The Buccaneers flash-forwards approximately three months and introduces Jinny’s baby boy named Freddy in In “Holy Grail” (Season 2 Episode 2). Along with Guy, they are tucked away in Italy acting like a happy family, but Guy’s voiceover that opens the episode explains that he is still in love with Nan, gleaning bits about her life through the newspaper headlines, though he refuses to believe that she’s as happy as the papers say. “Everything has changed, except how I feel,” he says before sending a letter to Lizzy to ask for her help in getting Nan to come to him.
Jinny is equally unhappy in her new life, knowing that Guy resents her and believing that her son does, too. She becomes friends with an Italian local, Paloma, to whom she complains about her sex life and admits that she regrets running away from her old life. Guy is on edge when he can’t find Jinny, and she doesn’t seem to realize how huge of a sacrifice everyone in her life has made for her, threatening to go back to England before Guy shows her newspaper headlines that call her a kidnapper because she ran away while pregnant. Guy tells her that he’ll do anything for Freddy, who he views as his son, and it’s a gesture that keeps her stationary—for now.
At Tintagel, Lizzy arrives at the castle for a scavenger hunt hosted by the Duke and Duchess with Guy’s note but doesn’t immediately give it to Nan, believing that it’s best for her friend to let go of her true love—even when Theo tells Lizzy that his “wife has a broken heart” because he often hears Nan crying alone in their bedroom. She clutches one of Guy’s shirts and daydreams about their forbidden love, thinking that no one can hear her suffering. Later, Nan herself admits to her feelings but says she must let Guy go once and for all in order to make her marriage to Theo work, and burns the shirt she’s been crying into. Lizzy takes this to heart and, in turn, burns Guy’s note without Nan even knowing of its existence.
While Lizzy’s intentions seem pure, “Holy Grail” seems to be setting up a love triangle of her own. She’s being courted by Hector, the member of parliament who is gathering signatures for a bill that will give a voice to all working men, but she also shares some significant moments with Theo. The Duke confides in his wife’s best friend about the love triangle he finds himself in, likening it to King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere, and later thanks Lizzy for being a good friend to Nan. While they’re walking together in the woods, Lizzy playfully splashes him with water and loses her bracelet. When he retrieves it, they share a brief moment that they don’t act on, but it feels flirty enough to warrant a double take.
For now, Theo and Nan are presenting a united front. At a dinner celebrating the scavenger hunt, Nan usurps Theo to make a speech addressing the Lords and Ladys who have gathered at the castle. She acknowledges Hector’s bill, then expands: she intends to use her voice so that no man gets to own his wife like property. Any man that mistreats his wife will feel her wrath, she warns. Lord James Seadown, who was invited into their home for the event, knows these words are directed at him. He follows Nan outside after her speech, intending to threaten her once more regarding Jinny, but is instead met with Theo’s fist and a warning to stay away from the Duchess.
Meanwhile, Richard and Conchita’s business is helping to keep their families afloat—but not if Richard’s mother, Lady Brightlingsea, has anything to do with it. When she gets a moment alone with their client Cora, Lady Brightlingsea tells her that “marriage is meant to pay the bills” and reveals that Richard and Conchita’s marriage was one of financial gain, not true love like the young American believed. This upsets Cora and she begins acting out while meeting suitors, not wanting to marry anyone just because her family is wealthy.
Eventually, Conchita corners her. When she hears the reasons behind Cora’s behavior, she dispels the rumor immediately and tells her that she didn’t just fall in love with the first man that looked at her. The explanation seems to soothe Cora for now, meaning their cash cow can still be milked for the remainder of the season.
Lady Brightlingsea doesn’t just meddle in her son Richard’s business; she also wants to keep her daughter Honoria closeby. Little does she know that Honoria’s new roommate Mabel is also her lover. Honoria and Mabel christen their new sleeping arrangement with a hot makeout session, and the camera angle of this scene had my blood pressure up as I held my breath hoping no one would walk in on their private moment. Luckily, all they get is a knock from Lady Brightlingsea summoning Honoria, and Mabel goes in her place to play backgammon with her girlfriend’s mother. When Lady Brightlingsea throws a few insults in Mabel’s direction, she gains some points by dishing it right back at the Lady.
Despite these lighter moments, the main villain of The Buccaneers remains at large. Lord James Seadown corners Nan midway through the episode to tell her that Jinny is not well and that when he finds her and their baby, he’ll make sure she gets the medical attention she requires. Knowing that his words will fall on Nan’s deaf ears, he tries a different tactic in the final moments of “Holy Grail”: as he’s leaving Tintagel, he mentions Guy’s presence at the castle the night before and the morning of the wedding to Theo. Whether he knows that Guy aided in Jinny’s disappearance or not, he does know that the insinuation that Nan slept with Guy right before marrying Theo is enough to make the Duke snap. The second episode ends with Theo’s imminent crash out as he approaches Nan to confront her. Lord help us all.
Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Paste Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vulture and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.
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