First, you can see the final season of AMC's Mad Men, to learn if Don Draper's way continue to lead to demise and destruction, or if he can pull out of his tailspin and redeem himself. At a minimum, you get to relive the fashions from that period and either remember the time fondly or thank the heavens for the end of plaid suits. This trailer highlights a few moments from the earlier seasons leading us to where we are today. It will all be wrapped up with 7 more episodes starting tomorrow (April 5).
Next, if you are in the mood for another Easter special tomorrow, you have a choice of an old classic, Cecil B. Demille's Ten Commandments on ABC, or the new series 12-part series A.D. on NBC. This is another series from the creators of History Channel's The Bible, and it appears to be just as gory as it covers the New Testament this time. Here is a trailer for the new show. In case you are rusty on the story, NBC helps us out:
The immediate aftermath of Christ's death had a massive impact on his disciples, his mother, Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world in an instant. Beginning at that fateful moment of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, "A.D. The Bible Continues" will focus on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Christ to a world dominated by political unrest, and the start of a whole new religion that would dramatically reshape the history of the world.
Jesus (Juan Pablo Di Pace) dies on the cross at the hands of the Romans, deserted by even his most loyal followers. Peter (Adam Levy) and the disciples are hunted by Temple authorities led by High Priest Caiaphas (Richard Coyle) and Roman soldiers under orders from Governor Pontius Pilate (Vincent Regan). For the tiny band of followers, every day is a fight for survival, and their mission to spread the word to the world seems impossible.
Yet, they have hope and soon they have power: the amazing miracle of the Resurrection and the shocking arrival of the Holy Spirit upon them all at Pentecost enables them to inspire more and more people to join. The growing church brings challenges for Peter, John (Babou Alieu Ceesay) and Mary Magdalene (Chipo Chung), who are pushed to the limit; they face trials and imprisonments, persecutions and punishments while trying to understand the God-given power granted to them as they transition from the sorrow of Christ's ultimate sacrifice to the awe-inspiring wonder of the Resurrection and beyond.
And finally, tomorrow night you can sit back and enjoy a terrific tale of power, intrigue, high crimes, murders, kingdoms, and excommunication. Yes, the tale of Thomas Cromwell and his services to English King Henry VIII. PBS' Masterpiece brings you Wolf Hall, based on author Hillary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies. In this trailer, you can get a sense of the whole story, which will play out over six episodes over six Sundays. Here are a few words from PBS:
A historical drama for a modern audience, Wolf Hall tells the story of Thomas Cromwell, played by Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night)—a blacksmith’s son who rises from the ashes of personal disaster, and deftly picks his way through a court where ‘man is wolf to man.’ Damian Lewis (Homeland) is King Henry VIII, haunted by his brother’s premature death and obsessed with protecting the Tudor dynasty by securing his succession with a male heir to the throne. The cast also includes Claire Foy (Little Dorrit) as the future queen Anne Boleyn.
Told from Cromwell’s perspective, Wolf Hall follows the complex machinations and back room dealings of this accomplished power broker who must serve king and country while dealing with deadly political intrigue, Henry VIII’s tempestuous relationship with Anne Boleyn, and the religious upheavals of the Protestant reformation.
Ms. Mantel's story has also been made into a play now being seen on Broadway. This is the season of Cromwell, a man from humble beginnings who touched the sun only to be thrown back to earth. A tale for all times.
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