As the finale of Tom Jones begins, Tom (Solly McLeod) gave up on Sophia once. However, Sophia Western (Sophie Wilde) gave up on him this time. Aunt Western (Shirley Henderson) unlocks the door and complains about Sophia being locked away. Sophia thought she could claim the freedom enjoyed by the simplest English village girl. Her hair is a mess because Honour got left behind. Tom tells Betsy Miller (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) that he needs to see Nightingale. He comes out and asks Tom where he was this morning when he needed a best man. He is now married to Nancy. Aunt Western scolds the Squire (Alun Armstrong) for locking up Sophia and getting rid of Honour.

Sophia tells them how she wants to act out of love and duty. Squire Western believes she will marry William Blifil, but Sophia says she will never marry at all. She will stay home with them and look after them forever. Squire Western is adamant that she must get married. He flees the carriage. When Sophia reminds Aunt Western that she never married, she claims that was different. She had money of her own and she was not the last of her line. Sophia doesn’t know how she could love William’s children. She is told that she has to marry someone. Nightingale is the man of the house now so he is going to give Tom his room back.

He also thinks they can stop Lady Bellaston from telling Sophia. Nightingale recommends making it worth her while or calling her bluff. Tom can tell her that he’ll share her terror and she’ll lose her reputation. He should propose to make an honest woman out of her. Nightingale believes she’ll know that Tom only wants her fortune and doesn’t think she’ll say yes. Nightingale encourages Tom to write to her because she is well past the age for love. Tom relents and begins writing the letter with Nightingale’s assistance. Lady Bellaston (Hannah Waddingham) receives and reads the letter. Sophia wants to know more about her mother although Squire Western never met her.

Aunt Western reveals that her name was Beneba. Lady Bellaston meets Tom to say she has wasted her affection on a heartless joker. Tom says that was a letter he wrote, but never intended to send. She calls him a worthless villain. After saying she despises him, her carriage rushes away. Squire Western and Aunt Western argue about Sophia marrying William. Tom approaches Black George Seagrim (Dean Lennox Kelly) and admits he isn’t there to rescue Sophia. Instead, he has come to say goodbye. Tom is willing to climb up since she is in the top room. Black George mentions the 500 pounds Allworthy gave him when he was kicked out. He confesses he built a new house with it.

George hasn’t slept proper since. Tom is glad it made a difference in Black George’s life. Tom climbs up to the window to see Sophia who says it is too late to save her from captivity. Once he comes inside, Tom says he knows her grandfather will never consent to him because he is unworthy. He loves her and would marry her tomorrow if he could. He thinks it is best if he goes away. Sophia ran away once to find him. Tom suggests he’ll make his fortune in America. Sophia tells him goodbye. She also says she loves him. Tom has to rush through the window when Aunt Western knocks on the door. Aunt Western tells her that the Squire has agreed to forget about Blifil if Sophia doesn’t marry another man without his consent.

Sophia agrees to marry no man until her grandfather commands it. The next day, Lady Bellaston speaks to William (James Wilbraham) and Aunt Harriet (Tamzin Merchant) about Tom climbing through the window. William complains that Tom has always taken what is rightfully his. Lady Bellaston tells him that they’ll help him. She gets rid of Aunt Harriet before telling William that they have much to discuss. Tom tells Nightingale he is worried that Lady Bellaston might take revenge on Sophia. He receives a letter from Lady Bellaston. Squire Western and others get an invite to the art gallery as well. Patrick Fitzpatrick (Julian Rhind-Tutt) isn’t invited, but he isn’t going to let that stop him.

When Benjamin Partridge (Daniel Rigby) approaches Allworthy, he is reminded that his lawful wife banished him from Little Baddington. They all agreed it was fair punishment for his life of immorality. Benjamin insists he didn’t father Tom Jones. Nevertheless, he would be proud to call him son and he thinks Allworthy should be too. Aunt Bridget (Felicity Montagu) interrupts to say a letter arrived, but she and Mrs. Wilkins can’t make head or tail of it. Benjamin reads it and tells them it is from Honour who works for the devil now. It says Sophia is in grave danger of being married against her will and her nature. Benjamin admits he was about to tell them the same story. Squire Allworthy isn’t happy about a forced marriage.

