The Royals – Our (Late) Dear Brother’s Death

By starrymag | January 4, 2017

By: Luke Joseph

 

Fainting Spells & Family Reunions

 

In the ending scene of the last episode of “The Royals” Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley) and Eleanor (Alexandra Park) came to a dead halt when their eyes laid upon a not so dead Robbie (Max Brown). The episode opens up right at that scene as Eleanor and Helena each are greeted to the fact that Robert is very much alive. It’s easy to understand why both mother and daughter end up fainting at the sight of him. “Lenny! Lenny!” – the sound of her brother’s voice drawing Eleanor to open her eyes as she realizes it’s not a dream or the result of being high. Her big brother is actually here. Even with Robbie sitting next to Eleanor she still doesn’t quite believe it, which causes her to reach out and frame his face in her hands. Finally, she accepts the reality of it all and the scene is quite tender especially when fans remember how lost Eleanor had been losing her big brother.

 

The reunion between mother, daughter and son is quite tender until Cyrus (Jake Maskall) in his Cyrus like manner crashes the party barely even acting surprised that Robert is seated in front of him (believing it to be a double). Rather than greeting his not so dead nephew with a hug, he announces to him the fact that his father his father is dead.

 

Unlike Helena and Eleanor, Liam (William Moseley) hadn’t been there for the first part of the reunion because he had been too busy snuggled up with Kathryn (Christina Wolfe). “As soon as I turn my phone on, all of this goes away. It can wait ten more minutes,” but ten minutes is too long as Jasper Frost (Tom Austen) enters the apartment and requests that his highness returns back to the palace. Can I just say that Liam finding out that his brother was alive was a perfect parallel to the pilot? Liam had been in bed with Ophelia (Merritt Patterson) and Marcus had entered stating he needed to get to the palace. The same halls that Liam ran through hearing his brother was dead were the same halls he ran through upon hearing his brother was alive. Rather than saying goodbye to his brother he’s saying hello as he embraces him asking, “Where the hell have you been?” Liam counters back with, “I could say the same to you,” before they fall back into another embrace. Though the brotherly moment is quite tender it’s clear as day to see Liam is thinking “oh s—t.”

 

Welcome Home Robert

 

“Here’s the file on your death and the one on your father’s,” James Hill (Rocky Marshall) tells Robert, which once again greets Robert to the reality to which he has returned. Robert doesn’t just want to read about his father’s death he wants to see it as well, which causes James to hand over a disc showcasing the King’s murder, the night Ted Pryce (Oliver Milburn) had killed him.

 

“I’ll never forget the last thing dad said to me,” Robert begins as he sits in the throne room with Liam. “Oh yeah,” says Liam as curiosity getting the better of the younger brother as he asks what it was. Rather than sharing with Liam, Robert states it’s between him and his father (maybe this is what Liam meant by they aren’t close?) “Been gone less than a year and it feels like a lifetime. I’ve missed so much,” Robert laments. Yes, yes you have Robert. Like the fact that your brother is dating your ex girlfriend who at the moment he’s texting because she’s wondering why he had to leave in such a haste.

Though its great news that the future King has returned it can’t be announced just yet and that’s why Helena is quick to enlighten her children that everything still needs to remain normal as ever. “Can I just say that this is happening right now, we’re here all of us,” leave it to Eleanor to put a pause on the business of it all and focus on the here and now.  There’s nothing worse than hearing that a loved one has been killed except when you’re actually witnessing it and Robert does just that when he finds himself constantly watching on repeat Ted Pryce stab his father to death. From there on it results in Robert immersing himself on everything that he has missed during his absence. From his family grieving him, his father wanting to abolish the monarchy, King Liam hashtag and the King’s Cup it’s safe to say he’s quite overwhelmed.

 

Brotherly Bonding & Secrets

 

Throughout his return, Eleanor and Helena have been the most open with Robert not hiding anything from him, but Liam has been the exact opposite because he’s with-holding quite a secret. Since their time in the throne room didn’t really help, they share a bonding moment outside while they recall their dad and an old hidden bottle of scotch. Once again, Robert is back from the “dead” and the only thing Liam can focus on is his back and forth messages with Kathryn. Robert’s asks Liam as he brings up how he’s been attached to his phone all day. “Anyone serious,” he proceeds to ask, but rather than answer it Liam brushes it off explaining that it’s just a girl.

 

With it being his last day as a free and still believed to be dead, Robert suggests that they take a stroll later that night to honor their father. Even though Liam is reluctant about it, eventually he agrees and later that night he takes that stroll with Robert thinking nothing of it. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Liam, Robert had a destination set in mind that led them right to Kathryn’s door stop. Realizing this, Liam immediately begins to freak out saying that a shock like this might cause her to die. Oh, come on Liam! That’s not the reason you’re having an anxiety attack. It’s the fact that you fear your dirty little secret is going closer and closer to being found out. Robert expresses, “I want to tell her in person. It’s not a phone call type of thing. She deserves better than finding out with the rest of the world at the press conference.”

It is safe to say Kathryn was more than shocked when Robert nonchalantly walked up to her. Yeah, Kathryn this is probably karma coming to prove to you it’s never smart to get between brothers, let alone fall for them. Thankfully, Robert understands is a lot to process on her part saying, “You need time….and I have no expectations. I just thought I owed you a visit.” Even though both had been given the chance to come clean they don’t and once Robert returns back to the palace, Liam sneaks out again to go see Kathryn. Finally, he chooses to do the honorable thing by calling anything off, but we all know that’s a bunch as the British say bullox.

