Belgravia: The Next Chapter Series 1 Episode 8 Recap

The episode opens with Josiah Enright (Gerard Horan) reading a letter that triggers a flashback in 1846, Calais. At a pub, Young Josiah Enright (Tom Christian) is working when John Bellasis (Adam James) takes a seat across from him. Enright tells him that is a purser in the Royal Navy. John offers him a game. Declining the offer, Enright explains how he is paid and recently made a bad deal which ate up his profit for the past six months. John asks if he is married. Enright tells him that he is seeing a local girl but feels he has nothing to offer her. John says his son lives in England with his mum and a poor excuse for a man, posing as his father. He expresses the desire to see his son but refuses to cause him harm.

Back to the present, Mr. Enright tells Reverend James Trenchard (Toby Regbo) that Frederick Trenchard’s (Benjamin Wainwright) father is John Bellasis. James recalls John tried to kill their cousin. Mr. Enright claims John gave him enough money to resign from the Navy and marry in exchange for information about Frederick. He assures him that it was innocent and he loved Frederick. He says his reports were sent but John never responded until today before handing the letter to James. Mr. Enright informs him of his termination from the Glanville House.

With much reluctance, James and Mr. Enright go to the Glanville House. Fletcher (Liam Garrigan) tells them that Frederick is refusing all visitors. He informs Frederick of their visit but he refuses to see them. Back in the kitchen, Fletcher says they have not heard from Clara Trenchard (Harriet Slater) since she left two months ago when Frederick approaches. James convinces him to listen to what he has to say. Giving him John’s letter, he tells him that his father asks to see him before he dies. He says the lies have nearly ruined them.

Frederick, James, and Mr. Enright travel to Paris to find John in a hospital. John is impressed with Frederick’s handsomeness. Frederick allows James to stay. John admits to being unkind to Susan Trenchard (Alice Eve)  who was not “nice.” He says James was not meant to be and when he was born, it changed everything. He questions if Susan used him to get pregnant and if Oliver Trenchard (Richard Goulding) is truly James’ father. John says he and Susan met in 1841 in Belgravia and their affair lasted for months. Frederick walks out of the room but returns to see why John summoned him. John claims Frederick’s every achievement meant everything to him and he celebrated with a bottle of Chateau Lafite. He apologizes for how Frederick was treated as a boy and dreamt of telling him that he was his father. He says Frederick was wonderful.

Frederick takes a seat beside John’s hospital bed. John says Mr. Enright wrote about his recent challenges. When he coughs, Frederick hands him a cup and takes a set on his bed. John says Clara sounded beautiful and loved him. Frederick admits to not being worthy of her and questions if he will ever see her again. John asks for his forgiveness for not being there. He asks Frederick to come again and bring a deck of cards.

James and Frederick saw Susan with a groundskeeper. James says John loved Frederick as he deserved it. The next morning, James wakes up to find Frederick’s bed empty. Frederick rushes into the hospital to find John deceased. He grasps his hand. An envelope with his name on it sits on the bedside table.

Clara and Mrs. Davidson (Elaine Cassidy) wait tables at a restaurant. Davidson is not too happy when a patron gets too friendly to Clara. Later, Clara says her father would have been 60 today. She questions if Frederick cut off Mrs. Dunn’s (Sophie Thompson) and Emily Dunn’s (Hannah Onslow) allowance. She contributes her father’s affection to her ability to cope with Frederick. Davidson recalls falling for an older servant who had befriended her on a bet. She says the others treated her poorly after they found out. Clara reaches for her hand.

Frederick tells the Duchess of Rochester/Mary (Sophie Winkleman) that his house at Eaton Square has been sold and he will leave in January. She criticizes Marquise d’Etagnac (Claude Perron) for defrauding all of them. She says the authorities believe she is hiding in America. She admits to being stressed about Peter’s (Jonas Salmela-Stratis) impending trip to Switzerland. He says they live in a strange world where the love between a mother and her child is secondary to all else. They briefly speak of Clara. He denies having any hard feelings toward the Duke of Rochester/Percy (Miles Jupp).

