'Sanditon' Season 2: Episode 2 Recap
The second season of Sanditon wastes no time in giving us what we all want from this sort of show—a fancy dress ball that hints at the possibility of multiple potential romances and offers plenty of opportunities for both dancing and gossip. Granted, it also feels like the show is not really being particularly subtle in its storytelling and is telegraphing almost every plot twist with the period drama equivalent of neon lights, but that doesn't mean it's not fun as heck to watch.
Charlotte, apparently having accepted her fate as a sad spinster and neighborhood cautionary tale, starts her new job as a governess for the weirdly reclusive widower Alexander Colbourne. He's got big Byronic energy, a daughter (Leonora) he doesn't know what to do with, and a niece (Augusta) he seems to actively loathe, but he and Charlotte have the kind of instantly combative sort of chemistry that means one or both of them is definitely going to be pining over one another within an episode or two.
We know this because Charlotte is bold enough to put Colbourne in his place, defend the aforementioned horrible children despite the fact that they've been mostly awful to her for the one day she's worked for them, and extol the virtues of education for young women that goes beyond learning to embroider. I have many questions about how Charlotte's qualified for her new job in any way, as well as whether a man like Colbourne would be shamed by marrying a governess if this relationship gets far enough for that to become an issue. But there is a distinct Jane Eyre/Mr. Rochester feel to their connection (thankfully without the madwoman in the attic situation), so I'm willing to see where this all goes. And, admittedly, I did find it rather sweet when Charlotte decided to lie for Augusta simply because she understands how hard living with grief can be and how helpless that can make you feel. Sure, Sydney Parker may not be physically on this show anymore, but his presence is felt throughout it in many ways.
