‘The Luminaries’ Episode 2 recap: What happened in ‘The Place You Return’?

The BBC’s new period drama The Luminaries continued 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 2:

 

Here’s a plot recap for the second episode of The Luminaries, which aired on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 22nd June 2020:

1865. Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson) is now working at Lydia Wells’ (Eva Green) fortune parlour, The House Of Many Wishes, where she learns that Lydia is plotting with Francis Carver (Marton Csokas) to steal from Crosbie (Ewen Leslie).

Carver deceives Emery Staines (Himesh Patel) into thinking that Anna (Eve Hewson) has left for the goldfields.

Emery goes to follow her, first agreeing to split his future goldfield winnings with Carver, registering their joint claim under the name ‘Aurora’.

Emery almost drowns upon his arrival on the Hokitika goldfields, and believing Anna to have drowned as well, he befriends a Māori man, Te Rau Tauwhare (Richard Te Are), and heads into the hills to grieve.

Anna develops a rapport with Crosbie Wells, who is oblivious of what his wife is plotting.

Back in Dunedin, Lydia is laying the groundwork for her plan. She arranges to meet Alistair Lauderback (Benedict Hardie) the following night on a ship called the Godspeed.

Later, she spikes her husband’s drink – along with Anna’s – with laudanum, and begins sewing Crosbie’s fortune into the seams of her dresses.

In 1866, Anna returns to Crosbie’s cottage where she is plagued by strange visions and memories that are not her own.

The jailhouse chaplain, Cowell Devlin (Matt Whelan), uncovers a fortune hidden in Crosbie’s cottage and Anna makes an astonishing discovery.

Eleanor Catton’s original novel is available on Amazon.