Uncomfortable Truths Come to Light as 'Belgravia: The Next Chapter' Sets Up Its Endgame

Secrets abound as Belgravia: The Next Chapter continues, most of which seem as though they're inevitably on a collision course with one another. A briskly paced hour that feels much more propulsive than last week's meandering installment, we're treated to everything from forbidden love confessions to life-threatening violence, with a dash of multiple social scandals on top for good measure. (And plenty of hints that several more big reveals are waiting in the wings.)

Look, I was at least halfway kidding about the idea that the Marquise D'Étagnac had to be some Victorian-era Joanne the Scammer, but it looks like I was right, as this episode finally sees someone catch on to the fact that her story doesn't exactly hold together if you look at it for longer than five minutes. Congrats to Frederick's mean (and potentially adulterous?) assistant, whose name I have yet to bother to learn, for realizing that the marquise's stubborn insistence on getting nothing but cash to fund her investment in a dubious mine on the literal other side of the world is extremely suspicious and weird. Frederick, being Frederick, is more interested in not looking poor and/or cheap than he is in potentially getting swindled, so this is undoubtedly going to work out great for everyone.

The show could not be telegraphing any harder, and he should not be investing in this shady emerald mine scheme. Still, Frederick seems determined to plow ahead no matter how many red flags appear. It's not like he needs the money, either — he's just afraid of looking like he's somehow less than men like the Duke of Rochester, who's happily investing in this deal like he's throwing down the big blind in a meaningless game of poker. It's hard not to feel like he deserves whatever hard lesson he's clearly about to learn if only Clara's life wouldn't get wrecked in the process.