Starz’s Becoming Elizabeth episode two opens with Thomas Seymour (Tom Cullen) doing his best to wake the dead. He claims he’s the new trumpeter and it’s his job to raise the entire household. Princess Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg) laughs and even her lady in waiting Kat Ashley (Alexandra Gilbreath) eventually finds his antics amusing.
Later, Thomas outrageously flirts with Elizabeth and tells her she’s gotten inside his head. Kat warns Elizabeth it might be unfair, but she’ll be held responsible for Thomas’ unseemly actions.
Catherine Parr (Jessica Raine) has a word in private with Elizabeth before they join King Edward for the performance of a play. Catherine apologizes she’s upset Elizabeth by marrying Thomas and worries the young princess has a poor opinion of her now.
The royal audience is seated and everyone’s having a good time until a character representing the Pope is introduced. Princess Mary (Romola Garai) is upset over this turn of events (she’s the only practicing Catholic in the family) and Thomas Seymour joins the players to ask if Lady Jane (Bella Ramsey) gives the Pope a thumbs up or thumbs down. She doesn’t hesitate and says thumbs down, declaring the Pope is the Antichrist.
Everyone chuckles except Princess Mary.
King Edward (Oliver Zetterstrom) follows Lady Jane’s lead and also gives the Pope a thumbs down, adding, “Death to the Pope.”
Princess Mary’s had enough and flees the room with King Edward following after her. She asks to be excused and admits she’s upset her brother condemned the Holy Father. “It cleaves me in two,” confesses Princess Mary, but then makes an excuse that she feels ill and needs to take a walk.
Lord Protector Edward Seymour (John Heffernan) demands Catherine return the royal jewels now that she’s wed his brother, Thomas. Catherine claims they were left to her in King Henry’s will and an argument ensues. Thomas ends the battle of wills and says they will hand the jewels over. He then taunts his brother about wanting to wear them or give them to his future wife, while Edward remains in control of the situation and declares they’ll go to Princess Mary.
The princess siblings finally have a chance to speak alone and they discuss King Edward’s hatred of Catholics. Mary believes she’ll wind up banished or worse. Elizabeth suggests they don’t need to fight even though the world believes they should be at odds. Mary attempts to warn Elizabeth that Catherine is not to be trusted and that she’s mocked their father’s memory by marrying Thomas so quickly.
Mary’s suggesting Elizabeth move out when Thomas Seymour appears and asks if she’s angry. Mary brushes away his concern and reacts strongly when Thomas calls her daughter. “I had a father and he is gone,” says Mary.
Mary turns to Elizabeth and whispers, “For your safety and your sanity, come to me.”
The group – minus Mary – returns to Chelsea Manor and Elizabeth and Jane are working on their lessons while Catherine and Thomas engage in a screaming match about the jewels. Catherine calls Thomas weak for giving into his brother, and Thomas reminds his wife they have both Jane and Elizabeth under their roof. King Edward may marry Jane and Elizabeth is, according to Thomas, their “real jewel.”
The brutal verbal battle is followed by noisy makeup sex that Elizabeth and Jane can hear from the other room.
That evening Elizabeth informs Catherine she’s going to live with Mary. Catherine assures Elizabeth only she and Thomas are working on her side, and Mary’s actually attempting to lure her away because she has her eye on becoming queen.
Catherine claims to love Elizabeth and hopes she’ll remain at Chelsea Manor.
The following day Thomas gets Elizabeth alone and Elizabeth jerks away when Thomas moves in to kiss her. They speak of having sex and Thomas indicates he’s aware she’s interested in him. Elizabeth asks what she is to him and suggests she’s just a playing piece he can use in these royal games.
Thomas is angry she’d assume he doesn’t have legitimate feelings for her and asks, “Do you think this is a smart move for me?” He assures Elizabeth that he’s risking everything – including his life – by being with her.
Elizabeth points out she’s also risking her neck if any relationship between the two is revealed.
King Edward’s council meets and Henry Grey (Leo Bill) points out they went to war for nothing. They’ve lost Mary, Queen of Scots while also doubling their enemies now that France has moved to protect Scotland. Pedro (Ekow Quartey) argues for war and Henry’s upset to be speaking with this man he doesn’t even know. Edward Seymour reveals he knighted Pedro after the battle in Scotland.
Pedro insults Henry and even King Edward laughs.
This isn’t helping Edward Seymour’s case, so he asks Pedro to step out of the room and then takes on Henry Grey. Edward Seymour informs Henry that England will continue their war with Scotland and nothing Henry can say will change that.
King Edward meets privately with Princess Mary and demands she stop holding public Mass. Her actions are damaging him, and she needs to convert to Protestantism. He views her as a rallying point for heretics, but Princess Mary will not do so. She believes this is all Edward Seymour’s doing but King Edward insists it’s not.
“You are to convert and give up Catholicism,” says King Edward, requesting she denounce her religion in front of the whole court. He quietly adds “please” to his request and Mary doesn’t respond. He asks please once more and Mary announces she’ll return to the country rather than give up her religion.
