Starz’s Becoming Elizabeth episode three finds Princess Elizabeth at odds with Catherine Parr and caught up in a love affair with her stepmom’s husband. Young King Edward proves he’s not ready to lead as his behavior’s more like that of a petulant child than a ruler. Meanwhile, Princess Mary appears to be the only member of the royal family with a solid grasp of the state of the world.
And now, the episode three recap:
“Either Learn Or Be Silent” opens with a man testing Catherine Parr’s urine (he drinks it!) and announces she’s with child. Catherine (Jessica Raine) believes this is a death sentence for her and the child.
Lady Jane Grey (Bella Ramsey) disagrees and thinks the baby is blessed. Jane would be happy if Catherine and Thomas were her parents, and that actually brings a smile to Catherine’s face.
And speaking of Thomas, he’s wormed his way into Elizabeth’s heart and declares she’s his and his alone. Their private chat’s interrupted by the arrival of Catherine, Jane, and assorted servants. Thomas (Tom Cullen) distracts the gathering by pointing out the clouds and then wondering why Elizabeth’s dressed in such somber attire.
Lady in Waiting Kat Ashley (Alexandra Gilbreath) reminds him that Elizabeth (Alicia von Rittberg) is in mourning for her father, but Thomas thinks the rebirth that comes with the spring means Elizabeth should shed her dark attire. He helps her out by cutting the strings on her bodice with his sword.
Elizabeth sharply draws in her breath as Thomas places his sword across her chest. He then moves behind her with Catherine egging him on. Elizabeth moves away from Thomas but now it’s Catherine’s turn to undress the princess.
Kat stops Lady Jane from joining the tussle as Catherine and Elizabeth giggle. Catherine informs her stepdaughter the dead want them free as Thomas rips Elizabeth’s dress from behind and Catherine pulls it down in front. She’s left in her undergarments while both Catherine and Thomas laugh.
Catherine appears ready to announce her pregnancy but is stopped when Thomas gives playful chase to a fleeing Elizabeth, leaving his wife behind.
Over in Framlingham Castle, Princess Mary (Romola Garai) can’t stop herself from re-reading the letter from her sister, Princess Elizabeth. She confesses to Pedro that its meaning pains her. Elizabeth has turned on her, just as her father did. Mary believes that both her father and her sister have chosen Catherine over her. And Elizabeth’s choice makes it clear there will be war.
Pedro sends a messenger to the Lord Protector Edward Seymour requesting a Catholic sit on the council.
Edward Seymour (John Heffernan) receives the note and immediately pays a visit to Bishop Gardiner locked in the Tower of London. Edward notes King Edward has strong opinions about faith and reminds Bishop Stephen Gardiner he attempted to have Catherine Parr executed for heresy.
Princess Elizabeth is brought before King Edward and the council to discuss Princess Mary. Edward Seymour’s fully aware of the letter Elizabeth sent and believes putting the Catholic Bishop on the council will help soothe things over.
Catherine is also in attendance and lays it on the line. Elizabeth wrote to Mary and told her she and King Edward are united against her. Now, as Edward Seymour points out, Mary feels the need to “protect” herself. Mary now poses a threat to the crown, and King Edward demands they tell Mary he never requested Elizabeth send her a letter.
Later at dinner, Thomas and Catherine demand answers as to why Elizabeth felt the need to write to Mary. Elizabeth says she was simply answering a question.
Catherine becomes angry, fully aware Mary could request she be executed. Elizabeth had no idea that when her father was dying, Bishop Gardiner wanted Catholicism to regrip the nation. Catherine explains the Bishop wanted her condemned so that he could be the one whispering in young King Edward’s ear.
Bishop Gardiner tortured Catherine’s friends to get any info they had that he could use against Catherine. He even burned Anne Askew at the stake after destroying her legs. After that, Elizabeth’s father, King Henry VIII, called for Catherine’s death – for the third time.
Fortunately for Catherine, it was Bishop Gardiner and not her who ended up in the Tower.
