The Queen Is Dead – The episode opens with Laura Ashcattle (Rina Mahoney) feeding a pig a half-eaten apple before hitting it. Later, she joins a protest against King James I (Tony Curran) with the dead pig draped over her back. Inside the castle, King James listens to the “King James Spain F**ker” chants.

1620 – Prince Charles (Samuel Blenkin) sits on the floor in front of Queen Anne’s (Trine Dyrholm) corpse in a coffin. Sandie (Niamh Algar) spies on Sir Francis Bacon (Mark O’Halloran). Prince Charles confronts George Villiers (Nicholas Galitzine) about the two-week delay in burying Queen Anne. George assures him that it will happen. Charles complains about King James not visiting the deceased queen’s room. George urges him to get some sleep. Charles threatens to put pretty boys where they belong when he rules. George and Sir Francis bow to Charles before he walks away. George questions how long it will be before King James dies like Queen Anne. Sir Francis suggests he has between five and 10 years. Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore) questions how King James will cover Queen Anne’s funeral and warns of the backlash. He assures her that everything is under control. She says the king has disappeared. He claims the king is in mourning.

George finds King James dancing with several pretty boys. He confronts him about Queen Anne’s decaying corpse and warns that the people are angry. King James suggests he is responsible for some of the anger. George says Sir Walter Raleigh’s (Joseph Mawle) exaction was his idea. He urges the king to open the Parliament to raise new taxes to cover the queen’s state funeral. King James warns that the Parliament is eager for a war with Spain and to disparage his crown. George asks why he continues to hide when they need him.

When Mary complains about George’s attitude toward her, Sandie reminds her that she has plenty of money and no longer needs him. Mary fears if she leaves, George will be replaced and the Villiers lose everything. Sandie warns that Sir Francis is out to get her. Mary downplays her concern.

In a sleepy stupor, Prince Charles draws his sword on George. He tells him that he cannot sleep without it. George apologizes for wronging him and suggests they lessen the distance between King James and the deceased queen. A short time later, Queen Anne’s coffin is relocated to the king’s chamber and placed on his bed. King James takes a place beside the coffin. Sandie is attacked while following Sir Frances through the market. Sandie is attacked by following Sir Frances through the street market.

Parliament is called to order. King James explains why he shut Parliament for six years. He orders them to raise taxes to protect the realm. The members of Parliament roar in anger. He suggests Spain can be an ally. All goes quiet when the king asks if anyone would like to challenge. They chant “God save the king” as he is leaving. Sir Edward Coke (Adrian Rawlins) watches in silence.

Mary visits Sandie in the brig. Sandie voices concern about being executed for Sir David Graham’s (Angus Wright) murder. Mary promises to get her freed. As Queen Anne’s corpse is secured in a vault, King James recalls his first trip to see Anne. He questions his love for her. George professes to love King James who has some doubt. He asks him to do his duty. The king sends him away.

George is determined that his and Katherine Manners (Mirren Mack) unborn baby is a boy.  She asks about the origin of her new necklace. He claims Kit Villiers’ (Jacob McCarthy) friend, Donnelly swapped it and money for nobility and land. He admits to selling everything.

The Privy Council meets to discuss the new taxes. George and Sir Francis attend the meeting without King James. Some questions the effectiveness of the Privy Council. George assures him that it is effective. Sir Edward challenges him by recalling the impoverished state. George contributes it difficult times. The argument continues until George questions if this is about Frances Coke (Amelia Gething) who is married to John Villiers (Tom Victor). Sir Edward hopes God will strike him down if he ever acts like the Villiers. After resigning, he warns that Parliament will break down into three committees, one of which will focus on the Spanish threat and another, corruption of the state.

George and Sir Francis inform Gondomar (Unax Ugalde) of the Parliament’s plan. Sir Francis warns that Sir Edward is gunning for war with Spain. Gondomar suggests they still expect payment and questions what they will do with Sir Edward. George says they get King James involved but Gondomar is not so sure. Sir Francis suggests arranging a marriage between Prince Charles and the King of Spain’s daughter. George warns it would cause more riots. Gondomar believes the people of England would love the infanta.

Mary offers to ally with Sir Edward in exchange for Sandie’s freedom. He threatens to go after George after Sandie is executed. She pleads with him but he does not budge. Elsewhere, King James locks George out of his chambers. George warns that Sir Edward wants war with Spain and admits to being wrong about Parliament. King James says they are in God’s hands.

Frantic, Kit alerts George of a raid at his house as members of the Parliament are quickly approaching. They flee, leaving Katherine to deal with Sir Edward. She tries to bribe him with her new necklace and intimacy but he refuses. He orders the place searched. Kit and George go to Mary for help. She refuses to budge until they kneel in front of her. Kit kneels but George does so reluctantly. She agrees to help them but only if Sandie is pardoned. George promises to try. She urges him to tell Sir Edward that he will testify against Sir Francis. He says Sir Francis is his friend. Mary points out that Sir Edward is after him, not Sir Francis. She suggests Sir Edward would rather have a solid case against Sir Francis than three weak cases.

George visits Gondomar who questions why Sir Edward is not gunning for Sir Francis. Gondomar refuses to help him until George warns that his conviction would leave him without allies. George demands evidence that he is paying Sir Francis and promises to arrange Prince George and Infanta’s marriage.

Mary warns Sir Francis that she has evidence that he is in Gondomar’s pay. When he refutes her claim, she reads one of his letters. He reminds her that Wearstrap (Ryan Oliva) witnessed Graham’s death. Elsewhere, Kit kills Wearstrap. Sir Francis realizes Wearstrap is dead. Later, he is found guilty of corruption and banished from the court. Sir Edward hopes it’ll serve as a warning to others. Sandie is shown in handcuffs while Sir Coke says virtue still lives. Katherine asks George if he can believe all of this is his. He thinks their next house will be even bigger. George insists a boy will come. Sir Bacon asks if he can hold the girl, but Katherine refuses to let him do so. Her name is Mary although it wasn’t Katherine’s choice. Sir Bacon wants to speak to George. In private, Sir Bacon says he heard about the Infanta business. He asks if that’s how George tempted Diego Gondomar to throw him onto the heap.

George admits it was his idea. Bacon urges him to make sure Mary’s fingers are well away from it if he can convince the King and Charles to try it. Otherwise, she’ll get all the glory for making this union happen. Bacon asks if he’d hold it against him if he got some personal vengeance. Sandie speaks to Cassie in the back of a carriage. Sandie reveals her real name is Cliodhna and that’s why she changed it. Cassie asks what she did. Sandie says she killed a man and the King pardoned her. How she got the pardon is a long story. Cassie says a man came to her and said he’d prevent her from being hung if she delivered a message to Sandie. When Cassie pulls out a knife, Sandie offers to give her money. Cassie stabs her in the neck and kills her moments later.

 

Mary & George Review

George shuns Mary while getting closer to Sir Bacon who has been under the Gondomar’s pay for years. George convinces King James to reopen the Parliament. Wanting to avenge Frances’ pitiful marriage to John, Sir Edward Cole targets the Villiers. He resigns from the Privy Council and heads to sections of the Parliament to combat corruption of the state and wage war on Spain. Under threat of prosecution, George and Kit beg for Mary’s help. She agrees to help them but only after they kneel in front of her and George agrees to secure Sandie’s freedom.

George convinces the Gondomar to provide evidence of his connection to Sir Francis. He vows to arrange for Prince George to marry the Spanish Princess. Sir Francis is banished from court but not before he seeks approval from George to get revenge on Mary. Sandie is killed.

 

The episode deserves a 4.5 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, sports news, and much more.