Julianne Moore & Nicholas Galitzine in CANAL+’s Hit Series ‘Mary & George’: Is It Worth the Hype?

What is it about?

Set in 17th century England, Mary Villiers, Countess of Buckingham, grooms her son, George, to seduce King James I and become his lover. This mother-son duo transitions from modest beginnings to becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential couples in England.

Who’s in it?

The renowned characters of Mary & George are portrayed by an explosive duo consisting of Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore (known for Boogie Nights, Maps to the Stars, Still Alice) and rising star Nicholas Galitzine, who gained popularity after the success of Broken Hearts Gallery on Netflix.

The rest of the cast of this series, based on the non-fiction novel “The King’s Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I” by Benjamin Woolley published in 2017, includes Tony Curran (Your Honor), Nicola Walker (Collateral), Niamh Algar (Raised By Wolves), Sean Gilder (Slow Horses), Simon Russell Beale (House of the Dragon), and the young French actor Khalil Ben Gharbia (Skam, The 7 Lives of Lea) in the first episode!

Is it worth watching?

Mary & George has all the makings of the most scandalous series of the year. This costumed drama, which intertwines political strategy, romantic backstabbing and sensual sex scenes, tells the story of a mother-son duo willing to do anything to curry favor with King James I in 17th century England.

Determined to rise socially, Mary Villiers (Julianne Moore), Countess of Buckingham, educates and molds her son George (Nicholas Galitzine) to seduce the king and become his influential lover. However, this duo, having become rich and powerful, will encounter numerous envious enemies along their path.

A Historical-Political Drama with a Hint of Scandal

From the first episode of Mary & George, the tone is set for the rest of the season! This scandalous and irreverent fiction provides delightful and fast-paced entertainment that will appeal to fans of the genre or those missing the series The Great, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult.

The series created by D.C. Moore (Not Safe For Work, Killing Eve) and directed by Oliver Hermanus (The Endless River, Moffie) also succeeds in immersing us in the brutal political machinations behind a colorful and lavish veneer, with the necessary touch of sensitivity to connect with the characters.

The dialogue and verbal duels are as brilliantly written as they are delivered by the actors, who enjoy being perfectly costumed. A meticulous attention to detail and aesthetic care have been given to the outfits and sets, making the entire series appear authentic and immersive.

But the costumes don’t stay on for long and the sets are often ravaged because in Mary & George, sex is the best tool for power. This results in sensually beautiful scenes filmed close to the bodies, all in an atmosphere that is as sexy as it is cynical and tragic.

Nicholas Galitzine: The Superstar

Nothing can stop Nicholas Galitzine now. The 29-year-old British actor and singer first gained recognition with small independent films, High Strung and Handsome Devil, in the 2010s, before landing a role in the Netflix series Chambers.

His breakthrough came in 2020 with his participation in the second installment of The Craft franchise, The Craft: Legacy, and his portrayal of the charming prince in the musical film Cinderella. Nicholas Galitzine’s career took off with the Netflix film Broken Hearts Gallery, a huge hit for the platform.

Since then, he has been involved in various projects with increasingly flamboyant, eccentric, and romantic roles, including the films Bottoms and My Dear F***ing Prince and The Idea of Being with You, soon on Prime Video.

In the series Mary & George, Nicholas Galitzine once again shines brightly but also deeply moves the audience as he demonstrates his ability to portray any character with great sensitivity and stunning charisma.

The first three episodes of the series “Mary & George” are aired on CANAL+ and available on myCANAL from June 3. The rest of the series is available at a rate of two episodes per week.