Thoughts on the finale?
What did you think? Thoughts, questions, theories, etc..
shareReally liked it. Could have been better, but I guess because there's going to be a Season 2, they are leaving some things for next season. Few questions: Is Sir Stuart Strange 'really' dead? I know, it was a huge explosion, but still, he could have survived it. For that matter, is Zilpha 'really' dead too? She is seen in the water floating, with her eyes open, but a second later she could have fought for air and come up to the surface. Who's to say she didn't?
I would say the theme of the last episode is freedom. Zilpha seeked freedom and commits suicide, in the belief that she can only be who she really is, with James, in the afterlife, far away from 'society''s disapproval.
James Delaney and those who made it to the ship have also found freedom. They got away from the mighty powerful East India Co and the King's soldiers, won them at their game. For Delaney, freedom is having no patriotism, symbolised by the changing of flags at the end.
James' guilty conscience about what he did with the East India company in Africa, culminating in the deaths of so many slaves in the ship that sunk, and who he keeps seeing in his visions and dreams, is also redeemed somewhat by his leaving behind for Chichester his own signed confession and that of Godfrey's....
Speaking of which I was very glad to see Godfrey still alive by the end of the finale. I didn't care for Helga being killed off though. I'm also glad that the gunpowder man, Colmondeley, survived. And the tattooed chap (what's his name again?). Oh and Lorna and Robert, Jame's son. Glad they are all in the boat!
I guess next season James will see Winter in his visions, maybe helping him, and if Zilpha is dead, her too. If she is dead, I think he will feel so guilty he will become totally reckless and end the season seeking death in some heroic way, so that he can be with her again in the afterlife. I can't see Taboo lasting more than 2 seasons, but I might be wrong.
Finally, I felt sorry for Brace being left behind. At least he's with the dog, and the house belongs to him now. I imagine James has left him a couple of diamonds too, to see him into old age.
So they are off to the Azores and some new adventures. One final question though, so what will Season 2 be about? James told Brace he was leaving him behind because he would have no place in his mother's land (what was she anyway, a Sioux or Cherokee?), a land of 'freedom'. That means they will eventually go the Canada/USA, and I wonder if part of the plot will be the Crown pursuing them for whatever reason....( maybe treason?).
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"what was she anyway, a Sioux or Cherokee"
Neither, as both these tribes where (are?) from far removed areas of North-America. Most likely the Nuu-chah-nulth-indians, as they historically where the ones first in contact with the european powers and Nootka Sound was traditionally a part of their territory.
Oh thanks for that. Looked in Wikipedia to get some 'background information'. Mmm, quite interesting.
Indeed! Did you see the part about Thomas Muir? Wonder if his story was some inspiration to Delaney's in the series? Quite the adventure.
Nootka Sound for sure was in the middle of some hefty disputes between nations, even if quite a bit different than what we see in the series.
I'm going to have to read more about Thomas Muir. Looking at his Wikipedia page, oh my, what an interesting life he had. From Scottish lawyer, to convict sent to Australia, to escapee in Canada and Mexico....and finally to hero in France where he died and was hailed 'a Martyr of Liberty'. Yes it's very possible he indeed was inspiration for the character of James Delaney, though he's probably an amalgamation of several people and historical events.
It was fun; the tinnitus and gun fighting part is quite new to British history - on British homeland soil - of that time, nice thing to add.
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