At the start of the episode, Nancy Birch (Kate Fleetwood) wakes up in Isabella’s house. Isabella (Liv Tyler) wakes up and finds Nancy distraught. Nancy tells her about killing Isaac. Hal (Ash Hunter) is excited about the prospects of his future. He is unaware that Isaac is already dead. Isabella tries to comfort Nancy and convince her that she is just fine. Margaret (Samantha Morton) speaks with Lucy (Eloise Smyth) about the past. Margaret intends to take the blame and escape to America. She encourages Lucy to go with her. Fanny (Bronwyn James) serves a client when Kitty walks in. She thinks quickly and hides the man under a sheet.

Nancy runs into Cherry (Francesca Mills) on the street. She learns that Cherry and Anne (Ellie Heydon) are both staying with Lydia (Leslie Manville) right now. Margaret and Jonas visit Elizabeth and try to buy Lucy’s portion of the property. Margaret is surprised to see William (Danny Sapani) there. She believes that William and Elizabeth must be in a relationship with one another. Elizabeth refuses to let Lucy be bought out unless Lucy gives her the okay to do so. Hal still hasn’t found out that Isaac is dead. Cherry gets Emily (Holli Dempsey) got Nancy. Emily steps outside and meets with Nancy.

William and Margaret speak in a private alleyway. William explains that Margaret ruins people. He is happy to hear that she is going away in the future. She also admits to him that Isaac is dead after being shot. Lydia confronts Kate (Daisy Head) and asks if she is worried about her now. Kate explains that her eyes have been opened now. Mr. Armitage (Gerard Monaco) is forced to tell Hal that his brother is dead. He gives Hal the money that Isaac had on him at the time of his murder. Rosamund Sugarcunt (Kirsty J. Curtis) becomes suspicious. William takes his frustration out on a punching bag.

Jack Lively (Alex Sawyer) and Harriet (Pippa Bennett-Warner) chat briefly before they head outside. Jack is taken captive by several men. William believes that it might be slave traders so the others agree to stick close together from now on. Lydia pays a visit to Justice Knox (Jack Greenlees) and tells him about Margaret being back in town. Knox seems frustrated with everything going on. Salabat arrives and picks up Elizabeth. She leaves with him a few seconds later. Emily is forced to listen to Hal speak about his brother. Hal becomes convinced that Margaret Wells was responsible for his brother’s death. Jonas tells Margaret that he is going to leave with or without her and Lucy.

Rosamund knows about Emily’s involvement in Isaac’s death. She believes blackmailing her with the evidence and Emily has no choice but to give up money and her feather. Lydia takes Kate to the prince once again. Kate seems to be doing much better with him. The Marquess (Julian Rhind-Tutt) speaks with Lydia while Kate is busy. Lydia manages to convince the Marquess that Lucy and Croft are a threat to him become governor. Hal goes to Jonas and tells him about Isaac’s murder. He blames Margaret and lays down a threat too. Jonas tells him that he’ll drown him in his bile if he hears any more of it. Emily tells Hal that they should honor Isaac by doing his death right.

Armitage and Knox speak about Isaac’s death. It is clear that Knox is becoming overwhelmed with his work. He asks about Margaret wells. Lucy, Elizabeth, and the others celebrate Elizabeth’s marriage with Salabat. Margaret arrives and she is introduced to Elizabeth’s new husband. Margaret believes that Lucy is going to be shackled to him as well. Lucy and Margaret arrange to speak in private. Lucy breaks the news that she doesn’t want to leave while Elizabeth tells her new husband about her new business venture. He is not happy with taking on her debts and claims the house is built on sand. During Margaret’s argument with Lucy, Lydia interrupts and makes things even worse.

Lydia tells Margaret that Justice Knox is there to arrest her. Lucy tries to get rid of him. Margaret tells Lydia that she will never change. Margaret doesn’t intend to run. She tells Lydia to do her worst. Meanwhile, Lucy tries to convince Knox that her mother is dead. Lydia has a change of heart and tells Knox that Margaret is somewhere else. Lydia explains that she needs something from Lucy. That is why she saved Margaret from Knox. She tells Margaret goodbye and to enjoy her freedom. Elizabeth and Salabat continue arguing in the streets. Lucy and her mother make peace before Margaret prepares to leave the city.

Kate manages to impress the prince by calming a horse. The prince tells her to come and ride her stallion whenever she wants to. Isabella speaks with Anne about her brother and how he treated her. Isabella asks her if she ever heard of a man named Edmund Turner. Anne explains that they were always writing one another. She last saw Edmund the day before she gave birth. The Marquess paid him. This convinces Nancy and Isabella that Edmund is still in London. Kate has sex with the prince. She gives him a present in the backside. Kate and the prince speak about Blayne and whether or not he can be trusted. Kate tries to convince him that the Marquess wants to use him like a puppet.

Margaret meets with Nancy and tells her that they both share the responsibility of Isaac’s death. Margaret explains that she intends to take Isaac’s murder with her when she leaves for America. They say their goodbyes before Margaret leaves the room. The Marquess get rough with Kate and gropes her. He tells her that he wants to know every word that they the and the prince stay to one another. Margaret says goodbye to Jacob before William enters. He tells her that she should look at what she has done. Lydia asks Cherry what she wants from life. She says that she would like to find someone to love her true. Lydia tells Anne to get back to work and to do something with her face. Margaret asks Fanny to tell that law that she killed Isaac.

Hal tells Emily that Jonas was packing for America. He seems eager to get back at Margaret before she can escape to America. Margaret tells William the truth about Isaac’s murder as they ride in a carriage together. Knox goes to Fanny. She tells him that she isn’t there. She doesn’t say anything about Isaac’s death. Margaret says goodbye to William. Jonas packs the boat and prepares to leave. Margaret joins him a few seconds later. Jonas confronts her about killing a man but Margaret denies it. William runs into Hal and tells him that she is gone. Knox interrupts and the brief scuffle is ended. Margaret and Jonas drift out into the water. Kate goes to Knox and tells him that she is afraid of the marquess. She gives him a kiss and he returns the favor.

Fanny finds Nancy outside and invites her in. Fanny tells her that Margaret put her in charge of the house. They share a drink together. Emily collects money from her girls. Sugarcunt isn’t willing to pay anything. Lucy finds Lydia downstairs. Lydia tells Lucy that she needs to stay quiet. If she does, she will relinquish her share when the Marquess becomes governor. Lord Leadsom goes hunting for Harriet. She accuses him of being involved in the kidnapping of Jack. Leadsom scares them before leaves without entering the house. Elizabeth finally returns and complains to Lucy about Salabat. Elizabeth admits she is drowning in debt.

She says that something always turns up. Salabat enters with men and tells them to take everything they can carry. Lucy tries to stop the men but she cannot. Hal begins blaming himself for Isaac’s death but Emily tries to convince him otherwise. Emily is still convinced that he killed Charlotte Wells. Hal tells her that it was an accident. He reminds her that she said she would never leave him. Hal embraces her as the episode ends.

 

Harlots Review

I am becoming slightly bored with Harlots. The excitement from the previous seasons seems to be gone. This episode was slightly better. However, it was back and forth with Margaret being captured or leaving. Finally, she left without incident. That bit was prolonged a little too much. I am not sure where the show is going this season. Charlotte is dead. Margaret is gone. Lydia isn’t much of a nemesis.

Is Marquess the villain this season? I am not really sure. The season doesn’t have a clear path forward. Again, I am a little bored with it. I might be the only one though. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Harlots before you leave!