Mary & George: Review

By Sioph Leal

Longing for family to rise to ensure their safety and standing, Mary Villers (Julianne Moore) plots how to complete her goals. Inspired by the outrageous true story how Mary moulded her second born son, George (Nicholas Galitzine) to seduce King James VI of Scotland and I of England (Tony Curran). George is charming and handsome with the world at his feet and Mary at his side, here is a chance he could rule everything just by his charm and looks. Through Mary, George becomes the all-powerful lover to King James, rising from humble beginnings to the most influential players the English court has ever seen. 

The trailers and all the marketing have amped up the sex and salacious nature of the series and while there are brief scenes that show the sexual nature of George and the King, the political climb of the Villers family is the main star of the series, the more sexual scenes play a part but in conjunction with the Viller’s climb. Mary is unafraid to use anything or anyone to ensure her family's climb and to get what she wants, and her children are no exception. 

Given that the series is about the Viller’s ascension through Mary and George, it is fitting that the first scene is George’s birth. Born a second son, Mary laments how he will have nothing in the world since second born children inherit nothing and the only hope is to marry well. So much is revealed through this first interaction and shows the strange, complex nature of their relationship. Mary is cold, unwaveringly pragmatic but there is (at the end of it) a deep love shown when she finally names him and calls him “My George,” leaving you to think is he her possession, something that she can see herself being proud of or something to use in her climb? That question prevails throughout the first three episodes as does the cold, pragmatic side she shows to George with moments of warmth in between. The two are close, closer than anyone else in the series with a deep intimacy that feels odd but works brilliantly for the series. 

George is a meek man, a second son with nothing to inherit but a sensitive soul who feels deeply and is unashamed to do his mothers bidding and advice. Where Mary has a drive for social and political rise, George lacks that but does what his mother says. There is a shift in the first episode that Galitzine masters. The George we are introduced to is a meek second son with no ambition but after a trip to France at the instance of his mother, he returns to England with the confidence of a refined man, eager to climb the heights of his mothers’ ambitions. However, he lacks in the cunning nature of his mother and the resourcefulness of her scheming. The duality of the two characters is intriguing but what is the most interesting is their dynamic and how George is the product of her ambition in every way and how low Mary is willing to go if she gets what she wants. It is almost as if she is living through George by controlling him and setting up his life. Early on, she laments how if she looked like George, she’d have ruled the world, but she is able to gain influence with the King and high political figures via her control of George. 

The show does not shy away from the duplicitous nature of Mary, she is as captivating and crass as she is manipulative, but it makes her a fantastic character to watch. There are many times she seems down for the count or embarrassed beyond saving but plays the long game and is performed excellently by Julianne Moore. Mary doesn’t need allies and loves the control over George and the circumstances they are in. Her rival is her circumstance, and she fights to overcome it whereas George has his own enemy at court in the form of Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset (Laurie Davidson) who is the King’s current favourite, a position Mary wants her son to usurp. The battle (verbal and physical) between the two are harsh, quick to ignite and a great challenge for George to try and beat. The hunt is a particularly brilliant sequence where George shows his Mary-like qualities and is able to manipulate the situation in his favour by throwing himself off a horse while fighting Somerset, so it looks as if Somerset played dirty. Mary is willing to debase herself to ensure she gets what she wants and it's interesting to see George behaving more like his mother but leaves you wondering just how far will he go? 

No character is wasted, each an integral clog in the structure and antics of the series. The supporting cast is as good as the main with standout cruel moments from Somerset’s wife and the duplicitous nature of the King’s closest friends who find their interests aligned with Mary. Outside of court, Sandie (Niamh Algar) makes her presence known and shows you don’t need titles to have influence and cunning. 

Mary and George is an intriguing show with complex characters who aren’t afraid of ridicule and embarrassment. The characters aren’t afraid to cross lines which are tied with nuanced and clever performances from all the cast. There is something sinister and seductive about the series and the characters that play well and make you crave more of their antics. 

Mary & George premiers March 5th on Sky Atlantic (UK) and April 5th on Starz (US).

The first three episodes were screened for review. 

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