THE SPANISH PRINCESS (S1E5) “Heart Versus Duty”: Dirty Harry

Before we dive into the fifth episode, there is some exciting news to report! STARZ announced earlier this week that they are extending the series run of The Spanish Princess! According to showrunner Emma Frost on Twitter, another eight episodes will be coming in 2020!  This is an enormous accomplishment, as this remains the only miniseries out of the three to get greenlit for a second season. I myself am quite happy that the rest of Catherine’s story will play out; which will undoubtedly include the initial transformation of Harry Tudor, the hotheaded, passionate young buck into Henry VIII, the headstrong, tyrannical figure history has portrayed.

Naturally, we can also expect a necessary and major addition to the cast of characters: the woman who will take Catherine’s place in the heart, mind, and bed of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn. The big question on everyone’s mind is who will pick up that role. Congratulations are in order for both cast and crew!

We have plenty to cover, so let’s get started!

Duty Precedes Desire

When we last saw Catherine of Aragon, she and Harry had an understanding and it was decided they would marry, until Henry VII threw a curveball.  Catherine decides to take some time to ponder and pray in a chapel. She asks for guidance and wisdom as to which man she should pick. Marry the king and become queen immediately? Marry the prince and bide her time? Alas, she’s torn!

Harry and Henry bicker as to Henry’s “rash” decision to take Catherine for himself, with the king questioning his c*cky little boy if he should have ignored his mother’s dying wish. Harry masterfully plays the part of an overindulged and jealous young prince, but still stands up to his father, claiming that he wants to take away something that he desires. Harry storms off and Margaret Beaufort shows up clutching a letter from Richard Pole. Pole is humbly requesting that his wife be allowed return to court, which Margaret refuses.

Catherine is welcomed back to the palace to take a meal with the King. Henry and Catherine sit at opposite ends of a long table. As they talk about their respective late spouses, they both notice similarities between mother and son. Henry definitely seems to be charmed by her.

Margaret Beaufort brings Rosa and Lina in to discuss their potential matches for marriage. After Margaret reveals the men selected for each girl (some familiar names, in fact! More on that below!), but Lina pointedly remarks that Catherine will allow her to have a say in her choice of husband. Margaret cuts her flat and says they must marry men loyal to the house of Tudor. Rosa sees some food on the table. Bolting from the room, clutching her mouth, she throws up near a stairwell, thinking it’s plague or food poisoning. When Margaret comes out to tell Rosa that the suitors will check her out, she delivers one amazing line: “It may aid the path of love were you to wipe the vomit from your chin.” At the quick viewing, Rosa’s beloved Stafford is there.

When they return to their rooms where Catherine is having her portrait painted, Catherine and Lina have a rather heated fight over Catherine having an option to deny the matches and return to Spain, while she does not. Lina can’t love a fool like Charles Brandon! Plus, she finally admits that she’s in love with Oviedo.  In the midst of their discussion, Catherine points out that since soldiers do not earn wages, money would be an issue. Lina throws out how loyal she’s been to Catherine, even in times where she shouldn’t have been. Catherine points out that she came here for a better life, so she shouldn’t take it for granted. Lina should respect and uphold her duty, accept the match offered to her or leave her service.

Choices Must Be Made

Banished from court, Maggie Pole seems to be content at her home in the countryside. Richard comes back, unsuccessful at getting his wife back in the Tudors’ good graces. Maggie has and always will be a Plantagenet, and will be always be considered an enemy by Margaret. Richard tries to convince his wife to tell Margaret Beaufort that Catherine and Arthur did consummate their marriage, so they may have some semblance of peace. Maggie holds steadfast to what she always said, that she never saw anything with her own eyes.  A clear conscience is one thing those Tudors can’t take away from her.

Harry goes to Catherine, as she is once again in prayer, requesting her to tell Isabella that she passes on the match with the king. While Harry tries to convince her that she should choose him and fight against her mother, Catherine states that she cannot refuse the king. Harry gets testy and asks her who she wants. When Catherine hesitates and tries to rebuff, Harry’s words are more forceful. Choose. Catherine strikes back that she doesn’t know what her choices are or if she even has one.

Rosa’s vomiting and overall iffy health officially becomes a concern, once Lina finds out her menstrual courses haven’t come in quite a long time. That only means one thing. Our dear little flower is with Stafford’s child. In her innocence and fear, she wants to tell him and is convinced he would not abandon her, but Lina tries to knock some sense into her. This married man will deny paternity, Rosa will be flogged, cast out, and left begging in the street with a baby.

