Summary
Out of nowhere comes the show’s best chapter yet, crammed full of suspense, a whole lot of sinning, and monumental scandal. This is exactly what you’ve been waiting for, a shockingly gripping hour of TV.
This recap of the Apple TV+ series The Essex Serpent season 1, episode 4, “Everything Is Blue,” contains spoilers.
Director Clio Barnard has hinted at Mr. Seaborne’s abusive stranglehold over Cora with fast-paced flashes in previous episodes. The significance of that torturous relationship comes to the forefront in this explosive instalment, titled “Everything Is Blue”. Episode four is the best offering yet, by a country mile, pumping tension and scandal into a thrilling fifty minute chapter. This is the point where all those subtle interactions and slowly building narratives all converge into a masterful piece of TV, all against the backdrop of a beautifully blue night’s sky.
The Essex Serpent season 1, episode 4 recap
Most of this episode takes place at Cora’s birthday party, where the love triangle tensions are bubbling and those on the periphery of the romance decide to take matters into their own hands. Rugged pastor Will Ransome refuses to attend Cora’s birthday bash, yet wife Stella insists. It’s a quaint, candle-lit celebration with doctors Luke and George in attendance. Possible romantic interest Luke has gifted Cora with a stunning necklace, but she’s hesitant to wear it. Those gruesome flashbacks showed Cora’s husband branding her on the neck, a scar that still brings her both shame and heartache. The widow can’t wear the necklace gift as it would reveal her dark secret. This cunning plotting provides depth and warranted emotion to the story.
Tensions continue to mount as Luke and Will lock horns at the party. This is a man of science versus a man of God, both after the affections of one strawberry blonde widow. Will apologizes for losing his temper earlier with Luke and the two discuss the probability of there actually being a monster in the marshes. Luke teases Will, who is clearly losing faith, taken in by the hysteria, which rattles the vicar. It’s a delicious spectacle, unveiling scandalous truths and the possibilities of an illicit affair. The only respite from this madness comes in the form of a charming dance, harking back to simpler times.
The ending
Stella, who Luke notices is quite unwell, decides to test her husband’s integrity and prompts him to dance with the birthday girl. It’s an awkward yet engrossing scene, where the whole party watch in stunned disbelief as the bashful couple begin to dance, first out of synch, then growing in confidence, until they end in an intense embrace. Luke is shocked by this revelation, but Stella’s suspicions are only further confirmed. The Ransome family hastily departs in a painful exchange as the episode braces itself, ready to ramp up the drama.
What follows is a transfixing conclusion, where the creators deliver on all that build-up in a truly fascinating fashion. Expect death, destruction, and further scandal to shock an unsuspecting audience. This feels like a finale, offloading all the twists and turns of an action-packed end, although there are still two more installments to come. A thrilling, unmissable piece of television.
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