* Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen Episode 3, "The Storm."
Hooray for this week's episode not fast forwarding a few years into the future, unlike what happened last week. Three episodes in now, I'm finding the series more of a soap opera with fancy costumes and sets than period drama, but to me, it's still better than most of the fare TV has to offer on a Saturday night. I've also noticed that the show tends to skimp on battle scenes, though we did glimpse the Lancastrian and Yorkist army camps in this episode. For the most part, however, characters discuss rebellions that need putting down and we see them ride off to fight, but that's the end of it. I suppose budgetary concerns restrict the number of epic battle scenes that can be staged, but this series does take place during the Wars of the Roses.
Being a Hostage Isn't So Bad
Warwick is holding Edward in his castle, though if one had to be held captive, a castle that looks like Warwick's isn't the worst place one could end up. Edward and Warwick bicker a lot, with the Earl angry that he's been pushed aside in favor of the Woodvilles and Edward angry about, well, the whole being held hostage thing.
Jasper Says . . .
Margaret Beaufort is all giggly over a letter she's received from Jasper Tudor saying that Edward is about to be dethroned by his brother, George. Just about every sentence on Margaret's side of the conversation with her husband, Henry Stafford, begins with, "Jasper says . . . ." Way to be subtle about your feelings for Jasper, Margaret.
We Three Queens
Anne Neville marvels over the arrival of Queen Elizabeth's coronation furs for her sister, Isabel Neville, who'll be queen to George's king. Isabel worries that too many women are being called queen: Elizabeth, Margaret of Anjou (looks like we'll see her in the next episode), and soon, if everything goes according to her father's plan, Isabel herself. Poor Isabel thought she was marrying for love but now realizes that she was just a player in her father's game.
That's a Big "Nay" to King George
Parliament says no to putting George on the throne, and Edward gets to go home to Elizabeth, who is all set for Edward to punish Warwick and George for their treason, Warwick especially for the executions of her father and brother. She gets a nasty surprise when Edward says that he can't afford fighting among his own house and will make peace with his brother and cousin, and what's more, Princess Elizabeth will be married to Warwick's nephew. Needless to say, Elizabeth is one unhappy queen.
No More Pen Pals for Margaret
Henry Stafford receives a letter of his own, informing him that he's no longer the king's sheriff. Edward has learned that Margaret wrote a letter in which she threw her support behind George; Stafford is getting the blowback. He forbids Margaret from writing to—who else—Jasper Tudor.
An Awkward Christmas
In the spirit of letting bygones (including holding your king captive) be bygones, George, Warwick, and Warwick's family are all invited to court for the holidays. Elizabeth is livid, her mother-in-law, the Duchess of York, is delighted, and Warwick can't resist provoking the queen with his presence.
Fishing for Fate (Again)
With George and Isabel expecting a child, Elizabeth is desperate to produce a male heir. So she goes to Jacquetta, who digs the fishing line out again for Elizabeth to reel in her destiny. Good news—it's a boy.
Being Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting Is the Worst Job Ever
Edward and Elizabeth tumble into their chamber as Anne tries to make a hasty exit, but Elizabeth demands that Anne help her with the laces of her gown. Talk about awkward. Anne practically becomes a human clothes rack, then goes to her father to talk out her traumatic experience. Warwick actually seems to be acting kind toward Anne for once, until you realize that he's hatching another plan to unseat Edward. Poor Anne—she really does want to marry Richard.
You Are Such a Liar, Margaret
This really had me laughing. Margaret promises her husband that she's going to be a good wife from now on and wants to make up with her mother, too. What's really going on is, she needs to go see her brother, who lives with their mother, and convince him to join up with Jasper Tudor and other Lancastrians in creating a diversion so Warwick and George can turn on Edward—again.
Lots of Praying This Week
I also thought it was kind of funny how Elizabeth prayed for Edward's safe return from battle. Wasn't there some kind of spell for that? Of course, pious Margaret prays for Edward to be killed. If I had a dollar for every time Margaret said, "It's God's will . . . blah, blah, blah" I'd have enough for a year's subscription to Starz. Edward isn't killed, but Margaret's brother is, after warning Edward about Warwick's trap.
Witch-y Wind
Foiled again, Warwick hightails it out of England for Calais on a ship, with George and the ladies, including a very pregnant Isabel, in tow. Elizabeth is at her wit's end with Warwick and calls upon some supernatural help in getting him out of her hair for good. As the show would have you believe, she summons an extremely powerful wind that batters Warwick's ship, which ends up being turned away at an Edward-supporting Calais.
Everything Is Peachy Keen. Well, Not for Everyone
As he promised Elizabeth, Edward arrives home safely yet again, with a cartload of peaches. Isabel loses her son, and all George has to say is that it's important they have another one. Heartless, much?
The Richard Watch
Richard, i.e. pretty much the reason why I watch this show, had like two lines all episode, one of which was kind of muted (the Parliament scene, where he basically calls George a traitor). I think young Henry Tudor had more lines than Richard did this week, and that is really, really, really sad.
So its on this part now. I missed a couple episodes I might need to catch up. For some reason this doesn't capture my attention like The Tudors, I feel the show is lacking something, what I don't know. But I'll try to ride it out, hopefully it'll grow in me.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding that because they're trying to cram so much history and so many people into ten episodes that you're only getting a somewhat superficial look at events and characters, especially the characters. I'm lacking an investment in all of them except Richard, and that's only because I'm so fascinated by the real Richard's life.
DeleteAgreed, Lee. It's moving way too fast and not doing the story justice.
DeleteNot at all. I realize the show is trying to emphasize the perspectives of its female characters, but they're all falling flat for me, except maybe for Margaret, but that's because she's coming off as quite the crazy lady.
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