War – As the finale of Mary & George begins, Prince Charles (Samuel Blenkin) approaches everyone in 1623. Charles sings for George Villiers (Nicholas Galitzine) and the others. Everyone claps for him. George is shown having sex with multiple people. Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore) sneaks up behind Sir Francis Bacon (Mark O’Halloran) and puts a knife to his neck. He asks if she has lost her nerve, but Mary believes his life is a better punishment. Francis complains about what Mary and her son have done to him. He surprises Mary by telling her that he asked for George’s permission to slay Sandie and George encouraged the act. George and Charles meet the Infanta. They find it odd that they traveled all this way with no soldiers or diplomats.

George says men with peace in their hearts need no army. They ask if Charles thought he could sing a song for her and steal her away to England. George thinks the union would greatly benefit Spain. They want Prince Charles to convert to Catholicism. George admits they can’t agree to that because it would be so unpopular. Once the Infanta leaves, Charles says Mary would know what to do. King James I (Tony Curran) finds Mary after a wheel shattered under her. He explains he needs to rest out there and someone will get a horse for her. Mary explains she doesn’t ride because a horse threw her as a child. George approaches the Chief Negotiator to ask what they can offer to bring them back to the table. He offers to give him whatever he wants. George says Spain will thrive if Charles and the Infanta marry.

George warns him that the people who defy him regret it. He threatens to destroy him and his entire country. George claims to be the King and England. Mary tells James he had another fit as he was leaving his carriage. He asks Dr. Harvey (Jim Sturgeon) to let him say goodbye to Mary. Once the doctor leaves, Mary says she sees little care in Harvey. James says George loves Harvey. He believes they write letters to each other and agree on his treatment. Mary thinks she knows what men of feeling need so she asks James to share it with her. James argues that George wouldn’t like it. Mary believes a mother’s love is different because it’s unbending. James confesses that he never had a mother. Mary already knows. Charles complains that they’re fleeing from the talk like weak fools.

George believes the Infanta wanted him but they did not. Charles wants to know what happened. George explains he spoke to the negotiator and it was all a lie. They wanted to drag it out to embarrass them. He told George that the Infanta is the best of Spain and she deserves better than a weak boy. Charles feels he’s been mocked his entire life. He’d rather die than return to disgrace. George says that’s why they’re going to make the Spanish pay. He wants to go to the King and tell him they escaped Spain as heroes. When they return to James, Charles says they did their best. James doesn’t want to hear it today. Mary tells George and Charles that they look like brothers. Mary reveals the king sought new advice and company. She wanted George to dominate him when she trusted him.

She believes she can offer him protection from his worst instinct which is George. George argues he has nothing to be sorry for. Mary tells George that no one lies with James anymore. Next, James takes medicine and asks Mary if she spoke to George. She says he didn’t say what went wrong in Madrid so she thinks that tells its own story. George and Charles join them moments later. Charles says he performed beautifully and won the Infanta, but the Spanish swine would not let them. James reminds them they were there to save them from war. James thinks the whole thing was a desperate failure. When they leave, George tells Charles that James flinched when he kissed him and he’s never done that before.

Charles approaches Mary to ask for her guidance. He questions what they should do about Spain. Mary says there is no simple fix and it’ll take real resolve. She questions why he is really there and where George is. James awakes from a nightmare and tells George he dreamt of thunder. He takes James for a walk and shows him what he’s set up for him. James sits on the bed and drinks. They kiss before James asks him to screw him alive again. Later, James asks George what happened over there. George says they did everything right, especially Charles. He says the Spanish are monsters and deceitful men of no faith. All they wanted to do was demean them. George questions whether he’ll let that stand. Mary sees them through the window. Charles tells her there is no need to be jealous because it’s a different love.

Mary claims George only loves one person and it isn’t James. George tells Mary that James agrees they need a show of unity and strength in response to Spain’s action in Madrid. They’ve been too soft on the Spanish. Mary suggests he’ll risk war to hide his failure. James interrupts to say George and James will be going to London to address their concerns about the Madrid business. Mary will go home. James insists they all want peace although a message can still be sent. Charles and George meet Sir Edward Coke (Adrian Rawlins) to say George will speak in Parliament this week explaining what they went through in Spain. George says they went to build peace but Spain wasn’t interested. They want Edward to guarantee the speech is well received. If they’re ready to match their fighting words with action, Edward will do it.

George immediately says yes while Charles reluctantly does. Next, George speaks in Parliament. He argues they should fight to establish a true and lasting forever peace. Mary finds James in what he calls his new palace. She says was is inevitable although James thought it was just a show of strength. He says he is still king and decides whether war is waged. James doesn’t think George and Charles would lie to him. Mary says war can still be undone. James questions whether it is too late. He pours out his brandy. In a carriage, Charles asks George if they’ll actually go to war with Spain with no standing army. George suggests they will if they must.

He tells Charles that war will make him. When they see a fire in the distance, George gets out and tells Charles to make sure the King is safe. George finds James on the ground. James questions whether war is coming. He says men have been trying to kill him his entire life and he made himself. George claims he wants peace as well although James says he only brings death. He thinks his son brings the same. James calls George a traitor. Mary denies it and says he has just been ill-advised. James strips George of all his titles and says he’ll hang for treason. He gets sick because he has inhaled smoke. George and Mary send Charles to get the physician. Once they’re alone, George and Mary worry James will give Charles the same order and George will be executed.

George tries to drown James who begins fighting back. Then, George begins covering his mouth and nose. James eventually dies. Charles enters and finds his father deceased. George kisses his hand. Later, George and Katherine have a child. Charles becomes King. In 1628, a man asks George where his men are heading. George says they’re going to France to fight with them again. As the guy keeps asking questions, George calls him the maudlin type. He doesn’t mind that at all. The guy tells him he’s climbing the wrong tree. He refuses to go to George’s room. The man reveals he slept under George at La Rochelle. He ends up killing George for his lost friends who died in a war of nothing that he made. Mary finds out moments later.

 

Mary & George Review

The finale of Mary and George at least wrapped up the story so viewers won’t have to worry about a second series. Nevertheless, it would be hard to say the finale managed to make the series worthwhile. The end of the story was rushed to the point that James and George’s death felt flat and unemotional. Then again, the characters were never easy to care about so that may have been the case regardless.

More should’ve been done to make those two characters more likable or more hated so their deaths would’ve been impactful. Anyone looking for historical accuracy should look elsewhere because Mary & George gets it wrong most of the time. Even a war and the deaths of two main characters weren’t able to make this episode a satisfying finale.

Thankfully, there was no setup for a second series. The finale scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of Mary & George are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Discuss this show with friends at the Reel Mockery Forum.