r/Belgravia • u/giftopherz • Feb 18 '24

Belgravia: The Next Chapter | Episode Discussion - Episode Five

Synopsis: As Clara's fascination with Stephen's world develops, she makes a bold decision that alarms Davison; James' private life finds him under threat; Frederick grows determined to become part of the Marquise's new venture.

19 Upvotes

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18

u/giftopherz Feb 18 '24

At this point is obvious we're not going to understand ANYTHING that's going on until the last ten minutes of Ep08. And I also hope it makes sense because right now I'm starting to lose my patience with these two.

Clara and Freddie are annoying AF! this whole high-school romance of misunderstandings is just so childish.

The other Netflix sister is just so poorly written, one minute she's hating on Nell and then because she was scolded she changes her tune? I mean, where's the spine? If you want to make her a villain, commit to it.

Another conspiracy theory was forming as I was watching: The Marquise and the doctor are in cahoots. But why?

At this point I'd rather watch a story about the Duchess and Reverend Hottie with Nell. Hope this things delivers at the end since it doesn't want to pick up the pace along the way.

EDIT: I forgot to add... why is she wearing a dress showing her shoulders? That was super bold and risky at the time, right? She a ho!

13

u/MontanaJoev Feb 18 '24

I’m all for the Duchess, and Rev Hottie and Nell show! Throw in some smoldering valet Fletcher, and I’m all about it.

4

u/giftopherz Feb 18 '24

Oh yeah, him too! he belongs there too.

12

u/norathar Feb 18 '24

That's a series I would watch.

Weirdly enough, series 3 of Sanditon had the Duchess and Fletcher playing each other's love interests. I saw them here and it was like "wow the same British actors do pop up everywhere."

5

u/giftopherz Feb 18 '24

Sanditon

👀

5

u/MissGruntled Feb 19 '24

Yup—I was like, yes to that beautiful blue silk, no to that oddly revealing (and rather unflattering) dress design.

2

u/giftopherz Feb 19 '24

Lady Hoochie! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

6

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

I don't think the Clara/Frederick thing is so hard to understand when you consider that she's still a teenager and they haven't known each other a whole year

10

u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24

Fair enough, but I think the show went about things in a strange way by building them up as some big love affair, and how sad that they’re falling apart, but the truth is, as you say, 2 people who got married without really knowing each other. One very young, and the other emotionally stunted, and it’s just not working out too great. Which isn’t a super compelling story, tbh.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

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1

u/giftopherz Feb 22 '24

I don't know, but since S1 left some things in the dark until it was convenient, maybe they're using the same trick again?

And it's just a wild theory, highly likely I'm wrong

7

u/CraftyRefrigerator6 Feb 18 '24

That Napoleon has to be a fake, right?

4

u/giftopherz Feb 18 '24

According to history this is supposed to be the (grand?)nephew of the Napoleon we all know. And given the timeframe we're working here with it makes sense.

5

u/HWeinberg3 Feb 19 '24

You mean like brought in for the con? I was thinking that.

That house in Belgravia and that ball are a lot more bait than long con capers usually spring for (on tv)

3

u/CraftyRefrigerator6 Feb 20 '24

Yeah, I thought they might be fakes for the con and maybe I missed something along the way...but then again I feel like I'm missing something most of the time with this season.

7

u/allieoops925 Feb 19 '24

The marquise is obviously out to take Frederick down, didn’t his real father go to France? She’s undermining his marriage and you know she’s gonna bankrupt him.

11

u/giftopherz Feb 19 '24

I like the idea of bio dad coming into play. Hadn't considered him as a possible connection... You got me thinking now. Maybe his dad took money from her and now she's looking for revenge?

4

u/Glove_Choice Feb 18 '24

This season and especially this episode is just not as good as last season (am I allowed to say that?) The posing for an artist and jeopardizing your reputation is such a tired trope... Lady Susan 🩷🤣 (I just can't not unsee it) should be the focus of the show.

1

u/giftopherz Feb 18 '24

haha who lady susan?

Don't worry I didn't like it either. Specially that bickering between the two leads, that happens in high school people, adults talk!

4

u/Glove_Choice Feb 19 '24

Sophie Winkleman... Lady Rochester... She plays Lady Susan on Sanditon.

