Diksha Sundriyal
Love triangles get more complicated in the fifth episode of Apple TV+’s ‘The Buccaneers.’ The last episode ended with Nan realising that she needs to return to Tintagel and assume her role as the Duchess if she wishes for Jinny to come back home without the shadow of Seadown hanging over her. This happens around the same time that Theo and Lizzy consummate their romance, even though she is engaged to be married to Hector. With things set into motion for a massive collision that will break relationships, or rock them at the least, things get more intense as Lizzy’s wedding day arrives. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Nan’s Return Puts a Stop to Lizzy and Theo’s Romance
Since giving in to their attraction for each other, Lizzy and Theo spend days and weeks in each other’s company. His mother has left Tintagel since he found out about her betrayal, and the staff has also been conveniently put on leave. This leaves the entire place to the duo, and they prance around, having a merry time together. As Lizzy eventually picks up her clothes to get dressed and leave, Theo asks her to stay another day and another week, but she reminds him that she has her own wedding to attend. He asks her not to marry Hector and reveals that he is falling in love with her. But before she can respond, they hear Nan’s voice, which throws them both into a frenzy.
As Lizzy hides behind a painting, Theo keeps Nan occupied. When she leaves, Lizzy runs away in tears. Later, in a more sober situation, Theo and Nan have a conversation about the future of their marriage. She accepts that it was wrong of her to marry him, and he reveals that his mother told him everything. She knows that they can’t be divorced, so she asks him to stay together for a while, just for appearances, so that she can use her status as the Duchess to push for the bill for women’s rights. As soon as that happens and Jinny is free to come back home, she and Theo will not be obligated to live under the same roof and can live their own lives, even if they stay married.
Back at home, Lizzy tries to contain herself, especially now that she is confronted with the fact that she has cheated her best friend. Mabel finds her in this state and reveals that she knows something is going on between her and Theo. As Lizzy talks about engaging in a whirlwind romance with Theo, Mabel warns her that passion eventually fades, so she must look at things objectively. While she might not be in love with Hector, she cannot be with Theo either, because he is married to Nan, and there is no such thing as divorce.
Jinny Finds Herself at a Crossroads
While Nan resumes her position as the Duchess, Jinny reconsiders her stance against Seadown. When she ran away from her husband, she was convinced that things were beyond saving. But now that she has spent months away from him and home, she entertains the possibility of a return, and his sudden appearance makes her wonder if he has changed after all. He certainly projects that he is a better man now, at least on the surface. Instead of forcing Jinny and their son to come back to England, he tries to ease things between them. On their first meeting, Jinny wears the dress he brought for her on their honeymoon.
When they meet, Seadown remarks on how she has finally started to put herself above the needs of others, even if it means that Guy has to give up his life for her. The next time they meet, he presents her with the tickets back home, suggesting that she should get her life back. When she wonders whether her return wouldn’t be without consequences, he assures her that things will go back to normal. He points out that he chose her, which reminds Jinny of what he did to Lizzy. As old feelings of pain and hurt start to surface, Jinny decides to leave with Freddy, while Seadown becomes visibly irritated at this sudden turn of events.
Meanwhile, Paloma confronts Guy about Nan, but he is more concerned that Jinny is not with her. As he worries about Jinny’s whereabouts, he also tells Paloma that he and Jinny are not married and that she is on the run from her abusive husband. They sigh in relief when Jinny finally comes back safe and sound, which is when Guy and Paloma have a drink, and he tells her a little about Nan and their complicated situation. When he isn’t in the mood to talk about it anymore, he and Paloma drink some more and go around town having fun. Their evening ends with them kissing and sleeping with one another. The next morning, there is no feeling of regret, as they both agree that they must do it again.
Does Lizzy Marry Hector?
As Lizzy’s wedding day nears, Nan decides to go to her party, where Guy suggests he should accompany her so that they appear as a team. While everyone is happy to see Nan, Lizzy is uncomfortable about Guy’s presence there. He, however, asks her to meet him in the garden a couple of hours later. At first, Lizzy makes up her mind not to do that and focuses completely on Hector. By the end of the evening, she decides to see him, especially after her sister gives a speech about how she deserves everything and must choose what is best for her. When they meet, Guy excitedly asks her not to marry Hector and tells her about his and Nan’s deal. However, Lizzy points out that even with the separation, they would still be married, which means their affair would still be illegitimate.
Meanwhile, Mabel has a heartfelt conversation with her mother where Mrs. Elmsworth gives her an example of how much she loved Montreal and thought that she would spend the rest of her life there, but then she found her husband in New York, which opened up the whole world for her. She advises Mabel to give the same opportunity to herself. This hits home particularly after Mabel realises that Honoria has a chance to go to France and experience new things. When Conchita mentions that Honoria has opened up a lot recently and Mabel sees how excited she is about the prospect of teaching in a village in France, she encourages her to leave, even though Honoria feels like she should stay back for Mabel.
By the day of the wedding, it isn’t just Honoria who will be going to France. With Nan’s return, Blanche is convinced that things will go back to normal, and she is not needed as much as she thought. She gladly accepts Reede’s offer to start over with him in France. Meanwhile, a heartbroken Theo broods over losing yet another woman he loves to another man. But as Lizzy arrives at the church in her wedding dress, he runs to the church and catches up with her, and she gives him the opportunity to speak his piece. Theo tells her that she shouldn’t marry Hector, not because he is in love with her, but because she deserves a love that gives her everything she wants.
Being with Hector will rob her of the passion that she has with Theo, and being with Theo will rob her of the legitimacy of marriage, which she deserves. Instead of choosing between Hector and Theo, she must choose herself. His words hit a chord with Lizzy, and as she goes back to the church’s gate, she takes a moment. While her friends look at her questioningly, the look on Lizzy’s face clearly suggests that all her doubts about marrying Hector have finally reached a crescendo. Being with Theo wasn’t the reason she didn’t feel like marrying Hector.
Not wanting to marry Hector was the reason that pushed her to Theo. Realising that no matter her feelings for Theo, she would still be unhappy with Hector because she doesn’t love him, makes the choice clear for Lizzy. Even when the episode leaves us on an uncertain note, it would be wrong to assume that she will not go forward with the wedding after all, especially not when she already had two examples (Nan and Jinny) of how marrying the wrong man can ruin one’s life.
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