The romance angle of Baraou no Souretsu isn’t nearly as interesting as the politics for me (and a lot more absurd). So an episode like this one, laser focused on it, isn’t especially compelling. That’s not to say there aren’t amusing moments (like Edward Lancaster and Jane squabbling over who loves Richard more when they’re supposed to be consummating), but Henry is such a ludicrous character that I find anything he’s involved with to be pretty silly.
Needless to say, Henry remains a pretty terrible monarch. So it’s just as well, really, that he has no interest in being one in the first place. Never mind actually governing – even the bread & circuses side disagrees with him, as witness his reaction to the “four and twenty blackbirds” pie served up to him (I don’t blame him, really). Warwick is seemingly already scheming to have Henry removed – perhaps he’s too loopy and detached even for Warwick’s purposes – and sends him off on a pilgrimage under minimal guard (maybe he just wanted a break). Warwick still hasn’t settled on a choice of successor between Edward Lancaster and George of York, but in his own mind Warwick is effectively the king anyway.
Meanwhile the other Edward hasn’t given up on George, and dispatches Richard (accompanied by the ever-loyal Catesby) with a York flag to infiltrate Warwick’s domain and try to win George back. Dangerous though this mission is Richard is honored to be chosen for it, but yet another chance encounter with Henry along the way throws a spanner in the works, not least because Richard is stabbed by one of the royal guards. Separated from Catesby he ends up along in the woods with Henry (naturally).
Again, this is all very silly as far as I’m concerned. I’m good with dramatic license and to be sure, Richard’s story has always been a magnet for it. But this part of this drama just doesn’t work for me. It does entertain me that Richard is cooing and courting with Henry in the woods while Henry’s daughter and his wife are both in love with him and fighting over him, but that only goes so far – especially when Henry is the focus of the episode, not those two. Hopefully next week takes us back to the intrigue and struggle for power (and against fate) as that’s where Baraou no Souretsu is on much former narrative footing.
