Best Episodes
Comedy about the life and times of William Shakespeare as he starts to make a name for himself in London, whilst also trying to balance life as a husband and father for his family in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 10, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Will hopes to move up in the world when he is invited to a high-society party hosted by Lord Southampton, but is unsure what a poorly-educated country boy should wear to one of London's most upmarket events. The playwright's rival Sir Robert Greene offers him some fashion tips, but is it a double bluff, a triple bluff, or something even more fiendish?
The episode was rated 7.43 from 122 votes.
Will has completed his final sonnet and senses literary immortality just around the corner. But will the fair youth and the dark lady like them as much as he hopes? And is Anne likely to be impressed that her husband’s 154 hot new love poems don’t contain much about her?
The episode was rated 7.46 from 115 votes.
Will Shakespeare has been working on his masterpiece. His friends tell him it's his greatest comedy yet, but Will insists that Hamlet isn't actually meant to be funny.
The episode was rated 7.52 from 48 votes.
As Will wrestles with temptation a bigger threat to his family lurks in the wings.
The episode was rated 7.54 from 56 votes.
Will's troupe plot against each other, but his defusing of the situation helps give him a better idea for his new play about Julius Caesar.
The episode was rated 7.54 from 50 votes.
London is full of anti-immigrant rioting. Will looks forward to an age when such sentiments are long-gone, but in the meantime he and the players plan to do their bit to help those worse off than themselves with a fund-raising charity gala night. “Inflated Pig's Bladder Day” is a triumph.
The episode was rated 7.54 from 48 votes.
The plague leads Will and his friends to escape to the family home in Stratford. On the way, they meet three witches who have some surprising predictions to make about Will’s future, leading to a very serious case of house envy.
The episode was rated 7.57 from 109 votes.
Will has to write a romance set in an exotic foreign location Kate has fallen for Marlowe.
The episode was rated 7.57 from 70 votes.
When his old teacher invites himself to stay, Will must confront some awful memories.
The episode was rated 7.59 from 64 votes.
Will needs inspiration for his new play A Midsummer Night's Dream. Meanwhile how can he get hold of some love potion, and where is Bottom going to put that stuffed donkey head?
The episode was rated 7.60 from 55 votes.
When a dashing African Prince comes to town, Will decides to befriend him.
The episode was rated 7.60 from 80 votes.
When Kate stands in for Sue at the masked ball she accidentally sets off a chain of events that leaves Sue humiliated by the other local teenagers and Will needs to come up with a ruse to turn the tables on the bullies. Meanwhile in all the confusion Hamnet has gone missing.
The episode was rated 7.63 from 51 votes.
The women in Will's life are not impressed with his play about a strong woman humiliated.
The episode was rated 7.67 from 57 votes.
When Will's savings go missing, he is forced to make an unusual bargain with his rival. Kate's frustration with the lack of roles for women leads her to make a dramatic intervention.
The episode was rated 7.67 from 113 votes.
Will's finished Romeo and Juliet but now there's competition over who will play Juliet.
The episode was rated 7.95 from 65 votes.
