A fairy-tale fantasy clashes with reality at Lizzy’s Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed birthday bash on The Buccaneers Season 2, Episode 3, “Get Her Out.” This episode, written by Roanne Bardsley and directed by Charlie Manton, has many exciting moving parts, but they underscore some struggles that this season is already facing. For instance, “Get Her Out” frequently feels the weight of its growing ensemble and sees the effects of the show’s strained pacing. While some storylines have barely progressed in the time jump, others are unfolding at a breakneck speed. The result is an engaging viewing experience that raises confusion about where The Buccaneers Season 2 goes from here.
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Is Matchmaking a Good Idea After All?
Early on, Hector explains that there has been a three-week time jump between “Holy Grail” and “Get Her Out.” That off-screen development doesn’t hinder Conchita and Richard’s matchmaking storyline with Cora. It works that the couple is still confronting Cora’s stubbornness after becoming disillusioned with the whole thing. Likewise, The Buccaneers finds a natural path to break through Cora’s newly fortified wall by reaffirming Conchita and Richard’s love. It’s a strength that “Get Her Out” doesn’t stop there and creates a foundation of honesty between Conchita and Cora about what match-making can be.
Conchita and Cora’s transparency only benefits the internal (for now) debate that arises when Lavinia presents Conchita with an offer that can help her family but hurt her friend. While that conflict works for Conchita, it also, seemingly, sets up more for Mabel this season, too. Hopefully, that insinuation means that The Buccaneers will feature Mabel, Honoria, and their relationship more. It’s a letdown that they share a single scene in “Get Her Out,” given that the pressure will seemingly only increase. Alternatively, this episode deepens the dynamics among Guy, Jinny, and Paloma. It’s satisfying for that to happen in the space where naivety and maturity meet – a meal ending in a food fight.
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There’s a History (and a Future?) Here
This season plays with those themes a lot, and it works best when the relationships feel real. For example, that quality is important for the Dowager Duchess and Nan’s dynamic for “Get Her Out” to be successful. The fallout between the women won’t work otherwise. The same is true in a different sense for the Dowager Duchess and Reede Robinson. The episode does so much just in having Reede say the Dowager Duchess’s first name – Blanche. That detail holds intimacy and history, unlocking a new side of this fascinating character.
Greg Wise fits into the show perfectly. It’s no wonder, considering he starred as Guy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel. Wise and Amelia Bullmore have compelling chemistry that supports all of the complexities playing out between their characters.
Blanche and Reede’s relationship is a goldmine for their characters and the show’s worldbuilding. Their dialogue about, in so many words, Reede being “the one who got away” and Blanche being loyal to the institution makes Blanche’s conflict with Nan stronger. The tension between Blanche and Nan is the best and most believable in “Get Her Out.” Manton’s choice to switch to a handheld camera during the women’s most contentious moments only helps that. Unfortunately, the intricate momentum starts to lessen when it comes to Theo.
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Another Love Triangle Tries to Take Shape
The Buccaneers’s three-week time jump puts Theo’s immediate fallout with Nan off-screen, and that doesn’t do anyone many favors. When he returns, Theo already knows what he wants. While that helps the story progress, it means missing out on a necessary character journey on the other side of a pivotal relationship. Also, Blanche telling Theo the truth doesn’t change Nan’s feelings.
So, no matter that they are in the institutionally gilded cage together, it becomes frustrating to watch Theo insinuate that he wants to repair this marriage. A silver lining would be that Theo means the non-romantic context of their relationship. After all, the probability of the alternative is increasingly confounding. “Get Her Out” continues to tease something developing between Theo and Lizzy. However, it’s a bit odd to watch play out because of those three lost weeks. In that time, Theo, presumably, starts to fall out of love with Nan and only begins to realize potential feelings for Lizzy.
Meanwhile, Lizzy and Hector start to fall for each other. Aubri Ibrag and Jacob Ifan (His delivery of Hector’s proposal speech!) bring such charm to their relationship that makes their characters’ relationship endearing. Instead of seeing that play out on screen, “Get Her Out” picks up in a way that makes it feel like The Buccaneers skips a few chapters. Luckily, there is still plenty of time for this season to slow down to the characters’ benefit. However, knowing the next episode marks the midseason outing – with Nan heading to Jinny and Guy – makes one wonder if everything will only speed up more from here.
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What did you think of The Buccaneers Season 2, Episode 3, “Get Her Out?” Let us know in the comments below!
The Buccaneers streams new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
