The Queen inside of Mary has taken over. Yet, I can’t help but think that she’s forgotten her role as a wife altogether. Sure, Mary was about to marry her husband’s step brother in order to save his life but besides that I haven’t seen her do much else for Francis. After their marriage, it seems like Francis is the one who is putting in the most effort to be the husband that Mary deserves and that includes many times giving in to her impulses and desires for Scotland.
Mary drew the line for where she stood when it came to Scotland and so it seems that Francis had to do the same in this episode.
Mary’s half-brother arrived to court this week with the intent to persuade Mary to leave to Scotland immediately as its people are sick of Marie De Guise filling Scotland’s important government positions with the French. He argues that the only way Scotland will calm down is if they finally get to see their Queen. Somehow, Francis isn’t buying James’ act. He is convinced that James has something under his sleeve. After all, James is Protestant and the only thing that is stopping him from ruling in power is Mary. But Mary, like always, is so stubborn and yet so naive. Her headstrongness is no longer becoming an attractive quality to Francis but really a burden on their marriage. She is unstoppable once she has an idea in her head. It’s sad to see that Mary would rather believe that her husband wishes her ill instead of believing that he loves her so much that he wants to protect her. He did after all torture a man in order to retrieve information about the true nature of getting Mary to Scotland, which is to have her killed along the way.
It’s becoming clear that it’s hard for a future King and present Queen to marry for love and not let their duties in the way. Francis even confides in Bash acknowledging the fact that Mary wanted to marry Bash for the very simple fact that she knew he would always put her first. But looking at Mary’s attitude in this and the past episode, I think it’s more about Bash having done everything that Mary would have wanted. As much as Francis is truly, madly in love with Mary, he is a prince whose father is going mad— he has to protect his country. Yet in this situation, he is wholeheartedly protecting Mary. She’s too blinded by her patriotism to notice.
Meanwhile, though Bash gloats in the fact that he knows he could’ve been a better husband for Mary, he also knows he has to try to be a good husband for his new wife, Kenna. Wow, things are pretty messy at French court. This is like a love pentagon?
But anyways, really, Bash is a good man. He and Kenna could work out if they keep putting in the same effort they already are. Hopefully more love and affection grows between them. I enjoy them! Bash needs to realize what a cunning and witty wife he has. Sure, she has a bit of a bad record at court but really she is just a girl wanting to be loved. I loved that we got to see Kenna’s soft, sensitive side but also her astuteness.
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Queen Katherine and Kenna racked their brains together and finally figured out a way to kick Penelope off her high horse. It’s back to the kitchen for Penelope! As Katherine and the Bishop walk in on Penelope and Henry engaged in unholy behavior, the King is overcome with remorse, casting Penelope from his side. What was in it for Kenna? By helping Katherine, she just got a nice estate for her and Bash. They also finally got a little action.
The sudden guilt that Henry feels for his behavior is making him tripping out badly. His hallucinations are getting worse. This poor king is losing his mind and only God knows what this is going to mean for France.
A lot of couple action was going on during this episode.
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Lola and Lord Julian are finally married. Lord Julian gives Lola a beautiful sapphire necklace (a Titanic lookalike).
But Lola is starting to feel a certain discomfort about Lord Julian. She is eager to leave quickly on their honeymoon tour, yet he doesn’t want to leave without her dowry first. It doesn’t make sense that he would worry about a dowry when he is supposedly from a rich Hungarian family. Not to mention that he gave Lola a fake necklace! Lola notices when she steps on it by accident and the “sapphire” stone breaks into pieces. Well, then that’s pretty strange. I knew there was something wrong with Lord Julian; he was too perfect to be true.
He continues to avoid any questions about his family or his past, which puts Lola in a difficult position to continue pestering him with questions when she’s gotten pregnant from someone who she won’t reveal their identity.
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Still, it’s pretty creepy. His past two wives were just as wealthy, and they died shortly after their wedding. All of their trust funds were transferred into Julian’s accounts. Could it be a coincidence that his two wealthy wives died and left him with a nice share of cash? Is he gold-digging murderer? Okay, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. We will have to wait and see.
In other news, Nostradamus and Olivia are back! And they’re also now over. Nostradamus has a vision where he sees Olivia dead in the castle surrounded by other bodies.
This, forces him to send her off to Trinidad. He intended to go with her, but Katherine would not let him go without threatening her life. He had to let her go. That goodbye kiss was intense and so heartbreaking. I can’t help but feel terrible for Nostradamus; he has such a lonely and miserable life that this gift has brought him.
I doubt that Olivia and Nostradamus are totally over, and I hope not because for some strange reason I really enjoy this pairing.
As the episode is closing out, we see that Francis finally had to put his foot down. Mary refuses to listen to a word that Francis has to say. She will leave to Scotland for whatever it takes, even with a storm brewing. Francis has to take measures into his hands and has Mary placed into a prison cell to stop her from escaping to Scotland. Francis knows how determined Mary can be and feels this is the only way he can stop her. I’m sure that many of you while watching felt that Francis was wrong for doing this. I do agree that the whole locking her up in a cell was probably not a great choice to do with your new bride. However, Mary isn’t exactly easy to handle.
I think it’s sad that she doubts Francis’ love to her only because he doesn’t do what she wants him to. He has proven it to her again and again that he truly is putting all his effort to put her first. She’s not being a queen in my opinion; she’s just acting like a tantrum throwing girl. She wants everything how and when she wants it— impatience isn’t a good quality in a queen. Francis had agreed to accompany her to Scotland and to support her. He just simply wanted to wait for the right time to go so that she could be safe. Mary is becoming so paranoid about France that she’s distrusting her husband. In another case, I would have understood, but Francis has repeatedly accommodated to Mary’s needs.
I guess we could say that with Mary being locked up in a prison cell, the wedding bliss is over. Let the marital fighting begin. I’m sure it won’t get any prettier.
The previews indicate that Mary’s uncle is arriving to French court next week. Oh man. Whenever the Stuarts enter French court, it usually ends up in strife and chaos.
To conclude:
What’s going on with the King? And who is that boy with the tennis racket that he keeps hallucinating with?
Did what Francis do just going to push Mary to do something extremer?
Is Lord Julian a lot more dangerous than Lola even imagines?
Why is Mary’s family suddenly taking so much interest in her? What are they plotting now?
So many questions to be answered before the season finale.
7/10.
Gif/ Photo Credits:
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