Honour (Pearl Mackie) visits Sophia and says she is there at Lady Bellaston’s bidding. She reveals she will be married and will no longer be a maid soon. Honour will be marrying Mr. James who is the landlord of The Signet. Lady Bellaston sent her there to make her look her best for the exhibition tomorrow. Sophia knows Bellaston wants her to look like her, but she’d rather look like herself. Lady Bellaston is ready to let the battle commence. Once they arrive, Sophia tells Aunt Western that she doesn’t trust Aunt Bellaston. They talk about something feeling wrong and out of place as Tom arrives. Aunt Harriet tells Tom he shouldn’t be there because Lady Bellaston is planning something.

Tom notices that Sophia is reading the letter he wrote to Lady Bellaston. He tries to chase Sophia down as she freaks out. Sophia tells Aunt Western to go home and tell her grandfather she is safe before running away. Aunt Harriet tells Tom that he has made too many enemies. Patrick Fitzpatrick arrives and thinks Tom is with his wife. He tries to attack Tom with a sword. They fight in the street until Tom gets the sword and says they can just stop this. Patrick gets up and runs into the sword. Lady Bellaston thinks Tom will hang for this. Aunt Western makes it back and finds Allworthy with Squire Western and Benjamin. William speaks to Tom at the jail. William makes it clear he is not going to help him.

Tom tells him that he’ll always think kindly of him no matter what happens to him. William thinks Tom will hang and he will marry Sophia. Honour tells Sophia that she didn’t want to hurt her so she didn’t tell her. Mrs. Waters arrives as William thanks Patrick and leaves. Patrick won’t disclose much although he says Tom Jones will hang for it either way. Mrs. Waters (Susannah Fielding) visits Tom at the jail. They talk about the day they met and Waters admits she didn’t know he was 20. Sophia thinks about the many women Tom has been with it, but Honour wonders why it matters now. Benjamin runs into Mrs. Waters outside the jail and calls her Jenny Jones.

He briefly talks to her about Tom Jones before she leaves in a hurry. When Benjamin confronts Tom, he tells him that he has slept with his own mother. Tom gets upset and claims he is not a gentleman. Mrs. Waters returns to Patrick to ask what William Blifil got for his money. Harriet tells her that he picked a pointless fight with Tom Jones. William Blifil paid him to swear to the magistrate that Jones struck the first blow. Harriet has instructed Fitzpatrick to drop all charges. Tom is released from jail. William speaks to Bridget and Squire Allworthy about Tom’s behavior and the possibility that he will hang. Benjamin takes Nightingale and his family to speak to Squire Western and Squire Allworthy about Tom.

Sophia and Honour arrive and find out what is going on. Mrs. Waters enters and tells Squire Allworthy that she has urgent business with him. She explains that she is Jenny Jones although she was never the mother of Tom Jones. She was paid to bring him there and name him. Bridget is forced to admit that Tom is her first-born son. William argues that she always loved Tom more than him. Once Tom shows up, Squire Allworthy tells him that Bridget is his mother. Later, Honour tells Sophia that Squire Allworthy wants to see her. He would like nothing more than to invite her into his family. He introduces his older nephew Tom Jones to her. In private, Tom tells her that he has a fortune and they can be married.

Sophia isn’t sure she can forget what he did or marry him in spite of it. There was a time when she would’ve married him, but now is no good. She lays out her rules such as naming their first girl Beneba. She’ll watch his conduct and give him an answer in a year. They begin kissing until everyone bursts in and Squire Western cheers them on. He urges Sophia to get married sooner since they could be dead in a year. Sophia agrees to marry him sooner. William bangs on Lady Bellaston’s door and says he has nowhere else to do. Tom and Sophia get married.

Sophia asks Tom if he has asked Bridget about his real father, but he doesn’t want to. He doesn’t think she wants to tell him either. He thinks they have all the fathers they need between them.

 

Tom Jones Review

The finale of Tom Jones was equally disappointing as the episodes before it if not more so. Truthfully, the finale should’ve brought everything together and ended with an emotional high. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Instead, the episode was all over the place and a little rushed towards the end.

The story and the changes to it didn’t work as well as they could’ve. This should’ve been much better and the cast could’ve pulled it off for the most part. I could be wrong, but it seemed like the writers were angling for another season with some of the doors left open at the end. That may happen if the viewer count is high enough, but it likely won’t be for the overall quality of the series.

A lack of charm and inspiration really made this a dull affair that should possibly be avoided unless there is just nothing else to watch. The finale scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of Tom Jones are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here.