'Barkskins' Episode 5 Explained: What happened between Delphine and her groom on the wedding night?
Spoilers for 'Barkskins' Season 1 Episode 5 'Buttermilk'
In the previous episode, Delphine (Lily Sullivan) marries the groom of her choice and leaves the convent of Mother Sabine (Leni Parker). While other young women in the Filles Du Roi had hopes of marrying the wealthiest in the land, all Delphine wanted was a nice, caring and kind man for a husband. When she chose Pierre Gasquet (Danny Gilmore) although anxious about her future with him, she thought she had made the right choice.
It was evident from the beginning that Delphine was hiding a secret. She never spoke of home even when Melissande (Tallulah Haddon) spoke of her family and life back home in France. Plus she always expressed nervousness when the topic of choosing the right groom was brought up or of making a future in New France. Even the morning that she set out for her new home, she was worried she had made the wrong choice but was placated by a very eager Melissande.
At night, when it was time to consummate the marriage, Pierre started seducing Delphine who was wary of his approaches. When he asks her to undress, Delphine does it hesitantly, scared of the repercussions.
When Pierre sees Delphine's naked body, he immediately recoils and turns away from her. Delphine knows that this has now ruined everything and there is no saving the marriage. And just like that, her dreams of a kind man for a husband are shattered.
Last week, theories started floating around the Internet of shocked fans who grappled at clues to infer what was wrong with Delphine with many predicting that it might have been a penis.
The next day, Pierre takes her along and returns her to the convent, where Mother Sabrine is surprised to have to need to accommodate this request. It is shortly after this that Delphine recounts what it was that turned Pierre away.
She was thirteen when a woodcutter forced himself on her. Delphine fought relentlessly and managed to keep her virtue, but not before the woodcutter did some harm — he took his knife and etched a mark on her body, the same mark that was on all his locks. He then proceeded to tell her that he might not have been successful but now everyone will know that he was there.
And that is why she left France and across the Atlantic Ocean to New France, where she hoped for a new beginning.
But now, after making this discovery, mother Sabine suggests that getting married is not for her and that she must find work. Later, she asks the indomitable innkeeper Mathilde (Marcia Gay Harden) to give her work and shelter at the Inn. And off she gets to work immediately.
'Barkskins' airs on National Geographic on Mondays at 9/ 8c.