As the second episode The Pursuit of Love begins, Linda Radlett (Lily James) marries Tony Kroesig (Freddie Fox) and Fanny argues it was a failure from the start. The couple was married in February and settled down for good in Bryanston Square by Easter. Tony started working at his father’s bank while preparing to step into a Conservative seat in the House of Commons. Linda’s family didn’t care for Tony and her family wasn’t fond of Tony. Uncle Matthew (Dominic West) argues with Tony and curses foreigners who make him sick. As for Tony’s father, he can’t believe Linda bought a necklace with the money he sent her. Linda wonders why rich people lock themselves away in hopes of making more money before Tony encourages her to try to be an adult. Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham) admits it was nice to be away from Linda for a while.

Alfred Wincham (Shazad Latif) approaches Fanny in a book shop and they strike up a relationship. Before long, they get married. At the time, Alfred was a young don at St Peter’s College and the couple was happy for a while. Then, Fanny visits Linda and tells her she is lucky to be there because Bryanston Square is big and empty. Both are pregnant. Linda complains about having to hang out with important people. Linda tells Fanny she likes Alfred and his serious look. We jump forward and learn that Linda’s baby girl was born in October. Fanny visits her and learns she doesn’t like being confined calling it the worst thing that has ever happened to her. Fanny admits she is terrified of giving birth although Davey says it will be good to clear it out. Fanny asks about the baby and what they’re going to call her.

Linda believes they’re going to call her Moira because Tony had a sister called that and she died. She thinks the sister Marjorie whacked her on the head with a hammer when she was four months old and that had something to do with her death. Linda argues she doesn’t like the baby, but Fanny doesn’t believe she can dislike her yet. The baby is brought in so Fanny can look at her and Linda badmouths her all the while. After that, Fanny talks to Davey (John Heffernan) and Emily about Linda and her disdain for the baby. Davey explains he is on a new diet, so he doesn’t want tea. They discuss Aunt Sadie (Dolly Wells) being in despair. They thought Linda would die and she can’t have another child. Later, Fanny visits Linda and asks if she wants to take Moira to the park but she isn’t interested because she has already seen it.

Lord Merlin (Andrew Scott) storms in and tells Linda to get up because he is taking her out. Fanny explains Linda proceeded to fritter away years of her youth with nothing to show for them. She became a society beauty and partied everywhere including the cinema and ballet. This continues for several years until Fanny meets her outside of her residence. Linda admits she spent the night chatting before they go inside for lunch in bed. Davey believes Linda is in real pain but is hiding it with chatter. Fanny thought she’d be a bore by now, but Davey admits she is extraordinary. Emily can’t understand how Linda treats her poor child that way. They discuss Linda being a passionate romantic and Emily argues she is just like her mother. Davey believes the bolter (Emily Mortimer) is happy with her Italian count now.

Next, Linda asks Fanny to come with her to see Moira who is seven and living permanently with her grandparents in Surrey. As soon as they arrive, they learn that Moira and Tony went riding. Sir Leicester tells them a rough diamond and possible communist is coming to visit. He believes it is good to mingle with the left-wing fellows because they might be able to convert them. Christian Talbot (James Frecheville) arrives before being introduced to everyone. During lunch, Tony won’t let Moira (Abbiegail Mills) have cake until she has eaten her fruit. Fanny listens as Tony and Linda argue about Moira having a piece. Christian says his father writes about the working man, but Tony argues he hates the lower-class beasts trying to get his money.

Linda’s argument with Tony turns to her father who doesn’t want women in the Lords because he is worried that they’ll use their peers’ lavatory. Christian believes they’re run by lunatics and the USSR, Mexico, and Norway are the only places worth living. He argues everywhere else is horror due to fascism in Italy, civil war in Spain, and Nazism in Germany. As for England, he argues the country suffers from right-wing blight. Linda says Tony likes Hitler and he admits they have financial interests in Germany. His father tells them about his time in Germany and riding in a Mercedes-Benz with Heinrich Himmler. Christian says the only medicine is communism before inviting Linda back to his place for tea so she can meet his father. Linda goes with him instead of staying with Moira who wanted to her mother the ponies. Seconds later, Pixie Townsend (Mabli Jen Eustace) joins them.

