Summary
The two-episode premiere of Great Expectations perfectly delivers the goods to make you want to watch more.
We recap the FX on Hulu series Great Expectations (2023) Season 1 Episode 2, which contains spoilers.
In the first episode of Great Expectations, the writers set the tone for what was ahead with Pip (Fionn Whitehead) and his stakes with Miss Havisham (Olivia Colman) and Estella (Shalom Brune-Franklin).
Pip thinks he can use this relationship to help his sister and husband retire, but Miss Havisham has other things in mind.
Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 2 Recap
The episode begins with Sara closing the blinds on their house, followed by Joe working on his blacksmith job. Then, we see Miss Havisham making Pip and Estella play a game where he has to find her blindfolded; if he does, she is all his.
However, as he walks around, she puts obstacles in his way, causing the game to be more challenging. It’s a montage of Pip playing the game and Sara whipping Mr. Pumblechuck simultaneously.
We see Pip and Estella chatting about her life within that house. She mentions how awful it is and how she needs to find a rich man to get her out of there.
Next, Estella calls out a kid named Herbert, who she tells Pip is in love with her, and he socks Pip right in the face. Estella is forcing the two to fight so that she can see him fight and stand up for her.
After that, she grills him on everything his future has in store to make himself a gentleman.
We move to the Old Bailey, Court Number One, where a man is banging on a man’s door in hopes of getting his clients in front of the judge. However, the judge puts a gun to his head but doesn’t dare to pull the trigger.
Next, we see Jaggers, the man knocking, forcing the judge to sign paperwork for a prisoner to be released. Moments later, he storms outside to get his client cut free before being hung.
Back home, Pip explains his day with Estella. Before he can talk further, Mr. Pumblechuck interrupts to tell Joe and Sara the great news of Miss Havisham’s fondness for Pip.
Sara doesn’t love how Pip handles himself, but he tells her he plans to move out of there as fast as possible and make a life outside of this place.
Who is Biddy?
We meet a young Biddy in episode one, but we better understand who she is in episode two. Biddy is the smart kid in school who Pip smites, and she is with him.
During this episode, we hear Pip explain how he wants to use her smart brain to be his tutor to help impress Miss Havisham and Estella.
At Miss Havisham’s house, she and Estella are giving Pip daily lessons on how to treat a lady publicly. Then, we get a time jump, where we see an older Pip and Estella meet each other at the gate.
We find out that it is Pip’s 18th birthday, and Miss Havisham and Estella have a surprise for him.
What is Pip’s birthday present from Miss Havisham?
Miss Havisham tells Pip that he has to be good at horseriding, boxing, dancing, and sex. They take him upstairs, and his birthday present is for him to have sex with Mrs. Givens.
A very reluctant Pip does as he is told, and funny enough, moments later, we see Mrs. Givens turn around, look at him, and smile. Next, we see Jaggers talking to a scribe, who is writing a letter to Miss Havisham about Pip and how he will help accommodate the boy and help him be who she needs him to be.
Later that day, Estella speaks French to Pip, which has become the latest thing he needs to learn. Finally, Pip rushes to Biddy to get her to help him learn, which she begins to do.
Miss Havisham explains to Pip that he is attending a society ball and will ask a lady who only speaks French to dance. Things start rough for Pip, but he sticks the landing with Estella, and they begin to dance.
After the dance, Miss Havisham asks Pip if he loves Estella, but he tries to tell her that his goal isn’t to fall in love. However, she doesn’t care and wants him to do more to impress Estella.
Finally, she hands him some coins and tells him to buy new clothes.
Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 2 Ending Explained
Pip heads down to the dock to sell the coin to get the money in return. He returns to the house with his new wardrobe, hoping to impress Estella.
Upon his arrival, Estella is looking on from the window, crying. Eventually, she comes out to meet him, but Estella tells him that Pip’s education is complete. A very confused Pip is uncertain of what he did wrong, but she rushes back inside.
We hear him say, “I’m in love with you,” but only softly. The episode ends with Pip drinking at a bar when Jaggers comes in looking for him.
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