Mary & George Flat-Out Changes History in Its Finale

Some chapters of history are so wild, they’re practically begging to be adapted into TV shows. Although the truth can certainly be stranger than fiction, maintaining total historical accuracy doesn’t always make for seamless storytelling. Even historical dramas with the most outrageous roots often bend the truth a little — or a lot (looking at you, The Great)  — in order to tell the story they want.

In the case of Mary & George though, the source material is already pretty unbelievable in itself. Starz’s limited historical drama series, which is partially adapted from Benjamin Wooley’s 2017 non-fiction book The King’s Assassin, centers on the affair between George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Nicholas Galitzine) and King James VI and I (Tony Curran). The relationship initially began as a twisted scheme spearheaded by George’s widowed mother Mary (Julianne Moore), who saw an opportunity to use her second-born son’s charms to get in the king’s good graces and maintain her family’s status. 

Like most historical dramas, the series plays with certain elements of its source material. This makes sense, considering even historians don’t agree on everything that happened between George and King James. Some believe George was the king’s greatest love; others think their relationship was more transactional. Since nobody can really know exactly what went down in the bedroom or the true depth of their feelings for each other, taking some creative liberties here is ultimately necessary to tell a captivating story. 

However, Mary & George’s series finale doesn’t just bend the truth — it totally alters history. The episode, which is aptly titled “War,” sees George and James reach a crossroads in their relationship. Despite some initial rockiness between them, they reconcile and have sex in the forest. However, things quickly spiral when George, using the king’s influence to address parliament, calls for a war against Spain. Shocked and infuriated by George’s betrayal, James sets the forest on fire, declares their love an “old fool’s lust” (ouch), and sentences him to death for treason. As far as TV breakups go, this one just might take the cake.

George and James butting heads over foreign policy is historically accurate. The king, who brought an end to the Anglo-Spanish war when he signed the Treaty of London at the Somerset House Conference in 1604, was committed to maintaining peace between the two nations. On the other hand, George advocated hard for war with Spain. 

From this point on, the show changes course and rewrites history. When James collapses from the smoke, George and Mary frantically hurry him to the countryside estate. At first George tries to save him, but when James awakens still in a fury, it becomes clear he meant what he said. Realizing this is his only chance to escape execution before anyone else hears of the king’s orders, George smothers him to death. Despite his insistence that their affair was “for love,” he ultimately chooses himself and the ability to remain in power. 

Although the scene serves as a brutal and devastating end to King James and George’s story, it’s not quite rooted in reality. In real life, James died in 1625 at the age of 58 after suffering a stroke and succumbing to illness, most likely complications from malarial fever. George frequently visited the king’s bedside in his final days and reportedly tried to give him some medicinal remedies. There’s speculation that George, who was facing possible impeachment from Parliament, actually poisoned James. But despite these juicy rumors, historians still generally attribute the king’s death to natural causes.

The series could have kept things historically accurate and had the king simply die of illness, or made things ambiguous by hinting that George might have had something to do with it. Instead, Mary & George goes all in and writes its own version of events. It’s certainly a gamble to alter history in such a major way, especially in the final episode, but this bold decision ultimately works to the overall story’s benefit. 

Later in the finale, a former soldier approaches George and abruptly stabs him to death, condemning him for all the pain and suffering he’s caused. This part is actually true; in 1628, a disgruntled army lieutenant named John Felton assassinated the duke, who had grown so unpopular that people literally wrote poems celebrating his death. 

While it’s already clear that George has let his desire for power go way too far — he’s disturbingly eager to dive right into war, seemingly holding zero concern for all the lives it would destroy — killing King James serves as the ultimate testament to his reckless disregard for humanity. When he’s stabbed, it’s hard not to feel like he’s getting what’s coming to him. After all, we literally just watched the guy smother his supposed “great love” to death. It all comes full-circle in the end.

Shows blatantly rewriting historical events like this can go either way. Hulu’s The Great, which centered on Russian ruler Catherine the Great and her plot to kill her depraved husband Emperor Peter III, was fun because it made a point of embracing being “an almost entirely untrue story,” choosing to lean into ridiculousness instead of sticking to the facts. Conversely, Netflix’s The Crown walked a hazy line between fact and fiction to the point where aspects of later seasons felt ignorant and irresponsible, from overlooking the racism Princess Diana’s Muslim boyfriend faced to having “Ghost Diana” bizarrely pop in and praise the royal family. 

Mary & George ultimately serves as a cautionary tale for what can happen when you prioritize desire for power over regard for human lives. Could the writers have delivered this message without making George straight-up murder the king? Sure. But by tweaking history, everything hits harder. James and George’s affair doesn’t simply end on a melancholy note. Instead, their story concludes with a cold-hearted betrayal— and that’s so much more gut-wrenching.

Mary & George Season 1 is now streaming on the Starz app. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.