When Linda returns, she gloats about Christian, his house, and his father. She insists it is great to talk about the betterment of the world. She tells Fanny not to worry because it is a meeting of minds and not sexual. Christian shows up outside of the window and Linda tells Fanny to open it. After a little back and forth, Fanny lets him in, and he invites Linda to come and fight the fascists with him. Fanny gives her a towel so she can get out before she says she better get dressed first. Thanks to her relationship with Christian, Linda becomes a communist and preaches her ideology to everyone. She eventually leaves Tony to live with Christian. She approaches her parents to tell them she wants a divorce and they’re angry about it. Uncle Matthew warns her she’ll be banned from the house and seeing her sisters because an adulterous woman is the single most disgusting thing there is.

Aunt Sadie isn’t happy with the way she abandoned her daughter. Meanwhile, Fanny’s daughter starts kindergarten while she celebrates with Alfred. Linda visits and asks for a drink even though she knows Fanny is angry at her. Linda insists she is a communist now and has been living with Christian in his small flat. She believes Tony is thrilled because he can marry his mistress without having a scandal impact the Conservative Association. Fanny learns about his mistresses Pixie and her dyed hair. Linda says she is glad she found out she exists because she doesn’t need to feel guilt now. Fanny admits no one will be happy if she isn’t and that includes Moira. Linda tells her about Christian being an extraordinary man who is detached from other human beings. Fanny quickly forgives her and promises to be on her side no matter what.

When Linda leaves, Lord Merlin arrives and complains about Linda’s new relationship. He brings his dogs inside so everyone can get a drink. He admits nobody thought she would stay with Tony, but she jumped into an empty grate. Once the dogs get whisky, Merlin wonders if Linda is in love with Christian. He is concerned she is embarking on a career like her mother’s if she isn’t. Merlin has known Christian since he was a child and he believes he doesn’t get attached to anybody. He learns that they’re living on very little since she has been cut off from her family before asking for Linda’s address. Once he gets the address, Alfred asks him if knows what the daily consumption of milk is in Vatican City. He moves Linda into another flat. When Fanny visits, she learns Christian will be moving in, but Linda says she is as free as a bird right now. Then, Matthew and Sadie learn that Jassy (Martha West) is on her way to Hollywood. Matt (Sam Nivola) tells them she is in love with a film star named Larry Boon who was in the pirate flick.

Moments later, they watch the pirate movie with Boon and they’re not impressed with his performance. Matthew seems to be warming to Lord Merlin since he no longer calls him depraved. They wonder how they get Jassy back and don’t believe it would be wise to send Linda since she is a bolter. Fanny and Davey go to Hollywood so they can talk Jassy into returning home. Jassy tells Fanny she hopes she hasn’t become a bore. Two days after they arrived, Jassy got married to Larry Boon. When Davey and Fanny return, they tell Matthew and Sadie that Larry is okay and Jassy will be happy with him. They receive a letter from Matt explaining he had run away from Eton to fight in the Spanish war. Matthew argues it is a pity to fight in a second-class war when a first-class war is coming.

We jump ahead to Christmas and learn it is a sad one at Alconleigh. Fanny tells Davey she is hoping for fur, but he tells her she looks the same in everything. Christmas is different without some of the family members missing. That night, Fanny asks Alfred why the best ones bolted. Alfred believes it was inevitable since their father refused to educate them. Fanny wonders if she is a prig before calling herself a sticker. Linda married Christian and invited Fanny to their New Year’s Ever party at Cheyne Walk. Once they arrive, Linda apologizes for not having fish because they’re nearly broke. Linda and Fanny spend the night together. Linda reveals she got a job in a bookshop. When they leave, Alfred and Fanny talk about fascism and Linda’s new job. Linda worked at the bookshop every Friday and Saturday. While she is working, Merlin brings the chatters and the comrades enter moments later.

