Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The Buccaneers Season 2 Episode 6.
So, this was an uncharacteristically eventful and brutal episode of The Buccaneers! And that is to say, this was one hell of an entertaining hour of television. After two lukewarm chapters that often felt like little more than fillers, what with their focus on a repetitive affair and on Lizzy’s (Aubri Ibrag) poorly-thought-out romance with the Duke of Tintagel (Guy Remmers), the Apple TV+ series is back to its form. All it took was bringing its leads back together and engaging them in a battle for power — or should we say, a baby? — that will have unpredictable consequences for both the story and the world in which it takes place. Because, after the showdown that concludes “Every Single Piece of My Heart,” nothing will ever be the same for our beloved characters, particularly for Conchita (Alisha Boe). Besides, well, if Nan (Kristine Froseth) ever had a chance to see her bill pass, that moment is now. Last, but not least, the story of The Buccaneers has just moved into completely uncharted territory, which just goes to show that, indeed, sometimes, we have to kill our darlings.
Granted, maybe this recap should’ve started on a less flattering note. After all, “Every Single Piece of My Heart” does fail in a very important task, which is giving continuity to the events of the episode that preceded it. Guy’s (Matthew Broome) romance with Paloma (Grace Ambrose) seems all but forgotten as he sails back to England with Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) and meets up with Nan. Of course, there is still time for their love affair to have some impact on the overarching plot, but it was weird to see the story move away from Italy without a single shot of Paloma looking upset or whatnot. However, what’s more damning is how the episode treats the fallout of Lizzy’s broken engagement. While last week’s “A Whole Love” wrapped up with Lizzy ready to walk down the aisle towards Hector (Jacob Ifan), doubt filling up her mind, “Every Single Piece of My Heart” gives us nothing apart from a throwaway in which the former couple discuss what happened at the church. Basically, Lizzy pulled Hector aside and told him that she didn’t love him all that much, and the show decided that we viewers had no reason to see this conversation unfold.
Seadown Kidnaps Baby Freddie in ‘The Buccaneers’ Season 2 Episode 6
That is one weird choice, but at least the show replaced this kind of essential scene with an interesting plot. Did you catch that part in the previous paragraph about Guy and Jinny returning to England? Well, they are forced to do so because Seadown (Barney Fishwick) simply steals baby Freddie from his crib and vanishes into the ocean. Jinny now has nothing to do but run to her sister for help. Luckily for her, Nan has formed an alliance with Theo, and the two are more than willing to do everything in their power to change Jinny’s public image, something that is essential to shift the conversation and get Nan’s bill passed. In the middle of the night, Theo gets the editor of The Times to pay Jinny a visit, and, on the following morning, the whole city of London is abuzz, discussing the editorial that reveals how Seadown mistreated his wife.
It’s a bold move, and one that drives Seadown completely crazy. But he also has some cards up his sleeve. With his mother’s support, he concocts a plan to have Jinny painted as a lunatic in front of the whole town. Or, at least, in front of the whole aristocracy. During an opera that is being attended by everyone that matters, including Nan and the head of Parliament, Seadown provokes Jinny and makes a scene, leading everyone to believe that she is the one making him scared. When he grabs her by the arm and refuses to let go, she slaps him, and all of Nan’s and Theo’s efforts to bring out the truth about their relationship go down the drain. Jinny is taken away by security guards. However, they are not content with kicking her out of the theater. Instead, they drag her to a mental asylum, where Seadown keeps her sedated and locked away from her family and friends.
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It’s a matter of time before Jinny, desperate that she is to be reunited with her son, agrees to Seadown’s version of events and moves back with him. But as it becomes clear that he still very much plans to keep her away from Freddie, using his own son as leverage against his wife, Jinny makes it clear that she will never love him again. This is great for her character growth, as we were starting to worry that she was actually believing Seadown had changed, as she initially tells Guy at the beginning of the episode. Alas, while this is good for Jinny as a character to be interpreted by an audience, it does not bode well for her inside the story. Seadown locks her up in a room in his home, keeping her away from everyone else in her life.
‘The Buccaneers’ Season 2 Episode 6 Sees Lady Brightlingsea Teaming Up with the Americans
It seems like it is once again time for Nan to make a move, but, unfortunately, there isn’t much she can do. Ultimately, it falls down to Richard (Josh Dylan) and Honoria (Mia Threapleton) to help their brother see reason, or just whisk Jinny and Freddie away, whatever works. Formerly supportive of her second son, Lady Brightlingsea (Fenella Woolgar) sees the error of her ways after learning of what he has done to Jinny and reveals the couple’s whereabouts to Richard. According to her, it was always Richard that James sought to impress, so there is no one better to save him from himself. Alongside Honoria, Richard then comes up with a plan to pay a visit to Seadown, pretending to offer some fraternal support. As the two men chat up about how difficult it is to “domesticate” women, particularly American ones, Honoria runs upstairs and rescues baby Freddie.
Seadown, however, quickly realizes that there is something wrong. Upon seeing Honoria running away in her carriage, he has a fight with Richard, who punches his brother to the point of unconsciousness. Richard then runs upstairs and breaks into Jinny’s room, setting her free. As they prepare to leave the house, though, Seadown surprises them with a gun. Jinny manages to escape the scene as Richard and her husband struggle for control, but, as she hides in the woods, awaiting someone to take her home, something far more sinister is taking place inside her former prison: Seadown points the gun to his own head and threatens to shoot himself. Richard tries to convince him to back down, but suddenly Jinny hears a gunshot. She approaches the house, and we are all hoping that she will now be free of Seadown for good. However, it is Richard’s body that she sees on the ground.
It is a tense moment, one that is capable of dragging even the most cold-blooded viewers to the edge of their seats. It is also a one-of-a-kind scene for Barney Fishwick, who manages to paint Seadown not just as a hateful, deranged villain, but as a complicated character, his eyes capturing the pain and the guilt of killing his own brother. Most of all, it is a moment that will certainly change everything for The Buccaneers. While the show has had many twists and turns so far, it has never before killed such an essential character. With the end of Season 2 fast approaching, this is a more than welcome turn of events, one that ups the stakes and leaves everyone guessing what will come next.
The Buccaneers
While failing to continue some previous storylines, “Every Single Piece of My Heart” is one of Season 2’s most exciting episodes.
- Release Date
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November 8, 2023
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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Katherine Jakeways
- Directors
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Charlotte Regan
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Kristine Froseth
Nan St. George
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Alisha Boe
Conchita Closson
- The episode completely raises the stakes and makes this season finale as unpredictable as ever.
- Barney Fishwick is amazing as Seadown, creating both a despicable villain and a complicated character.
- “Every Single Piece of My Heart” fails to give consequence to some important previous storylines.