The Widdicombe Manor parlor sets the stage for Renegade Nell Season 1 Episode 3, “A Private Joke With the Queen,” in which Nell (Louisa Harland) and Devereaux (Frank Dillane) masquerade as the upper crust with Lord and Lady Springbourne (Hilary Tones) and their guests.
As the conversation turns to Nell, aka Lady Shankley, Billy Blind (Nick Mohammed) flutters by and warns her they should get out of there. Devereaux covers for her distraction. In the woods outside the manor, Poynton’s (Adrian Lester) conjured knight gallops toward the unsuspecting party.
Ready to Run
In the courtyard, Rasselas (Enyi Okoronkwo) hides behind the carriage when Sofia (Alice Kremelberg) arrives with Jarrold and his men.
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As the conversation in the parlor turns to the news and outlandish rumors about the dangerous highwaywoman terrorizing travelers, a servant enters and whispers in Lord Springbourne’s ear. He turns to look with caution at Nell. She leans in and asks him if he’s the local magistrate. When he confirms that he is, she asks how someone like Nell Jackson would go about proving her innocence.
Before he can answer, Sofia and Jarrold burst in to arrest Nell. Billy flies into Nell’s ear. As she squares off to confront Sofia and Jarrold’s men, the conjured knight crashes through the parlor window.
Herne the Hunter
Through the knight’s eyes, Poynton takes in everyone in the parlor, including Sofia and Nell. He attacks Nell, who fights back but is badly overmatched. Devereaux throws her a small dagger, and she cuts the knight’s arm, momentarily injuring Poynton by proxy. When the knight’s weapon becomes stuck in the piano, she takes the opportunity to heave a tabletop, knocking him over.
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When he rushes her again, she jams his antlers into the wall. He grabs her by the neck and nearly causes her to pass out. Billy’s voice brings her back. She breaks the knight’s hold on her and beheads him with his own blade.
With the rest of the room stunned, Devereaux takes the Billy-less Nell by the hand, and they exit via the broken window. Jarrold comes back to his senses and orders his men to pursue. Sofia stays behind to look more closely at the knight as he falls apart, returning to dirt form. She recognizes his eyes through the helmet’s visor and softly calls out Poynton’s name. In his lair, Poynton passes out, while in the parlor, the knight collapses, reduced to a pile of earth.
Splitting Up
In the courtyard, Roxy (Bo Bragason) and George (Florence Keen) ride up to Rasselas to warn him about Sofia and the men. Nell and Devereaux arrive, and Nell orders them to be put into the carriage. Devereaux takes Roxy and George’s horse and tries to lead the men away from the rest of the group.
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With Jarrold’s men closing in, Billy flies into Nell’s mouth, and she hands the reins of the carriage over to Rasselas. She blocks the bullets being fired at them and starts to pick them off one at a time. George pulls out a pistol case inside the carriage and prepares to fight back. When she leans out to fire at one of the henchmen, he shoots her first, hitting her right shoulder.
Nell dispatches the last of their pursuers, and Billy flies out of her. Roxy screams that George has been shot. Rasselas drives the carriage into the woods, looking for somewhere to hide.
Back at Widdicombe Manor, Sofia examines the fight scene and finds Nell’s hair comb on the ground. Meanwhile, Jarrold’s contingent rides Devereaux down and captures him, identifying him as Isambard Tulley.
Plague Village
Rasselas brings the carriage to the remains of a plague village deep in the woods. Skeletons and coffins are strewn everywhere. Nell decides to set up in a rundown cottage. With fresh water from the well and some brandy they find for the pain, she plans to dig George’s bullet out. Roxy and her argue over whether she should do it or go for a proper surgeon. Nell convinces George to be brave and let her operate. It’s a traumatic night. In the morning, George wakes up hungry, which Nell and Roxy take as a good sign.
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In Newgate Prison, Devereaux is taken from his cell to be arraigned for the many, MANY crimes of Isambard Tulley. He protests his innocence but stands for the arraignment.
At Poynton’s home, his physician diagnoses apoplexy and recommends retirement and plenty of rest. The physician leaves, and Poynton gazes at his snake ring and sighs.
Brandy Nan
In the Queen’s Privy Council, the lords discuss the news that Herne the Hunter has been seen at Widdicombe Manor. This is known to be a sign that a monarch will soon die. Lord Godolphin advises Queen Anne (Jodhi May) not to concern herself with superstitious nonsense. Another lord describes Nell’s battle with Poynton’s conjured knight. Anne is very interested in the details, which are greatly disputed.
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In the courtroom, the long arraignment concludes with Devereaux pleading not guilty and bail being denied by the judge, who had fallen asleep while the charges were read out. The guards drag Devereaux back to his cell.
In the woods, Roxy teaches Rasselas how to juggle while he entertains her with his ventriloquism. In the cottage, George has developed a high fever. Nell is concerned. She calls on Billy, but he can’t help with George. He recommends she get a physician. When Roxy and Rasselas return, she tells them she and Rasselas are going for a physician. Roxy doesn’t want to stay behind alone with George, but Nell tells her she must.
Sofia visits Poynton. She asks him if the conjured knight was him, and he confirms. He tells her that using Herne the Hunter is a private joke he has with the Queen. She asks about his health, and he insists he’ll recover. They discuss Nell’s power. Poynton wants to know how Nell accessed the magic she has. Sofia wants to know how he animated Herne the Hunter. He explains his dark pastimes and she insists he teach her.
RELATED: Read all our Renegade Nell recaps!
Disruption
In the carriage, Nell and Billy discuss everything that’s happened. Nell blames herself for everything. Billy tries to comfort her. She ponders how someone like her, who isn’t a bad person, ends up so far on the wrong side of the law. Billy theorizes that there’s something wrong with the law.
Nell asks what’s with the giant knight on the horse who attacked her, and Billy tells her about Herne the Hunter and the superstition about him heralding the death of a monarch. Billy considers this and wonders if Nell is destined for great things.
All episodes of Renegade Nell Season 1 are streaming on Disney+.
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