Thomas Seymour doesn’t think Bishop Gardiner poses a threat, but Catherine remains angry at Elizabeth for what she unleashed.
Bishop Gardiner visits Princess Mary and their discussion about religion gets a little heated. Princess Mary reveals she’s chosen her brother over her religion, and Gardiner warns that a fanatic and his handler actually rule England.
Gardiner reminds Mary she has the backing of all Catholics. Shocked at what he’s implying, Princess Mary can’t believe Bishop Gardiner wants her to tear apart her family and England.
Back at Chelsea Manor, Elizabeth comes to Thomas late at night and he calls her “the maker of fine messes.” Although he’s angry, he still wants Elizabeth and they discuss how he views her. Elizabeth’s sure he thinks of her as a child, and Thomas assures her he sees her clearly. He thinks she’s definitely not a child. (He’s married and she’s turning 15.)
Their gentle kisses turn increasingly passionate.
Moments later, Thomas joins Catherine in front of a fire. Catherine’s figured out Thomas’s brother isn’t scheming against them; he’s just trying to make them irrelevant by ignoring them. Thomas is sure that if King Edward marries Lady Jane, then their fortune will change.
Thomas winds up in bed with his wife and talk turns to Elizabeth’s 15th birthday. Catherine wants to arrange a celebration here at Chelsea Manor with Thomas in charge and King Edward as an honored guest.
Elizabeth’s birthday arrives and she looks gorgeous. Catherine notes beauty is wasted on the young. Catherine isn’t pleased that Elizabeth is wearing her mother Anne Boleyn’s necklace, and deems the gesture unwise. They compromise by hiding the ornate letter B on the necklace under Elizabeth’s dress.
The evening celebration gets underway, and King Edward’s given the honor of shooting a flaming arrow that spreads fire across the top of the river. That’s followed by a tremendous display of fireworks, much partying, and Elizabeth playing a rousing game of cards with Robert Dudley.
King Edward (Oliver Zetterström) and Lady Jane carry on a friendly discussion over who is the louder man – King Henry VIII or Thomas Seymour. Catherine, who’s seated with them and looking after her dog who’s had a bit of a scare from the fireworks, joins the conversation. She reminds King Edward that if he wants to do something then he should do it. After all, he’s the King.
Elizabeth and Robert Dudley (Jamie Blackley) watch as Thomas and Catherine toast with Jane Grey and King Edward. Robert wonders what game Thomas is playing and reveals Thomas has asked for King Edward to see Jane, but Lord Protector Edward Seymour doesn’t allow it.
Jealousy rears its ugly head as Elizabeth watches Lady Jane and King Edward laugh over dinner. The straw that breaks the camel’s back is Edward Seymour’s toast to Elizabeth and to her brother, the King. It’s her birthday and she’s no longer the center of attention as the crowd stands and cheers King Edward.
Elizabeth grabs the attention by announcing Lady Jane has a special song she wants to sing. It doesn’t go over well as Lady Jane’s singing voice isn’t pleasant. No one claps as Lady Jane flees the room while King Edward remarks it was a “sh*t” performance.
Elizabeth confesses to Thomas Seymour that she understands he set this whole thing up to force King Edward and Lady Jane together – not because he wanted to do something special on her birthday.
Robert Dudley confronts Elizabeth over her disgusting display of pettiness, and Elizabeth unsuccessfully attempts to justify her behavior. Robert confirms he’s always on her side, but not when she uses her power to hurt innocent people.
Lady Jane receives a beating from her father for embarrassing the family. Elizabeth witnesses it and gets Henry Grey to stop, defending Jane’s participation since she’s the one who prompted it. Elizabeth takes the full blame and after Henry leaves, Elizabeth comforts Lady Jane and offers her a dress since Henry ripped hers.
Elizabeth explains she’s never had the power to affect anyone else’s life until tonight, and she’s just now fully understanding what that power means.
