While not possessing the same vibrant personality as the initial installment of Henry IV, this remains a captivating viewing experience lasting around two hours, illustrating the waning strength of one monarch and the rise of another. Jeremy Irons portrays Henry IV alongside his court, whose perceptions of the younger "Hal," played by Tom Hiddleston, have shifted somewhat after he overcame Hotspur, but now the king’s health is failing and factions in northern England are looking for an opportunity to exact retribution. Simultaneously, Simon Russell Beale embodies Falstaff, who has incurred the displeasure of the Lord Chief Justice (Geoffrey Palmer), who considers him – with justification – a detrimental influence on the young prince and orders him to assemble a group of soldiers ready to confront the rebels. It turns out that those he gathers, equipped with makeshift wooden pitchforks and plagued by illness and hunger, are not particularly effective, nor do his carelessly spoken remarks about the prince to his lover "Doll" (Maxine Peake) help his situation. One might wonder if his good fortune is diminishing? Regarding the war itself, some clever maneuvering prevents another major conflict, but this unfolds as their king begins to lose control of his kingdom, necessitating that Henry V be prepared to take over – decisively discarding those he had relied on and who had come to rely on him. Falstaff appears frequently throughout, and while Beale’s performance is exceptional, I felt the character—lacking its usual humor and indulgence—to be somewhat less appealing, which speaks volumes about the actor's ability to inhabit his role so completely. Hiddleston doesn't quite measure up; with a lack of sparkle in his eyes, his portrayal struggles slightly to convey a more serious Prince Henry. Nevertheless, the adaptation by Sir Richard Eyre, a strong ensemble cast and some truly impressive production design combine to deliver an engaging and character-focused drama that successfully transports Shakespeare’s narrative of politics, power, and influence into modern times.

Source on TMDB