'Sanditon' Episode 4 sees Charlotte defy Sidney's hold over Georgiana, Clara advises Esther to marry rich
Spoilers ahead for 'Sanditon' Episode 4
The show seems to be picking up steam and some of the caustic but veiled exchanges between Clara Brereton (Lily Sacofsky) and Esther Denham (Charlotte Spencer) is pure Austenian wordplay -- something 'Sanditon' has been missing till now.
The start of the episode shows Clara still trying to milk her burn injury. But Lady Denham (Anne Reid) is having none of it. She sends Clara off to the Denham siblings' home. Clara, her brow furrowed and distaste evident on her face, knocks on their door only to get no response.
When she realizes the door has been left open, she climbs the stairs to reach the siblings' private rooms where Edward (Jack Fox) is lacing Esther up and she accidentally sees Edward kissing Esther's neck in a decidedly unbrotherly manner. At first, she is shocked before a smile creeps up her face when she realizes that she finally has something on her tormentors.
Georgiana is also up to no good and she gets Charlotte to suggest an outdoor picnic to her governess, Mrs. Griffiths (Elizabeth Berrington). She then leads Charlotte to a secluded spot where she is greeted by her beau, Otis Molyneux (Jyuddah Jaymes), who has come from London to meet her.
Charlotte is rattled by having been used by Georgiana in this way and determinedly becomes the third wheel, trying to keep her promise to Sidney Parker (Theo James) to keep Georgiana safe. In a hilarious exchange, just when Otis is about to kiss Georgiana, she interjects with "Tongue... Or a little pork pie?", holding up said treats from the picnic basket. But as the outing progresses, Charlotte slowly thaws towards Otis, who acts like an earnest young man divided from his true love by a hateful Sidney.
In one searing dialogue, Otis tells her how he is a "Son of Africa" and was born a slave. But good fortune gave him a master that set him free and provided education. Charlotte is flabbergasted and exclaims that slavery no longer exists but Otis gently tells her how the sugar in her tea, the cotton in her dress, and in fact, the wealth of the many noblemen of England are produced by slaves. He then lands the bombshell -- Sidney Parker's wealth is also a product of slavery in Antigua, which he was willing to turn a blind eye to as long as he profited off it.
By this time, Charlotte is entirely on the side of the young lovers and thinks Sidney is a bigoted racist. Sidney in the meantime has returned from London with no good news for Tom. All hell breaks loose when he realizes that Georgiana has gone missing. As they scour the town, hunting for her, they run across Charlotte giving her best "mean Sidney Parker" impression to Otis and Georgiana. The lovers are torn apart and Sidney threatens dire consequences if they ever meet again.
After the carriage for London leaves with a defeated Otis on it and Georgiana is dragged away by Mrs. Griffiths and the pastor, Charlotte has a full-blown fight with Sidney in the middle of the street.
Sidney is angry with her for betraying the trust he showed her and Charlotte rails at him for being a bigot and judging a man by the color of his skin, before accusing him of profiting from slavery. Her words obviously hit a deep nerve and Sidney tells her to stop thinking her opinion is the truth. Their fight is enough to draw the attention of young Mr. Stringer (Leo Suter), and Sidney tells him to escort Charlotte home.
Stringer is not having the best day either. Earlier in the day, Tom had dismissed the pagoda design he had so painstakingly drawn the night before and tells him to mind his place. Tom had to control himself in front of his wife when Stringer had gone off on him after his father's accident. But, he is obviously peeved about this earlier exchange and he tells Stringer to "mind his tone" when speaking to him.
Tom again makes the hollow promise of getting more workmen but he still expects Stringer to keep to the breakneck schedule. Tom is, quite obviously, living beyond his means and trying to keep up a facade of prosperity in front of his wife.
Meanwhile, in Lady Denham's home, Esther and Edward are being lectured about their marriage prospects while Clara looks on with barely suppressed glee. Clara then makes loaded remarks about how close the siblings were. She continues to goad Esther while playing the piano until Esther loses it and strides off.
Clara finds her and says it would be best to marry a rich nobleman while she still could. Edward tells her the same thing later when Esther asks him about their future because it was the only practical thing to do since they were "dirt poor".
The end of the episode sees Charlotte become a go-between, mailing Georgiana's letter to Otis, determined to defy Sidney.
'Sanditon' airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. on PBS.