Mrs Wilson Episode 1 Recap

As the episode begins, we see a woman lighting a match and burning a letter. Alison Wilson (Ruth Wilson) burns pictures of herself and her husband Alexander (Iain Glen). She writes about her life. Then, we jump back to London in 1963. Alison works as a typist. After work, Alison returns home. She finds Alexander typing. Alex is on the final chapter of his book. Alison reminds her husband to take her pills. He tells him that she needs to return to work at 2. A short time later, Alison finds Alex on the ground in the bedroom. Alison tries to revive her husband, but it is too late. She calls Father Timothy (Ian McElhinney). She tells him about Alec’s heart problem.

Later, she calls Coleman. She explains that Alec told her to call that number. She lets them know that he has passed. She is told to just act normal. Timothy arrives and prays for Alec. When Timothy leaves the room, Alison takes her husband’s wallet. She hides the wallet from Timothy and locks it away. Alison’s son, Nigel (Otto Farrant), arrives home. She tells him the bad news. She confirms that she has called Gordon. That night, Alison scrubs the floors and tries to forget her husband’s passing. The doorbell rings out and stopped her. It is Olive (Joy Richardson) with a gift. After giving her condolences, Olive leaves. Nigel looks at home videos of the family. A stranger arrives at the door.

The woman becomes distraught when she learns that Alison was Alec’s wife. She explains that she is Gladys Wilson (Elizabeth Rider). She insists that she is Alexander’s wife too and not his ex-wife. Gladys wants to collect her husband’s belongings. Alison closes the door on her. She lies about the woman to Nigel. That night, Alison scours through her husband’s belongings. We see that Alison was cleared to work in intelligence. She is told to lie about her work. She is told that she will be listen in on phone calls. She is assigned to Mr. Wilson. Alison learns that Alexander is married and writes mystery novels. Alex seems to take a liking to Alison. They begin dating.

On their date, they speak about Alison’s boss Coleman (Fiona Shaw). Alison requests to ask about his books. He insists that they’re not that interesting. Dorothy Wick (Keeley Hawes) speaks with Alison in the bathroom. Alison’s relationship with Alexander continues to deepen. Alec tells Alison about the secrets he has to keep from his wife and family. He explains that he believes his wife is going to leave him. Alison wakes up. Nigel is told he doesn’t have to go to school. Alison heads out for the day. She visits Coleman. She tells Coleman about Gladys’s visiting last night. Alison admits she was unable to find divorce papers for them. Coleman alludes to the fact that Alec might have been married still. She admits it is possible.

Alison refuses to believe it. Coleman tells her how hard it would have been for a Catholic to get a divorce. She also tells Alison that she knew what she was getting into. In a flashback, we see Alec give Alison a birthday gift. She is shown divorce papers. Alison writers a letter home and lies about the pen to her mother. She also lies about her line of work. Alison’s apartment building is bombed. She is mostly unharmed, but shaken up. She seeks out Alec for comfort and a place to stay. Alison begins staying with Alec. They sleep together. In the morning, Alison finds Alec praying. In the present, Alison begins making arrangements for Alec’s funeral. Gordon wants to speak about his dad’s work.

Dennis Wilson (Patrick Kennedy) arrives outside. He explains that his mother sent him. Alison shows him their marriage certificate. Dennis notices that Alec changed his date of birth and other things. Dennis insists there was never a divorce. Dennis insists they need the body for the funeral. His mother has already arranged things. Alison claims to have prove that Gladys signed the divorce papers. She is told to bring the papers as soon as she can. We jump back to London in 1942. Alec and Alison have a baby together. Alec tells his wife that he has been asked to go undercover. He explains that he’ll be fired by the department to get the traitor’s trust.

Alex is arrested for wearing uniform under false pretenses. Alison sees the story in the newspaper. Back in the present, Alison prepares to return to work. In the past, Alison beings to wonder where Alec could be. Coleman tells Alison to go home. She is told to stop asking questions. Alec arrives home in time for Christmas. Alison goes on the hunt for divorce papers. She is told that Gladys and Alexander are still married according to the records. She scours through the archives. Alison eventually forges her own divorce documents. In the past, Alec tells Alison that they want him to remain undercover. In the present, she finishes the forged document.

She takes it to Dennis the following day. Alison looks over their house, while Dennis fetches Gladys. Alison snoops around and finds a letter from Alex to the family. She also finds a picture of him with them. She breaks it when Dennis walks in. Gladys refuses to see Alison. She gives the document to Dennis and explains that it got lost in the war. Dennis doesn’t believe the document. He suggests that Alec might have forged it. Dennis threatens to go to the police and have Alison investigated for bigamy. She breaks down. Dennis explains that they just want the body for the funeral. Alison picks up the glass shards and cuts herself. She tells Dennis that the body is with the undertakers in Ealing. She is told she can have her mass as long as the body is brought to Southsea afterwards.

Alison insists that her sons must never find out. Nigel offers to help with the last minute details. Alison decides to take care of them on her own. She speaks with the undertaker to have the date of birth changed. She gets everything sorted out. Nigel enters and insists he wants to see him. The undertaker agrees to prepare the viewing room. They enjoy a drink together afterwards. They chat about school and Nigel’s future. Alison apologizes for not being there enough. The family prepares for the mass. Alison slaps Gordon after he makes a joke about women. Alison notices Dorothy at the mass. Dorothy leaves during the mass.

Alison is surprised when Bert Ashby (Joseph Mydell) tells her about Alec’s relationship with the hospital. She pretends to know what he is talking about. The body is transported to Southsea. Alison tells the boys that Gladys is going to be there. She tells a lie about who she really is. Dennis and Gladys are there. The body is buried. Alison thanks Dennis. He explains he did it for dad. Dennis doesn’t want a headstone. Alison asks Dennis if Alec stayed the night when he visited. He admits that he did not. Dennis asks to stay in touch and meet up some day. Alison doesn’t want that. When alone, Alison speaks to Alec. Shahbaz Karim interrupts and explains that he wanted to pay his respect. Alec was his best friend in India before the war.

The man mentions Dorothy. He also speaks about the real reason Alec went undercover in 1942. He tells Alison to speak to Coleman.

 

Mrs. Wilson Review

Mrs. Wilson is a little bit slow. It is based on a true story, but still a little difficult to believe. Nevertheless, the story is pretty interesting and the acting is great. It is only three episodes long so it shouldn’t drag out too much. I enjoyed the opener. It did a good job showing that Alison did indeed have suspicions about her husband. She put those aside to stay with the man she loved. Now, she has more questions than answers. Who is Dorothy? Was Alexander still married?

I am definitely eager to learn the answers. The open scores a 7.5 out of 10.