The episode opens with Liza Hardacre (Shannon Lavelle) waking to find Mary Hardacre (Claire Cooper) lying beside her. Sam Hardacre (Liam McMahon) asks how she is feeling. Liza complains of a headache and asks to be left alone. Mary suggests Liza is embarrassed about taking the Trilene tablets. He asks her to be at the docks by 4pm because he has something planned. Elsewhere, Victor Ward (Connor Byrne) wakes Ma Hardacre (Julie Graham) with a breakfast tray. As she prepares to leave, he asks to see her again in a more formal manner. She says their time together was nice but she isn’t interested in hooking up again. Back at Hardacre Hall, Mary tries to convince Liza that she is perfect. Liza reminds her that she insisted she be a lady and suggests she continue taking Trilene in moderation like Lady Adella Fitzherbert (Holly Sturton). Mary asks if Adella gave her the Trilene. Liza claims Lady Emma Fitzherbert (Cathy Belton) gives them to Adella. A short time later, Mary calls for a carriage. She tells Ma and Sam that the Trilene was Emma’s. Irate, Sam wants to confront Emma but Mary insists on handling it herself. A short time later, Mary, Ma, and Liza barge into the Fitzherbert’s house. Mary tosses the Trilene bottle to Emma and admits to growing up in the Chapel Street Workhouse. Emma says that explains a lot. Mary claims to be proud of her past, Ma, and Liza who she vows to give her the freedom to choose her own way. Mary tells Adella that she is worth more than being auctioned off to Lord Hugo Bathurst (Denis Grindel). Emma orders Lord George Fitzherbert (Owen Roe) to intervene but before he can, Mary warns Emma that everyone can see the viciousness and wickedness inside her before leaving with Ma and Liza.

Upon arriving at the docks, Liza apologizes to Callum Saunders (Taheen Modak) for the way she treated him after the soiree. After reading Sam’s plan, Lena Temple (Siobhan O’Kelly), Little Pete (David O’Reilly), Ma, and Mary compliment him. Hugill (Nick Dunning) and the other board members arrive to cast their votes. Sam introduces them to their new shareholders. Each worker holds up their shares. Sam says his interest has been divided amongst the workers. Hugill asks if the women get a vote. Sam calls for a vote on no layoffs and shortened work weeks. All the workers raise their hands and cheer. Later at a pub, the dock workers celebrate their success. Lena proposes a toast to Fred Holdsworth (Conor Deane) who she believes is a better boss than Joe Hardacre (Adam Little). Upset, Betsy Tempty (Sarah Agha) storms out of the pub. Lena assures her that Joe’s problems will catch up with him sooner or later. A short time later, Lena barges into Hardacre Hall and announces Betsy’s pregnancy. Joe says it was a mistake. Sam slams him against the wall and asks if Fred was a mistake as well. Joe apologizes. Sam promises Lena that he will make it right. Mary demands Joe marry Lena and Sam backs her up. The next day, Joe asks Betsy to marry him and promises to provide for her and the baby.

Adella tells Emma that she has no interest in marrying Hugo because they don’t love each other. Emma claims George lied to her about his wealth and her dowry barely kept them afloat. She demands Adella not mention it again and sends her to bed. At Hardacre Hall, Mrs. Dryden (Ingrid Craigie) overhears Mary and Lena discussing Betsy’s pregnancy. Mary assures her that she doesn’t want their grandbaby to be a dirty little secret. Lena asks if she is concerned about what her elite friends will think. Mary vows to protect Betsy like her own daughter. Joe shows Betsy a cottage on the Hardacre estate where she can stay. She asks if he loves her. He says of course. She asks if he cares about how she feels about him. When he doesn’t respond, she leaves. Victor tells Ma that he likes her. She says he hardly knows her. Not liking her response, he agrees to leave her alone. Mary watches them from inside the house. Dryden sends Joe for tea, so she can speak to Betsy alone. Betsy tells her that he is only marrying her because of the baby. Teary-eyed, Dryden says she and Joe may or may not find love but she will love her baby. What matters is they get to stay together. Dryden assures her that Mary will protect them but she must be brave. Betsy thanks her before they return to their shopping list.

Emma and Adella are not on speaking terms. George tries to start a conversation about Sam and his vineyard. Emma demands he never talk about the Hardacres again and calls his plan idiotic. He informs them that there is no money for Adella’s dowry. Emma embraces him and suggests it is better for her to not marry Hugo. Emma orders her to leave. Adella listens to Emma warning him what canceling the wedding would do to their social standing and expresses the importance of Adella getting pregnant as soon as possible. Emma accuses George of destroying her dreams and vows to ensure Adella has a proper station in this world.

