Sanditon Episode 7 Review

Sanditon has reached its penultimate episode and after the adventures in London the series has returned to more traditional territory for a period drama.

It is time for the Regatta, the event that could make or break Sanditon as a trendy destination. It is especially important for Tom (Kris Marshall) because Lady Denham (Anna Reid) lies on her death bed and he would lose his main backer. Whilst Edward (Jack Fox) and Clara (Lily Sacofsky) want her to hurry up and die so they can calm their inheritance.

On a more personal level, Charlotte’s (Rose Williams) relationship with Sidney (Theo James) hits another snag when Sidney’s old love interest, Eliza Campion (Ruth Kearney), returns to the scene.

The seventh episode of Sanditon was much like the fifth. Both episodes centred around an event and both had a more genteel approach. It was a quintessentially English affair where people get to mingled, had drinks and sandwiches, and watch the boat race. The stakes are even lower in this episode because in episode five Tom needed the cricket match to go ahead to prevent people from finding out about his financial troubles. In this episode Tom got lucky because a London trend-setting visits the event.

The Regatta was in the episode because it was an event the series had been building up to. It was meant to be a light-hearted distraction. The Regatta real focus was on the audience, particularly Charlotte’s troubled love life. After finally falling for Sidney, Charlotte sees the love of his life come back and Mrs. Campion gets her claws out to fight off a love rival. Mrs. Campion acts in a passive-aggressive manner that’s expected from regency set drama. Mrs. Campion made comments, particularly that she’s from high society London whilst Charlotte was just a country bumpkin. Fortunately for Charlotte had a cheerleader in the form of Lady Susan (Sophie Winkleman). It’s amusing to think this is the third character Winkleman has played called Susan.

The storyline involving the Denhams reaches its end game in this episode. In the previous episode Edward and Clara agreed to burn the will and share the inheritance. Clara at least knew how to feign concern for her aunt, Edward continued to be the human trash that he has been in the previous episode. He doesn’t even try to hide his contempt or he was only interested in money. At least Clara and Esther (Charlotte Spencer) were written to have more complicated characters due to their backstories and motivations. Edward was just a one-dimensional jerk. He is no great loss to the show.

Clara taunts Esther with her relationship with Edward and it inadvertently leads to their downfall. Clara’s action could be interpreted in three ways. The first is she’s trying to get a bigger share of the inheritance. The other is the reveal was Clara’s twisted way to save Esther from a toxic relationship. Or simply Clara wanted to screw over Edward.

The seventh episode also had a small subplot involving Georgiana who had fallen into a deep depression. She had a minor role in the episode and because of her mental state was incredibly bitchy. It was surprisingly humorous because she was unfiltered and had an odd couple relationship with the jolly Arthur (Turlough Convery).

The seventh episode will more likely please Jane Austen purest because of its focus on the relationships and lighter-hearted antics.