‘Becoming Elizabeth’ Recap: ‘What Cannot Be Cured’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Becoming Elizabeth’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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At some point or another in our lives, we will find ourselves facing quite the painful and unsettling moment. One where people we thought were genuinely loyal to us, outright betray us and hurt us and leave us beside ourselves in a stunned manner. For we truly believe that people we know well and love, are incapable of causing us great harm. But someone will prove otherwise and that will put us at quite the crossroads. One where we will eventually have to reconcile that betrayal in a manner that is noble and honorable, so we don’t stoop to their level and feel better about everything… when the dust settles far down the line. So that we can move on and apply the lessons their betrayal taught us about trust and loyalty, and that means there is true beauty to be found in this ugly moment.
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In that, we will be okay, and we will pick up the pieces and live a wonderful new life with people that we can in fact, trust through and through. Which is why we only really give this moment emotional power as it plays out, since deep down we know this too shall pass. But what would happen if by chance, a grand betrayal didn’t just fade with time and logic? What if say… the person that turned upon us, risked more than our relationship with them, and created some major trouble instead? The kind that could impact our future and our very lives? Would we still respond in a noble manner? Or would we perhaps do something drastic to ensure our safety? Well, those are terrifying questions that some people have had to deal with throughout history, such as the Tudor family, as evidenced by this week’s episode of Becoming Elizabeth on STARZ.

For when we return to England in ‘What Cannot Be Cured’, there is chaos in the country at every level. Because not only is the King’s inner circle dealing with the betrayal that Thomas Seymour brought to King Edward’s private chambers, but Norfolk is slipping into chaos. Courtesy of a growing rebellion that stemmed from the King’s decision to make great changes to religion and well, in order to begin to put the pieces of the King’s Court back together… a great deal of people was posed with those very questions. Such as Princess Elizabeth for instance. Because was simply beside herself. For she couldn’t believe that the man she was to marry was capable of this kind of cruelty and treachery and well, she was faced with a simple choice in the matter.

In that, she could use her power and her influence to fight for Thomas every step of the way and stand by her love and try to forge a better way where his reasons were explored, and concerns addressed… or she could follow the clear direction coming from John Dudley. Wherein she needed to just paint Thomas Seymour as a traitor and disavow him and turn her back on him. Simply because this was going to get worse before it got better and any allies that could be rooted out regarding Thomas’ weird plan to kidnap the King… would be brought to swift and painful justice. Which meant, that staying true here and trying to understand the actions of a clearly broken man, could risk death for the Princess. Prompting her to simply provide John with exactly what he needed, regardless of the cost to her heart and her soul, in order to live and see another day. Which was a powerful decision to say the least, but necessary for someone of her standing, and the darkness revolving around the fallout of Thomas’ actions… didn’t end with this tough choice made by the future queen.

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Because this attempted… whatever… immediately left the council in panicked place. For now, it was obvious that the Lord Protector wasn’t doing his job and that perhaps the right move here… would be to secure justice swiftly without his help and begin to transition power away from the Duke of Somerset. Which pushed the council to ask the King to order the death of his very own uncle for treason and once that was shockingly secured in a swift manner… they turned their attention to the new potential Protector for the King, the Princess Mary. For she had Edward’s ear often and knew how to reach him, and of course… she aspired for power and giving her just that… would allow for the council to easily work through her and that particular set of surprises… prompted quite the move on the duke’s part.
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For when he was faced with the reality that his role as impromptu king was going to be removed, he panicked and sent for John Dudley… shortly after he sent him away to quell that rebellion. All before taking the King to his residence under the guise that more trouble was coming their way. When in reality, he was simply grasping at power and couldn’t bear the thought of no longer being in charge because of his brother’s foolhardy actions. A decision that forced him to miss his brother’s lonesome and ugly final moments and this wild sequence ended… with his worst fears come to life. For the return of John Dudley brought about a changing of the guard. One shaped by the King’s own desire. Where John became Lord Protector and where the council lost out… giving rise to a new era for Edward’s reign, which thankfully ended, a terrifying time.

Because let’s be honest… there was a very real possibility that a lot of people could have died in this story because of Thomas’ actions. For the King and the Duke of Somerset were clearly out for blood that wasn’t Seymour related and that was quite the powerful way to explore just how lucky we are when it comes to the betrayals that break our hearts. For we won’t be interrogated and kept under house arrest, nor will anyone die or see their job stripped away when it happens to us. We’ll just weep and fire off some swear words, and that is progress for certain. Since clearly, this particular era was grounded in life and death in just about all affairs, thanks to primitive views on power and loyalty and well, in the end, this fascinating examination of what life was really like during this era… led to one powerful and devastating tale. 

One that saw another powerful character exit the narrative, since Thomas Seymour is no more, thanks to the swift blade of an axe and well, we all owe Tom Cullen a round of applause for turning in such a dynamic performance over the last six episodes. For he really did give life to an important man that clearly had incredible influence upon this important time in Elizabeth Tudor’s life, and without his fine work… none of the gravity present here would have existed. And now that Mister Seymour is gone, the time has come to turn our attention to the next phase in Elizabeth’s life. For now, she is completely and utterly free of the past, and a poor influence upon her emotions and she has quickly learned how to play the political game, and bear its burdens, and it will be genuinely fascinating to see where that freedom takes her as season one nears its end. Until next time.

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