Will Review: What Dreams May Come (Season 1 Episode 7)

Will Season 1 Episode 7, “What Dreams May Come,” is packed with angst and activity, but it still feels unremarkable.

I swear I am invested in these characters and their stories, but I am just not feeling it in this episode.

Alice is so distraught she’s considering joining Southwell’s cult. I know it’s the now widespread faith of Catholicism, but back then it seems very cultish, especially the way Southwell tries to entice her with it.

Not that Topcliffe’s Protestant religion is any better. He continues to be a beyond contemptible character. The torture scenes are really becoming grating.

Marlowe tries to sell his soul to the devil and fails. Has anything more emo ever happened? I don’t think so.

Will uses the “let’s be friends” line with Alice after he slut-shamed her and called her names on Will Season 1 Episode 6.

At least all the eye-rolling keeps me from falling asleep.

Most of the storylines take an annoying and boring turn, however, the dialogue is still solid. There are many lines that are beautiful and poignant, and delivered well.

Alice: I’m drowning in Will’s tempestuous seas. Like the wind he shifts without warning. In the same breath he is both stormy and tranquil, leaving me capsized and lost.

An actual line from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream helps the desperate players earn the money to save the theater. “Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind.”

Also, Presto’s story is getting the attention it deserves.

Lukas Rolfe is doing an outstanding job as Presto. The way he squeaks out, “She’s dead,” when he confides to Will breaks my heart.

Presto’s presence brings out compassion in Will when he is starting to be too self-focused. And Presto can use compassion right now. I hope he sticks around because they each could be a valuable companion for the other.

Something else that is gratifying is that in this historical fiction, women are often helping this “genius” playwright by giving him major ideas. Alice gave him the prequel idea on Will Season 1 Episode 6, and on this episode Emilia gives Will the theme and ending for their play. “Love is but a dream. A theme.”

I’m going to go ahead and accept this as historical fact, and none of you can stop me.

Despite some pleasant moments and the thoughtful handling of the Presto plot, Will Season 1 Episode 7, “What Dreams May Come,” is kind of a dud.

Stray Observations:

• “Peace. What a meaningless word.”
• “If your love cost me my soul then here’s to damnation, darling.” Marlowe is mostly super cheesy on this episode, but I like Jamie Campbell Bower’s delivery on this.
• Seriously, Topcliffe is the absolute worst.
• Only one modern song is incorporated into this episode. The finale of “A Midsummer’s Night’s Romance” has the cast dancing to The Cure’s “Lovesong.”

What did you think of this episode of Will? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Will airs Mondays at 9/8c on TNT.

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