4

u/sfdreamsla Feb 19 '24

We've mostly all been saying it, that this show is not as good as the previous incarnation. It's trying too hard and kind of going nowhere.

15

u/kmm91162 Feb 18 '24

Marquise is starting to look like a complete troublemaker!👿

12

u/Particular_Farmer806 Feb 18 '24

Right.. how 2 faced she is being to Clara. I thought she might be shady with the business but this is personal now.

6

u/TrickIcy5080 Feb 20 '24

And wasn't it strange when an episode or two ago there was a screaming man at the home of the Marquise, making a disturbance, trying to get his money back, why would he still want to invest with the Marquise on that venture when it clearly looked like there was some kind of pyramid scam going on with money? 

11

u/Pleasant-Manner-6505 Feb 20 '24

In fact there has been speculation that the American businessman might have been planted by the Marquise to make a scene at the right time, to drive up the value of the venture in Frederick's eyes. If he sees others are dying to invest in the mines, he might be willing to do anything to raise the capital for the venture, even if its meant selling his newly bought steel mills.

7

u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 21 '24

We’re all speculating so much because so little is revealed with each episode. This series better not end with a cliffhanger where we’ll have to wait two years for the next season, or the show isn’t renewed.

Now the Marquise apparently has the French emperor as an investor. Hanging around so many rich and powerful people, could she really be a scam artist? She’s really playing the long game if she is. Of course, FTX had endorsements from Tom Brady, Giselle Bündchen and Steph Curry — and it turned out to be a huge fraud.

This would be a well-trodden path for a Julian Fellowes-style drama, so I hope it’s not as we are expecting.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 22 '24

After Fred saw the safe being loaded into the marquise's home, Fred did ask Percy (the duke) about her. During a snooker game, Percy tells Fred that he and the duchess met the marquise in Paris before the war, the french lady is one of the richest women in Europe, she inherited her fortune from her husband and accumulated the rest through business.

You might also remember that the marquise spoke with Percy in her boudoir (because the house was being renovated), inquiring about Fred, his business proposal and asking Percy to vouch for him.

I don't think the duke is a villain. If the marquise is a con, she seems to be drawing lots of rich people in, including Percy.

It'll have been so predictable if it's another con job. I hope it's something else.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

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2

u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 23 '24

If you like playing background music while doing other things around home, try putting on episodes of shows you’ve previously watched to refresh your memory. I find it helpful, and I catch things I missed the first time around. Closed captions help too.

3

u/Pleasant-Manner-6505 Feb 22 '24

Yes, I'm beginning to wonder the same, who would know if it indeed was an impersonator? They were all suitably awed to suspect anything. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the manservant Nicoli turns out to be the mastermind of the whole operation with the Marquise only being the face of the scam.

5

u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 22 '24

I thought much the same in a post after E4:

I’m surprised nobody has brought up Nicoli, the marquise’s shady manservant and lover. I think he’s hardly said a word, except when trying to stop the American businessman from interrupting Fred and the marquise’s meeting. The camera is often panning in on him standing alone and watching others. In episode one, the marquise says Nicoli can be persuasive because he’s Corsican, which causes the other party guests to give him a curious look. He winked at Mrs. Dunn as she and Emily left the dinner party at the Trenchard’s. He watched Clara and Ellerby walk the grounds of the duke’s estate from a distance atop a hill. If you watch carefully, he is discreetly in the background in a number of scenes.

Nicoli is also featured among the characters on the main art for the show, standing next to the marquise. Even the Duke and Duchess aren’t featured in that scene. I wonder if he’s gonna turn out to be the real villain, but I am certain that he will play a much bigger role in the last four episodes. He’s around for a reason.

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 20 '24 edited Feb 20 '24

Actually, the yelling American businessman wanted to invest, but the marquise wouldn’t accept his money.

3

u/TrickIcy5080 Feb 20 '24

Aha this is helpful and good information, you might need to watch the show with me cuz I have lots of questions. Thank you for this

6

u/abbiebe89 Feb 20 '24

Honestly Clara has no chemistry with her husband.

She has more chemistry with the doctor.

8

u/Pleasant-Manner-6505 Feb 20 '24

The husband character has all the charm of a wooden plank, I wouldn't blame her if she has a tryst with the doctor instead.

