The Hollow Crown: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Ratings

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The Hollow Crown

Now Playing: The Hollow Crown

Season Details & Credits

PBS | BBC Two | BB1 | Season Premiere Date: September 20, 2013

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Paul Freeman, David Hayman

Summary: Filmed on location, the adaptions of William Shakespeare's plays "Richard II," "Henry IV, Part 1," "Henry IV, Part 2," and "Henry V" features Ben Whishaw as Richard II, Rory Kinnear as the young Henry IV, Jeremy Irons as the older Henry IV, and Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal/Henry V.

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E4. Henry V
Air Date: July 21, 2012
tbd
S1:E3. Henry IV, Part 2
Air Date: July 14, 2012
tbd
S1:E2. Henry IV, Part 1
Air Date: July 7, 2012

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Sep 20, 2013

For the next four Fridays, PBS's Great Performances lives up to its billing with a spectacular and dazzlingly acted mega-miniseries titled The Hollow Crown. Read full review

100

Sonia Saraiya

Sep 17, 2013

This isn’t just a story, it’s a history, and admirably, the work of the players has brought it to life. Read full review

100

Tom Gliatto

Sep 13, 2013

Arguably you shouldn't miss any of The Hollow Crown. But the one you're commanded to watch is Richard II. [23 Sep 2013]

100

Mark A. Perigard

Sep 19, 2013

This four-part adaptation of Shakespeare’s historical cycle (“Richard II, “Henry IV, Part 1,” “Henry IV, Part 2” and “Henry V”) spotlighting the battle to win and to hold the English crown is both brilliant and eminently accessible. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Sep 20, 2013

The performances are so wonderful it feels wrong to single any out. But Whishaw finds great power in stillness; Hiddleston fits himself admirably to his character's stages and turns of mind, resolving his coldness with his warmth, his cruelty with his generosity. And there is Beale's Falstaff--marvelously poignant, a scoundrel-hero, getting everything wrong. His sorrow at losing the transformed Hal is as tragic a moment as any here, his fall no less thunderous than Richard's. Read full review

David Hinckley

Sep 20, 2013

The trump card of Hollow Crown, of course, is that it was written by Shakespeare--and if the language sounds stilted to modern ears, anyone who listens for more than a few minutes will be properly seduced. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Sep 19, 2013

For the most part, the flexibility that television provides is used to good advantage in The Hollow Crown to clarify the action and enhance the dynamics. Only occasionally does it feel misplaced, as in “Richard II,” when [director Rupert] Goold goes all in with Jesus imagery. Read full review

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User Reviews

shlomiardan

Sep 23, 2013

Being a film enthusiast, I know that films that really make you feel for the characters are so very rare, but the Hollow crown definitely succeeds in doing so. Having english as a second language,I never even considered reading shakespere, and yet the great actors and scenery make it veryBeing a film enthusiast, I know that films that really make you feel for the characters are so very rare, but the Hollow crown definitely succeeds in doing so. Having english as a second language,I never even considered reading shakespere, and yet the great actors and scenery make it very clear what is meant, and I now can honestly say I see how Shakespere has lasted throught so many generations. This is some of the most wonderful and complex plots I've seen on TV.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Jmyers078

Nov 5, 2013

This is quite simply the most brilliant television ever produced. It should be watched in every English speaking home, every high school English and drama class, and every drama school from now to the end of time.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

mani8kgm

Jun 1, 2014

The best thing I've seen in ages. Not everyone's cup of tea, though. It IS Shakespeare! Great acting, wonderful drama and of course, the script- pure Shakespeare!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Mike_M

Sep 28, 2014

Several critics have mentioned that Richard II is the one to watch of this 4 part Shakespearian miniseries. I have to agree. It is the least of the four plays on the page, but the production is phenomenal. And the play is about such an interesting contrast of king versus would-be king thatSeveral critics have mentioned that Richard II is the one to watch of this 4 part Shakespearian miniseries. I have to agree. It is the least of the four plays on the page, but the production is phenomenal. And the play is about such an interesting contrast of king versus would-be king that its heart beats strongly after 400 years. Richard II is an inward-looking man and terrible king, supplanted by a practical Bolingbroke

You should know that the 4 plays have been cut down by maybe 20%, for good and for bad. The series seems to be tailored to the Game of Thrones crowd. The cuts, if I remember correctly, seem to emphasize action over lyricism. Some of the more beautiful parts of these 4 plays are missing.

The unforgivable loss in the 20% trimming of the plays is the comic richness of Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's greatest characters. The Hollow Crown fails Falstaff in both excision and performance. Since he is much of the heart (and gut) of Henry I & II, the middle two parts of The Hollow Crown are gutted. And the fourth part of four, Henry V, is outdone by Branagh's version. This leaves Richard II as the predominant achievement of this four-part series.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

nickholbek

Jan 29, 2014

So disappointed. I love Ben Wishaw and I love Richard II, but what a boring and unthoughtful production. Had potential to be so much better. Blame must be on the direction, as it seemed Wishaw lacked any for once. Dull and badly thought out.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Seasons & Episodes

89

Series Overview
Season 2

84
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: December 11, 2016
Season 1

91
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Henry V
  Air Date: July 21, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. Henry IV, Part 2
  Air Date: July 14, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. Henry IV, Part 1
  Air Date: July 7, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. Richard II
  Air Date: June 30, 2012