DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Dickinson episode “Sang from the Heart, Sire” has spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Welcome back, poetic lovers! “Sang from the Heart, Sire” deftly explores the devastating consequences of war and grief, notably under the roof of the Dickinson household. While The Civil War rages outside their walls, the family wages their respective war inside. “Picking a side” appears to be a prevalent theme, and, with our polarizing and divisive political landscape, this theme resonates today.
It’s all about sides.
“Sang from the Heart, Sire” isn’t driven by action but instead by the characters. Except for the scene with Henry and the regiment, the episode feels insular, focusing more on the effects of war at home. In contrast, last week’s outing found Emily branching outward from the sanctuary of her bedroom.
It’s reflective, impactful and emotional, deftly showcasing the ebbs and flows of grief amid turbulent times.
Ready to delve into “Sang from the Heart, Sire”? Let’s get to it.
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We open Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) reading a letter from Thomas Wentworth Higginson (Gabriel Ebert). Higginson praises Emily for her innovative poetry, giving her a confidence boost. She gushes about the letter to Vinnie (Anna Baryshnikov), who listens intently but never responds. Vinnie’s taken a vow of silence in support of the troops.
Then, the Dickinson sisters arrive at Amherst’s quilting bazaar and sanitary fair, which benefits the Union soldiers. Edward (Toby Huss) and Mrs. Dickinson (Jane Krakowski) also show up in time for the auction. Mrs. Dickinson reveals she put her grandmother’s quilt up for bidding but quickly tries to retrieve the blanket after the auctioneer starts the bidding at five dollars.
Thankfully, Edward pays 20 dollars for the quilt, so the family still contributes to the Union soldiers’ wellbeing.
Next, Ithamar Conkey (Robert Picardo) chastises Edward for his letter in the local newspaper. It pleads for people to “see both sides” of the war, and Ithamar accuses Edward of failing to support the Union soldiers, siding with Confederates. Edward tries to refute Ithamar’s accusation, citing that he was only thinking of his brother, who lives in the South.
Of course, this scene plays on political events involving the past president, wherein he claimed there were “good people on both sides” when addressing a particular incident. I think I’ll leave it at that.
Interestingly enough, Ithamar urges Edward to pick a side, which is the same thing Austin tells Emily a few episodes ago.
After Edward suffers public humiliation, no thanks to Ithamar, we learn it’s Edward’s birthday. Emily suggests to Vinnie and Mrs. Dickinson that they organize a family singalong to lift his spirits.
Later, Emily visits Sue (Ella Hunt) to inform her about the singalong. She finds her lady love crying on the bed, and we discover that Sue was awake all night with her fussy newborn. Sue doubts her parenting capabilities, and Emily offers words of encouragement, cementing her eternal love for the only woman for which she writes poetry. It’s a beautifully tender scene for EmiSue fans.
Meanwhile, Henry (Chinaza Uche) starts his first day teaching the Black regiment to read and write. We formally meet Erasmus (Myles Evans), Solomon (Nore Davis), The Wall (Wavyy Jonez), Everett (Tristan Griffin) and Michael River Jordan (Curtis Morlaye). According to the group, Erasmus possesses prophetic abilities, and he predicts Michael Jordan will be legendary in the future.
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Don’t worry; this becomes a running gag for the rest of the season, and it’s funny every time.
Even though Henry wants to teach, the crew voices their concerns regarding uniforms and weaponry. Henry explains that Higginson must jump through hoops to legitimize the regiment, and President Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation will facilitate their legitimacy.
But that’s not enough, and they want Henry to push harder. Henry tells them that, by learning to read, they can study history so that it won’t repeat itself.
Sue informs Austin (Adrian Blake Enscoe) about the family singalong for Edward, but he won’t attend, seeing how he’s seceded from the family. Austin begs Sue to let him stay home with their son, but Sue reasserts her stance on fathers and children. Then, she urges him to do the “manly thing” and join the Union army. Dickinson artfully explores toxic masculinity this season, among other things.
So, Sue, Vinnie, Mrs. Dickinson and Emily surprise Edward, who’s all for having some musical fun. A beautiful montage transpires with our characters singing their hearts out. Jeez, why is everyone so musically gifted on this show?
Amid all the gleefulness, Mrs. Dickinson regales the family with how she met Edward. The story culminates with her shedding tears for her late sister, and it’s a stark reminder of how much the pandemic impacts us all.
Emily sings “Hard Times Come Again No More” for the group, and Austin wanders into the room, harmonizing with her. Admittedly, this scene gave me goosebumps, and there’s nothing like a good harmony.
Anyway, after the song, Sue scolds Austin for imbibing in excess, but he fires back that there’s an air of sadness in everything and everyone. Again, this alludes to the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously addressing The Civil War. Austin reveals he’s departing his father’s law firm and starting his own. Oh, and he’s specializing in divorce, and he wants a divorce from Sue. He plans to get full custody of their child.
Sue tells him he won’t remember this speech in the morning.
Then, Austin pours salt in old wounds by dredging up Edward’s past acts of physical violence against Emily. Emily demands Austin leave, and she tells him she picked a side — their father’s.
Mrs. Dickinson, donning her wedding dress, takes a drunken tumble down the stairs.
Vinnie finally breaks her vow of silence to state that their family is “insane.”
Next, Sue finds Emily’s correspondence with Higginson. She cannot believe Emily sent her poetry to someone else. Sue notes how Emily’s letters make her sound helpless and that Emily’s just like Austin. She storms out, slamming the door behind her.
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Dickinson knows how to heal our hearts with one scene and viciously rip them apart with the next. Here’s hoping the lovebirds mend fences soon.
Austin might be lashing out, but I feel for him. He knows Sue and Emily love each other, and he can’t do anything about it. Of course, we know Austin and Sue remain married unless the show veers from history.
So far, so good for the final season of Dickinson. Hopefully, the hard times are brief for our characters, and they find some semblance of happiness when all is said and done.
New episodes of Dickinson are available to stream Fridays on Apple TV Plus.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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