The Privy Council is back in session, with Margaret once again leading the charge. Edmund de la Pool is still out of their grasp and they need to weigh their options. Harry comes in and has another round of verbal sparring with his father, which spills out into open feuding of father and son over the same woman. Henry throws out one good jab at Harry, claiming Catherine prefers a king rather than a boy.

Lina asks Oviedo if he would know of a place that could help Rosa end her pregnancy. She heads over to a brothel, where while negotiating with the madam over an abortifacient, sees someone familiar enjoying himself with the prostitutes: one of Rosa’s potential husbands, Baron Willoughby.

Harry’s information about the whereabouts of de la Pool have Margaret Beaufort on a bit of a tear. Thinking her grandson may need to have certain desires fulfilled, as well as a distraction from Catherine, Margaret Beaufort’s newest profession now seems to be the palace pimp. Harry is presented with a bevy of “ladies”, courtesy of Stafford. Harry joins his gran in prayer, claiming his feelings for Catherine are out of true love, not just lust. He intends to fight his father for Catherine.

Lina is back from the brothel with the abortifacient for Rosa. Rosa wonders if she should just accept one of the men offered to her in marriage. Remembering Willoughby’s joyous presence at the brothel, Lina shields what she saw and tells her not to.

Harry barges into Catherine’s rooms. She knows what he will say, but she may have only one choice, based on what the king decides. They may be falling in love, but she must maintain that duty.

Love Overcomes Duty

Catherine has a dream where she’s clad in her mother’s armor and mail. Isabella points out that the enemy always knows where to strike. In this case, Harry’s dagger gets her right in the heart.

Learning Maggie Pole was thrown out of court for helping Catherine, she and Lina ride to Maggie’s home for a chat with her. She is grateful and distressed that Maggie was dismissed in such a fashion, but Catherine also wants to learn more about Harry. Maggie and Richard have a sweet moment, where she expresses her admiration for Catherine and how grateful she is for their love.

Catherine finally gives her blessing to Lina to marry Oviedo, showing her support for whatever may come. Both of them band together with Rosa once she decides to keep the child.

Catherine realizes where her heart truly lies, with Harry. They are both happy, but one thing stands in their way. She needs to convince the king that he couldn’t love her more than his late wife. Luckily, she uses her considerable intelligence and some old-fashioned logic to make the king realize that she’s not the girl for him. Henry concedes and allows the marriage, once the papal dispensation and the rest of Catherine’s dowry is received.

Rosa tells Stafford about the pregnancy and asks for a small amount of financial support and visits. Stafford quietly agrees.

Finally, with all the commotion and tumult in Maggie’s life, her moment of peace and a hope for it to stay that way is shattered in the last scene. Richard, her touchstone, is killed when a cart he is repairing crushes him to death. Maggie’s world is crushed as well.

If you’ve been reading my recaps since the beginning, you’ll notice that I always try to include some historical tidbits to add some color and trivia to my coverage,  or in some cases, point out changes made. I’ve mentioned the real Catherine of Aragon’s lady-in-waiting, Maria de Salinas, several times, but her spirit has never been more felt by me than in this episode. If you were paying attention to the names of the two prospective husbands for Rosa, you’ll notice one of them was William Willoughby de Eresby. Baron Willoughby was the husband of de Salinas and their daughter, Catherine, was not only named after Catherine of Aragon, but she would go onto to marry Charles Brandon.  Despite my previous thoughts on the matter, with this choice of plotline, it looks like Rosa is based more on Maria. As for the quadruple-wedded Brandon, one of his previous wives also had a connection to this clan. Wife number three was none other than Harry’s second sister, Mary Tudor.

We get a quick glimpse of Catherine’s elder sister, Juana (or Joanna). Known colloquially as Juana the Mad, we should be seeing her in full form next week! Was Juana really as mad as the books tell us? It’s nice to see that Meg Tudor was pleased to meet her husband, during Maggie’s voiceover of her letter to her, apologizing for her absence. Harriet Walter’s portrayal of Margaret Beaufort is worthy of so many acting awards. I would be surprised if she doesn’t get any accolades from this role! Rosa’s revelation to Stafford regarding her pregnancy seemed to have been taken a little too lightly. Stafford seemed to be altogether too amiable. It’s said that the real Duke of Buckingham did have several illegitimate children, but I think this will not bode well for Rosa. Did he not just bring in a gaggle of prostitutes to Henry?

There are only three pomegranate seeds left and so much more to discover!  Next week, there’s to be “A Polite Kidnapping”.

Do you think Rosa is truly doomed? Will Lina and Oviedo get their happily ever after? Let us know in the comments below!