'The Spanish Princess' Season 2 Episode 2 Preview: Catherine is pregnant again, but what trials await her?
What had started off with celebrations in the second season premiere of 'The Spanish Princess' had ended with a brutal loss as Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope), now the Tudor Queen of England, lost her baby. With her husband King Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor) promising her that together they are stronger, and will have another child reflecting the power of their union, things looked hopeful. Catherine addressed the court at the end of the episode and reassured her subjects of the prosperity and success to come. But will that flourishment come easy? Episode 2's title suggests otherwise; and even though there's no official synopsis yet, the promo teaser makes it look like Catherine has further trials and tribulations to deal with.
Titled 'Flodden', Episode 2 of Season 2 will expectedly revolve around the eponymous Battle of Flodden. The episode sees Henry VIII invade France after his troops and soldiers were stranded and betrayed by Catherine's father, as seen in the previous episode. But while Henry goes away to fight the battle, it is a significant time jump since we last saw them, and along with her consort, Lina, Catherine too is now pregnant. It's a joyous occurrence, considering her recent loss, but knowing history and how everything culminated in tragedy, this will probably be the second failed pregnancy of Catherine, so she definitely is not done with tragedy yet.
That this episode will expectedly culminate in battle is also alarming. With Henry gone, Catherine is now left all alone to defend England as the Scottish King James IV is on the prowl to attack her kingdom. Left in her situation, Catherine makes all the touch calls as part of the court's counsel which the Tudors effectively try to remove her from having a say in. History reveals that despite Catherine's excellent war counsel, the Tudors, and increasingly her husband King Henry tried putting her aside, kept her from interrupting in official court business as time went on, so following the Battle of Flodden -- or her calls to commence with the battle -- perhaps we shall also start seeing a more precise glimpse of Henry turning the page.
Henry's haste at holding Catherine accountable for her father's betrayal, and previous refusal to believe her claims of being a virgin are clear signs of his hesitation at taking her word for it. Maybe love won't be able to solve it all.
'The Spanish Princess' Season 2 airs on Sundays at 8 pm only on Starz.
