Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Buccaneers season 2, episode 2.In episode 2, The Buccaneers makes a smart choice that propels the season forward nicely. The episode kicks off with Guy revealing (through a letter to Nan) that it’s been three months since he and Jinny left England. They’ve built a life in Italy, with Jinny giving birth and the two becoming friends with a local, Paloma.
Back in England, Nan, Theo, and the Dowager Duchess welcome a group to Tintagel for their Spring Gala, complete with a scavenger hunt. Lizzy tries to figure out if Nan is really happy in her marriage to Theo and whether she should give her Guy’s letter. Meanwhile, Mabel and Honoria try to get some alone time away from Honoria’s mother.
The Buccaneers’ Time Jump Gives The Characters’ Choices Necessary Weight
It Shows The Messier, Realistic Side Of Nan Marrying Theo While Still Moving The Story Forward
The first episode of The Buccaneers season 2 was understandably focused on the immediate ramifications of Nan’s decision to marry Theo, as well as Guy and Jinny’s escape. The three-month time jump makes it clear that getting Jinny back home isn’t going to be an easy task, which is equal parts realistic and heartbreaking for the characters.
The scenes of Nan crying in secret are tough to watch, and while I sometimes have a hard time connecting with Theo as a character, it’s difficult not to feel for him as he realizes how unhappy Nan is.
The episode does a great job exploring the reality of that. As time wears on, it makes sense that faking a blissful marriage for the press starts to take a toll on Nan, the same way reading about it does on Guy. The scenes of Nan crying in secret are tough to watch, and while I sometimes have a hard time connecting with Theo as a character, it’s difficult not to feel for him as he realizes how unhappy Nan is.
I was also impressed by the handling of Jinny and Guy’s scenes in the episode. The show has already subverted expectations by having them live quite freely in a gorgeous seaside town in Italy rather than being constantly on the run, which is what I envisioned ahead of the season. But beyond that, I was also pleasantly surprised by how organic their scenes felt, with Jinny understandably struggling to bond with the baby who forced her to leave her friends and family behind, as well as Guy admitting that he resents her sometimes for the same reason.
Tintagel’s Spring Gala Proves Major For Both Lizzy & Nan
It’s Nice To See Lizzy With Such A Meaty Role This Season
The episode has a lot of fun with the Spring Gala and scavenger hunt for the Holy Grail, complete with some neat, if a bit heavy-handed, references to King Arthur. We get to know Hector a bit more, and he’s a welcome addition, both sharing some nice romantic moments with Lizzy and encouraging Nan to use her power as the Duchess in a different way. Nan’s speech allows for a nice moment with Theo as well, as he supports her in front of their guests.
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Lizzy and Theo’s scenes are a little trickier to parse; they contribute to Lizzy’s bigger role in The Buccaneers season 2 and especially in this episode, but they also take her away from Hector, who seems like a genuinely good guy who already knows her quite well. Notably, though, Lizzy’s biggest choice in the episode is whether to give Guy’s letter to Nan, and the show does a nice job exploring how that weighs on her.
The Episode Also Makes Time For Some Fun Moments With Mabel & Honoria
With So Many Sad LGBTQ+ Period Pieces Out There, It’s Great That The Buccaneers Has Some Levity
While season 1 of The Buccaneers definitely showed the challenges and heartache of Mabel and Honoria being forced to keep their relationship secret, there were some really lovely moments of joy as well. This episode takes more of the latter approach, with Honoria and Mabel “having” to share a room and Mabel’s mother interrupting them mid-makeout with no idea of what’s happening behind the door.
I also really liked Mabel taking some of the burden off of Honoria with her mother — a funny moment that also managed to be pretty sweet. While some of the episode’s weightier moments are well-earned, scenes like that are essential to The Buccaneers achieving the correct tonal balance.
The Buccaneers season 2 episodes release on Wednesdays through August 6 on Apple TV+.
The Buccaneers Season 2, Episode 2
9/10
- Release Date
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June 18, 2025
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Episodes
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8
- There’s a three-month time jump, which works well
- Lizzy and Nan both get big moments
- There are some fun beats with Mabel and Honoria
- Lizzy and Theo’s scenes are tough to figure out
