Before I get to Joanna, I'll touch on the other side stories - which luckily took a little more of a backseat in this episode than they did last week. Lina and Oviedo are going to get married, with Catherine's blessing and the promise of a dowry. How exciting! But Lina knows Oviedo is hiding something (hmm, maybe that he's a part of Margaret Beaufort's spy network now?). Meanwhile, Stafford has completely abandoned Rosa and hew unborn baby, and perhaps as a result, the stress and sadness result in a miscarriage. Through this tragedy, we see the three best friends (Catherine, Lina, and Rosa) supporting one another and illustrating a prevailing theme of this series - sisterhood.
Ultimately, Catherine learns that Margaret and King Henry have been sabotaging Joanna and Philip's efforts to return to Spain, because they're dying to make a deal with Philip that will have his father (Emperor Maximilian) hand over the Plantagenet traitor, Edmund de la Pole. Catherine thinks she can convince Joanna to arrange this, in return from her passage to Spain - and of course, Catherine's payment will be her dowry. All seems well, and Joanna appears to agree - but it all goes downhill when she enters the privy council chamber and Margaret Beaufort suggests a different kind of alliance: How about Joanna's son to marry Harry's younger sister, Princess Mary? Perfect, Joanna says. Who needs Catherine?
A VERY depressing ending to this episode for Catherine and Harry. Will they every marry? (Spoiler: Yes). But what hoops will they have to jump through in order to get to the altar? I'll be tuning in next Sunday to find out! Once again, this episode really impressed me (despite the really unnecessary Joanna/Harry scene). I can't wait to continue this series, and I'm starting to lament that it will be over soon!