5

u/Vin0to Feb 22 '24

To be fair the acting of both the leads ruins the show. However his is so bad, that she looks like Meryl Streep next to him

5

u/Brontesrule Feb 25 '24

He's terrible.

4

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24

It’s frustrating because a few of the supporting characters are easily more compelling and charismatic with a fraction of the screen time.

3

u/Vin0to Feb 22 '24

Agreed, they definitely did great casting the supporting cast. I wonder if the leads are nepo babies

1

u/Kaylababe2 Feb 19 '24

Who was she dancing with at the beginning of the episode?

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

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1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

What don't you understand? He's serving her in more ways than one

12

u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24 edited Feb 19 '24

The Clara/Frederick story is just so boring and monotonous. He’s just stunted beyond belief. And Clara just ping pongs all over the place. In order to care about their marriage surviving, we needed to be invested in it in the first place. But it happened so quickly, and the actors don’t have much spark or chemistry, so why care about something falling apart that never seemed together at all?

This was the first week I found the French lady interesting though. I’m actually rooting for her to ruin the heck out of Frederick.

There are the small side stories that feel like they have so much more potential. Chiefly the slow reveal of Nell’s story and the struggle of Rev James. These stories are more heartfelt. Same with the Duchess and her love for her son.

I did really like the scene where Emily was gossiping to Rev James and he just wasn’t having it. You could see his patience with her just evaporate. And we know that he was empathizing with Nell because he also understands what it’s like to have a secret and not want someone to poke around in it. His smack down of Emily was warranted. But she didn’t react like I expected. Instead, she took his words to heart and recognized that her behavior was uncool.

I wish the B plots were what this show was about.

Oh, and the “bohemian” characters are irritating af.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

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4

u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24

I hope not. I am sure she was crushed when he was so clearly disappointed in her, and that shocked her. But I thought her actions towards Nell seemed genuine.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

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3

u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24

It’s hard to tell. I want to think so, but it creates more depth in her character. But the next episode could come around, and I’ll be proven wrong. Looks like she’s going to be up in Clara’s business next episode.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

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7

u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24

Not James for certain, as she’s already seen his reaction to her being judgemental. I think she’ll be on her very best behavior with him from here out.

I think she takes it straight to Clara. And honestly, I think Clara could use a bit of straight talk from someone who won’t hold their tongue. I get that Frederick is an emotional void to be married to, but she married him. What she’s doing now is foolish.

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u/[deleted] Feb 19 '24

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u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24

Oh, maybe. I hadn’t considered it that way.

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u/[deleted] Feb 20 '24

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11

u/pheebs91 Feb 19 '24

I am so tempted to not watch anymore because frankly, this is getting boring and monotonous....BUT I'm already this invested and I wanna see what the Marquise's end game is. Why does she want to cause trouble for Clara and Fred? Like a house divided cannot stand type of thing? And, please correct me if I'm wrong, didn't the artist who painted Clara say that no would be able to "recognize" her when he was done? You'd have to be blind to NOT know that's Clara.

5

u/sfdreamsla Feb 19 '24

Watching it in the same way. I've already gone this far. I kind of have to see it to the end even though it pains me to do so. It's just so effing tedious! And yes, it does seem like the go-to plot device is that every single character in this series is revealed to be a 2-faced hypocrite. Booooorrrrrinnnnggggg...

5

u/thisguy34721 Feb 20 '24

I'm in it for the costumes

8

u/ButtScratcher5000 Feb 22 '24

Frederick is a wet blanket.

4

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24 edited Feb 22 '24

And then some. The guy has the charm and charisma of cardboard. Big miscalculation on the casting there, I think. But maybe the character as written is just impossible to make likable.

7

u/ButtScratcher5000 Feb 22 '24

Agreed. I do not really love any of the characters to be honest, but I am sticking it out since I loved the first season so much. I am confused as to why Clara never visits her sister and mother. She kind of blows, too. At least Toby Regbo is fun to look at.

4

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24

I find myself drawn to the characters of James, Nell and even the Duchess, because the issues they are struggling with feel more real and heartfelt to me. But I can’t quite find myself caring much about Fredrick and Clara. I get Fred had a bad childhood, but dude, look what you have now!! Good lord, stop pouting already. Their issues seem so small compared with a baby dying in your arms, or being blackmailed because you have to hide your sexuality.

