DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Buccaneers Season 1 Episode 8, “Wedding of the Season,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
It’s the wedding of the season, and our Buccaneers put their heads together to save one of their own. The Season 1 finale is easily the best episode of the bunch. The Buccaneers is not perfect by any stretch. This season has been plagued with problems, from the bumpy narrative to the frustrating love triangle to the unnatural dialogue. While I feel sympathy for Nan’s plight, I would’ve loved for the series to focus more on the close friendship between our leads and for the other girls to have richer individual stories.
That said, toward the end, The Buccaneers started to find its footing. Aubri Ibrag, Barney Fishwick, Matthew Broome and Christina Hendricks are my season MVPs on the acting front. We were blessed with dynamic, nuanced performances from this bunch. Fishwick’s portrayal of an abuser is as chilling and abhorrent as it is accurate. That’s one thing this show nails — its depiction of abuse and victim behavior.
“Wedding of the Season” delivers plenty of exciting moments, narrative movement and a few delightful cliffhangers. There are too many loose ends for there not to be a Season 2. Bring it on.
Ready to delve into “Wedding of the Season”? Let’s get to it.
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A Wedding Gift
We open with the Dowager of Tintagel (Amelia Bullmore) giving Nan (Kristine Frøseth) a tiara for the latter’s impending nuptials. The dowager insists the present isn’t given out of love for Nan. She’s still sore that Nan “lied” about her legitimacy. Listen, lady, Nan had no idea she was a bastard until Jinny let it slip out of envy. Anyway, the dowager impresses the importance of Nan stepping aside for Theo. They’re celebrating him that night, not her. Once they’re married, Theo will make decisions for both of them. Her voice does not matter. Well, that’s demoralizing.

Later, Nan, Conchita (Alisha Boe), Lizzy (Ibrag) and Mabel (Josie Totah) sit on a hill and drink wine together. They celebrate Nan’s new status as the Duchess of Tintagel. Nan finds Theo (Guy Remmers) in the church where they’re getting married. He asks her point-blank if she loves Guy. Nan lies, denying her feelings to protect Theo. He reminds Nan that she’ll have to tell the world she loves him. Can she do it?
Fashionably Late
That evening, the dowager gives a speech at a dazzling celebration for her son. Then, Theo says a few words to honor his mother and future wife. Nan, Conchita, Lizzy and Mabel barge into the room, fashionably late, while the former takes her place behind Theo. She keeps quiet per the dowager’s stringent instructions. Afterward, Conchita gets a letter that takes her by surprise. Elsewhere, Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) tries to mend fences with her sister. However, Nan isn’t interested in Jinny’s fervent apology. Jinny tells Nan she and Seadown are moving to Scotland after the wedding. Seadown’s hellbent on ostracizing Jinny from her family, and it’s sickening.
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Next, Richard (Josh Dylan) puts Lord and Lady Brightlingsea (Anthony Calf and Fenella Woolgar) in their place. Honoria (Mia Threapleton) beams with pride as her older brother stands up for himself and his wife. Seadown (Fishwick) looks apathetic. Richard decides to cut ties with his family. Conchita states that she’s never loved him more. Honestly, Richard’s growing on me.
Then, Seadown tries to pull Jinny into their quarters, claiming they’re turning in early for the night because Conchita’s making a scene (um, that’s your brother, dude). Suddenly, Jinny passes out on the stairs from the stress and exertion.

Starting Fresh
Conchita praises Richard for defending them from his family. Unfortunately, the letter she received was from her father. He told her that he made some mistakes, resulting in the draining of their finances. So, now Richard and Conchita have no money coming in from either side. Richard isn’t deterred, though. He feels empowered to start from scratch. They’ll build their own wealth. Screw the haters!
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Meanwhile, Miles (Shobhit Piasa) informs Seadown that Jinny is pregnant, hence the fainting. Miles reassures Seadown that he won’t tell anyone. After all, this is news for the Seadowns to share. Elsewhere, Mrs. St. George (Hendricks) and Mr. St. George (Adam James) bicker over the former’s desire to divorce. Mrs. St. George, aka Patti, declares that she’ll have protection as the mother of a duchess. You go, girl. Christina Hendricks is a scene stealer; this character is such a breath of fresh air. You rarely see middle-aged women defending themselves in period dramas like this.
Nan enters, wanting to chat with her mama. It seems she wants to discuss her conflicted feelings regarding Theo and Guy. However, she asks Patti if she’ll be okay post-divorce. Patti insists she’ll be fine because her daughter will be a duchess.
Family on the Horizon
Then, Mabel and Miles chat outside while sipping on champagne. Their marriage of convenience will surely give Mabel the space to explore her relationship with Honoria. Miles feels that starting a family is inevitable, though. Eventually, they’ll have to settle down and continue the line. Mabel looks startled, but she reluctantly agrees with him. Uh-oh.
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After that conversation, Mabel confides in Lizzy about something she’s never discussed with anyone outside of Honoria. She tells her sister that she’s a lesbian. As expected, Lizzy is wholeheartedly accepting and loving. She reminds Mabel that love is never wrong. She encourages her baby sister to find that and hold fast to it. I love this scene so much. Both Josie Totah and Aubri Ibrag deliver beautiful, tender performances. I need more Elmsworth sister moments in a potential second season.

