As the first episode of Tom Jones begins, we learn about Squire Allworthy (James Fleet) who is very rich. Everyone loves him. No one loved him better than a boy from nowhere named Tom Jones (Solly McLeod) who did not have parents. Sophia Western (Sophie Wilde) says it is her Tom Jones. They could live happily ever after, but that would be no fun at all and she would have no story to tell. The story begins with the kind old gentleman, Squire John Allworthy, 20 English summers ago. Tonight, he will make a choice that will change his life. John has grown accustomed to a lonely bed after many sad losses.

When John Allworthy goes inside, he prays and thanks the lord for the peace at Paradise Hall. He prays for the souls of his departed wife and their infant children as a baby cries in the background. When he finds a baby, he calls for Deborah and calls the baby a gift from God. Deborah thinks she should take it to a church, but John wants to find a nurse in the morning. Deborah questions what his sister will say if he keeps the baby. The following day, Bridget questions Squire John about his decision to keep the baby. John argues that his mother left him with them for a chance at a better life.

He says Mrs. Wilkins can go into the village to find his mother. The unusually bookish girl was found in no time. She was the housemaid to the village school teacher. Jenny Jones (Isobelle Molloy) is brought to John Allworthy who admits he could lock her away in the House of Correction as magistrate. Jenny doesn’t want to disclose the identity of the boy’s father. John warns her that her employer, Mr. Partridge, will get the blame unless she confesses the truth. Jenny changes the subject and suggests naming the boy Thomas Jones. Before she leaves, she says love conquers all. Later, John gets a visit from Captain Blifil (Edmund Kingsley).

Bridget seems eager to speak to him, but Captain Blifil is there to talk to John about his conduct. They go inside and begin arguing about whether John should be allowed to take the boy. Blifil thinks he should have a say in the morals of the family into which he intends to marry. While Bridget and Blifil get married, there is talk about her age and fortune. Later, Bridget and Blifil have a baby boy named William who acquired a country estate. As for Tom Jones, he acquired a playmate of sorts. Captain Blifil makes John Allworthy agree that his son will be heir and will one day be Lord of Paradise Hall. John thinks the boys should be allowed to be friends.

Captain Blifil encourages William when he hits Tom with a stick until he passes out. Bridget tells the boys that they shall be friends and cousins. She asks them to let nothing on this Earth divide them. Later, William watches as Tom is whipped by his likely teacher. A young Tom (Jacobi Jupe) ends up hanging out with an older man, Black George Seagrim (Dean Lennox Kelly), and learning how to shoot. A young Sophia (Kimara-Mai Petit) arrives in the arms of an aunt. Aunt Western (Shirley Henderson) tells her that a good English girl is polite, obedient, and grateful. William tries to get Tom to come down from a tree. Tom’s teacher tells John and Bridget about his difficulties with Tom.

John asks Mr. Thwackum to bear with Tom because he is not a bad boy. Tom hits him with a stone before throwing one that falls into Sophia’s lap. Sophia is reminded to be good when she reaches Western Manor. Squire Western (Alun Armstrong) is surprised that she is so much like his poor boy. Sophia gives him her stone and tries to comfort him. While hunting with Black George Seagrim, Tom runs onto Squire Western’s land. When Tom falls to the ground, Sophia warns him that they hang poachers and her grandfather hates them. Tom claims he isn’t a poacher before Squire Western comes over to call him a liar. Sophia tries to help Tom and makes Western laugh.

The show jumps forward in time as Squire Western laughs about it again. The group talks about Black George who could be arrested for poaching from Western’s land. Later, Tom asks John Allworthy why a few pheasants matter so much. John explains that the pheasants belong to Squire Western and the property must be respected. Tom worries that Black George won’t be able to feed his family. William Blifil (James Wilbraham) says he should’ve thought about that before he did what he did. Tom visits the Seagrim property and tells Molly (Lucy Fallon) that he needs to see her father. Molly distracts him with sex. Tom insists he truly loves her although she thinks he’ll leave her for a lady in silks.

Tom argues that ladies in silks won’t go for a fellow like him. Sophia rides in a carriage with Honour Newton (Pearl Mackie). It speeds past Tom and Molly. Squire Western is happy to see Sophia back while Newton isn’t happy to be in the country. When Tom and Molly go inside, Goody Seagrim (Pandora Colin) blames Tom for the constables coming for Black George. Tom tries to convince John to talk to Squire Western and get him to drop the charges against Black George. John explains he has to uphold the law. Then, Tom speaks to William about what could happen to Black George and his children. Tom reminds him that he didn’t have to tell. When Tom says he has tried to be friends for all these years, William says he didn’t have to make friends with the lower class.

