Clara's Well Meaning Interference Casts a Dark Shadow Over 'Belgravia: The Next Chapter'

Though he didn't appear in last week's episode, James Trenchard's presence loomed large over multiple storylines in the world of Belgravia: The Next Chapter. So much so that it's almost a relief to see Toby Regbo onscreen in this third installment, though we're no closer to healing the rift between the estranged brothers than we were before (nor has Emily Dunn made any progress in romancing him, poor thing). 

At least Clara finally gets to meet her brother-in-law, whom she tracks down with a lot of help from Davison and without her husband's knowledge. A clandestine visit to his parish rectory for tea ensues, despite the multiple red flags that indicate Frederick is going to completely lose it over this move. But, to his credit, James is nothing but kind and welcoming. He seems genuinely thrilled to meet Clara and gives her a few more details about the tortured Trenchard family history, including the rift between his brother and father. Much more self-aware than his older sibling, James goes on at some length about how what happened between his dad and brother wasn't Frederick's fault, acknowledging the favoritism he himself received and admitting he should have been braver in calling his father out about it. Truly this level of emotional honesty and introspection is enough to make you wonder if James is somehow an adopted member of the family too, no one else in the Trenchard family seems capable of displaying it. Anyone else starting to wonder if maybe Clara married the wrong brother? 

Fine, I'm joking. (Mostly joking.) But James's willingness — eagerness really — to reconnect with Frederick is honestly sweet, and his understanding that he probably shouldn't be the one to make the first move indicates a surprising level of emotional understanding, particularly given who he's related to. (It also makes his continued obliviousness to the calculating nature of Emily's interactions with him quite unintentionally hilarious, for that tha'ts worth.) 

The bulk of the episode revolves around the Trenchards' trip to the Rochesters' house at Maywood for a party that's meant to celebrate Duke Percy's birthday. The fancy dress elements are fun, as always, and Clara's dress in particular is lovely. But the dinner is dragged down by the presence of the Marquise D'Étagnac, and the subsequent deadly dull discussion of her business dealings with Frederick. They've gone into the steel-making business together, which is the kind of narrative Sominex that can't even be made interesting by the Marquis's weird obsession with Clara and how "special" she is. 

Equally boring is the Duke and Duchess of Rochester's ongoing debate about how to best treat their eldest son, Peter. The boy has epilepsy and the Duchess is using the excuse of the party to visit a nearby clinic that Dr. Ellerby suggests may be able to help treat his illness, or at least make it more manageable. What he does not tell them is that the institution feels quiet a bit like a madhouse, where patients are locked in hydrotherapy baths and given talk therapy for their problems. Duke Percy immediately hates it, and blames Ellerby for giving his wife false hope about his son's prospects for recovery. He's concerned about nothing so much as the future of the dukedom, lamenting to Frederick at some length about how much he resents his firstborn child for tainting the family name with scandal and madness. He even admits that he's planning to overrule Duchess Mary and have him sent far away at some point in the not-too-distant future, before he can ruin the marriage prospects of his siblings.

Frederick, despite his own familiarity with being a firstborn son hated by his father, says nothing, choosing to mope some more about Oliver's treatment of him rather than attempt to step in where he might be able to help a child who's so clearly going through something similar. A true gentleman!

Elsewhere, because Belgravia seems to think this show somehow needs more characters in it, we're introduced to several of Dr. Ellerby's friends, Bohemian-style artist types who attend protests meant to stop common public lands from being enclosed, and generally feel like they've stepped out of Moulin Rouge. (The Green Fairy, sadly, does not make an appearance, though the trio does make an enthusiastic toast to "Freedom!" at one point.) It's apparent that Ellerby has told his friends about Clara  — they refer to her teasingly as Lord Trenchard's "beautiful wife"  —and the show could not be telegraphing any more obviously that his worry about the potential spousal abuse happening in her home has blossomed into something more general and crush-like. 

Where this is all going is anyone's guess of course, but between the fact that Ellerby is also the doctor charged with treating the Rochesters' son and Clara's already turned to him for advice about how to help Frederick let go of the sadness that still lingers from his childhood, it seems inevitable that he's going to run into some conflict with the titled folks who outrank him. Davison's expression throughout his outdoor stroll with Clara indicates she's at least perfectly aware of his crush and sees the danger in it, even if her mistress does not. (Just imagine Frederick's reaction when he finds out he's at least partially responsible for Clara's decision to try to bring James into their lives? Surely it will be calm and rational!)

Since we'd gone almost an entire episode without Frederick having a borderline psychotic episode over something fairly benign or trivial, it's obvious that we're overdue for the meltdown that closes this hour. Clara is so kind and means so well that it's honestly uncomfortable to watch the wildly over-the-top way Frederick reacts to her doing something he doesn't like or approve of. After sexy times full of affirmations about how strong and capable being with her makes him feel, he immediately turns on her, insisting that she's trying to betray and sabotage him via the simple act of talking to the brother he literally only told her existed two days ago.

 How he gets from Point A to Point B here is a total mystery, and at some point Belgravia: The Next Chapter is going to have to put up or shut up where the Trenchard brothers' relationship is concerned. Because at the moment, we essentially have nothing to go on beyond Frederick's insistence that the traitorous James somehow stole his father's love and ruined his life, while all onscreen evidence seems to indicate that James is basically....kind of boring and nice? His interest in getting to know Clara and his desire to mend fences with his brother both seem incredibly genuine and unless he's hiding a secret serial killer behind his church collar, the repeated claims that he's a monster who must be avoided at all costs feel wildly out of touch with the reality the show is presenting. 

Even Trenchard butler Enright is frantically upset about the fact that James has been allowed in the house, and while it's evident that he's keeping plenty of secrets about the family's past, his dedication to upholding Frederick's various dislikes and delusions about his brother is just straight up weird. (And even Davison and Fletcher are side-eyeing him at one point.) It's past time for some answers, but who knows when we might get them.