Last week’s episode of Kings focused on the relationships for many of the characters that just couldn’t be. Jack had to hide his relationship with Joseph, Silas and Helen cannot be together for obvious reasons, and David and Michele were kept apart by a promise. Under the darkness of the blackout each of these characters returned to their relationships, and this week the consequences came to light. Ironically, the person bearing the brunt of these consequences is that one character who appears to be loyal to her mate: Queen Rose.
I really enjoyed this episode; the stakes were high and the scheming was at a premium. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for the Katrina Ghent character. I love that she is unapologetically selfish and conniving, willing to do just about anything to get what she wants. Unfortunately for Rose, what Katrina wants these days is to destroy the Queen. Certainly Rose isn’t the nicest person in the kingdom, but I don’t see how she wronged Katrina so badly. In my opinion, Katrina’s overreacting a bit, but with fun effect, so I won’t complain.
I still don’t really know what to make of Rose. She comes off as incredibly cold. It’s clear that she cares about her children, but she shows it in very odd ways. She doesn’t come off as a particularly loving mother, and I get the sense that she may love power a little more than anything else. When Katrina played Sophie’s Choice with Rose, the Queen made the decision to save her son, saving face for the man who would one day be King. Regardless of all the pretty words that she fed to Michele about her being seen as “woman” after the photos came out, I think that Rose just had the monarchy in mind with her choice.
Again, I feel like I don’t have a great read on Rose. I admit that I may be reading her motivations incorrectly. Maybe she really did believe all those things she said to Michele. Maybe she really does have her children’s interests in mind. I’m just not seeing it, though. I can’t wait to see her reaction to the news of Katrina’s and Jack’s upcoming marriage.
Poor Jack. They really have taken his character from a spoiled rich kid to a tragic martyr. He can’t be honest about who he really is, and he’s even willing to jump on a grenade for his sister. How does the King not see how he is destroying his son through his obsession with David? All that might be ready to change, however….
I’m looking forward to see how the relationship between the King and David will change now that Silas knows about he and Michele and that David lied right to his face. Clearly the King was not happy when Michele came clean about her relationship with the King’s new advisor. All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of King Silas… not by a longshot.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jun 28, 2009 @ 11:49 EST5EDT
I think Rose is simply trying to protect the “family” in whichever way that she she’s fit. Protection of the family name is paramount that that, as sexist is it is, in her eyes meant that the Royal Lineage (i.e. the crown and thus the male lineage). She sacraficed her daughter for the sake of her son, or so she thought. I’m loving where the ‘relationship’ between Jack and Katrina is going.
Whereas I’m glad to see that Silas finally knows about Michele and David, I was blown away by the idea that he would share his most important secret with David before. The trust he’s placed in David will not be overshadowed by his affection with his daughter (as I think there is a big distinction between the promise she made to God, and the deal he made with Saffron Burrows character, whom I’m not sold is an agent of the devil, but maybe so of Silas’ God).
Despite the fact that Burrows’ character is named ‘Death.’ :)
* sacrificed.
Enjoyed this episode as well. Waiting to find out what creepy Andrew did to get exiled. Something else to show his father that he loved him and that also hurt Silas? Hmmmmm….
I’m wondering if the choice between Jack’s secret and Michelle’s that Rose made was due to was more “acceptable” in the public’s eye? Also, Silas burning the amaryllis bulb = trouble.
<<<<shakes fist at TV and says "Damn you NBC"
As to how Rose wronged Katrina, I’m pretty sure it was when the Queen stated to Katrina’s face that she would be allowed no status or respect at Court as long as she was Queen, and dismissed Katrina’s attempt to appeal to their similar circumstances. In other words, removing the Minister from the painting was only the first step. That scene made the irrevocable enmity between the two fairly plain.
Silas has had trouble seeing Jack truly since the first episode, which isn’t helped by Jack concealing who he is. Even here, when the King genially takes his son’s arm while leaving on pilgrimage, Jack both takes no comfort from the gesture and turns his head so that his father can not see his expression.
And since Silas knows for a fact that God’s favor has turned from him and alighted upon David, I think he can be forgiven a bit of obsession with the matter.
From Andrew I get a whiff of sociopathy. He doesn’t seem to react at all to the Queen rebuffing his attempt at conciliation by reversing the blackout or to his father’s concern for what the nude photo scandal will do to their niece/cousin Michelle. My guess is that he killed someone important without remorse, probably a young noble, and his exile was part of the deal with the victim’s family in exchange for their silence.
I understand the Katrina/Rose thing. I guess I just thought Katrina’s reaction was a bit out of proportion. To go from Rose not showing her respect (when she didn’t really deserve that much) to actively trying to ruin the queen’s life is a big leap for me. Frankly, it seems like Rose is pretty much that nasty with everyone.
Why should Jack take comfort from a hollow gesture? The king, in fact, does know about the real Jack, as he made so evidently clear in the first episode. He also made it clear that it wasn’t acceptable in about the harshest way that he could. I don’t blame Jack at all. It’s clear Silas favors David over him, and that’s got to suck for Jack.
I agree with the sociopath call on Andrew. There’s just something not right with that boy.
Just some differences in viewpoint:
I didn’t see Rose’s conversation with Katrina as merely not showing the younger woman respect, purchased or otherwise, but as the promise that absolutely no one else at Court would show her the customary respect for as long as Rose held power (surely Mrs. Ghent can’t be the only person in Alter with unmerited position). I felt the Queen’s scorn to be intensely personal and by her own words unending, and was not surprised when Katrina paid her back in the same coin.
See, this one time I didn’t believe that Silas’s gesture was hollow. He was in a good mood, and certainly his words held none of his customary disappointment. I wasn’t referring to Jack’s homosexuality above (“We give up what we want when we want POWER.”), but more to the fact that Silas has little inkling of the depths of Jack’s self-loathing and conflicted emotions about succeeding to the throne. Some weeks he’ll sell out his own family to be king, and others it seems he’d be glad to give up being crown prince for his own Sanctuary. The King has no doubts about Jack becoming king, and seems to view those boys as youthful dalliances and distractions rather than his son’s true identity, and their filial relationship predates the rise of David’s star.
Bob, what’s your guess on Andrew’s scandal? We should all place our bets before the truth is revealed.
I could totally be reading this wrong, but I get the sense that Andrew is a bit infatuated with his aunt Rose. If I had to guess I would say he “acted inappropriately” toward her, perhaps even in a violent way. It would explain why Silas has such hate and even disgust for him.