Mary & George Hard-Launches George and James' Royal Affair

Many romances on TV take a long time to blossom. Known as “slow burns,” these kinds of relationships develop gradually, letting the chemistry between the characters grow and the obvious tension simmer until the writers let the two finally, finally get together. Sometimes it’s all about the long game.

This definitely isn’t the case for Mary & George, which dives straight into its whirlwind romance. The limited historical drama series, which premiered April 5 on Starz, centers on the relationship between George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Nicholas Galitzine) and King James VI and I (Tony Curran). The show is based in part on Benjamin Wooley’s 2017 non-fiction book The King’s Assassin, which chronicles the real-life 1600s affair between the two men. Spanning just seven episodes in total, the series wastes no time getting right to the crux of the story — but to be fair, this is no ordinary romance.

The relationship begins as a quest for power spearheaded by George’s mother Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham (Julianne Moore). Mary, recently widowed and left with no money, devises a twisted plan to use her second-born son’s charm to win over the king’s affections and put their family at the top. “Give the king whatever he wants,” she tells George. “He will be yours, mine, ours.” And what the king wants is George.

The seeds of the affair are first planted in Episode 1, “The Second Son,” when George catches King James’ eye at dinner. While serving the king, another servant purposefully trips George and humiliates him in front of everyone. George then beats the servant, which would ordinarily result in severe punishment. However, the king comes to his defense and pardons him. “[James] saw you, and he will think of you tonight as he sleeps, wakes, defecates, pleasures himself,” Mary declares gleefully. “All we need to do is get you back in his sight.”

Things between the two men quickly take off in the following episode (“The Hunt”) when George joins King James and his men on a hunt. He’s pushed off his horse and takes a terrible fall, but not only does George survive, he’s rescued by the king himself. Later that night, the king comes to see him. They lock eyes, share a passionate kiss, and then have sex. “Take me, bury me,” the king says. “I want to forget who I am. I’m nothing but your subject.”

The pivotal moment kicks off their relationship and puts the queen’s plan into motion, successfully establishing George as a favorite. But despite both men obviously getting something out of it — for the king, it’s sexual pleasure and escape, for George it’s getting to maintain his family’s status (and the sex too) — there’s also genuine passion between them. The scene doesn’t depict two characters who are simply going through the motions in order to get what they want, but succinctly conveys a clear sense of profound longing, lust, and desire. The deep red lighting and haunting instrumental music helps establish the intense atmosphere and makes viewers feel the powerful tension.

Although the series is a fictionalized take on the affair and not necessarily historically accurate, Galitzine and Curran make George and the king’s relationship feel lived-in. Their dynamic was likely incredibly complicated in reality, especially being a same-sex pairing, and what they had can’t simply be categorized as either a great love story or purely a business arrangement. The sex scene in Episode 2 could have easily been nothing but raunchiness, but instead it feels intimate and raw, showcasing the complexity of the situation for both men. In an interview with BBC, Galitzine explained, “[Curran and I] talked about George and James's relationship and how much of it was transactional – but at a certain point there was a deep love and a care.”

Mary & George seems best suited for the limited series format. While Starz could theoretically make an ongoing period drama about the Villiers family, à la The Crown, focusing primarily on the complex relationship between George and King James (along with Mary’s role in it) allows the show to go deep with select characters and thoroughly explore one of the wildest chapters in history. And given how layered the relationship is, it makes sense to dive into the affair right away rather than spend multiple episodes leading up to everything. Part of what makes George and the king’s dynamic so captivating to watch is how rapidly everything happens between them.

Ultimately, George and James’ story is no slow burn, and it doesn’t need to be. But if you’re looking for that, you can always watch Galitzine play a very different kind of royal figure in Red, White & Royal Blue.

New episodes of Mary & George air Fridays at 9:00 P.M. ET on Starz. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.