William argues that his birth condemns him. Tom gets rough with him in what William calls brutish behavior. As Tom walks upstairs, William says he pities him. Squire Western complains about Sophia taking so long to join him for breakfast. He thinks it is perfect that she is back home and hunting. In private, Sophia complains about hunting to her friend. She feels sorry for the fox and horses. Honour thinks she’ll change her mind when a handsome countryman comes calling. Tom arrives on a horse outside. Sophia claims she isn’t there to chase after young fellows. She goes outside to speak to Tom who learns she has been staying in Bath with her aunt.

He gives her the baby’s-breath and heartsease that he picked. Tom wants to ask her a favor about Black George Seagrim. He suggests Squire Western could take George on as a gamekeeper. Sophia agrees to pass on the suggestion. Tom kisses her hand and says he is so grateful. When he asks if she is going to be at the hunt, Sophia says she loves hunting. Squire Western shows Sophia her horse while Black George thanks Tom. He tells Tom that he begins working with the squire tomorrow. At home, Bridget tells Tom that he is outgrowing his coat so they need to get him a new one that is more suited to a young gentleman. He questions whether a man can be a gentleman if he doesn’t know who his father is.

Bridget says kindness and good conduct make a good gentleman. Black George takes the family to church. Molly gets into a fight with another woman and ends up hitting Parsons. Molly lies with Tom and suggests he won’t abandon a girl because of what happened to his mother. She wants to know if he’ll make an honest woman of her because he was her first love. She reveals that she is pregnant. Sophia complains about all the people looking at her so Squire Western says they’re admiring her beauty. Black George tells Tom that Molly’s secret is out and she is off to the magistrates for a right telling off. Squire Allworthy tries to convince Molly to name the father.

Molly thinks he knows who the father is before Tom bursts into the room. Squire Allworthy never thought a boy he loved so much could disappoint him so much. In private, Allworthy asks Tom not to see Molly Seagrim again. He will make their family a generous offer so Tom can avoid his obligations. When Tom tells Molly, she argues that they don’t want to stop. Tom explains the only thing he has is the love of his father. Molly asks what the harm is since he can’t get her pregnant twice. During the hunt, Sophia is thrown from her horse but Tom is there to catch her. He hurts his arm in the process. Later, Sophia tells her grandfather that Tom should stay until the break is mended.

Squire Western claims it is just a sprain, but Sophia wants Tom to stay anyway. William speaks to Squire Allworthy about Tom and what he did. While having dinner with Sophia and her grandfather, Tom tells them how he owes Squire Allworthy. Sophia never knew anything about her mother besides that she did not survive her birth. In his will, Sophia’s father granted her freedom. She came into this world on a sugar plantation in Jamaica where no child is born free. Sophia admits it was painful to learn her father was the man responsible. She remembers it was raining when she left the island at six. As they talk about home, Tom says he never wants to leave.

Honour and Sophia talk about Tom in private. Honour doesn’t trust him and she also knows about Tom’s baby, but Sophia calls it gossip. Next, Tom visits the Seagrim house to speak to Molly. Tom offers to provide for Molly and the child, but she argues it isn’t about the money. Tom soon finds out that Molly has been sleeping with Mr. Thwackum (Roger May). As Tom leaves, Goody asks if he really thought the baby was his. Molly tells him to go away. Sophia begins spying on Tom who says hello. She quickly says goodbye and rushes inside to get away. He returns her handkerchief so Sophia says he is a gentleman. She gives it back to him since she has lots more. William isn’t happy to see Tom leaving the Western house. He complains to Bridget who says the boy has a good heart.

Bridget reminds William that Tom Jones has nothing and no one. Tom and Sophia spend more time together. When Aunt Western catches them playing cricket, she warns Squire Western that men will flock to her and he just let one of them play cricket with her. Squire Western doesn’t think Tom is interested since he can get any other woman. Later, William listens to Sophia sing and play piano. Aunt Western and Squire Western talk about them getting together. Once Sophia finishes, she complains about William to Honour in private. Tom tells William that Sophia doesn’t want him.

 

Tom Jones Review

The opening episode of Tom Jones was very, very muddled in the beginning so the recap is probably going to be messy as well. Rushing through large portions of Tom’s life and using a narrator to tell viewers what was happening didn’t work well. It took away the chance to build Tom’s character and give viewers an opportunity to really get to him know.

Another issue is the fact that the content is uneven. Some of the scenes made it seem like the series was made for kids, but others were adult-oriented and not suitable for children. It’s like they didn’t really know what they wanted to do with it. The episode improved a little by the end, but this probably shouldn’t be compared to the productions that came before it.

Some of the characters are annoying and that plays to the show potentially being made for children or at least younger audiences. Again, the beginning of this episode was very messy because the timeline was jumping all over the place. Once it settled down, the quality improved a lot. Still, there hasn’t been much in the way of genuine connection yet but there are still plenty of episodes left.

Solly McLeod is great as Tom Jones, but for some reason Pearl Mackie would’ve made a better Sophia Western if this was the path they were adamant about taking. The opening episode was okay with a noticeable improvement towards the end. It scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Tom Jones are available on Reel Mockery here.

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