A few weeks prior to its release, MASTERPIECE dropped the full trailer for the third and final season of Sanditon. Loosely adapted from Jane Austen’s unfinished manuscript of the same name, the third instalment ventures further into unknown territory in what promises to be an explosive and fitting conclusion to the show.
Made possible by the campaigning of passionate fans following the show’s cancellation by ITV, the otherwise gratifying season two certainly left audiences disheartened in its finale. Despite spending the majority of the series coming to terms with Philip Sidney’s (Theo James) death, main protagonist Charlotte (Rose Williams) had wound up engaged to local farmer Ralph (Cai Bridgen) by the last episode. Her tentative affection for wealthy nobleman Alexander Colbourne (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) eventually came to nothing; his indecisiveness and apparent rejection of her left her heart in pieces once again.
Meanwhile, Georgiana (Crystal Clarke) found herself falling for bohemian artist Charles Lockhart, only to discover, that prior to his death, Philip had identified him as the man after her inheritance. The last episode also sees her stumble upon evidence that her mother is alive.
The new season three trailer opens with Charlotte musing, “Too often young women are thought to be strangers to their own minds. It is left to fathers or uncles to choose the path their life should take. As if we require saving from ourselves,” likely referring to her own impending marriage. We also see several new faces, including Colbourne’s brother Samuel (Liam Garriga), and another newly arrived couple.
Georgiana declares the need to protect herself before throwing a mysterious document into the fire. It can be assumed that she is still fending off suitors seeking only her sizeable dowry. Colbourne’s daughter Augusta is given a strong focus, now being of marriageable age. Finally, the trailer also shows Arthur Parker (Turlough Convery) taking the helm as he and his brother seek to expand Sanditon as a holiday destination.
With more swoon-worthy romance than ever before, a good dose of intrigue, and the embellished glamour of the Regency period, the new series promises to set off a few fireworks.
Season three of Sanditon will premiere on PBS on 19 March at 9pm and will be available to stream on the same day. The final episode will be broadcast on 23 April.
Words by Faye Price
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