As the episode begins, John Beecham (Tom Bateman) and Samuel Parker (Marc Warren) speak with the man responsible for creating the moving sculpture. Before they depart, John puts Gopal in charge of making sure the statue makes it home in one piece. While John is away, Henrietta (Lesley Nicol) checks on the chef and his ingredients. She is shocked to find out what she has been eating and drinking over the past few days. John returns home and gives Baadal (Viveik Kalra) a rocking horse that is meant for August. John asks Baadal if Osborne has been around to visit. He seems upset when he learns that she hasn’t visited.

During this time, Margaret Osborne (Dakota Blue Richards) speaks with Rosh about her upcoming return to England. Osborne is told that John would marry her if given the chance. Osborne responds that marriage is not something that should be left to chance. She explains that to build a life together once must trust their partner completely and John is a mystery. Margaret and Roshanara visit the Empress. The Empress and her friend encourage Roshanara to get married as soon as possible. They also urge Margaret to choose between her two suitors as soon as possible. The Empress and her friend let Roshanara know that they have a possible suitor for her.

Vijay Singh is set to escort him. Jalal Zaman enters and asks Margaret to teach him about the English so he can be prepared for their enemies. Rosh insists that Margaret would be happy to tutor him. Meanwhile, Violet (Bessie Carter) and Henrietta speak about the baby’s outfit. They believe he can be handsome once they put him in an English outfit. Moments later, Chandrika (Pallavi Sharda) speaks with John in private. She tells him that it is time for Agastya’s first taste of solid food and that includes a customary ritual of sorts. John is fine with it and agrees to participate. Samuel pays a visit to General Castillion (Gregory Fitoussi) and tells him about John’s gift for the Empress.

Samuel will not say why he wants to betray his friend. Henrietta is on the verge of running out of opium. Violet finds out and decides to do something about it. We see that Daniel (Leo Suter) is becoming much closer to Chanchal (Shriya Pilgaonkar). Baadal watches from a distance as Ram Lal gets involved and tries to tell Chanchal that she needs to stay away from Daniel. John and Samuel head for the docks to pick up the gift. John is surprised to see that Gopal is nowhere to be found. He asks around but cannot get any helpful information. Baadal takes Chanchal to the market. She is impressed that everyone seems to know him. They shop for material for August’s clothing for the ceremony.

Chanchal sneaks away so she can spend time with Daniel. John tries to get more information about Gopal. Soon, Gopal’s body is pulled from the water. John returns home and participates in the solid food ceremony for August. Chanchal and Daniel arrive late for the ritual. John pulls Maya aside and tells her about Gopal’s death. John and Samuel pay a visit to Castillion. They find him wrestling. After the match, John confronts him. Castillion denies having anything to do with the gift going missing. Castillion tells John that he has lost. After that, John visits Margaret. He speaks to her about Castillion and the stolen gift. She agrees to look around and see what she can find out about it.

Violet goes to the market to buy drugs for Henrietta. On the way back, she is attacked. Violet manages to fight off her attacker before heading back home. John and the others care for her when she arrives back home. Chanchal and Daniel spend time together later that night. Margaret speaks to Castillion and Vijay. They’re happy that John has lost the shipment and will soon be forced to leave Delhi. John decides to begin looking for another gift for the Empress. Violet tells Henrietta that she is not hurt. She is happy that John came to her aid. Daniel enters and wants to know why Violet went to the market in the first place. Margaret goes to John and tells him where and how he can steal the gift back.

While Vijay meets with Murad Beg, John, Daniel, and Ram Lal try to steal the item from Vijay’s place. Murad (Adil Ray) tells Vijay (Arunoday Singh) that he wants a man who can respect his daughter as an equal. During this time, John finds the gifts. They pass by Vijay’s carriage on the way back and Vijay confronts them. Ram gets off of the carriage and knocks Vijay to the ground. He tells him that it was for Gopal. Samuel arrives with a gift of his own. John and Daniel are not impressive. In fact, Daniel seems to know that Daniel is a spy. The following day, the gift is handed over to the Emperor and Empress. The Empress is impressive and Margaret puts in a good word for John.

The Empress tells Margaret that she wants to meet with John and she does a few moments later. John decides to whisk Margaret away from the ceremonies. John believes that is future is no assured and he couldn’t have done it without Margaret. The Empress wonders how John could afford such an expensive gift. Chanchal meets up with Daniel and they end up sleeping together. Moments later, they hear Henrietta moaning and walking around alone. Chandrika visits John’s room in the middle of the night and Violet notices.

 

Beecham House Review

I am confident that Beecham House could be great. Portions of this episode proved it. However, the flaws are obvious. The Henrietta character is obnoxious. That was a terrible casting mistake there. Lesley Nicol’s voice shrieks in my ear every time she complains about something. Simultaneously, I wish they would move past the romantic stuff. Some romance isn’t bad. I just don’t like the fact that John has 3 or 4 girls hounding after him.

I am more interested in John’s professional life. I love the show when he is deep in business and Castillion is trying to stop him at every turn. The episode was good but it was held back by these minor flaws. The episode scores a 7 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Beecham House before you leave!