Apple TV revitalized the classic book by Edith Wharton in 2023 by releasing an 8-part series that portrays the characters in a modern light without taking them out of their time period.
This American classic is about four young women who go to England in the 1870s to be presented to society, aka find husbands. Their stories are interlaced with class, money politics, cultural clashes between the British and Americans at the time, and of course underlying issues faced by women in society.
While Wharton’s book takes a very classic approach to these issues, the series falls into the similar time-piece categories as Bridgerton or the most recent adaptation of Persuasion – they are set during a period but connect with younger audiences through the script, mannerisms, and diverse casting.
The series is very enticing to watch, but it is an example of when a series purposefully strays from the book. Check out the trends we noticed while watching the series, and gear up for a trip to 1870s England.
| Good Reads Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | Where To Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 3.89 | 94% | Apple TV+ |
What Do They Have In Common?
For having a major modernization with the characters’ feminist outlooks, and the plot twists that are not included in the book, the characters and their stories are otherwise quite true to the book.
Wharton wrote about these four young women, Nan, Lizzie, Ginny, and Mabel who are presented with the opportunity to leave New York and be presented to society in England – for them, it is the land of the Lord’s system and social status which is otherwise unknown to them in the U.S..
When they arrive, they are quite surprised to see the major cultural differences between the reserved and well-behaved British people, versus their fun-loving personalities and risk-taking mishaps. While the series might exaggerate their behavior a bit, with lots of partying and sneaking around, the sentiment of navigating new lives and finding the best way to make their mark on the world is presented true to the book.
A little-known fact, Wharton actually passed away before her book was even finished, leaving the ending of the novel on a cliffhanger
Without giving away any spoilers we can just say that the series follows the same ending as the original story.
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Major Differences
For once, the exciting elements of this adaptation lie in how they are different, especially if you enjoy period content that has modern details. While Wharton’s book was ahead of its time, without a doubt the series brings to life the young protagonists’ free-loving spirits in a way that connects more with modern audiences such as through raving parties and secret relationships.
The series also has a few LGBTQ+ characters who have love stories represented, an element that is definitely not in the original novel. This added element is a modern creative take by the Apple TV production, but the representation does add something for modern viewers to connect with and represents LGBTQ+ folk’s visibility throughout history.
The last major difference is while the ending does stay true to the cliffhanger, some of the characters who have more modernized journeys do have some major differences – but no room for spoilers in this article!
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Today’s Trends In Reenvisioned Classics
The Buccaneers joins the growing list of time-piece adaptations, created in a modern light or even reenvisioned. This trend in cinematic adaptations has become evident since the viral show Bridgerton features a diversely represented cast and incorporates modern trends and scores of top 40 hits.
Since the release of Bridgerton, the trend has reached into the latest adaptation of Persuasion by Jane Austin which closely follows Bridgerton’s style but takes it a step further by modernizing the way the characters speak. This helps younger audiences connect more with classic characters, and is proving to be a solid trend.
Two other noteworthy timepiece stories on the screen that are not adapted from books but contribute heavily to this cinematic trend were Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and the hit show Dickinson, a reimagining of Emily Dickinson’s young adult life.
You can expect many future time-piece adaptations to follow these trends, The Buccaneer’s season 2 possibly being one of them.
Is It Worth A Watch?
All differences and similarities aside between the adaption and the original novel, the series is worth a watch if you enjoy time-piece fiction centered around women’s narratives.
The modern cinematic details allow viewers to connect more with the characters, and might even inspire you to give this classic a read if you aren’t already adding it to your reading list. As the series and book leave you on a cliffhanger, it is still unknown if the filmmakers will take it to the next level by imagining a new ending for the characters in a second season.
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Will There Be A Series 2 Of The Buccaneers?
Yes, The Buccaneers has been renewed by Apple TV+ for a second season. Apple TV+ has confirmed on December 19 2023 that the popular TV show will have a season two. However, it’s only speculation as to when it will air. According for Forbes, since the latest season only ended mid-December 2023, the second season might only see the light of day in 2025 or later.
