarnsea Abbey.
• Disabled Badass: Shardlake resents having Barak assigned to him as a bodyguard/muscle as he believes he can take care of himself, and he often does. He does prove to be overconfident at times.
• Dream-Crushing Handicap: In a flashback, Shardlake is seen as a boy being told he cannot become a priest because of his deformity.
• Foregone Conclusion: Anyone who knows history knows that if the series continues long enough, Cromwell will lose his head and it isn't just because he's played by Sean Bean.
• The Ghost: Henry VIII is never seen but he is mentioned often and his desires dominate the narrative.
• Historical Domain Character: While most characters are fictional, Thomas Cromwell appears as Shardlake and Barak's boss. The Duke of Norfolk, Cromwell's historic enemy, also appears.
• Hunk: In contrast to the crookback Shardlake, Barak is handsome, dresses flamboyantly and women take notice of him. Shardlake's housekeeper even refers to him as a codpiece.
• The Lost Lenore: Mark Smeaton is this for Alice.
• Murder Mystery: Shardlake is sent to solve the murder of one of Cromwell's other lawyers.
• Never a Runaway: Orphan did not run away. She is found dead at the bottom of the pond.
• Never Suicide: Simon jumps to his death, but it turns out he was under the influence of poison.
• Off with His Head!: Shardlake is sent to investigate the murder of a colleague who was beheaded with a sword.
• The One That Got Away: Revealed as the killer, Alice runs away to France. Barak declines to join her.
• Posthumous Character: The series begins after Anne Boleyn has been executed. Initially, Shardlake believes her to have been guilty of adultery but he comes to doubt her guilt, along with the guilt of her alleged lover Mark Smeaton.
• Quicksand Sucks: Shardlake nearly gets sucked into the marsh that surrounds Scarnsea Abbey.
• Sympathetic Murderer: Alice killed Robin Singleton to avenge her lost love, Mark Smeaton.
• Too Good for This Sinful Earth: The sweet-natured, bullied novice Simon has shades of this.