Ma proposes a toast to Mary for standing up to Emma. Clearing her voice, she sings “Wot Cher! Knocked ‘em in the Old Kent Road” by Albert Chevalier. Harry Hardacre (Zak Ford-Williams) surprises them with a visit. Mary sent him a telegram asking him to come home. Harry boasts of his new friends and how well he is doing at school. Maggie (Ella Maria Carmen), Mrs. Henderson (Paula Wolfenden), Beesley (Mark Doherty), and the other servants have a glass of champagne. Henderson says the Cavendishes never gave their servants champagne. Maggie assures them that the Cavendishes would have sent Betsy away. At midnight, Dryden wakes Maggie to help her return the silver and China to their original places. Maggie reminds her that she said the Hardacres weren’t trustworthy. Ma is reading a magazine in bed when she hears a ruckus. She finds Maggie outside with an armload of silver. Dryden denies they were stealing their silver. Ma accuses her of believing they would steal the valuable pieces. Mary terminates Dryden. Adella sneaks out to tell Joe of her plans to flee to America and asks him to go with her. He denies her offer because he is marrying Betsy on Thursday. She asks if he loves Betsy and gives him until Wednesday night to decide if he wants to go with her.

Mary suggests Ma invite Victor to the wedding dinner. Ma denies anything is going on between them. Mary manipulates Ma into telling her about her and Victor’s fling. Lena is surprised when she sees the elaborate decorations. At the chapel, Vicar Mr. Elliott (Sean Duggan) talks about the importance of love. Ma catches Victor’s eye and immediately looks away. Later, Mary explains the love she felt for her children. Betsy says Dryden said she understood what it was like to be a mother. Mary is surprised. Betsy suggests Dryden went through something similar when she was younger. Mary vows to keep Betsy and her baby together. Ma tells Victor that she will never change if something happens between them. He agrees. She invites him to Betsy and Joe’s wedding.

Mary gives Dryden a reference and thanks her for being kind to Betsy. She invites her to come back to work at Hardacre Hall before leaving. At Hardacre Hall, Joe is about to leave when Sam approaches. Sam explains how he felt nervous before his wedding and questions if he really knew what love meant. He would crawl on broken glass to marry Mary again. Sam assures him that Betsy knows him. Joe leaves the house. Adella arrives at the location where she promised to meet Joe. Liza apologizes to Betsy for not being there for her when Joe arrives and asks to speak with Betsy. He tells her that he does care if she loves him and wants to be good enough for her and the baby to love him. He promises to make her happy if she will give him a chance. She embraces him.

Emma scolds Adella for slouching while having her wedding gown measured. Adella says she doesn’t want to end up in a loveless marriage and be like Emma. George assures her that she doesn’t have to marry Hugo. Emma asks if he has lost his mind. Irate, he professes to love Adella and will accept social ruin for her not having an unhappy marriage like them. Adella sighs in relief. At Hardacre Hall, the servants are working when Dryden arrives and asks if the wedding breakfast is nearly ready. Betsy admires her wedding dress. Ma tells Mary that she has invited a gentleman to the wedding. Dryden arrives with a bouquet of flowers for Betsy and Liza and wishes them a wonderful day. Mary welcomes her back. Ma gives her a stern look. While posing the family for a photo, Callum tells Liza that she is beautiful. Mary and Ma smirk. Callum snaps their photo. Mary and Sam share a quick kiss before setting out toward the chapel. The episode ends.

 

The Hardacres Review

The finale was no doubt the best episode of the season. With this said, the ending felt a bit too perfect. All the characters getting what they want doesn’t make much for a second season. Since the series seems to have been a success, a renewal announcement is sure to drop in 2025. Of course, the decision is up to Channel 5.

The series has had some ups and downs but the plot is still mostly original compared to current TV shows. My biggest qualm is how the show’s portrayal of 19^th century impoverished. It could very well include the poor people of today.

I do feel the rags-to-riches story progressed too quickly. It would have been nice to see how the Hardacres survived on their meager fishmonger’s salary. While it was frustrating to watch as the family allowed their servants and elite to walk all over them, it panned out in the end.

The finale deserves a 6.2 out of 10. Get more of The Hardacres recaps here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. See what others are saying here.