The highly awaited second season of Gilded Age’s sister show, The Buccaneers, is finally here! Now, I say “sister show,” but they’re not related in any way except for the fact that they’re both set in said era. Anyway, at the end of the first season, we were left to wonder who Nan’s mom is. Guess waiting a year was enough, because we get the answer as soon as the episode begins. The first episode mainly focuses on Nan’s dilemmas and how she’s going to deal with her current situation for the rest of her life. Sure, she doesn’t regret the choice she made to protect her sister, but that doesn’t mean the whole thing isn’t going to weigh down on her in the long run. In the first season, we saw Conchita’s spark diminish and die down, but in this season, we’re going to see her regain her strength and her spark by doing what nobody expects of her: saving the Brightlingsea household. Meanwhile, we might finally get to see a spark for Lizzy, too, one that hopefully will bring her spirits back. With that said, let’s jump straight into episode 1 of The Buccaneers season 2.
Spoiler Alert
Who Helps Nan?
Episode 1 begins with Nan and Theo stepping out of the hall, a married couple, and Nan a duchess. While on the surface, Nan looks delighted because this is essentially a dream match, she’s having panic attacks and realizing she’s the wrong guy. Conchita reminds Nan that she’s done the right thing by helping her sister out and protecting her from the monster that is James. At the same time, Patti goes into the party to talk to someone she has been estranged from for 19 years, Nan’s mum, Patti’s sister, Nell. Yes, it is quite the shocking reveal, especially because we didn’t know about a sister at all, plus I didn’t realize this mother would be so close to home. Nan is introduced to her “aunt” Nell soon after, and when she’s alone and Nell asks her if she’s okay, she blurts out that she’s married the wrong man. For some reason, Nan doesn’t think she’s making a mistake telling this basically total stranger her life story without the fear of gossip. Is it because she feels so comfortable with her already, or because she knows her mom’s sister wouldn’t do anything to hurt their family’s reputation? Maybe a mix of both. I do think Nell’s a good person, and eventually Nan’s going to find out who she is.
Meanwhile, Nan and Theo get the time to have sex on the beach, an ode to their first meeting, eh? In between, we get glimpses of her night before with Guy (scandy). At first, Patti is furious that Nell’s there, and she essentially blames her for “seducing” her husband because “he’s a man” and she always expected him to be that way. Nell is much younger than Patti, and she reminds her that she was only 18 when Tracy bedded her. At first, it looks like Nell’s happy to be a bystander after so many years, but when Patti realizes that she chose the wrong side 19 years ago, she tells Nell that she wants her to stay close because she’s always wanted her daughters to have their aunt. But Nell says now that she’s met Nan and seen how it feels to be her potential mom, she can’t stand the idea of being with her and having her not know who she really is. Nell does make a promise not to tell her, though, and Patti also tells her that she was wrong not to have protected Nell all those years ago as her big sister. In the end, Patti tells her husband that she regrets not having asked for a divorce 20 years ago and that his ticket back to America is now Nell’s, not metaphorically. Nan’s not alone in any way. She’s got two moms now, and they love her dearly, so even if she chose the wrong “guy,” she has people to support her through it.
What Happens With Lizzy?
At the wedding, Lizzy makes eye contact with an MP named Hector, and it looks like sparks are flying immediately. With everything that Lizzy’s been through, she deserves a good man, one who will keep her happy and make her feel safe. James ruined everything by making her feel ashamed for so long, but now it’s her time to shine. Later, Hector meets Lizzy in the street and asks her if she’ll be at the Black and White Ball. She honestly tells him she’ll have to find out what that is first, but it looks like they’re already hitting it off, and I can’t wait to see this romance. Meanwhile, Mabel tells Honoria that she should be honest with her, especially if she’s struggling with everything that’s going on at home. They’re very sweet.
What Is Conchita Planning?
Conchita is a sly fox, and she can save her household and her name with a talent she’s always been excellent at: socializing. Conchita meets Cora Merrigan, a young girl who is eager to get married in London and have a grand wedding like Conchita’s. Merrigan’s is a popular store in NY, but the upper crust of London have no idea who they are, so Cora and her mother need friends in places they’ve never been. At first, it’s just nice that Conchita can make a new friend in London; however, when she learns that her in-laws aren’t planning on selling off any of their assets because they’re stubborn and don’t understand how money works, Conchita comes up with a new plan. The Merrigans pay her for her “services,” which include chaperoning Cora at all the fancy balls and events with London’s elite so that she can find her perfect match. Conchita is quite a genius for coming up with this plan, but I do hope her in-laws realize how valuable she is after all of this. I also do hope Richard can get some closure around his father before he’s gone for good.
What Happens At The Ball?
While Jinny and Guy have made it safely to some unknown place, the tabloids are still wondering if Jinny went mad or simply died. Guy and Jinny, of course, are pretending to play house because that’s the only way they can stay safe in this situation, and that was also the Dowager Duchess’ deal with Nan, I suppose. Nan is paranoid about her sister’s safety because James threatens her too and even grabs her by the arm while telling her that he’s going to find her sister, but Nan’s strong, and she will keep up appearances as long as she knows her sister is safe. Theo does suspect something’s odd, especially after finding Guy’s coat in the house, but his mother assures him that Guy’s gone to tour the world.
At the end of The Buccaneers season 2, episode 1, Nan asks Theo’s mum where Jinny is, and she tells her that she’s handling it. She also tells Nan that obedience is the only way for her to protect her sister, standing silently behind her husband. But Nan takes this as a challenge, because she’s not one to stand silently in cowardice; she’s an American, and she’s got bite. So, Nan wears a bright red dress, like the queen of hearts at the Black and White Ball, to make a statement, to show the English how it’s done, and also to make sure the tabloids stop talking about her sister.
