The Hunt – The episode opens in 1615. Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore) visits a brothel to meet Sir David Graham (Angus Wright). Sandie (Niamh Algar) informs her of the price increase. Mary declines her services before joining Graham at a table nearby. He admits to trusting no one before introducing her to his man, Wearstrap (Ryan Oliva). He says King James I (Tony Curran) will attend the races at New Market and offers to position George Villiers (Nicholas Galitzine) where he will be seen. She is offended by the offer. Graham assures her that it is a rare opportunity as the Earl of Somerset (Laurie Davidson) has been keeping the king preoccupied. Mary reminds him that the king and Queen Anne (Trine Dyrholm) defended George over Somerset. He claims the queen hates Somerset and suggests she was intrigued by George’s feminine side.

New Market – George finds himself not alone but among a large group of pretty boys. A man sarcastically says George thought he would be the only one there but all the Peacock Petes had the same idea. George claims to be there on business. The man offers to pay him for his time but George refuses. As the king’s entourage passes, George is practically stampeded by the other pretty boys. Upon returning home, he tells Mary that the information she received about the road being clear was wrong.

While out hunting, Mary informs George of John Villiers (Tom Victor) being ill. They find Laura Ashcattle’s (Rina Mahoney) hound deceased. She believes John is responsible. He suggests the hound attacked John but she disagrees because it was docile. She warns that John will not be marriageable if anyone finds out. He assures her that no one would marry him anyway. She says the Chief Justice, Sir Edward Coke (Adrian Rawlins) wants a delegate man to wed his daughter, Frances Coke (Amelia Gething). She admits John has a violent tendency. George shoots the dead hound and delivers it to Ashcattle, claiming it was an accident. After assessing the hound, she refutes his claim because the evidence does not fit his story. She warns him against lying to her.

The Villiers watch Frances struggles to get out of the carriage. Mary tells George that Lady Hatton (Nicola Walker) inherited her first husband’s wealth, estate, and name when he died. At dinner, Lady Hatton says John is not good enough for Frances. She tells Mary that she would rather kill Frances than fund the dowry from her own inheritance. She boasts of having her own money, otherwise she would be scrapping for coins. As she prepares to leave, Mary says John has not spoken yet. Lady Hatton attributes John’s lack of sense to the umbilical cord around his neck when Mary was pregnant with him. She calls George a “sodomite” and insults Sir Thomas Compton (Sean Gilder) before ordering Frances to leave with her. Sir Edward apologizes. After everyone leaves the table, John tells Ashcattle that he accidentally killed her hound.

Mary and George visit the brothel to meet Graham to request a brief meeting with the queen. Graham reminds her that the queen hates him. Mary suggests enticing her with the possibility of getting Somerset out of King James’ bed. During the meeting, Queen Anne agrees to give George a stage position that will put him in the king’s view. George and King James make eye contact during the performance. Queen Anne presents George to the king as a replacement for Somerset. Later, Somerset finds George with the king in his chambers and throws him out.

Mary pays Sandie for sex. Elsewhere, Somerset compares George to the plague that never goes away. He assures George that he would have stopped King James from making him noble. George says it is a shame he was not there. Somerset warns him to be cautious during today’s hunt. Back at the brothel, Mary asks Sandie about her past but she refuses to share it with anyone. Mary explains her plan for George. Sandie urges her to clean her house because someone is seeking information about her.

Mary finds Xander (Ankur Bahl) in his vandalized office. He says a “paragon of evil” demanded information and when he refused, they broke his finger. He admits to telling them that Sir George Villiers (Simon Russell Beale) bribed the Beaumonts to claim you as part of their family.

Sir Somerset gets upset when King James finds George amusing. The king intervenes to stop him from attacking George. Countess Somerset (Pearl Chanda) watches from her seat. During the hunt, King James warns George to watch his back because one of the boys died after falling from his horse. Spotting a wild animal, the hunting party comes to a halt. All is quiet when George coughs. Seconds later, the animal appears. During the pursuit, Somerset knocks George from his horse. The hunters surround the stag. George runs headfirst into a tree. King James finds him lying on the ground. Riding double, the king asks if Somerset pushed him. George says it was his fault. The king asks who he is protecting. When they catch up with the hunting party, Somerset reminds the king that they do not go back for fallen riders. The king asks if he wants to lecture them on morality. Somerset denies any connection to George’s accident. The king says George said the same thing and gives him his sword to put the stag out of misery. He covers George’s cheeks with the stag’s blood.

While treating George’s bruised shoulder with wintergreen ointment, Dr. Harvey (Jim Sturgeon) says someone tampered with the boy’s saddle after he road with the king. He warns that the person responsible has men everywhere.

Sandie and Mary serve Graham and Wearstrap prunes. Graham tells her that he has proof that she is not a Beaumont. En route to a pub to celebrate George’s success, Graham and Wearstrap get extremely sick. Mary says the brothel puts drugs in the prunes to rob their clients. The men collapse on the ground.

King James visits George in the night for sex. Wearstrap survives the drugged prunes. He gives Graham’s ring and Xander’s signed statement to Sir Francis Bacon (Mark O’Halloran). The episode ends.

 

Mary & George Review

Not much has changed, other than the sex scenes becoming more graphic. Scenes with an ounce of substance are overshadowed by the idiocy. Nicola Walker is one of my favorite English actors. Normally, I would be thrilled to see her in another role but not this time.

The dialogue is mostly cringeworthy and empty. Nothing about the series would entice me to keep watching if I wasn’t recapping. The episode deserves a 4 out of 10. Get more Mary & George recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV show releases, wrestling, crime, celebrity news, and more.