Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Mary & George’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
There are a great many reasons why all of us have gravitated to the STARZ series, Mary & George. For some of us, it’s the cast and the performances since Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine are on fire here. For others, it’s the sexy and sultry nature of the show since that always has appeal. But above all, it’s because… the show is deeply relatable. Because Mary and George Villiers are people we know in real life. Those arrogant opportunists who thirst for power and control and validation… but haven’t a clue what to do with it when they get it. They just want and take and entertain us when they hit their downfall. Because what people like Mary and George never understand, is how hated they are and how their complacency and desire over action… always comes back to haunt them. In our world, that usually means they’re fired from their job or are humiliated enough for their nonsense that they disappear from sight. But in ‘The Queen Is Dead’, the risks were far greater for people in that standing. Because failure in 1620, meant certain death and well… this duo faced just that. Largely because they had fired off a powder keg in England. For their arrogance and desire to be seen and in charge, pushed them both to foolishness and left the country deeply divided. To the point where the Queen’s fresh corpse turned rotten in the palace, and where James was despondent. Because funds were dry, and the King cared not to rule but to hide from the pain in front of him. Which left this duo stagnant and hated for their foolish involvement in anything outside of being pretty or being a lover and well… that prompted action. The kind where George and Mary conspired to open parliament so that taxes would be levied, and the King’s Court could bury the Queen and mourn. But all that did, was give everyone that chance to strike. Because now… investigations could begin with parliament in session and power plays could come forth and who better to look into and remove… than the arrogant fools that schemed their way into power and did nothing but muck it up because they didn’t belong, didn’t know how to rule and didn’t know what they were doing outside of living off of the fat of the King’s good will? Which meant, that Mary and George were in serious trouble. For no one would rest until ‘justice’ was served and the status quo of the palace returned and for a time there, it seemed as though… this was the series finale, and this duo would pay the piper. But alas, what we also forget about people akin to Mary and George… is that the grand day they disappear from the workplace or our lives, comes after a long and drawn-out fight. An exhausting one at that. Because people like them, aren’t stupid, and they have amazing survival instincts. The kind that will absolutely help them to fight to the bitter end and that’s exactly what this duo did here. For when their backs were against the wall, they used every trick and promise in the book to flip the script and keep their power and keep their heads about them, and they most certainly did. Since they did indeed find new scapegoats and enemies to bring to bear and punish, and that allowed for them, to stick around when the dust settled and maintain their faux power. But not without cost mind you. Because that kind of scheming always comes with a price attached and for Mary, it was her lover, since her blood had to be spilled to bring permanent peace. All of which made for a bleak episode, one that truly reminded us of how our main characters are not heroes, nor are they villains really. They’re just marginalized opportunists. Those small individuals that will hurt to be large, and create damage in their wake and wow, have they brought about disaster thus far. Since England is in tatters and the court is a mess and it does leave one to wonder if they are close now to paying the piper. Because this nonsense never lasts, and folks like Mary and George never maintain and it really does seem as though, their days are numbered. The only questions that remain relate to how their downfall will come into play. Will it happen through external means, where someone hungrier than them finally bests them? Or will it come through more traditional means… wherein their arrogance and desire become all-consuming in nature and brings their salad days to a sour end. Until next time. Watch ‘Mary & George’
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