The party’s still going on when Thomas joins Elizabeth in her bedchamber. Thomas reveals he thinks his brother doesn’t trust him, and he hates being like him even for a moment. He claims he’s his brother’s hostage and then lunges at Elizabeth for a kiss. Elizabeth pushes him away; angry he and Catherine hide secrets from her.
Thomas warns Elizabeth not to be jealous because their secrets are bigger than the ones he shares with his wife. Elizabeth admits she loves him – more than is safe. Although he never says he loves her, he hints that she should be assured that’s the case.
Thomas unties her bedclothes and leans in for another kiss and once again Elizabeth pushes him away. However, this time it’s because Catherine has barged into the room and witnesses them together in bed. Catherine leaves but not before stating they’ll talk about this in the morning.
The following morning Chelsea Manor looks like a frat house after a hard night of partying. Catherine finally discovers Thomas asleep, spooning with a dog, and kicks him awake.
Meanwhile, Princess Mary’s upset she was not invited to London to celebrate her sister’s birthday. Pedro admits he wasn’t impressed with the bishop, and Mary pledges to show her brother she’s not a threat. If he views her as one, then all Catholics are at risk.
The council and King Edward are seated at a table in Catherine’s house, and Edward Seymour chides them for being late despite the fact it’s their home. Catherine reveals King Edward invited her to attend the meeting and she prompts her stepson to speak. King Edward declares Edward Seymour’s grown too bold and that the villainous bishop’s seat on the council must “not be seen as a concession to heresy, but as a sign of its end.”
King Edward orders the beginning of a religious reformation for his country. When Edward Seymour attempts to interrupt, King Edward reminds him he’s not the king. King Edward’s angry Edward Seymour won’t allow Lady Jane to visit him, and Edward declares the King of England isn’t about to marry Lady Jane – no matter what Thomas thinks or desires.
King Edward’s stunned. He had no idea that was what Thomas and Catherine had in mind.
The Lord Protector has had enough. He will no longer allow King Edward to play at ruling the country; King Edward’s only job is to learn how to rule in the future.
“Sit and learn, sir. That is all that is required of you,” shouts Edward Seymour.
After the meeting’s over, Catherine calls Elizabeth in for a talk and asks what Thomas has done. Elizabeth attempts to call what Catherine saw “play” and claims they did no wrong. Catherine brings up Anne Boleyn’s reputation up and wonders if Elizabeth’s cast from the same stone. Elizabeth continues to plead innocence, even with Catherine warning her to choose carefully how she acts.
“I have been quite blind to you, and I see you now. I see you clearly now, my love,” says Catherine.
Catherine understands that her lessons on how to play this great game are now complete.
Elizabeth sobs after her stepmother leaves the room.
Next, Catherine turns her attention to Thomas Seymour. She demands he chooses whether he’s an apologetic sinner or a defiant husband. He claims to be neither and Catherine realizes he’s really of two minds about whether to choose his wife or choose Elizabeth.
Catherine points out that if he chooses Elizabeth, he’ll need to tell King Edward that after marrying his stepmother, he now wants to marry his 15-year-old sister.
Catherine decides the best option is to send Elizabeth away. Thomas admits he finds Elizabeth beautiful and this hasn’t been some giant scheme to accumulate more power.
Catherine finally reveals she’s pregnant and suggests if he chooses Elizabeth, it won’t end well for him or Elizabeth. Catherine also believes she’ll wind up being beheaded alongside Thomas.
Thomas wishes they’d married long ago and that she’d never been the wife of King Henry VIII or stepmother of the new king, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Mary.
Elizabeth’s carriage is packed and Catherine joins her outside, explaining she needs peace in her household because of her pregnancy. Catherine reminds Elizabeth to be careful with her reputation and that what matters is what people think she’s done.
Thomas stands outside Chelsea Manor and Elizabeth finally realizes he chose Catherine over her.
Elizabeth replays intimate moments with Thomas in her head as the carriage leaves Chelsea Manor.
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 1 “Keep Your Knife Bright” Recap
- Becoming Elizabeth Episode 2 “You Cannot Keep the Birds From Flying Over Your Head” 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
