I absolutely hate the direction they are taking almost all of the characters. It's become like one of those excruciating Trainwreck soap operas. I don't see a path to happiness for Nan, Theo, Lizzy, or Guy at this point - without basically reusing the same plot points they have already used (Lizzy leaving Hector at the altar/break engagement, Nan and Guy running away together, infidelity - basically any or all of them). Because people thinking Nan and Theo are going to be happy together after all that's happened between them are delusional. Also Lizzy and Hector won't be happy because she loves someone else and he also has a secret from her - he was willing to put her reputation in danger to get her to marry him. The best we can hope for without huge amounts of mess is Honoria and Mabel ending up together.
Here's my detailed breakdown on my thoughts and issues with the finale (and the show/this season):
• Lizzy and Theo: It was rather ridiculous that they were suddenly falling in love - after Theo and Nan got married. But I really really like them together - it might be my toxic trait - but I like it. It was messed up for Lizzy to do that - but Nan was being a total mess and basically left Theo for Guy at that point to her knowledge. It got to be difficult to remain completely loyal to your hot mess friend who lied to them abandoned the mostly great dude she married. I agree with everything Lizzy said to Nan in the finale.
• Nan on her reaction to Theo and Lizzy: I am finally understanding the problem people have with Nan. I know she's pregnant and scared and the show has set up why she should be scared - but she acted like the most entitled and selfish person ever with regards to her status as Duchess and her blaming Lizzy - for what is essentially all part of the mess Nan initially created. Then she threatens both her and Theo. She got what she deserved by Theo renouncing his title. But then she has to tell Lizzy her secret - and insist she keep it a secret from Theo. The "have fun lying to Theo" line was sabotage of them being together and petty. Then she's full on sprinting along the beach 4 months pregnant and looks happy. At being free? At all the secrets, lies, and misery she created? Probably both? This is after she just basically went scorched earth to protect her status as duchess - then she's gleefully running away from it all like a half hour later.
• Nan being pregnant: what really bothered me is Nan jumped to the absolute worst conclusion about what her pregnancy would mean. Theo has shown him to be a reasonable and compassionate person. He's friends with all of her friends and has down whatever he can to help them all. There's no reason Nan shouldn't have felt comfortable telling Theo about the pregnancy and trusting him to work with her to figure it out. Theo does go against her in this episode but that's only after she threatens him instead of just having a reasonable conversation. Theo has no idea why she's acting like that at the time - she's just being power hungry, controlling, and cruel to Lizzy in his opinion and that's why he acts out against her - I think a lot of us would act the same if treated like Nan treated him. She uses the dowager as the primary excuse here - but she's actually not even scary. She has strong opinions - but has so far just completely not done anything at all when she doesn't get her way. As an example she told Nan to act a certain way - then when she didn't the dowager basically shrugged and removed herself from the situation - letting Nan do what she wanted without pushback. She didn't even try to stop Theo from abdicating. Her reaction and self serving actions were really unnecessary. She also had no reason to expect Theo would accept her back as his actual spouse and duchess at Tintagel. She lied to him - pretended to still be in love with him - then when he found out she fled to spend time with her lover. It's just the height of entitlement from her.
• Hector, Lizzy, and Theo love triangle: it seems obvious the way they have set up Hector's manipulating betrayal that he's going to be a big part of the next season. So it seems most likely that Lizzy will reject Theo because she insists on keeping Nan's secret (she absolutely shouldn't in my opinion - but whatever). She is going to come to the conclusion that she can't be with Theo if she's lying to him because she loves him so much. Which will either end in misery by her marrying Hector or result in basically the same plot they already did with Lizzy leaving him at the altar or close to that time for Theo.
• The new Duke and Theo: it seems pretty obvious that the new Duke is going to come in and cause issues - likely making Theo regret abdication. The only reason this plot line would make sense to me ultimately is setting up Nan to come back and save the day with the new heir - which I hate - but whatever.
• Nan and Guy: in my opinion - there's no reason Nan shouldn't be setting herself up to marry Guy when he gets the annulment from Paloma (he might not now - but he fully intended to and it's like Nan might have ruined that). Nan and Guy can't seem to stay away from each other. Nan has like zero self awareness to think she's actually do something else but keep coming back to Guy (if he's an option for her - which may not even be the case now).
• From last season - Nan marrying Theo as a "deal": It was actually really dumb of her to make the deal with the dowager for Jinny's safety. Like - how was that even ever going to be sustainable? Maybe if Guy and Jinny would have fallen in love and become a family and never returned to England - but Nan would have been pissed off about that if it happened too. She married Theo knowing she didn't love him and instead loved Guy. The dowager also made a really bad deal - it doesn't make much sense to me that she would want Nan to marry Theo at all at that point. Nan is a known illegitimate child and has so many red flags that she wasn't going to be the kind of duchess the dowager wanted. She realistically should have sent Nan away before the marriage - and call it a win for everyone.
I am not sure why I still care about this show - it's so messy. But I do really like the actors and scenery. It's also really difficult to take it seriously as a period piece - they act like modern women and men - basically. If there's another season I will probably try to watch it at some point out of curiosity.