British Playwright D.C. Moore created and wrote the seven-episode series Mary & George, based on Benjamin Woolley’s nonfiction book The King’s Assassin. The series follows the affair between James VI and George Villers. Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore, Nicholas Galitzine, and Tony Curran star in this sexy, twisted period piece.
Mary & George follows the story of the Countess of Buckingham, who molded her son to seduce King James I to become his lover and make her family richer and the most influential person England has ever seen.
Mary & George Critique
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Julianne Moore’s delivery of “If I were a man, and I looked like you, I’d rule the fucking planet” only sets the tone for what you can expect from her performance as Mary Villiers. Villiers has one thing in mind, and that is to rule England by any means necessary, including using her son as a ploy to get in good with King James I.
Moore hits a note that we haven’t seen from her as Villiers. It’s such a visceral performance as we see her berate, cuss, and deliver ultimatums in this accent that demands your attention, it was nothing short of a spectacle. However, under the layers of Villiers, Moore delivers this vulnerability because the idea of her failure scared her, and without that money, she felt less than. It’s genuinely some of Moore’s best work in recent times.
Nicholas Galitzine has become quite the hot topic over the last year with his performances in Bottoms and Red, White, and Royal Blue. What I didn’t expect from him was for him to go toe to toe with Julianne Moore. There was this level of alluring yet unassuming sex appeal he brings to the role of George Villiers that has you intrigued and even captivated by his every word. Much like Moore, Galitizine’s depth in the role of George due to the complexity was remarkable.
Often mistaken in period dramas is the production and costume design. The creators of Mary & George did a great job setting the vibe for the 1600s era, making this a fully immersive experience for the audience. I can’t imagine this being overlooked come time for the Emmy Awards because of the fantastic work all around.
If you are one of those people who think there is “too much” sex in TV, you might want to skip this one. This is a full-blown sexfest that doesn’t let up early on in the season. That said, I wish it lent more heavily into that in the back half of the season. It was almost as if they let their foot off the gas a little, and it was slightly disappointing. However, this isn’t the prototypical drama you are used to seeing, and I appreciated that.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, Mary & George flourish early on in the series and does tap off in the back half. However, the performances from Moore, Galitzine, and Tony Curran blended with D.C. Moore’s bold and inspiring script, making this series an easy must-watch. Most period dramas run the same beats, but this one stands out on its own island with its lavish sex appeal and strong technical beats.
Beautifully shot, with great performances, Mary & George is a strong and refreshing take on the period drama genre.
7/10
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