My Review of Mary & George: "The Golden City"

 

Written by D.C. Moore 

Directed by Alex Winckler 

George: "I didn't do it for Spain or for gold. I didn't do anything. James did."

Francis Drake: "Yes, that's the story we shall tell and keep telling. Good boy."

This week, we had an episode where one half of our mother/son Duos influence began to grow while the other's was starting to diminish. Not hard to guess which applied to which.

George had grown fed up of his mother's controlling ways and this week, he found himself in a position where a marriage alliance could be used to his own advantage. Hence his union with Katherine Manners (Mirren Mack). Well, one that took some persuading.

You could argue that Katherine was manipulating George as much as his mother has been doing this series but George soon realised that being married to Katherine could work along with maintaining his relationship with the King as well. A relationship that nearly came to blow this week.

George certainly overstepped in the council meeting in relation to how to handle the rebellious Sir Walter Raleigh (Joseph Mawle) the best. It took Sir Francis Bacon to get George to see what Raleigh was really up to, which then led to the latter's execution when George and King James made up again.

As for Mary, having George slowly getting more politically savvy along with Bacon's influence, she was beginning to lose her hold on George. George even had no problem standing up to his mother and even calling out Sandie in the same breath. 

Not only did she lose her hold on George, but even her other son, John was completely out of her control. His marriage to Frances had fallen apart and Mary had only choice but to get him committed. 

- Mary might have gained a Countess title but her marriage to Thomas Compton also came to a halt along with her alliance with Queen Anne.

- Charles told George that he was family. This episode was signposting Anne's imminent demise.

- Frances had been cheating on John with Sandie aiding her in an abortion.

- Chronology: 1618, given the execution of Sir Walter Raleigh here.

The Golden City certainly showed the reversals between mother and son while also cementing both their future downfalls. The handling of Raleigh's story was handled decently.

Rating: 7 out of 10