The long-awaited second season of “Wolf Hall,” titled “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light,” has made a triumphant return to PBS Masterpiece. Creator Peter Straughan, recent Oscar winner for “Conclave,” continues his adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s celebrated literary series on King Henry VIII, brilliantly portrayed by Damian Lewis, and his chief adviser, Thomas Cromwell, played by Mark Rylance. The season draws on the final novel of the “Wolf Hall” trilogy focusing on the complex character of Cromwell as he ascends to the title of Lord Privy Seal, scraping closer to the light of power whilst anticipating the inevitable mirror of his demise.

The newest season opens following the brief and tumultuous reign of Anne Boleyn, skillfully portrayed by Claire Foy, and Henry’s preparations to marry his third wife, the devout Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips). Amid a kingdom agitated by religious upheaval and a volatile, unpredictable monarch, Cromwell is steadfast, adjusting the chessboard of the Tudor court while wrestling with his own internal turmoil.

Cromwell’s mental and physical exhaustion become progressively visible as he grapples with guilt and spectral apparitions of his past. Nightmares of Anne and his former mentor, the executed Cardinal Wolsey (Jonathan Pryce), frequent his dreams, reminding him of his humble roots and the cruelly materialistic nature of his position as the king’s servant.

The second episode titled “Obedience” further explores Cromwell’s self-reflection as a confrontation with Wolsey’s illegitimate daughter, Dorothea (Hannah Khalique-Brown), forces him to review his collusion in the king’s cruel actions and his betrayal of his personal values. Despite the absence of Foy’s Anne, the Tudor court is still replete with icy intrigue and unspoken threat.

The masterful performance by Rylance permeates the series as the audience is absorbed into Cromwell’s introspection, his attempts to navigate the deadly labyrinth of the royal court. The drama has a more subtle, sinister undertone, devoid of its prior drama but filled with a palpable tension.

After a decade-long hiatus, “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” continues seamlessly. The reunion of Straughan and director Peter Kosminsky, who directs all six episodes, delivers a superb narrative immersed in the aura of 16th-century England. The series expertly weaves flashbacks and character expectations to create a sense of continuity and heighten the dramatic stakes.

The performances by Rylance and Lewis are powerhouse, perfectly portraying the fraught relationship between the king and his advisor. As King Henry's patience with Cromwell wanes, Rylance superbly captures the essence of a man cornered by his destiny. King Henry's decline and resulting cruelty are thrown into sharp relief through Lewis's portrayal, further accentuating the tension of the series.

Straughan’s focus on the overlooked character of Cromwell offers a unique angle to the Internationally familiar narrative of King Henry’s reign, thus presenting a fresh perspective on life under the mercurial rule of a king. Catch "Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light" airing from March 23 on PBS Masterpiece, with new episodes every week on Sundays.