New ‘Mary & George’ Episode Has It All: Orgies, Murder, and Julianne Moore
Any show with an episode that begins with an orgy and ends with a murder is my kind of show. As much as I adored all of the nefarious scheming that has come with the first two episodes of Mary & George, I didn’t expect things would take a lethal turn so quickly. Episode 3 is packed with story, and if you’re not paying attention, it might’ve been a bit difficult to keep up with the intricacies of Mary Villiers’ (Julianne Moore) plotting. But fear not, I come bearing details to bridge any mental gaps you might have after watching Mary sow suspicion all over England.
Episode 3 begins in 1616, a few months after Mary’s second-born son George (Nicholas Galitzine) was welcomed into King James I’s (Tony Curran) royal fold, aka, his fuckbuddies. Given that it took a solid two years of maneuvering for Mary to get the king to notice her son, this new position is ideal, but not comfortable. For George to stay at the king’s beck and call, he must constantly prove himself, in addition to outsmarting the king’s right-hand pole—I mean, man—the Earl of Somerset (Laurie Davidson). Somerset despises anyone who threatens his position, and if George fights back, there’s a chance the king could retaliate. Therefore, it’s George’s mummy who must come to his rescue in a triumphant display of absolute power against all their adversaries.
But first: A sex party. At an orgy arranged by Somerset for the king, a shrouded figure plays the cello while men disrobe and toy with royalty. Afterward, while lying in bed together, the king tells Somerset, “I sometimes wonder if you mean to hold me not so much by love, as by all.” To translate: The king is paranoid that his lover is seeking not just love, but power as well. Somerset refutes the king’s suspicions, telling him that, “Love is all.” His words are enough to quiet the king’s concern, at least for a bit. When His Majesty departs, Somerset snatches the sheet off the cello player to reveal a defeated George underneath. “See?” Somerset asks. “He’s mine.”