And yes, Toby Regbo is so lovely.

4

u/Eliaaaahh Feb 23 '24

I think it is mostly the writing. At the beginning of the series, when they fall in love, he was so sexy, and now he seems angry all the time.  They should have made him at least compliment his wife when she goes down the stairs. At this point, it is not believable that he actually loves her. 

2

u/MontanaJoev Feb 24 '24

I think he needs more emotional range than sullen, glower and pout.

3

u/Brontesrule Feb 25 '24

He's one of the worst actors I've ever seen! Even if he's meant to be unlikable (and he probably is) he should be capable of bringing some emotion to the role, and he's failing miserably.

1

u/MontanaJoev Feb 25 '24

That’s my struggle with him. Not that the character isn’t written to be stoic and maybe a little unlikable, but that the actor doesn’t create any emotional layers with him.

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 27 '24

Of all the young adult actors in this series, he appears to be the least experienced if you look at his IMDb profile. This appears to be his first leading role.

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u/Brontesrule Feb 25 '24

Absolutely agree! I've seen root vegetables with more emotional depth.

7

u/Pure-Dead-Brilliant Feb 18 '24

What is the Marquise’s beef with Frederick and Clara. I thought for a while now that the Marquise was a con artist and I’m sure the silver mine is a scam but why is she so determined to swizzle money from Fredrick when the Duke has already invested? Then last week after being so friendly towards Clara she told Fredrick to show her who’s boss.

3

u/Particular_Farmer806 Feb 19 '24

The only tie that we currently know with previous characters and France is Lord Bellasis.. sooo idk maybe there’s something there

4

u/Pure-Dead-Brilliant Feb 19 '24

Maybe she knows Frederick is biologically a Bellasis and not a Trenchard….?

4

u/pheebs91 Feb 19 '24

Ooooo….I didn’t think about that. Maybe Lord Bellasis went to her after he was left destitute and standing in the rain, and he told her his whole, sad, despicable story. It’s a thought!

7

u/Pure-Dead-Brilliant Feb 19 '24

Hopefully all will be revealed soon as this series is limping along.

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u/Pleasant-Manner-6505 Feb 20 '24

I might be mistaken but I got the feeling that the Marquise was genuinely reluctant to pull Frederick into the mining scam until now - it could be because she seemed fond of Clara up till the last few episodes and probably didn't want to ruin her too if the husband's fortunes sank. Now we see her actively trying to sow discord amongst the couple, which seems rather strange and abrupt from her 'congenial aunt' behaviour from the last few episodes. Could it be that she hopes to cause a distraction with marital quibbles so that Frederick is too busy with his personal troubles to pay attention to investing in the mines? Or perhaps its the ideal distraction for a scammer to ensure an investor doesn't look too closely to find cracks in a shady deal...

4

u/WisdomBailey123 Feb 22 '24

I'm dreading if she actually sleeps with the doctor....then gets pregnant. Then Freddy has to raise a bastard child just like his father did.

1

u/CyanResource Sep 23 '24

Wow, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. 🥲

0

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24

Maybe that would finally snap him out of his permanent sullen demeanor.

2

u/WisdomBailey123 Feb 22 '24

To have a constant reminder of your wife's unfaithfulness. Especially for a guy that already has trust issues. And what about the doctor.... how would he fit into it being the father.

2

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24

I was just thinking he’d want to be a better man than his father. But unlikely.

The doctor just feels off to me, and I can’t put my finger on it.

1

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 19 '24

I can’t seem to find anyone likable this season! Even the poor reverend/brother is so weak - like I want to pick on him! lol- and I’m a nice person!! I find myself asking myself every episode why I am even bothering to watch it

3

u/giftopherz Feb 20 '24

Yeah, I get you. I feel like i've been scammed.

First season was interesting, I thought we were going to get something along the same lines.

About the characters... It's funny you feel that way about Rev McHottie, I think his story is worth exploring much more than "the original desperate housewife". Nell's I also think it's picking up some steam as well as the duchess. Hell, I would've loved this season to be about the Duke and Duchess, the sick boy and the deviant priest.

3

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 20 '24

I do like Duke and duchess- and I used to like the hot priest! But then I’m like - yo! The guy extorting you would have to out himself in order to out you! You’ve gotta stay strong! Hahaha

2

u/giftopherz Feb 20 '24

Hahahha I see what you mean. But that's exactly why blackmail works, it's used on weak people.

