With ‘Mary & George’, DC Moore, Oliver Hermanus, Florian Cossen, Alex Winckler, and a stellar cast, remind us that some of the best stories are found in our rich history. Mary & George is showing on SKY and NOW TV.
History is full of remarkable stories; many are so fascinating and rich that when they come along, you can’t help but wonder why they haven’t been adapted for the screen sooner. In British history, Tudor England (1485–1603) has long been the focus of lavish dramas from Wolf Hall to The Tudors and the upcoming Firebrand.
However, with over 1000 years of history, our nation has countless stories to tell, and the House of Stuart, from 1603 to 1714, is one of the most fascinating. The Stuarts would rule a kingdom that was far from united. Their rule would see the gunpowder plot, Catholic oppression, and a civil war that would lead to the beheading of Charles I, the son of King James. However, after a brief republic under Oliver Cromwell, Charles II would return to rule in a nation with a parliamentary democracy and a monarchy. Two people sat at the heart of King James and Charles I’s court, a mother and son whose names have long been sidelined: Mary & George Villiers.
Mary & George’s remarkable journey would see them travel from Brooksby, Leicestershire, to the heart of King James’ London court. And while much discussion remains about whether George was indeed King James’ lover and trusted partner for many years, one thing is clear: Mary was a woman who knew what she wanted and saw her son George’s beauty as an opportunity to make it happen.
Based on Benjamin Woolley’s novel, “The King’s Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I” DC Moore’s (Killing Eve) adaptation is sumptuous, enthralling, witty and devilishly horny as the exquisite Julianne Moore, the dashing and brilliant Nicholas Galitzine and the masterly Tony Curran lead a truly delectable ensemble in this tale of deceit, love, lies, poisoned prunes, desire and power.
Every second of Mary & George is to be savoured like a fine wine, as it pays homage to the sexuality of The Tudors, the deadly cat-and-mouse game of The Favourite, and the political intrigue and gameplay of Wolf Hall. It is, in short, a glorious and proud exploration of King James’ court and the events, relationships and deals that would ultimately lead to civil war and the beheading of his son Charles I.
As Mary & George climb the slippery ladder to success, the stakes become more deadly, and the light tone of the opening three episodes morphs into a far more serious exploration of sex, politics and queer love. As we watch their relationship unfold, the sexual powerplay between Galitzine’s George and Curran’s James becomes more sincere, loving and tender before James’ ill-health changes everything, with George eyeing the young Charles as his only route to survival. Galitzine and Curran are a pure delight to watch, offering us an onscreen relationship that is proudly queer, utterly believable, incredibly steamy and always volatile.
At the same time, Moore’s cold and calculating Mary, a controlling and manipulative mother from hell, steers the journey of her son, a king, and the men who sit in judgment above her, playing each person with glee in securing her wealth, freedom, and position at the heart of court. Yet, Moore’s Mary is also vulnerable with her power as delicate as a spring petal, with her life, and that of her female lover, hanging by a thread that could be cut at any time. But as already stated, Mary & George is an ensemble piece, with each performance utterly brilliant, from Samuel Blenkin’s gentle and emotional Prince Charles to Mark O’Halloran’s devious Sir Francis Bacon and Niamh Algar’s Sandie, Mary’s lover.
Costume dramas are slowly vanishing from our TV screens, replaced by endless crime dramas that cost a fraction of the price. With Mary & George, DC Moore, Oliver Hermanus, Florian Cossen, Alex Winckler, and a stellar cast, remind us that some of the best stories are found in our rich history, and as LGBT+ History Month comes to a close, they also remind us that many of these stories are proudly queer, deliciously different and utterly enthralling.
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