‘The Luminaries’ Episode 6 recap: What happened in ‘The Old Moon in the Young Moon’s Arms’?

The BBC’s new period drama The Luminaries concluded in the UK tonight.

The epic 19th century adventure mystery series has been adapted by novelist Eleanor Catton from her award-winning novel.

The Luminaries is set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island in the boom years of the 1860s gold rush.

The cast includes Eva Green (Penny Dreadful), Eve Hewson (Robin Hood, Bridge of Spies), Marton Csokas (Lord of the Rings), Himesh Patel (EastEnders), Benedict Hardie (Hacksaw Ridge), Yoson An (Mulan), and Ewen Leslie (Top of the Lake).

Watch a clip from Episode 6:

 

Here’s a plot recap for the sixth and final episode of The Luminaries, which aired on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 19th July 2020:

Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson) is tried for murder.

Emery Staines (Himesh Patel), her alibi for the night of the murder, is still missing and Walter Moody (Michael Sheasby), a lawyer, refuses to act in her defence believing the case to be indefensible.

Due to a mix-up with the wreckage from the Godspeed, Moody ends up with Lauderback’s (Benedict Hardie) trunk.

In it, he discovers a series of letters from Crosbie (Ewen Leslie) to Lauderback that reveal the two are brothers.

Lydia (Eva Green) hosts a séance to make contact with Emery (Himesh Patel), intending to implicate Anna further.

Instead she channels the spirit of Sook (Yoson An) and inadvertently accuses Carver (Marton Csokas) of murder.

Emery is found at last by Tauwhare (Richard Te Are).

Tauwhare reunites the lovers, and when Emery is restored to Anna’s touch, the magical transference happens in reverse, and they become themselves again.

Together with Moody, Anna and Emery concoct an elaborate defence that exposes Lydia and Carver’s crimes.

Carver sacrifices himself for Lydia in the witness box.

Anna is found not guilty, but Emery is sentenced for the part that he has played.

Lydia has lost everything and Anna heads to the hills to make her fortune.

Eleanor Catton’s original novel is available on Amazon.