DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Buccaneers Season 1 Episode 3, “The Perfect Duchess,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Will Nan be the perfect duchess to her duke? We’re getting all the Bridgerton vibes with “The Perfect Duchess” as Nan attends a ball thrown in her honor and meets Theo’s mother. However, things take a turn for the dramatic as Guy’s love for Nan bubbles to the surface, his friendship with Theo comes to light and general friend drama unfolds. Thankfully, we got a Mabel/Honoria kiss. It was super romantic and rain-soaked. It’s as if it was plucked directly from a rom-com.
“The Perfect Duchess” is a nice blend of conflict and romance as the series continues to explore identity, sexuality and the patriarchy. It’s slowly finding its voice. The modern lens certainly helps connect younger audiences like Gen Z (although this millennial finds the thematic exploration relatable). Women making themselves smaller and contorting themselves to fit societal standards is relevant today. It’s profoundly resonant and painfully relatable.
Side note: Nan boasts significantly more chemistry with Guy. I’m Team Guy all the way.
Ready to delve into “The Perfect Duchess”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Nan (Kristine Frøseth), Conchita (Alisha Boe) and Mabel (Josie Totah) riding in a carriage bound for the Duke of Tintagel’s estate. Theo wants Nan to meet his mother and host a ball in her honor. Now, she hasn’t officially accepted his proposal yet, but she’s mulling it over. They discuss Lizzy returning to New York and how they’ll reunite with her when they attend Jinny and Lord Seadown’s wedding.
Upon their arrival, Nan is handed a note from Theo. Conchita spots Richard (Josh Dylan), who’s already there. Conchita has decided to dim her shine. She will be so docile and demure that the Marable family will have to love her. Meanwhile, Nan finds Theo (Guy Remmers) at his usual spot by the sea, where they first met. He’s not a fan of the showy peacocking that being a duke requires. Inside, Honoria (Mia Threapleton) chats with her parents, Lord (Anthony Calf) and Lady (Fenella Woolgar) Brightlingsea, about the Americans’ arrival. Lady Brightlingsea isn’t a fan of them.
Then, Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) and Lord Seadown (Barney Fishwick) arrive. And guess what? They eloped! Nan and Jinny’s mom will be pissed. However, they still plan to have a ceremony in New York. Inside, Nan and Conchita chat about life while watching over Conchita’s adorable child. Nan attempts to talk to her older sister, but Seadown claims she’s not feeling up to it. Oh, this dude is giving major abuser vibes. He’s trying to isolate her from her family.
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Next, Seadown proceeds to love bomb Jinny while they lay in bed together. I can’t wait for the gaslighting that’ll inevitably occur. Outside, Honoria blurts out a remark about money regarding Jinny and Seadown’s elopement that rubs Mabel the wrong way. Uh-oh. Finally, Nan meets the Dowager (Amelia Bullmore), Theo’s mother. She talks rather quickly and confidently. The Dowager notes that in the decade Theo’s searched for a wife, Nan is the first person he’s brought home. He’s head over heels for her.
Meanwhile, Honoria tries to mend fences with Mabel. After her chat with the Dowager, Nan finds Theo in his studio. She admires his paintings. He encourages her to paint something despite having no experience. Nan dips her fingers in blue paint (blue is a common color theme in this episode) and smudges it on the canvas. Her first painting lesson culminates in Nan and Theo painting each other’s faces. They almost kiss, but Nan pulls away.
Instead, they decide to ride horses along the coast. Nan proves she knows her way around a stallion. Suddenly, her horse bucks in fear upon the unexpected arrival of Guy (Matthew Broome), who’s also riding a horse. Guy catches Nan before she falls off her horse and calms down both creatures. Nan tells him off, claiming she isn’t a damsel in distress. She can save herself. Theo catches up with them. He embraces Guy excitedly. It’s here we learn they’re BFFs. Uh-oh.
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Later, Richard informs Conchita that his parents want them to meet on the terrace for drinks. Conchita considers this a great honor, excitedly embracing Nan before composing herself. Theo’s mother gifts Nan a gorgeous necklace and matching earrings for the night’s ball. Then, Jinny reunites with Nan briefly in the latter’s room. Nan wants to catch up and tell her sister about her boy troubles; however, Jinny brushes her off, but not before insisting they’ll talk the following day.
Suddenly, Guy stumbles into Nan’s room and collapses on the bed, not realizing she was put in said room. He’s used to sleeping there when he stays over. They share a moment before a maid barges in with Nan’s dress. Nan and Guy concoct a flimsy excuse for why he’s in her room while she’s undressed (not really, but it is for the 19th century). Meanwhile, Conchita, Richard, Jinny and Seadown meet with the Brightlingseas on the terrace. Jinny impresses Seadown’s mother with her desire to blend in with the scenery. Theo and Guy chat about Nan and the impending ball.
Then, Mabel joins Nan to support the latter as she makes her big entrance at the ball. Nan looks gorgeous. Nan is nervous as she’s announced, hitting the ballroom floor as tons of folks stare at her. She and Theo start dancing. After they’ve finished a solo dance, the others quickly join them.
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Conchita is frustrated regarding Richard’s family’s inability to accept her for who she is. At one point during the night, she barges right up to Lord and Lady Brightlingsea, asking if she’ll ever be good enough for them. It’s straight and to the point, something they’re not used to. She storms off after Lady Brightlingsea accuses her of making a scene, even though she doesn’t raise her voice. Jinny watches as Conchita runs outside into the stormy night. Uh-oh.
Meanwhile, Nan dances with Guy, and things are awkwardly flirtatious. They almost kiss. Mabel and Honoria subtly flirt as things improve between them. Jinny asks Nan where Richard is. After they track him down, he heads out into the rain to find his wife. Nan insists that Conchita is fine — she’s merely having a moment.
Speaking of moments, Mabel and Honoria have one while standing outside in the elements. They smooch in the rain, and it’s romantic as hell. Richard finds Conchita near the cliff. She explains she overheard him at Runnymede claiming he struggles to keep her in line — that there are “women” and “wives.” Richard clarifies his comments, stating he loves Conchita as she is. He doesn’t want to change her. Screw his family.
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After the Marable couple mends fences, Conchita reunites with Nan inside. Nan accuses Conchita of trying to steal her thunder. This night was about her, but Conchita stole the spotlight. Hmm, this sounds familiar. It’s what Jinny accused Nan of doing in episode one. Listen, girls, there’s enough limelight for everyone. Nan leaves Conchita in favor of alone time. Well, alone time with Guy.
Initially, Nan was unsure why Guy left Runnymede so abruptly. Was it her secret? Is he going to tell Theo? Guy reassures her that he won’t disclose her parentage secret to Theo. That’s for her to discuss with her future husband. Regardless, Guy is happy to be her friend (oh, girl, he is not).
The following morning, Jinny, Seadown and the others depart. Nan finds Theo at his happy place: the beach. She declares her acceptance of his marriage proposal. They’re gonna tie the knot. They smooch. This scene is gorgeously shot. I’m getting FOMO just looking at the visuals (the idyllic background, not living in the 1870s). After getting some shut-eye, Nan wakes up in bed with Mabel. Mabel fills in the blanks re: Guy. Apparently, he returned to Runnymede right as Theo proposed to Nan. Gotta love complex romance sh*t.
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Will Nan reconsider marrying Theo since Guy returned to Runnymede for her? Will she smooth things over with Conchita? Is Lizzy okay? Only time (and more episodes) will tell.
The Buccaneers streams new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
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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.
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