Meanwhile, Jane and Elizabeth are getting on much better and Jane flirts with two young men, one of whom is Robert Dudley (Jamie Blackley). Both young ladies are invited out on the hunt with Robert’s father, John (Jamie Parker), and Thomas Seymour.
Elizabeth rides off ahead of the group, accompanied by Robert. She spots a stag and doesn’t wait for the group before firing an arrow into the creature. She refuses to allow the animal to suffer and grabs Robert’s knife to dispatch the stag.
It’s passed away by the time Thomas, John, Catherine, and Jane ride up. Only Thomas smiles at Elizabeth’s work.
John Dudley slaps his son for allowing Elizabeth to put herself in danger.
Upon the group’s return to Chelsea Manor, Elizabeth is handed a secret letter. It’s from Mary advising her she’s left court and has returned home to Framlingham Castle. Mary reveals to her sister that she’s to be persecuted for her faith and wants Elizabeth to plead her case to their brother, King Edward.
Robert Dudley suggests Elizabeth stay out of their game and not choose sides.
Meanwhile, King Edward stews over Mary’s continuing insistence to hold mass and remain a Catholic. Edward Seymour believes the young monarch should allow his sister to follow her heart.
King Edward requests they hold a prayer meeting with even Catherine Parr invited to attend. He informs his Lord Protector he’d also like to see Thomas Seymour more often. King Edward wants Thomas around much more and doesn’t care that Edward Seymour hates his own brother. He thinks Edward should follow the scriptures and embrace his younger brother.
Over at Chelsea Manor, Thomas creeps into Elizabeth’s bed chamber and warns her to be quiet. They move out of that room and into an adjourning one where they can be alone. He wonders if the attack on the stag was meant to be a warning to him and Elizabeth gently laughs. She may choose not to believe him, but he regards her as magnificent.
He admits he’s in a more powerful position than he believed was possible and yet he’s risking it all to be with her. “This would be a most un-useful move and yet I want to play it all the same,” says Thomas, voice smoldering as they stand by the fire.
Thomas confesses he will let her ruin his life if that’s what is necessary to be with her.
They kiss and Thomas pulls away to caress her face. Elizabeth can’t stand the separation and pulls him close again, and the kisses become much more passionate.
Neither are behaving sensibly but Thomas is determined to enjoy his life and asks for Elizabeth’s permission to bed her. She doesn’t reply and he asks what he describes as a better question.
“Would you like me to stop?” asks Thomas. Elizabeth quickly whispers no.
Thomas demands to know if she thinks of him and Elizabeth confesses she does all the time.
Elizabeth attempts to kiss Thomas again and he pulls away, calling her a powerful tonic. He thinks he’ll need to ration himself but adds “if only I could.”
The scene ends with both smiling while still fully clothed.
The action shifts to Mary Tudor’s residence, Framlingham Castle.
Edward Seymour journeys to Framlingham Castle to speak with Princess Mary. Ambassador Guzman de Silva (Olivier Huband) sits in on their meeting, noting he’s spent the last few months there at the request of his king who wants to ensure Mary isn’t in any danger due to the religious shifts and fanatism in England.
Sir Pedro joins the group and Princess Mary reveals he’s with her because he recognized the attitude shift in court against her and against the Catholic faith. Sir Pedro offered his service and Mary has employed him to keep her safe.
Edward Seymour claims Mary’s held in high regard and, as long as she’s discreet, she can practice her religion without fear of persecution.
Back at Chelsea Manor, Princess Elizabeth works on her reply to Mary’s letter while Kat reminds her she’s free to ask for her opinion rather than Catherine’s. Elizabeth wants to make her own decisions and then reads what she’s written to Kat. She describes the English as at war with themselves but then crinkles up the letter unsure what she really wants to say.
While Elizabeth’s debating what to write, Edward Seymour is busy attempting to keep the religious powder keg from lighting.
Elizabeth finally settles on a reply and hands the letter to the courier.
The courier delivers it to Princess Mary while Edward Seymour sits nearby.
Princess Elizabeth visits King Edward in the chapel while he’s kneeling in prayer. She places her hand on his shoulder, while at Framlingham Princess Mary appears distressed over Elizabeth’s reply.
Princess Mary hurriedly exits the church and Edward Seymour immediately retrieves the letter. He reads it while slowly shaking his head no.
Princess Elizabeth confesses to King Edward that she’s praying her sister will convert so that her soul can be saved. King Edward doesn’t reply and instead appears to offer up that same prayer.
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 1 “Keep Your Knife Bright” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 3 “Either Learn Or Be Silent” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 4 “Lighten Our Darkness” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 5 “Necessity Compels Me to Plague You” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 6 “What Cannot Be Cured” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 7 “To Laugh, To Lie, To Flatter, To Face” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 8 “To Death We Must Stoop” Recap
