OH, this is one of my new favorites! King Henry is so fabulous and dashing and debonair and courageous and honorable and quite polite when he wants to be. I love his jokes and his speeches and oh, everything! He might be my favorite Shakespearean character, (after Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing.)

I loved the assassination plot, and how Henry handled those evil conspirators. He's so self-assured and decisive. I loved seeing him so different from when he was younger in the "Henry IV" plays.
I loved seeing Henry interact with his common soldiers and officers and noble family, all different people from different classes. He seems to know just what to say to each person to bring out the best in them, to inspire them, and secure their loyalty and love.

I loved the scene when Henry is wooing Katherine. What a romantic charmer! He gives the most delightfully blunt speeches, and her shy responses were just perfection. Thank God, I took French in high school, so I was able to follow along a bit. I don't know of any other Shakespearean play where there is quite so much French dialogue.

I loved all the action and the war scenes, and half the common Englishmen challenging the other half to duels over trifling offenses. Those lusty soldier boys itching for battle just can't keep their swords out of mischief. I loved the insults that flew between the nobility too! The French Dauphin and Henry really had some great insulting repartee. Seeing both sides of the battle and the different attitudes of each army was incredible. Just brilliantly written!

Of course, I have read snippets of this play before, like the Saint Crispin's Day speech, but this is my first time reading the entire thing. I love it so much! This one will be a re-read in years to come.