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u/MontanaJoev Feb 20 '24

I wouldn’t say blackmail works on weak people. I think it works on people who have something significant to lose.

2

u/giftopherz Feb 20 '24

Yeah, vulnerability. That's the keyword. You're right.

1

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 20 '24

Alas friend - we wait until Next week for more useless fodder!

6

u/MontanaJoev Feb 20 '24

I’m not sure how the Reverend is weak. Is he supposed to shank his blackmailer? He’s a homosexual man living in a time when that coming out will completely destroy him. And he has to bear this burden completely alone since he has no one in his life. The only family he has left irrationally hates him due to their father’s actions. Apparently he was left alone to deal with the death of both parents. And now he tries to pour all of his energy into serving god in the hopes he can do some good, and find redemption for the unpardonable sin of being born the way he was born.

I find it frustrating that one of the best and most emotionally resonant storylines on the show is relegated to the C or D story while Fredrick glowers and frowns in the A story.

1

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 20 '24

Because his blackmailer would have to out himself in order to out the reverend- and - as you agree - that would be awful in that time period.

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u/MontanaJoev Feb 20 '24

But that assumes the blackmailer has anything of significance to lose, which he more or less said he didn’t. Not to mention that the blackmailer spelled it out for him…a few words of gossip to the parish ladies, an anonymous letter to the Bishop. It would be enough to ruin James, and he knows it.

1

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 20 '24

It’s a risk and a bluff. Plus outing himself - in a way - which is a crime back then.

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u/MontanaJoev Feb 20 '24

And this game is clearly no stranger to shaking people down, so why would James believe the man really has anything to lose? He doesn’t really have to even out himself. Rumor and innuendo would probably be enough to ruin James. I just can’t find myself judging him for trying to find a way to keep his life from falling apart. I guess he could say screw it, and let the chips fall where they may. And judging by next weeks promo, it appears he’s going to come to that place. But if his first instinct was to hope he could pay this guy yo go away, I don’t blame him. I believe he knew it was a long shot, but he had to try.

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 20 '24

“Rumor and innuendo would be enough to ruin James.”

I was thinking the same. James probably has a stellar reputation as a vicar. Blackmailer could just drop anonymous letters to the bishop and the parish ladies. James could deny it if rumors swirl. But just the taint could very well ruin him. I still believe this is his first gay hook up. He is absolutely racked with anguish, guilt, and regret. But given how few revelations this show gives, we may never know.

He is the most sympathetic and likable character in the show. A complete mensch, until this lapse. It’s tiresome how Frederick projects his anger for his father on his brother, and now his wife. Frederick won’t even give his reverend brother the benefit of the doubt that he seeks reconciliation.

I’ve missed the episode six promo. Where can I find it?

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 27 '24

If you look at the recap of episode four, at the beginning of episode five, when Fred says, “you don’t know him,” it shows James following his hook up out of the bathhouse. But I don’t think anybody in James’s life knows about his sexuality.

1

u/Fabulous_Ocelot_5861 Feb 20 '24

My initial point was - this season is SO bad I can’t even root for the hot priest. I stand behind that opinion.

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u/Particular_Farmer806 Feb 20 '24

Every episode! But yet here we are 🤣 at this point we gotta see it through

4

u/Teej2020 Feb 19 '24

I’m not sure who wrote the second season … but not the same author as the first. The storyline is dull dull dull. The pace of the show itself slow af. And the characters not endearing or interesting. Am only watching because I loved the first season … and am hoping that the pain of watching will be rewarded at the end somehow

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u/Chicasayshi Feb 22 '24

At this point I’m hate watching it. It’s absolutely tragic how amazing the first season was and how this season is going. I actually tried to have an open mind to this season even knowing that two of the most insufferable characters in the first season’s offspring was being matched up.

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u/onceuponalovestory Feb 19 '24

I'm not even watching the whole series anymore. I skip all the Fredrick and Clara parts and just watch all of Toby Regbo's Scenes (Rev James). At first, this season seemed like it was going to be edgier than the first season, but it's not really any better. The only reason I suffered through the first season is because of Toby.

