Ep 5. The Most Unkindest Cut of All

In Upstart Crow season 3 episode 5 titled "The Most Unkindest Cut of All", we are once again transported to the world of William Shakespeare. The episode focuses on Shakespeare's attempt to write a play that will satisfy all the people of London and their varied tastes. He has been commissioned by the Lord Chamberlain's Men to write a play that will be performed before Queen Elizabeth I and he is feeling the pressure to deliver a hit.

To make matters worse, Shakespeare is dealing with a case of writer's block. He is unable to come up with a single original idea for a play. But when a miscommunication with his servant leads to a hilariously graphic description of castration, Shakespeare suddenly sees the light. He decides to write a play about a man who loses his manhood and must face the consequences of his actions.

As Shakespeare begins to write his latest masterpiece, he realizes that he needs to do more research on the subject of castration. He enlists the help of his friend Marlowe, who is more than happy to offer his expertise. But their research takes them down a dark path, and they end up encountering a group of castrati who have lost their manhood willingly in exchange for a place in the choir. Shakespeare is horrified by what he sees and is unable to continue his research.

Despite the setback, Shakespeare soldiers on and completes the play. But when the Lord Chamberlain's Men read the finished script, they are not pleased. The play is too graphic and controversial for an audience that includes the Queen. Shakespeare is devastated, but with the help of his friends, he finds a way to salvage the play and make it more palatable for the masses.

As the play takes the stage, Shakespeare is once again facing pressure to deliver a hit. The audience is made up of a cross section of society, each with their own set of likes and dislikes. Shakespeare is nervous, but he needn't have worried. His play is a huge success and the audience is enthralled. The Most Unkindest Cut of All becomes the talk of London, and Shakespeare realizes that he might just be on his way to becoming one of the greatest playwrights of all time.

In this episode of Upstart Crow, we see Shakespeare facing his fears and overcoming his writer's block. We also see him struggling to balance his desire to create something original and controversial with the need to satisfy a wide range of tastes. Through it all, Shakespeare remains true to himself and his art. The Most Unkindest Cut of All is a witty, clever and at times bawdy look at the world of Elizabethan theatre, and a testament to the genius of William Shakespeare.