Next, Seadown confronts Jinny after the latter wakes up. He asks her why she concealed her pregnancy from him. Then, he slaps her. She breaks down. He embraces her. Oh, this is vile. It’s also textbook abuser behavior. He inflicts violence and then provides comfort in the aftermath, so she’s utterly reliant on him.
It’s Love
Later, Guy (Broome) pulls the ultimate romantic move by climbing into Nan’s window. He reveals he plans to leave the following day, departing for all the places he marked on his globe. First stop: Brazil. He begs Nan to join him. She enthusiastically accepts his offer before they make out. Naturally, this leads to sex. Listen, Matthew Broome could have chemistry with a lamp. He truly embodies that charming, passionate, romantic lead in a period piece.
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Suddenly, Jinny seeks refuge in Nan’s quarters. Guy dives behind the bed. Nan notices the bruises peppering Jinny’s arms. Putting two and two together, she realizes that Seadown has been abusing her sister. Nan launches into action, formulating a game plan to separate Jinny from Seadown. Guy emerges from behind the bed at Nan’s behest. Guy and Nan sneak Jinny out of the mansion. Unfortunately, they don’t get very far. Seadown spots them as he descends the stairs. Uh-oh. He escorts her back inside.
Wedding of the Season
The following day, Mabel delivers flowers to Honoria before the ceremony. She reveals she broke off her engagement to Miles. Mabel refuses to live in shame. Earlier, Lizzy encouraged her to release that shame. Mabel believes she and Honoria can make their relationship work. They won’t have an opulent wedding like Nan and Theo, but they can start afresh. I’m rooting for these two. They’re absolutely adorable, and this moment is unadulterated romance. Side note: I was today years old when I learned that Mia Threapleton is Kate Winslet‘s daughter. Talent runs in the family.

Meanwhile, Lord Brightlingsea walks with Richard outside. He tells his son that he’s dying. He has months, not years. This means Richard will become Lord Brightlingsea, and Conchita will be Lady Brightlingsea. He’ll be responsible for caring for his mother and sister. Well, so much for getting away from the family.
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Then, Seadown delivers a half-assed apology for hitting his wife. He presents Jinny with a gorgeous blue dress to make up for it. “Buying” her love. The writers and Barney Fishwick really nailed the behavior of an abuser/gaslighter/love-bomber. Jinny reunites with Nan, who’s in her wedding dress, and the bridesmaids, Conchita, Lizzy and Mabel. They all walk to the church together, which would’ve been a more “female power” shot if Seadown hadn’t been in it.
Devising an Escape
Once Seadown heads inside the church to join the other wedding attendees, our gals devise a plan to get Jinny out of there. Jinny apologizes profusely to everyone for her behavior. They all embrace and say their goodbyes. Of course, they all want Jinny to be safe. Patti pulls the Dowager of Tintagel aside for a chat. Patti believes Nan isn’t coming. She’s already late to her own wedding. Meanwhile, the girls shove Jinny into a carriage, where Guy awaits.
Guy has the boat tickets, but where he’s taking Jinny remains to be seen. Jinny urges Nan to join them (she also approves of Nan loving Guy); however, Nan can’t miss her wedding to Theo. Nan and Guy also deliver tearful goodbyes before she watches the carriage with her sister and her lover leave the grounds.
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Then, we see Conchita, Lizzy and Mabel slowly walk down the aisle to buy time for Nan. Seadown notices something’s amiss. The Dowager of Tintagel tells Patti that she believes Nan will show up. Why? Because being a duchess comes with power. That includes the power to protect her sister from her abusive, POS husband. Sure enough, Nan appears.

A Revelation
Seadown barrels up the aisle to the exit after Lizzy gives him the best “You lost” look. Outside, he spots the carriage as it departs the estate. Seadown chases it for a time, shouting Jinny’s name until it disappears. I love Taylor Swift as much as the next person, but this song, “Long Live,” is the worst possible choice for this moment. Jinny fleeing her abuser is a tense, high-octane turn for her arc. The music should match it, not come off as jarring.
Anyway, Mr. St. George tells Patti something jaw-dropping — Nan’s biological mom is here. She’s in the church for the wedding. Oh, dip. Inside, Nan and Theo exchange vows and seal the deal.
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Where do you think Jinny and Guy are going? Will Nan’s new duchess status protect Jinny and Patti? How will Conchita and Richard fare when they become the new Brightlingseas? What will happen to Mabel and Honoria? Here’s hoping Apple renews this series for a second season.
The Buccaneers Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+.
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