Mary tells Percy that Frederick denies being angry with him. Percy admits to not telling him about an alert he received about the Marquise’s scheme. He blames Frederick. Calling him obnoxious, she tells him what Frederick said about a mother and child’s love no longer being the most important thing. Percy accuses her of making him look like an ogre. She says Frederick opened her eyes and believes Percy wants Peter to perish. Mary reminds him of Dr. Kerry’s (John Hollingworth) offer to care for him and they could see him. She says if Peter dies, the dukedom will go to Randolph (Osian Salter) and all will be well.

Davidson and Clara return to Belgravia. Emily greets her with a bear hug. Mrs. Dunn weeps with joy. Clara informs them that she will leave after Christmas. Mrs. Dunn says Frederick increased their allowance, even though, the Marquise swindled him out of a small fortune and the house at Eaton Square was sold. Clara refuses to see him. Emily admits to being ashamed of her mistreatment of Clara. She claims the Marquise made things worse by spreading rumors. Emily tells her that Nell (Lauren McQueen) married a doctor from her past. She voices concern about her and Mrs. Dunn’s future. Frederick enters Clara’s room which is the same as when she left it. Emily gives Clara a bundle of letters from Frederick. After reading the first letter, Clara weeps and refuses to read more.

While out for a walk, Clara encounters Nell. She congratulates her on her marriage to Doctor Stephen Ellerby (Edward Bluemel). Nell invites her to go with her to her daughter, Lily Ellerby’s gravesite. She says Ellerby adored her. Clara denies anything happened between them and wished to hear his words from someone else. Nell assures her that Ellerby left before she learned about her pregnancy.

Peter helps decorate the Christmas tree when Percy enters with a letter to Dr. Kerry. Reading the letter, Mary is thrilled Peter will be nearby, not in Switzerland. Peter apologizes for the trouble that he caused them. Percy assures him that it was no trouble at all.

James tells Clara that he and Frederick are on speaking terms again. She asks him to not tell Frederick about their visit, only that she is safe. He says Frederick inherited enough money to prevent the sale of the Eaton Square property but donated it to the church for the poor. He claims Frederick has a different outlook on the world but he lacks her in his life. He pleads with her to see Frederick. She denies losing her love for him but they are better off apart. James refutes her claim.

Mr. Enright wishes Frederick a Merry Christmas. At church, he thanks Emily and Mrs. Dunn for permitting James to tell him that they heard from Clara. Emily says it was a Christmas card but refuses to tell him where it came from. Frederick complements James on his service. They embrace. James invites him to join them at the vicarage for a small get-together. Frederick says it would have been his and Clara’s first Christmas together. James offers to cancel the party but Frederick declines the offer. Upon returning home, he finds Mr. Enright and Fletcher busy preparing dinner. Frederick finds Clara in the drawing room. He asks if she is real. He blames his fear, anger, and desperation for his poor treatment of her. She describes their love as a miracle and they embrace and kiss.

Mr. Enright, Clara, Frederick, Davidson, and Fletcher surprise James by showing up at his Christmas party. Mrs. Dunn and Emily are thrilled to see Frederick and Clara together. Clara and Frederick inform them of their plan to travel the world together and possibly settle in Glanville. James tells Emily that he would be with her if he wasn’t already married to God. She makes eye contact with Miss White’s nephew who returned to Belgravia after a stint in the Army. Later, Frederick and Clara have a lot to catch up on as the episode ends.

 

Belgravia: The Next Chapter Finale Review

Although, a bit rushed, the finale is well done. Sadly, it took this long to give viewers a reason to stay tuned in. There is little doubt, Frederick and Clara’s problems are over. Glanville is definitely not the best place for them. Too many terrible childhood memories for Frederick to overcome. A few months would surely send Clara running for the hills.

It’s questionable if the series will be renewed for a second season. The story could just as easily continue as end with little lost. Season two has not been announced, regardless of how many fake sites are reporting it. There are dozens of sites announcing a season three, definitely not true.

The finale deserves a 6.5. out of 10. Get more Belgravia: The Next Chapter recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV shows, movies, scams, crime, and more.