‘Mary & George’ Recap: ‘Not So Much By Love As By Awe’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Nicholas Galitzine as George Villiers in Episode 103 of ‘Mary & George’ – ‘Not So Much By Love As By Awe’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Mary & George’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One particular surprise that none of us are prepared for when we make every push to have our dreams or goals come to fruition… is that there will be push back. Because sadly, not everyone in this life wants to see us rise to the top or see us complete our goals… for a bevy of unique reasons. For some, it’s all about the fact that they believe they deserve what we are about to obtain and will sabotage out of the belief it will somehow fall to them. Whereas others are simply jealous and bitter and want others to fail to satiate their own twisted sense of justice. While others, know that our ascension to the top or our outright success… will mean they will be replaced, and they simply cannot have that.

If anything, this unfortunate truth is top of mind today, simply because… it served as the focus of the next episode of Mary & George on STARZ. A feat that ‘Not So Much By Love As By Awe’ accomplished, by having George and Mary, deal with some difficult times. Because despite the fact that George had been intimate with the King on several occasions and was deeply desired by him… he was suddenly removed from being close to his lover. In fact, he was oft assigned to the worst duties a knight could possibly be assigned to, and he was even forced to sit idly by and play instruments while the King enjoyed the company of other lovers, sometimes in a group setting. All because, one man was pissed.

For Somerset was livid over the fact that George was near the man he desired, and livid at the possibility that the King would choose someone else to be at his side. So, he put forth machinations to ensure that George would be humiliated and devastated and hopefully leave the King’s court and of course, since Somerset was a giant weasel, he also figured out how to get ahead of Mary as well. For his wife jumped in on the game and humiliated Mary and left her without a leg to stand on. Giving rise to the reality that this family’s desire to be near the King and share in his power, was going to be no easy task. Largely because of the fact that Somerset loved his standing and for a time… it seemed failure was in the cards. Especially when George contracted a case of ‘The Pox’ after a one-night stand to satisfy his own needs. 

But Mary… wanted that power, at any cost, and that prompted her… to fight back and push harder. By crafting with George, a grandiose plan to use the very murder of Sir David that Mary engendered, to pull Somerset from power. Which she executed in a brisk and faithful manner. One so swift and decisive that the King turned his back on Somerset. To the point where Somerset desperately made love to George in an attempt to curry his favor so they could share the King. But that was just part of the ploy to mess with the man’s mind while the case was built against him and in the end, Mary and George won the day and saw Somerset pulled from court and embarrassed for all time. Whereas George had his status as the King’s favored lover, resorted.

All of which offered up a fascinating yet brutal tale. One that spoke to the games once played in royal court long ago, all over the power and majesty of standing. Giving us fascinating insight into how little has changed in our world since battles happen often now in politics and everyday life to curry favor and enjoy power and standing. But more importantly, it did remind us, that not everyone will be pleased when we fight for what we want, and so we must be ready to counterpunch and fend off those attacks. Or see our dreams derailed. Granted, we likely don’t have to go as hard as Mary did here, but we will indeed need to fight back, to reach the top as this duo did here, and now… it will be interesting to see what spoils await them, now that they are so, so close to King James. Until next time.

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