‘Becoming Elizabeth’ Recap: ‘To Laugh, To Lie, To Flatter, To Face’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Becoming Elizabeth’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
We like to believe, that the end of a particularly ugly crisis in our lives, means that better times are ahead, and we hold to that belief for one simple reason. In that, we just want to move on. For we had our fill of the drama and the awful feelings it sent our way. So, just pushing past the ugly would be the best thing for everyone, as it would allow for the pain to end and the healing to begin, and for life to go on. But alas, it turns out that such simplicity only occurs at the end of minor problems in our lives, the kind that don’t have all that much meaning but in the moment. But the big stuff, the life-changing matters that utterly disrupt our world… well it turns out that the fallout from that, is lasting, as evidenced by this week’s episode of Becoming Elizabeth on STARZ.
​
For when we catch up with the Tudor family in ‘To Laugh, To Lie, To Flatter, To Face’, everyone quickly came to learn that King Edward VI and his new Lord Protector… were reeling from the mess that the Seymour family brought forth. To the point where the dear King felt humiliated and ignored, and as though his reign as the Sovereign Leader of the people of England was viewed as nothing more than a great big joke. Which of course, as history has taught us time and time again, men and boys without maturity, that suffer from those kinds of worries, are quick to bring forth hell upon those around them to change those particular concerns… and the good King was no exception to this unspoken and unfortunate rule.

Because he quickly doubled down on the concept that England was to be a protestant nation and that all of the dissent could be easily quelled through some bold actions. Which is why the churches were once again robbed of their goods, only this time they were burned instead of sold, and that is also why… dissenters and enemies of the crown were burned at the stake in front of a live audience. To hammer home just how little appetite the King now had for all this talk of revolution and action against nobility and well, once Edward felt comfortable with this shift in tone for the people of England, he turned his attention to this family, to keep order in his own house and that led to plenty of strife and pain for Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth.

For the king believed that both of them… harbored too much power and were in essence, an embarrassment to court. After all, neither of them was married, nor were they using their standing to help England abroad and of course, not being at a husband’s whim allowed for conflict and challenge to come the King’s way. Which is why he decreed that both of them were to be married to the right prince (for ‘political’ reasons, of course), and that they were no longer to question him or make demands that benefitted them over his wishes and the people of England. A move that put Mary and Elizabeth on two fascinating paths. One of which taught Elizabeth another powerful lesson… in that, she had little control over her freedom and her fate. 

---

A reality that led to some compliance from Elizabeth, since she knew that fighting her brother constantly would undoubtedly lead to a horrific fate. One that would leave her in agony both mentally and physically… so it was best to go along and see where fate would take her and make the most of it. A choice that may have shocked some that watch since one would never think that the iconic, future Queen Elizabeth I… would ever acquiesce in that manner. But this was nothing more than a grand learning opportunity for Elizabeth. Wherein the lesson regarding her freedom taught her that if the opportunity arose, to forge her own destiny in a fearless manner. An epiphany that undoubtedly laid down the foundation for her reign as well, since she also came to learn that respecting others in kind, could go a long way in leadership.
​
However, while there was wonder to be found in Elizabeth’s journey here, Mary’s was far darker. For she truly took her brother’s actions as an outright assault on her and her love of Catholicism and God. To the point where she began to wonder if she even had a future in England. For this was now a wasteland to her religion and a place where she would be subject to the wishes of the King. But rather than run as she originally thought about doing, she instead opted… to stay behind and plan on how best to fight the King’s push to remove her love of God from the world. A move that also likely cemented the future for Mary as well. Since her love of God and her belief that England was a Catholic country dominated her reign and well, it would seem her fight will be brief since her time as Queen might be drawing near.

For this episode also featured another touch of history. Because near the end of this tale, King Edward VI found himself feeling a touch under the weather and harboring a nasty cough. One that featured a touch of blood in said cough. Which means this story is inching toward the moment when King Edward grew ill with the sickness that would end his reign and that could potentially allow for us to see what life was like at a time where more chaos surrounded the Monarchy. For no good can come out of a weak and ailing ruler, one that might not be of sound mind and body and well… that is likely pushing us toward an intense season finale as a sickness and desperation take hold of a young King that simply isn’t ready to rule.

But while we wait for the next chapter in this tale, and the tough times that await this family… we can relish in another wonderfully human tale. For this one really did explore how ugly actions linger and lead to fascinating and far-reaching consequences and strife. Since Elizabeth was truly caught between two worlds again as she worked to find her identity and her purpose in this life, and it was powerful to see the future Queen Mary begin to form her ideologies as a leader and well, one can’t help but feel a touch of pity for the King. Because he is at heart, just a boy. One that was thrust into a man’s job and a world he doesn’t understand and his response… while awful and harrowing…. was indeed the end result of a boy that cannot reconcile the troubles of the world in this era, and well, all this episode does is leave us starving for more of this magnificent world. So, we can immerse ourselves within this incredibly refreshing take on the Tudor family, one grounded in humanity over mystique. Until next time.

---

Powered by JustWatch