REVIEW: ‘The Buccaneers’ Episode 4 — “Homecoming”

The Buccaneers Episode 4 firmly establishes the type of show it is, with dreary, irritating results. Because if there’s one thing that will, without doubt, irk, it’s the inability of characters to talk to one another in order to diffuse conflict. It’s a forced, clumsy, and tiresome way to drag on certain, convoluted dramas that overstay their welcome by the time the characters in question are actually allowed to say what they feel and think without getting cut off by mind-numbing distractions. Late in the episode, a man stands over a ravine bellowing in despair over having mailed the equivalent of a drunk text announcing his love to his best friend’s fiancé. I too, wanted to scream.

“Homecoming,” at the very least, promises a better start with Christina Hendricks’s Mrs. St. George being given the spotlight as she readies her New York home for the arrival of her daughters and friends. Hendricks is wonderful in this role, even if it’s undeserving of her. Unfortunately, The Buccaneers Episode 4 soon loses the thread with the arrival of said daughters as they and their partners cause tension in the household. Put off by the lavish party her parents look to throw to welcome their guests, Nan (Kristine Froseth) is quick to excuse herself so she can also mope over the knowledge that her mother isn’t related to her by blood.

At the very least this is one secret the show manages to bring to a head, forcing the mother and daughter to speak freely about Nan’s biological mother. It’s a tender-hearted scene that turns lukewarm with Nan’s characterization, her radical nature wilting when faced with her own expectations of societal norms. Still, at least it’s one secret out in the open, especially as the rest of the episode is buried in them.

The first is Lizzy’s (Aubri Ibrag) continued silence over the abuse and humiliation she faced at the hands of Lord James (Barney Fishwick), the man whom her friend, Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse), just eloped with. If the show is trying to imply that she’s withholding this information due to the trauma the experience caused her, it’s forcing the viewer to do that work and justification for them. Considering James’s monstrous nature and the cruelties he’s displayed, the cryptic nature of how Lizzy is speaking to everyone is confounding.

The second most frustrating decision is the handling of the Duke, Theo (Guy Remmers), after he receives the letter from Guy (Matthew Broome) in which he declares his love for Nan. There’s an obvious draw to the love triangle aspect but usually, the triangle in question possesses at least one character who is a viable suitor. While Theo and Guy started off harmless enough, they too have succumbed to lazy writing. At this point in the series, I’m rooting for Nan to walk away from both of them. Aside from a few flirtatious sequences between them, there’s been no chemistry-driven proof that Nan and Theo are a strong, romantic pairing, and this is made more true by the time Nan goes to divulge her secrets to him, only to be shut down by Theo fearing a ruined moment.

Perhaps most frustrating is the fact that there are elements in the material worth exploring. From queer relationships to racial inequality when it comes to being accepted into high society in the late 1800s, there are interesting and engaging narratives that exist without being explored with the level of care they deserve. Instead, the characters exist on the sidelines or are given the most aggravating plots.

The Buccaneers Episode 4 is at least another lavishly dressed episode, one that finds small character details continually in the costuming, most notably of Hendricks. At the end of the day, it’s a craftsperson’s show, one that is demonstrative of clear artistry behind the scenes even if those directing and writing the show can’t find the same level of character or personality to distinguish itself from the crowd.

The Buccaneers Season 1 is streaming now, exclusively on Apple TV+