TV review: Mary and George has swagger, filth — and Julianne Moore is a force of nature

Funny, and filthy without being Game of Thrones explicit, this is well worth a watch, writes Pat Fitzpatrick 

Julianne Moore stars as Mary and Nicholas Galitzine as George in Mary and George on Sky Atlantic

Mary and George (Sky Atlantic and NOW) has Julianne Moore, so it’s never going to be bad. But is it any good?

It moulds the true story of Mary Villiers and her son George, portrayed here by Nicholas Galitzine, who came from relatively nowhere in English society to a position of power thanks to George’s lover, King James I of England. The first good thing about it is that they don’t try and talk 1600s speak, so it feels modern and relevant rather than an excuse for people to wear uncomfortable clothes.