Craft & Opinion: Sanditon

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching this show the past eight weeks, assuming that in the end you would get to see Charlotte and Sidney make out.

Actually, scratch that.

At first I assumed it would follow the traditional Jane Austen playbook, where the main couple finally end up together and share a chaste kiss in the final scene, probably on their wedding day.

But then in episode one, Edward claimed that Clara "took him in hand" (!!!), and then in episode 6, she threw a leg over him on the drawing room floor. At that point I thought, “wow, maybe we’ll see more than a wedding day peck after all..."

Ten minutes into episode 8, I watched with anticipation as Charlotte and Sidney wandered along the cliffs, making awkward small talk about the weather. When Sidney stepped up into her personal space and said "I was hoping that we might find a moment when we could be alone together," I got that prickly heat feeling on my neck that says, "I'm about to KISS THIS BOY." And then he called her by her first name rather than "Miss Heywood" and it was all over.

Cut to me swooning to death.

Let's go ahead and review the play by play.

"Charlotte..."

"Yes?"

You probably want to watch that whole scene again right now, don't you? I completely understand, as I've rewatched it about a dozen times. It's currently streaming on the pbs website. I won't blame you if you pause here, open a new tab, and come back when you're done.

I assume this is Charlotte’s first kiss, since she’s depicted as a young, naive girl from the country. I’d just like to acknowledge that she is starting out really well, in terms of kissing partner and setting:

Get it, Char.

Anyway, later that night, Sidney sexily watches Charlotte dance with someone else at the ball, knowing that he is about to ask her to marry him and she's totally going to say yes. Then they meet up on this glorious balcony and gaze into each other's eyes...and then that dirtbag Edward crashes the party and the whole thing goes off the rails.

Let's turn to happier thoughts, namely, Esther and Babington. No one has had a more dynamic and unexpected character arc than Esther. She was en excellent villain, a cold-blooded schemer when the story opened, but over time she revealed complexity and contradiction. I truly enjoyed watching her relationship with Babington develop from "Rich Guy Pursues Pretty Lady Who Will Probably End Up Having to Marry Him for His Money and Be Stuck in a Loveless Marriage Forever" into a genuine, mutual affection.

Their engagement scene was heartbreaking and sweet and charming.

Babington: I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. My dear girl…don’t you know that I’m in love with you?

Esther: And what is that to me, since I do not love you?

Babington: I don’t care. It’s enough that you like me and that you trust me.

Esther: I do not wish to be your property.

Babington: Good, because I have no wish to own you.

Esther: Why else would you have me as your wife?

Babington: Because I want to make you happy. I could never try to lead or constrain you, Esther. All I ask is to walk through life by your side.

Esther: Very well then.

Babington: You acc—you accept me?

Esther: Stop talking before I change my mind.

She kisses him and then adorably bops her nose against his and walks away. Lord B follows.

Esther’s “leave them wanting more” game is strong.

Arthur Parker's brief storyline broke my heart. I wondered if they were setting him up to try to woo Georgiana, but when his sister asked him as much, he replied, "I don’t really know how ladies work. No...you’ve no worries about Arthur Parker on that score...lifelong bachelor."
I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to be a gay man in Regency England.

More heart breaking parts: Charlotte sobbing after Sidney told her that he was engaged to Mrs. Campion, Mr. Stringer sobbing to Charlotte over his father's coffin that the two men had "ended on a quarrel", Sidney riding up to Charlotte's coach to say "I don't love her" and Charlotte's response that he must try to make the best of it. Gut wrenching, all of it.

One interesting point that a friend pointed out to me to is the switcheroo where it's the man this time (Sidney) who needs money and is forced into an unwanted engagement, rather than the typical scenario where it's the woman who has to settle for security rather than love. I hadn't considered that. Still, I feel a bit less sorry for Sidney than I do for, say, Charlotte Lucas of Pride & Prejudice, who had to marry the doofus Mr. Collins because she knew she had few other prospects. In Sidney's case, becoming engaged to Mrs. Campion felt more mercenary, with the sole purpose to gain access to her money in order to save his dumb brother's investment. What is it with everyone bending over backward to protect the financial well-being of a failed white business man? Tale as old as time.

When the episode ended, it felt wide open for another season, and I was sure that one would be forthcoming. Alas, no. ITV has canceled it, though the writer, Andrew Davies, appears to be holding out some hope that there will be another season.

Netflix, can you help a girl out? I'm dying for more Sanditon.

But what would a season two even look like? Now that Sidney is engaged, I suppose next season we would have to watch James Stringer take another run at wooing Charlotte, all while Charlotte gazes longingly at Sidney while his haughty fiance parades him in front of her. Ugh. I don't look forward to that. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Stringer is kind and adorable, but it was never a contest between him and Sidney Parker. Also, I can not abide that ridiculous tall hat they've always got him in, even if it is historically accurate. He looks like a cartoon cowboy.