‘Becoming Elizabeth’ Recap: ‘Lighten Our Darkness’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Becoming Elizabeth’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There comes a point in our lives, where we realize that we can no longer drift and let our worries about tomorrow hang heavy over our heads and souls. For there is a life to live and a world to seize and to do anything outside of the seizing the day when we reach that threshold, would be unnecessary punishment. For reaching this point means we ready to take on the world and be the person we think we can be, and that day is so important and so vibrant that it pops up often in storytelling. So that audiences and reader alike can be inspired to take charge of their lives and carpe diem the instant they walk out of the multiplex or put their book down or turn off their television. 
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But while that is indeed always lovely to find within the framework of any story, there is one particular problem with how this is presented in print or on the screen. In that, the character that chooses to stand tall, always knows where they are headed. Making their decision quite simple in nature and well… let’s be honest, that’s a little too escapist in a way. Since so many of us are searching for our true north, sometimes even when we think we’ve found what we are looking for. Which is why stories that take the time to really show us how people come to this decision in the raw, should be commended. Since they take us on a powerful journey full of doubt and concern and failure before the hero emerges into their own and it just so happens that a realistic voyage to personal enlightenment serves as the focus of the next episode of Becoming Elizabeth on STARZ.

For when we catch up with Princess Elizabeth Tudor in ‘Lighten Our Darkness’, she is simply lost. For she is now living within the home of the man that was there the day her father died, and she of course… is deathly concerned that she might be carrying Thomas’ child and might be seen in a negative light by the people if word were to get out as to what happened at Chelsea. Forcing her to lay low, wait for her menstrual cycle and try to figure out a way forward, and find purpose… and for a great deal of time in this tale, she simply does not. Which is realistic and powerful for certain, since her emotions and worries here are precisely what the rest of us have felt or will feel at some point in our lives and what was amazing, was that having her be lost to the wind mentally and desperately searching for purpose and direction… allowed for the story to explore so much more.

Such as how the Duke of Somerset was in the midst of flexing his muscles with Elizabeth basically sidelined. For as King Edward VI continued to speak to the power of the protestant arm of religion and how it should dominate jolly old England, the duke was sure to use that edict to scare the ever-living daylights out of any and all Catholic churches. By having his own thugs go in and rob those churches of their gold and other valuables to send a message and to use those goods for sale to replenish the war fund, which was going poorly by the way. But that aside, it was obvious that the duke’s shadow actions and decisions made him quite the powerful man in England. One whose power may know no bounds since not even a visit from Mary brought forth any concerns or troubles about his actions behind the scenes.

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Not to mention, bad news also allowed for him to escape accountability from the young king. For there was quite the unfortunate tragedy in this tale. Because as time passed and Elizabeth continued to wander, Catherine had her baby and, in the process, seemingly reformed Thomas Seymour. Making it appear as though happy days were coming to Chelsea at last, courtesy of this newly formed and close family. But alas, the good times simply weren’t meant to last. For Catherine’s biggest fears about what this child may do to her body came to fruition. For she came down with a nasty fever and eventually passed away. Leaving Thomas beside himself and away from that place and having to bear the news to the King kept any accountability regarding the northern war off of Edward Seymour’s back. 
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But what was unique about this, was that Catherine’s passing started the process to allow for Elizabeth to begin to find herself and what she really wanted out of life. Because it handed her Chelsea on a platter and that took her by surprise, as did the kind words of her host and the various advice that Robert Dudley and her sister offered her. Since everyone basically informed her that there was no avoiding scrutiny because of her standing in this life and that perhaps the best thing to do… was to quit hiding and just live that life and figure out post haste who she wanted to be and what she wanted out of life, and she took that advice to heart and came to understand… she wanted in on leadership… in any capacity.

Which in turn, motivated her to take control of Chelsea and make it her home, and once that was in order, she opted to return to the world and hold court with her brother. So that he could hear a proper apology and offer forgiveness so that life would quickly and easily move on since actions would cease any and all words behind the scenes. And it just so happened, that her plan worked, and she was back in her brother’s favor… and she was ready to use her brother’s standing and power… to watch and learn and see, how a country is run and what it means to yield the power of the crown. Putting her on the first steps toward becoming a queen… provided of course, Thomas’ request doesn’t sideline her once again. 

But while we wait to see what comes of that wild and outlandish request, we can revel in another realistic and powerful tale. One that truly showed us how in order to find our way forward in life, we have to get lost and be in a void for a little bit, before we are ready to take on advice and look at our lives objectively, so we can finally decide where we want to be and once again, this show deserves a round of applause for adding that kind of realistic depth into a segment of history that we often view in an unrealistic light. For it reminds us that Elizabeth Tudor was a person, first. One filled with the same doubts as the rest of us and it will be truly interesting to see what the next chapter of her young life looks like, now that there is purpose in her heart and soul. Until next time.

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