In the Second Episode of 'Sanditon's' Final Season, The Show May Be Trying to Do Too Much

Given that there are only six episodes in Sanditon's final season, one might expect the story to contract rather than expand. After all, there's not a lot of room to maneuver, narratively speaking, and many loose ends to tie up. But, in the season's second installment, there's not much evidence that's what's happening. Because even though many viewers (or, at least, me) would likely prefer this final run to drill down and focus on giving Charlotte Heywood and Georgiana Lambe the happy endings they deserve (and earning those endings in the process), the show seems to have decided to provide every character a romantic subplot instead. (Even some we've only just met!)

To be fair, the episode is entertaining enough. There's a promised and then thwarted visit from the King himself, a seaside musical recital featuring a famous opera singer who somehow doesn't mind performing in front of a crowd of nobodies, and a moral debate about whether it's okay to tear down poor people's houses to put a fancy hotel in their place. Alexander Colbourne's much more interesting brother arrives in town, Lady Susan has been dumped by the King, and Charlotte is doing her best to avoid returning to the life she's told everyone she's freely chosen for herself.

On paper, Charlotte's evident hesitance about marrying the nice farm boy from her village and open, obvious pining for Alexander Colbourne should be enough to serve as the primary narrative engine of the season. Her feelings for Colbourne and what, precisely, keeps drawing her toward him (other than the fact that she loves his girls) are the story I wish Season 2 had told, so I'd love to see this final outing correct that misstep. Make me believe in these two, please!