More Games of Thrones —
It’s hard to decide if this show is getting better or if I’m just used to it now, the way any halfway decent TV show gets, once you start watching. You can clearly see the potential for it to get way better than it is but I suppose you can’t really change historical fact. Well, I suppose you can and this show has proved it but to a lesser degree. At least all the names are right. Lady Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale) is still as wacky as ever but she is that much closer to her dream of seeing her son Henry Tudor on the throne of England.
Lord Warwick (James Frain) has landed in France but is up to his old tricks again, even after the sad death of his barely born grandson. He has decided to marry off his youngest daughter Lady Anne Neville (Faye Marsay) to their former enemy Margaret of Anjou’s (Veerle Baetens) son, but before she will allow the marriage, Warwick must first swear loyalty to her, then he must raise an army to sail for England and do battle with King Edward (Max Irons). George Duke of Clarence (David Oakes) will accompany him, but he has plans of his own.
The King has to flee thanks to bad intel and Warwick heads straight to the tower to place Queen Elizabeth (Rebecca Ferguson) under arrest, but she slips away with her family to Westminster Abbey where she claims sanctuary. A heavily pregnant Queen hears of her mother, Jacquetta Woodville (Janet McTeer), being tried for witchcraft, but the kingmaker backs down at court after the Jacquetta reminds him of just how much power she still has, thanks to a previous friendship to Margaret of Anjou.
Because of Lady Margaret Beaufort’s treasonous acts, she has Pembroke Castle taken from her, but even worse, Henry is taken into the care of someone else as punishment, but she thinks it’s god doing it to her. Her husband tries to console her even though he knows she still carries a torch for Jasper Tudor. Henry is taken into battle but he is released by Warwick and now he is back with his mother, but Jasper is also back on the scene and Margaret’s husband is not pleased at all.
Now that Henry is back on the throne, a terrified Anne Neville is lying on the marital bed, waiting on her new husband to do his duty, but before it happens, Margaret of Anjou comes in with a consummation blanket which is placed underneath the new bride, as a way of proving the act has indeed been done, but I suspect it has something to do with virginity as well. A cruel Lord Buckingham (Arthur Darvill) grabs her by the legs and arms forcefully begins consummation.
This episode wasn’t just as good as the previous one but that in no way makes it lesser. It just didn’t have the high drama of the last one. The King done his usual disappearing act but there was little in the way of witchcraft this time. There was a nice surprise at the end which should please some and anger others, but it’s of great importance to the show. I would be happy if The White Queen stayed at about this same quality because it might not be the best period drama iv’e seen, but it is very entertaining and passes a pleasant hour.
Grade: B+
Review by E. Blackadder, special to Influx Magazine
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