Thanks to Linda’s help, it became the only red book shop in England to make a profit and Linda got a medal for her efforts. Later, Fanny talks to Don’s wife and asks her if she has ever felt like half of her is suffocating in a suitcase. Fanny’s mother shows up and tells her daughter she hopes she didn’t marry for love. The bolter gives Fanny advice such as not wasting money on underwear. Fanny complains about being educated but having to leave the parties so the men can drink port and partake in all the good chattings. They talk about Linda and her new relationship before the bolter asks if a bookshop is more of Fanny’s style. She tells her daughter she should leave the children with Aunt Emily, but Fanny believes otherwise. Fanny gets a call from Linda who asks her to come to the station to see her off because she is going to meet with Christian at the French border with Spain.

Fanny meets her on the train and Linda admits she wishes she was coming with her. Fanny gets upset and tells Linda it might be easy for her to drop everything. However, some of them must stay behind to support their husbands and care for their children. She asks Linda if she even said goodbye to Moira. Linda says yes but Moira doesn’t like her and prefers Pixie. Fanny tells Linda that she is just like her mother. Linda doesn’t like hearing it and pleads with Fanny not to give up on her. Then, Fanny explains she didn’t see Linda for another year. Linda joins Christian and learns what they’re doing before being introduced to Lavender (Kitty Archer). She recognizes Randolph Pine (Henry Rylands) who sat on her bed a long time ago. They try to find work for Linda and try to get her to arrange accommodations on the ship. Linda seems overwhelmed by all of it. For the next few weeks, Linda drove to the men and women camps while they waited for the ship to arrive.

She still had difficulty because she didn’t know Spanish or much about babies. Later, she is approached by a woman who asks what she is waiting for. She admits she is waiting to be useful and might be lonely. The woman says she has left a lot of boyfriends behind, but she mostly misses her friend who is still trapped in Barcelona. Linda is encouraged not to waste all her time being useful because she might not have much of it left. Linda shows the woman a picture of her best friend. Fanny is shown being bored at home with Alfred. Then, the families are reunited and sent to Mexico. Linda asks Christian if he ever gets lonely, but he says it is a luxury and there are more things to complain about. She spots Matt in the distance and quickly rushes over to him. Christian tells him he’ll have to go home with the real war starts but Matt doesn’t see why he would have to leave since he is happier than ever.

Linda’s new friend leaves on one of the boats. Next, Linda tells Lavender she decided to give the good cabins to people with Labrador beside their names. Lavender explains that means the laborers got the best cabins. Linda notices that Christian’s relationship with Lavender is taking off but she didn’t really mind. She leaves him a letter explaining she is leaving for good and going home. She calls Fanny and complains she is useless at everything. She wonders why she left Tony and Moira in the first place. She is worried about being a bolt before saying she is renouncing men and wants to die. She quickly tells Fanny how much she misses her, and she’ll be home after two more trains. Linda tries to get on the train but learns her ticket has already expired and she is out of money. She sits down and cries while a man behind her laughs.

He invites her to lunch but says she needs a bath and some rest first. Fabrice De Sauveterre (Assad Bouab) takes her to a nearby motel. He checks her in and tells her he’ll be back to get her for lunch. She goes to sleep and gets a wake-up call from Fabrice who says she kept him waiting. He believes it is a good sign that their affair will be happy and long-lasting. She claims they’re not going to have an affair. He learns her name and tells her he is waiting for her downstairs.

 

The Pursuit Of Love Review

The second episode of The Pursuit of Love was a bit too ambitious and lacked substance. It felt like it was just going through the motions without any impact or emotions. With just three episodes and one left now, The Pursuit of Love hasn’t established a coherent story yet. The cast can’t pull together the loose ends enough to reassemble the canvas, so we’re left with a jumbled mess.

It isn’t bad. I think the show is carried by the charisma of the primary characters, but the story just isn’t pieced together well enough. It feels like a letdown since it could’ve been far better if it stuck with the basics and toned down the glamor. With that being said, I at least hope the finale makes this journey worthwhile, but I am skeptical.

The second episode of The Pursuit of Love was lackluster and emotionally lacking so it scores a 6.5 out of 10. More recaps of The Pursuit of Love can be found on Reel Mockery here.