Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Mary & George’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Anyone that achieves a leadership position in this life, or one that yields some measure of power… hopes that one particular constant comes into play. In that, everyone working for them falls in line, follows their lead and wonders are achieved. Which can go from hope to reality with proper leadership and respect and all the healthy behaviors needed to bring a team together to accomplish wonders. But alas, more often than not, this is not how it goes for new leaders. Because not everyone understands the nuances of leadership or they’re too power hungry to properly lead, they just want to direct traffic and have all fall in line. Or they simply want it all, and well, the ugly side of leadership is top of mind today, because it was put on full display in the next episode of Mary & George on STARZ. However, early on it seemed as though this would not be the exploration at hand. For ‘The Golden City’ saw nothing but prosperity fall upon Mary and her family. For she was now a Countess, her son, a Marquess, and they were enjoying those spoils. For Mary had a lovely new home and George was indeed privy to anything he wanted in the castle, and it just seemed as though life was on easy street for this family, and they could just ride the coattails of the King for as long as they liked. But that was not enough for Mary, not at all. For she finally saw the opportunity to have her son… begin to shape the future of England as Mary Villiers saw fit and she could enjoy riches untold in the process. Which was why Mary pushed hard for George to marry and why… she wanted him on the Privy Council. Because there, real power could be yielded since King James I would listen to his special boy and whatever Mary suggested and well… while she got her wish of getting him on the Privy Council, she was not prepared for what came next. Because George was enjoying his freedom, enjoying being part of something special and that prompted him… to ignore his mother and listen to his heart and take agency. Which of course, led to some measure of disaster. Because a nouveau legislator always missteps early in their career, and he did that here by granting kindness and agency to Sir Walter Raleigh. The infamous man that spoke of the City of El Dorado and sowed discontent in England by constantly standing against his King by telling whatever lies were necessary. Which made the people happy but hurt George’s beloved King and well, that was what prompted George to clap back at his mother and her plans, and ponder upon his own path. Much to his mother’s chagrin of course, because she was hellbent on her path being the way and her plans being implemented and that led to an ugly battle of wills here. Wherein Mary tried to force the marriage in question, and of course… continued to meddle and shove her way into every person’s life and well, that was enough to push poor George away from her further. Because he wanted, needed the independence a young man needs from his mother, but she was a poor leader here, and firmly believed in threats and ugly actions to get what she wanted and that prompted George… to finally say ‘enough’, and embrace his own path and his own role, free from mother’s ideation. Which was why he sided with Bacon and the council regarding Raleigh, since they made him feel important and akin to a leader, and that led to the end of Raleigh and more internal chaos and one angry, angry, mother. One ready to go to war over this. But of course… it was her own damn fault that it came to this. Because Mary was at her worst here. A true dictator in her own right by demanding who does what and when. But that was the point, to showcase how there are bad leaders out there in the world. Who want nothing more than to rule with an iron fist because their egos and psyches are so badly damaged, they only feel important if they act important and well, Mary did indeed pay the price here. For she empowered her son to be so much more and that made, for one fascinating tale. One that truly allowed for Mary’s lust for power to come around full circle and it will be genuinely interesting to see how she handles her newly empowered son. Because mother or not, she does have to perform a delicate dance to battle him, lest she piss of a King that will in fact… drop the axe when needed. Until next time. Watch ‘Mary & George’
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