Romance Refresh
‘The Buccaneers’ Romance Refresh: Where All the Couples Stand Ahead of Season 2
Last year was “Brat Summer” — but this time around, it’s “Gilded Age Summer.”
That’s because not one, but two late 1800s-set dramas are staging a comeback later this month: The Gilded Age and The Buccaneers. Since we’re romantically inclined here at Swooon, we’re especially excited for the latter. Based on Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, the Apple TV+ series follows a spirited group of young American women as they burst onto the London scene to land husbands (and their titles).
Season 1 saw most of the girls achieve their goal — in some cases for the better and others for the worse. It’s been a minute since The Buccaneers graced our screens — almost a year and a half to be exact — so let us remind you where each couple stands before Season 2 kicks off.
The Buccaneers, Season 2 Premiere, June 18, Apple TV+
Conchita and Richard
Richard (Josh Dylan) and Conchita (Alisha Boe) were the first to marry in Season 1, kicking off the show. They appeared blissfully in love, even though their union was mutually beneficial. (Conchita hails from a rich family, while Richard comes from a poor-yet-titled one.)
Conchita’s untraditional nature put her at odds with Richard’s family, which became a source of strife for the couple. Things became even more complicated when we discovered that Richard was sexually abused by his former governess.
At the end of Season 1, they’re in a strong-ish place: Richard stands up to his unaccepting mother and declares that he’s severing ties with his family. It would’ve been perfect, if Conchita’s father hadn’t lost all of their money.
TLDR: They’re solid when it comes to their love for each other, but the fact that they have to remain with Richard’s family will likely continue to cause problems.
Mabel and Honoria
Mable’s (Josie Totah) one of the two girls who didn’t get married in Season 1 — because she fell in love with Richard’s sister, Honoria (Mia Threapleton).
Obviously, they faced some hurdles in being together, due to the social norms of the time period. Honoria especially struggled to come to terms with her feelings. Mabel nearly wet through with a marriage of convenience, but decided to be with Honoria instead, regardless of the challenges they’d face.
Once Mabel told Honoria she’s called off her engagement, they promised to figure out a way to make it work.
Jinny and Lord Seadown
Calling this pairing a couple is a stretch, if you remember how Season 1 ended. Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) quickly became enamored with Richard’s younger brother, Lord Seadown (Barney Fishwick). But things unraveled nearly as quickly once Seadown revealed his true nature.
First, Seadown led on Mabel’s sister, Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag), only to emotionally abuse and traumatize her. Then, he turned around and married her best friend — Jinny — and treated her the same way. His abuse turned physical after they wed.
Jinny fell pregnant, but with the help of Nan and the girls, she fled the country to protect herself and her child from Seadown.
Nan and Theo
Now, let’s get into the juiciest part of the show: Nan’s (Kristine Froseth) love triangle. After Nan had her meet-cute with Theo (Guy Remmers) on the beach, they seemed to be a perfect match. Not only did they have incredible chemistry, but he’s also a duke — an unbelievable catch for Nan.
The pair got engaged, but to Nan, their romance started to lose a bit of its magic as time went on. It doesn’t help matters that she still harbored feelings for Theo’s best friend, Matthew Broome‘s Guy (which we’ll elaborate on next).
On the day of their wedding, she was tempted to leave Theo at the altar, but when she realized that her new title would give her the power to protect her sister Jinny, she saw it through.
Nan and Theo
Nan and Guy met by chance at the start of Season 1 and sparks flew immediately. However, Guy left for South America shortly after they made a connection, and Nan left for England with her friends.
When he returned to England and they reconnected, she was already entangled with Theo. It’s worth mentioning that Guy and Theo are on completely different ends of the social spectrum: the former is penniless and title-less.
Nan nearly decided to ditch Theo for Guy, regardless of his status, after they shared a passionate night together on the eve of her wedding. But as mentioned, she wound up becoming a duchess. Guy accompanied Jinny, leaving England with her.
