(371-word review) This episode was more subtle than the premiere, which had no choice but to do much more with the necessary introductions/establishment of the characters and all the breadcrumbs of so many different plotlines to further develop and unravel throughout the season. If the premiere didn't fully capture you/you also thought it was too slow/boring, there's a good chance you'll find this "worse." This show, coming from someone who has seen it once before, is a strong case of a slow burn; in some subtle way, I suppose it can get under my skin sometimes. For the most part, I'm not bothered by it; it adds an inviting nature, even if you aren't aware of it or don't want to acknowledge it, and before you know it, you want more, maybe even seeing slow-burn instances in a different light.
The focus of this episode was essentially an extension of that, but more specifically, on broadening the scope of everything some more: James is beginning to cozy up with the other side, the buying of a ship/the reveal of what James plans to do at the end of his current endeavors, the reveal that a specific character tried to get Horace Delaney killed, adding to the significance of that character, and the introductions of three more characters (Atticus, Solomon Coop, Dr. Dumbarton, and Lorna Bow, all of whom are significant characters for the rest of the season, and Lorna is already my favorite; her nuanced smug confidence is enthralling).
Then, there was the ending, which probably reeled in those who weren't vibing much with this episode; this is only the second episode, with big moves in motion already. On top of that, two scenes had powerful impressions, which I'd say carried with them, utmost excitement, right next to the ending: when James said to Thoyt that "they could simply board a ship and sail to Boston, where the Company dare not go." And when James presented the question to Lorna of "other than letters?" specifically Thoyt's side-eye and the implication of her immediate importance. Not only that, this episode had new score cues, making the sensory impact of the scenes with those cues even better than in the premiere.
The focus of this episode was essentially an extension of that, but more specifically, on broadening the scope of everything some more: James is beginning to cozy up with the other side, the buying of a ship/the reveal of what James plans to do at the end of his current endeavors, the reveal that a specific character tried to get Horace Delaney killed, adding to the significance of that character, and the introductions of three more characters (Atticus, Solomon Coop, Dr. Dumbarton, and Lorna Bow, all of whom are significant characters for the rest of the season, and Lorna is already my favorite; her nuanced smug confidence is enthralling).
Then, there was the ending, which probably reeled in those who weren't vibing much with this episode; this is only the second episode, with big moves in motion already. On top of that, two scenes had powerful impressions, which I'd say carried with them, utmost excitement, right next to the ending: when James said to Thoyt that "they could simply board a ship and sail to Boston, where the Company dare not go." And when James presented the question to Lorna of "other than letters?" specifically Thoyt's side-eye and the implication of her immediate importance. Not only that, this episode had new score cues, making the sensory impact of the scenes with those cues even better than in the premiere.