Mary & George – Season 1 Episode 1 “The Second Son” Recap & Review

The Second Son

Episode 1 of Mary & George titled ‘The Second Son’ begins with Mary Villiers giving birth to her second son, George. She has big plans for him as her first son, John is most likely autistic while George is handsome. However, George is bratty, refuses to go to France to become a gentleman and is in love with a maid. He even pretends to hang himself but it does not deter Mary who even kills her abusive husband to make sure George goes to France.

However, she learns that her husband has written her off his will and everything is given to his cousin. He also hopes to publicise the secret that he paid her family handsomely to claim she is their daughter when in fact she was just a servant. Desperate, she traps a Sir Thomas Compton and marries him with the promise that she will keep her hands off his money as long as he sends George to France.

George receives an uncomfortable welcome in France with his teacher, Jean and his servant, Vincent being cocky and salacious. The household engages in public copulation which makes George nervous. It all starts growing on him once his lessons to become a gentleman start. And with it, he starts catching himself staring at Jean.

Back home, King James VI and I of England and Scotland is passing the Compton land and Mary insists on hosting him. It is awkward as the King’s right-hand man and lover, Earl Robert of Somerset makes unseemly demands while the King stays locked away in his room.

During a lover’s quarrel, Mary interrupts, wondering if a younger man may replace Robert which annoys him but excites James. She spots Sir David Graham watching the exchange who later confides that he hates that a Scotsman is manipulating James. She asks for his help in replacing Robert with a British man.

It cuts to George requesting Jean to let him enter society when Vincent enters naked. Jean invites George for a threesome which has the latter shocked as he believes it is against the rules. Jean simply claims bodies are bodies and George joins them.

Sometime later, George finally returns home. He wonders if Mary has a wife for him but she reveals that she has her eyes set on the King. David gets George a position as a cupbearer but on his first day, the second cupbearer, Laurence trips him in front of the court. George instantly assaults him but as it is treason to fight in front of the King, Robert decides to cut off his hands. James intervenes on George’s behalf who is anyway fired.

At home, a humiliated George decides to slit his wrists. At the end of Mary & George Episode 1, Mary finds him and encourages him that this is just the beginning.

The Episode Review

The show is pretty fast-paced, full of montages and it almost feels modernised in terms of execution. And well, Mary & George Episode 1 is off to a great start as we are introduced to all the players on the chess board. However, Mary is not a chess piece, oh no, she is a player, manipulating all the pieces directly and indirectly. We can go even as far as to assume that she had a hand in Laurence tripping George so that he would get James’ attention.

With Julianne Moore’s portrayal of this sarcastic and strong character, one doesn’t need any other reason to watch this show. She carries this episode from start to finish on her very capable back.

However, Nicholas Galitzine seems to hold his own, especially in the scenes he shares with her. He doesn’t have much to play around with in the premiere except being the sulky, bratty kid, but we see the potential.