Sanditon: What to Know Before You Watch Season 2
If you’re just as excited as we are about Sanditon Season 2, you’re in luck! We’ve got the full scoop on the all-new season, thanks to the insights from series stars like Rose Williams, Crystal Clarke, and Head Writer and Executive Producer Justin Young. Gear up for all the action ahead — more indomitable girl power from our fearless heroines, determined fights against societal rules, unexpected romantic attractions, and of course, dancing, drama, and more.
- 1.
What Do I Need to Remember?
It’s been awhile since Season 1 aired, so we don’t blame you if you need a quick refresher. We went straight to Sanditon Head Writer and Executive Producer Justin Young to gave us a rundown of what to know before going into Season 2.
Charlotte & The Parker Family: “Charlotte Heywood was invited to stay in [Sanditon] by Tom and Mary Parker when they accidentally crashed their carriage near her house. She was an optimistic wide-eyed girl. She fell in love with the gruff taciturn Sidney Parker. He eventually fell in love with her, but right at the moment we thought they were meant to get together, his old flame, Eliza Campion, reappeared.
Similarly, Tom Parker, the great speculator, had a grand vision for Sanditon, but unfortunately there was a huge fire and he hadn’t taken out insurance. He was facing ruin until Sidney Parker got engaged to Eliza Campion for the benefit of her wealth to save Sanditon. Charlotte returned to Willingden broken hearted.”
The Denhams & Co.: “We met Esther Denham and Edward Denham, a pair of scheming step siblings who were dead set on getting their hands on Lady Denham’s fortune. They came up against Clara Brereton who seemed like an innocent, but turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Meanwhile, we discovered that Esther was in love with Edward, but actually he was manipulating her and was a horrible coercive man. Eventually the love of Sidney’s friend, Lord Babington, rescued Esther from a terrible fate with Edward, and she married him. Clara and Edward were outed as the villains they were.”
Miss Georgiana Lambe: “The wealthy heiress Georgiana Lambe who came to Sanditon… she was Sidney’s ward. We discovered she had a secret love called Otis who was a good man but flawed because he had gambling debts. Through his misguided actions, she got kidnapped and almost sold into marriage. That was the heartbreaking end of her relationship to Otis. We left her at the end of season one heartbroken having said goodbye to Otis forever, the man she loved, but with a promising new friendship with everybody’s favorite life of the party, Arthur Parker.”
Want more character by character refreshers? Check out our full rundown of Season 1 here!
- 2.
Charlotte Returns to Town
For leading lady Rose Williams, jumping back into the series for not one, but two new seasons, was an absolute joy. Williams felt a strong new bond with her headstrong character after the ending of Season 1.
“I could relate to her more because she’d been through an emotional experience,” said Williams. Charlotte is also more cautious with her heart. “She’s resolved herself against love and romance,” Williams added. “Her focus is forging a path of independence, which wasn’t even possible in that time period. I think that she’s interested in experience and true character.”
But as we all know, the heart doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment. Will Charlotte ever meet someone who can change her mind and her heart?
- 3.
More Girl Power? Yes, Please!
Sanditon is full of dynamic female characters that are a staple of Jane Austen’s works. Returning series stars Rose Williams (Charlotte Heywood) and Crystal Clarke (Georgiana Lambe) shared their thoughts on the ongoing theme of strong, independent women leading their own paths in the series.
“I think what felt very important to me is each series is a significant chapter of this young woman’s life,” Williams said. “[Season 1] was about adventure, exploration, that wide-eyed joy and awe of exploring the place and then the heartbreak at the end. And then coming into [Season 2], I wanted it to feel like her transformational chapter in figuring out who she is as a woman in the world.”
Finding that out while also finding a way to do it in her own way isn’t easy, but Charlotte has never been one to take the path most treaded. She wants to support her family, and knows marriage would be the easiest solution, but refuses to accept that it’s her only solution. “That goes against everything that her mind and spirit is telling her—she completely disagrees with how women have to conform in society and don’t have freedom,” Williams said.
Crystal Clarke, too, felt strongly about the story centering on its female characters. “It was important to me [to portray women as the main characters independent from the male characters],” she said. “Obviously, we all love a love story, but there’s also the element of not having the female characters storylines totally revolve around their romantic interests. It was important that that was the case.”
And in true Georgiana Lambe form, the willful heiress continues her outspoken, independent streak in Season 2, still determined to play by her own rules as a Regency-era woman. “Georgiana was already in a rebellious stage when we were in [Season 1]. But now that she’s on the verge of inheriting that money, she takes it to the next level. She’s also becoming very interested in helping other people find their happiness, while still flouting the rules. She has got her eye out for anything and anybody who seems different, where she can get a taste of what freedom is going to be like.”
- 4.
Some Tantalizing Teasers
So, we can expect some romance, friendship, drama…but what else? Justin Young shared some teasers ahead of the Season 2 premiere.
“There’s a wonderful Lady Denham’s annual garden party in Episode 4, where there’s an archery competition,” Young said. “There’s a beautiful midsummer ball later in the season that hopefully the people who want to see people being gorgeous and dancing together will get those moments.”
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Wait, There's More!
There’s so much more available to help you get ready for Season 2.
See what the cast had to say about what we can expect in Season 2 in a special inside look video.
Watch a quick Season 1 recap to get your hearts racing all over again!
Wondering about all the different ways you can watch Sanditon? Check out our handy watch guide.
Listen to three rousing, special Sanditon preview episodes of the MASTERPIECE Studio podcast! Hear from the series’ writers, creators, executive producers, plus stars like Rose Williams, newcomers Tom Weston-Jones, Maxim Ays, and more about all things Season 2. Start with Episode 1 here!
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