 

Love Thy Self, Sleep with Thy Self

 

Dear ole Cyrus is a dead man walking (pun intended) and like any man who is close to shaking hands with the reaper he has completely given up not only as King, but also on himself. Enter Cyrus’s ex wife (Aiofe McMahon) and the one responsible for his offspring (Hatty Preston & Lydia Rose Bewley). After hearing about her ex living in misery, she finds herself wanting a front row seat to it all. Like any ex husband seeing his ex wife hadn’t been thrilling to him, but she had been the medicine that he needed.

 

After Cyrus reveals to his ex that neither she or her daughter will be getting a crown anytime soon because Liam and Eleanor were proven to be legitimate and the real heir to the throne, Robert has returned. No longer wanting to watch her ex go without a fight she decides to give him a slap of reality, literally slapping him multiple times. “You’re going to lie down while they put a legally dead person on your throne….where’s the man I used to love to hate? That man used to take whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it and piss in the mouth of anyone who dare speak against him.” Slap after slap fire begins to reignite in Cyrus’s eyes, bringing him slowly back to his old and diabolical self. Still, one crucial thing he considered that made him be the b*&%$#d that he is had been his sex life. Sadly, ever since losing Violet he has been having trouble. Once again, his ex-wife proves to be of help reminding him that the only one he truly loves is himself and the only way to get back in the ring again was to love himself. So, how does Cyrus get back in the ring? The only way he knows how – by not only loving himself, but by sleeping with himself a/k/a his body double/doppelganger. And just like that, the dastardly King has returned!

 

Brother Meet Bodyguard Aka the Boyfriend

 

It’s always awkward introducing your significant other to the parents, but what about the future King of England or simply for Eleanor her big brother? That chance presents itself when Jasper casually enters the room wanting to hear about Eleanor’s phone interview only to come to a halt when he sees she’s not alone. An awkward silence drapes over the room until Eleanor speaks up making it all the more awkward, especially for poor Jasper. “Robert, this is Jasper Frost,” she says. This is when she says boyfriend right? Wrong! “Liam’s security detail.” The Princess then proceeds to turn around and shout at nothing, nervously laughing dismissing a very displeased Jasper.

 

You know how when you screw up and your partner gives you the silent treatment? Well, Jasper is excelling at giving Eleanor the silent treatment because he’s not answering any of her texts. This results in her holding a sign saying “HELP” in hopes that he’ll see it from the security cams. Unfortunately, it’s not Jasper who sweeps the Princess of her feet, but James who literally sweeps the Princess off her feet believing it to be a security threat. Poor James! It seems even if he’s the big guy in charge he’s still playing cupid to Eleanor and Jasper’s love affair.

 

Doing her routine letter check, Eleanor heads into the library. Unfortunately, upon opening the hollowed out book, she doesn’t find a letter. Luckily for her, Jasper does find her as he enters the library in a very professional manner asking, “Is there something Liam’s security detail can help you with?” Ouch! Jasper was definitely scorned by how she handled it and now Eleanor is feeling guilty because of it. Communication is key and thankfully Jaspenor is doing just that. “I’m just going to tell him straight away I’ve got nothing to hide,” Eleanor opines. The statement alone drawing Jasper’s poker face away as a smile forms. See, even Jasper has his insecurities about himself but Eleanor wiped that away by reassuring him she’s not ashamed of him. Robert enters the library and Jasper nervously greets him Robert then inquires on how Jasper, an American, ended up working for a British family. Wanting to impress her brother and give Jasper brownie points, Eleanor is quick to admit that it was Jasper who found the King’s murderer. Eleanor explains, “Not MI6. Not Scotland Yard. This guy Jasper Frost. My…” drawing out the sentence before finally laying it all on the line with “my boyfriend.” Aww, it’s finally out in the open Jasper isn’t just the Bodyguard, he’s the boyfriend and best of luck to Jasper because it seems big brother hasn’t accepted him with open arms just yet.

Jasper and Eleanor are proving to be domestic as ever as they curl up on the couch in her bedroom watching “Royal and Beautiful” (looks like Helena got Eleanor hooked). But Jasper can’t enjoy it as much seeing as he’s still thinking about his unfortunate meet and greet with Robert. “It went incredibly well,” Eleanor reassures him, but Jasper isn’t convinced. She goes on to say, “Robby’s always been real protective of me. The fact that you’re in the palace tells me that it went really great, okay?” Feeling a little more assured okay resuming in relishing in being together Eleanor wraps Jasper’s arm around her and they fall back into watching one more episode per Eleanor’s request.     

The King Has Returned

Though finding out that the twins were Simon’s biological children, that hadn’t been the talk of the press conference. “There’s another part of the story you don’t know…it’s best if I simply hand it over to someone else to elaborate.” Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, in walks Robert (honestly, all they needed was Lion King music) who explains to the press how his plane had been taken over, how he had no choice but to eject before landing in the water and washing up on the shore of a desert island. The whole reason why Robert continued to fight was because he had never lost hope. Since Cyrus is still in the picture, the press follows up with the Queen if she’s worried about Cyrus transitioning his power over to Robert. She explains, “He knows his time has come and gone,” but sadly the Queen doesn’t know that Cyrus has finally gotten his groove back.