"Elizabeth I's Secret Agents" Episode #1.2 (TV Episode 2017) Poster

(TV Mini Series)

(2017)

User Reviews

Review this title
1 Review
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
Robert Cecil Plays Hardball at the Court of Elizabeth I
lavatch5 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In this second episode, the focus is on the evolution of the national security network in the early modern age by Robert Cecil at the court of Elizabeth I.

There are three strands of the story, including the ongoing threat of Catholic heretics to the Protestant state of Elizabeth, the infighting in the court between the Cecil and his rival, the Earl of Essex, and, potential coup d'état that Cecil must thwart late in the reign of the Queen that may prevent a smooth succession of power.

The program begins in the year 1594, a time when England is still in danger of a possible invasion from Catholic Spain. Cecil is successful in apprehending Fr. John Gerard, a recusant Catholic, who for eight years is successful in evading the authorities while fomenting unrest as he moves among aristocratic English households. Cecil at last apprehends Gerard, subjects him to gruesome torture, then leaves him to rot in the Tower of London.

The second strand of the story is the rivalry of the two young men who grew up in the same royal household, Robert Cecil and the Earl of Essex. Now, both are vying for power at court. Both have their individual spy networks, and both crave to be closest to the Queen. One casualty in the struggle is Dr. Lopez, a faithful Jewish physician who is framed and executed, a pawn in the greed and ambition of the Cecil-Essex grab for power. In their struggle, it is Cecil who outfoxes Essex. There was a major lapse in the program in not mentioning the Irish invasion, in which Cecil maneuvered Essex into the impossible task of putting down a revolt in Ireland. Of course, Essex failed and was disgraced at court, setting him on his daring plan to communicate secretly with James VI of Scotland and plan a coup that would topple Elizabeth. Cecil was one step ahead of Essex through the entire scheme, and Essex ended up losing his head.

The third narrative component is Cecil's own private communications with James, and his careful handling of the succession crisis. With Elizabeth in failing health, Cecil kept her confined in "little rooms" that served to contain any succession plan other than his own. A peaceful transition of power occurs in 1603 with the death of Elizabeth and the cornonation of the Scottish Protestant who becomes James I of England.

The program closes with a new threat posed to Cecil when Fr. Gerard makes a daring prison break from the Tower. He ingeniously uses lemon juice to write letters to his confederates, bribes the guard, and heroically lowers himself with a rope from the Tower. His next step will be to link up with Guy Fawkes for an act of terrorism to blow up Parliament while James is in the building. Will Essex be able to thwart the conspiracy?

To be continued....
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed