Diksha Sundriyal
Tensions flare in the second episode of Apple TV+’s ‘The Buccaneers’ Season 2 as Nan is forced to confront her feelings for Guy while trying to keep her marriage with Theo intact. Following the events of the previous episode, she knows what is expected of her as the Duchess, and while she is ready to abide by this role, this doesn’t mean that things have gotten any easier for her. In fact, by the end of this episode, her relationships become more complicated while the threat of Lord Seadown finding Jinny grows ever stronger. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Nan Slips Into the Role of the Duchess
The second episode picks up three months after Nan and Theo’s wedding. During this time, Jinny gives birth to a son whom Guy loves like his own. While he and Jinny have settled into their new situation, he still thinks about Nan every single day. With her sitting headlines as the new Duchess, it doesn’t get easier for him to believe that she is happy in her marriage. So, he writes a letter to Lizzy, asking her to give his letter to Nan, through which he intends to offer her a chance to run away with him, something they should have done months ago.
Meanwhile, Nan and Theo travel their duchy on the Honeymoon Tour, which is a grand success. By the time they return, it is time for the Parliament to be in session, before which the Duke holds a spring gala at Tintagel, which includes a treasure hunt. As all the Lords converge at Theo and Nan’s home, Lizzy tussles with the decision to give Guy’s letter to Nan. She knows that the letter will ruffle Nan’s feelings, but at the same time, Lizzy doesn’t want to destroy her marriage with Theo, especially if they are happy together. What she doesn’t know is that Nan cries her heart out when she is alone, and Theo has heard her quiet sobs through the door one too many times.
When Lizzy arrives at Tintagel, she takes Nan aside to talk with her, but the Duchess assures her that everything is fine. Before the treasure hunt ensues, Lord Seadown makes an appearance, which makes Nan more worried about her sister’s safety. However, her mother-in-law reminds her that Jinny is still safe and the purpose of the gala is for the Duke and the Duchess to maintain cordial relations with everyone. Later, Nan notices Hector Robinson talking to Seadown, and when she calls him out on it, he reveals that he is trying to gather support for a bill that will allow the common man to own land. He also points out that with her position as the beloved Duchess, Nan is in a position to use her voice and speak out on important issues.
Theo’s Suspicions About Nan and Guy Deepen
While Nan worries about Seadown’s plans, Theo and Lizzy cross paths during the hunt. As he talks about the theme of the hunt, he speaks of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot’s story, which thinly veils his own suspicions about Nan being in love with Guy but being forced to marry him. It doesn’t take him long to do away with comparisons as he gets to the heart of the matter. He reveals that he has heard Nan cry, which has convinced him that her heart is broken since Guy’s departure, and she doesn’t love the man she is currently married to.
In between all this, Theo and Lizzy also share a warm moment by the water, which indicates that the sympathy Lizzy has for Theo might evolve into something more. However, there is also Hector, who makes concerted efforts to worm his way into Lizzy’s heart. Later, Lizzy confronts Nan, telling her about the crying and how Theo knows about it. However, this angers Nan as she tells Lizzy not to meddle in her marriage. Meanwhile, Conchita prepares Cora for her first foray into British society with the hopes of landing her a husband as soon as possible. Initially, Cora is excited to attend the Tintagel gala, but then, Conchita’s mother-in-law talks about how marriages on this side of the pond are purely financial affairs.
Cora becomes angry about the fact that her father’s wealth will be used to pawn her off, when in fact, she has been looking for someone she can fall in love with. This turns her antagonistic as she sabotages her own prospects, throwing Conchita off as she wonders what has happened to change the young girl’s mind so suddenly. Meanwhile, back at home, her mother-in-law and Honoria are settling into the house since the death of Richard’s father; most of their properties have been seized by debt collectors, and they don’t have a place to live anymore. This means that they will be living with Richard and Conchita, which means that Honoria will be forced to lodge with Mabel, though no one realises that the girls are actually delighted at this prospect.
Lord Seadown Drops a Bomb on Theo
At the dinner in Tintagel, Nan uses the spotlight to talk about Hector’s proposed bill, while also shining the light on women’s rights and how they are abused within the walls of their own homes because they are considered nothing more than properties of their husbands. This is basically her way of telling Seadown that she will continue to fight for Jinny, no matter what. Theo supports her words, but as he walks out, she follows him too. In the garden, Seadown catches up with her, but before he can talk about the full extent of his threat, Theo punches him in the face, forcing him to flee the scene.
That night, Nan decides it is time for her to let go of Guy. She knocks at Lizzy’s door, apologising for treating her harshly earlier in the evening. She confesses that she still thinks about Guy, but at the same time, her role as the Duchess has given her a glimpse of the power she now holds and how much she can change things if she really leans into it. While her feelings for Guy are not going to go away so easily, she is determined to make it work with Theo. Symbolising this decision, she burns down the clothes she was wearing the night she spent with Guy before her wedding to Theo. At the same time, Lizzy burns Guy’s letter, seeing that it would be better for everyone if Nan doesn’t find out that Guy is still holding out hope for her.
Meanwhile, Guy waits for Lizzy or Nan’s reply, but is disappointed to get nothing. Jinny, on the other hand, starts questioning her decision to run away. She knows that Guy resents her because if not for her, he would have been with Nan. She feels that her baby resents her too, and above all, she resents herself because she thought she would be able to live like this, but clearly, she can’t. When she expresses her desire to go back, Guy shows her the newspaper clippings in which she has been made out to be a madwoman who ran away with her husband’s child. She is horrified to discover that she is the kidnapper of her own child, but while it is unfair, it is the reality she has to accept. If she goes back, she will face terrible consequences, one of which would be the separation from her child.
While Jinny decides to stay back, Seadown is not backing down. The next morning, Nan and Theo make up. She is finally ready to move on, and Theo seems happy to have his wife back. His mood has cooled down so much that the next morning, when Seadown shows up, Theo apologizes to him for punching him the previous night. This is when Seadown asks him if Guy has reached out, revealing that not only has Guy run away with Jinny, but he was also seen prancing about the castle’s grounds with Nan, the night before the wedding. This puts Theo in a daze as he realises what Guy’s night stay means. This revelation wounds him so much that he doesn’t skip a beat before running to his wife, who is bidding farewell to the guests, and confronts her about what really happened between her and Guy.
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