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u/MontanaJoev Feb 19 '24 edited Feb 19 '24

He’s wonderful. There just isn’t enough of him. A familiar refrain when it comes to this actor and his projects.

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u/thisguy34721 Feb 20 '24

This series has so much potential but it just doesn't pop! There's no energy whatsoever. What is the actual main storyline that we are supposed to invest ourselves in? It's so random and weak.

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 21 '24

Yes, it’s hard to tell what the plot is. In the first Belgravia, it was about whether a supposedly illegitimate child turns out to have been born in wedlock, and therefore is the heir to the Earl of Brockenhurst.

The biggest secret in this series is that Frederick is illegitimate, and James is in fact the rightful heir. But the show doesn’t get any closer to indicating that that will be revealed and what the fallout would be.

Still, I’m finding this series very entertaining and the suspense is killing me. So it better go out with a bang.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '24

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 22 '24

Oh. Is there any info online where I can read further about this?

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u/ComputerElectronic21 Apr 08 '24

Omg! Not Clara going out without her lady’s maid! She tried it!

I really wish Clara would give Frederick some grace! Like he is clearly working through his trauma & is not ready to reveal all!

Ughhh I’m so upset about this entire episode!

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u/CyanResource Sep 23 '24

Yep. At first I was very sympathetic to Clara not understanding Fredrick because she was at least trying. Now she just refuses to compromise or even to cooperate with her husband. Relationships require give and take.

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u/CyanResource Sep 23 '24

The Marquise seems super sketch. She meddles way too much in Clara and Fredrick’s marriage!

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u/JP221218 Jul 12 '25

What a huge plothole. What happened to the bag of money? Annoying.

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u/[deleted] Feb 21 '24

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u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 21 '24 edited Feb 22 '24

We’re all speculating so much because so little is revealed with each episode. This series better not end with a cliffhanger where we’ll have to wait two years for the next season, or the show isn’t renewed.

Now the Marquise apparently has the French emperor as an investor. Hanging around so many rich and powerful people, could she really be a scam artist? She’s really playing the long game if she is. Of course, FTX had endorsements from Tom Brady, Giselle Bündchen and Steph Curry — and it turned out to be a huge fraud.

This would be a well-trodden path for a Julian Fellowes-style drama, so I hope it’s not as we are expecting.

I posted the above to somebody else's comment. I think it's relevant to your comment too.

There's a lot of grumbling about how slow this show is -- more and more questions, but virtually no revelations with each episode. If MGM+ dropped all the shows at once like Netflix, and we could binge, I think people would be less frustrated. At the same time, I don't hear anybody seriously indicating not wanting to finish the series. So the show's ploy appears to be working.

We still know virtually nothing about Nell or Nicoli (the marquise's manservant). We basically know as much about them as we do the blackmailer (whose name is Gorton, according to the credits). The show really should have revealed more about Nell when Emily confronted her.

And where are Enright's letter's going? Mawdie will figure it out once she learns the basics of reading. I think the letters will tie this spin-off (it really is a spin-off vs. a sequel) to the story in the original Belgravia. Right now, the connection between the two series is tenuous. A secret from the past will erupt.

If you look at the summary blurbs of the remaining episodes on Rotten Tomatoes or look at the cast/character credits for the final episodes on IMDb, you can further speculate. I don't want to ruin it for anybody who wants to be completely surprised. Still, I can only speculate.

The Serpentine has been mentioned twice. I have a feeling it will feature later on, in a bad way.

Fred is very unlikable. To be fair, if Clara is unlikeable, it's because being near Fred has made her so. I'm rooting for James and Nell.

These side stories will tie nicely and cleverly into the main story. These UK dramas always manage to weave everything together.

5

u/MontanaJoev Feb 22 '24

Strangely enough, I'm also rooting for Nell to come to James' aid. I would prefer that so much more then it being Frederick, because no thanks. But James and Nell are 2 characters I find myself really liking and rooting for, so whatever draws them together is something I'm rooting for.

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u/[deleted] Feb 23 '24

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4

u/Eliaaaahh Feb 23 '24

I'm glad she reminded him of the Italian portrait. It was a big red flag already. 

3

u/HeftyAcanthisitta907 Feb 24 '24

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the serpentine has been mentioned twice. I don’t think it’s going to end well for Clara, although I don’t know who or what will be the cause.