‘The Luminaries’ Episode 3 recap: What happened in ‘Leverage’?

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 3:

 

Here’s a plot recap for the third episode of The Luminaries, which aired on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 28th June 2020:

In 1865, Lydia (Eva Green) is preparing to host a party at the fortune parlour.
Anna (Eve Hewson) tells Crosbie (Ewan Leslie) that the key to the safe, which contains his gold, is missing but he drinks from a spiked decanter and passes out before he can learn more.

Alastair Lauderback (Benedict Hardie) arrives at the Godspeed to meet Lydia, only to find Carver (Marton Csokas), who blackmails him into handing over the ship.

Carver arrives at The House Of Many Wishes with the intention of murdering Crosbie Wells and stealing his identity to free himself from his convict past, but Crosbie has been warned.

Crosbie boards the Godspeed to recover his gold but is mistaken for a stowaway.

He jumps overboard at Hokitika, washing up on Māori land, where he encounters Emery Staines (Himesh Patel) and Te Rau Tauwhare (Richard Te Are).

Anna is thrown out of Lydia’s house. Her only resource is a ticket to the Hokitika goldfields given her by Dick Mannering (Erik Thomson).

In 1866, Crosbie Wells is buried and Anna searches in vain for Emery (Himesh Patel), who has vanished without a trace.

Lydia Wells, now a widow, arrives in Hokitika to settle her husband’s fortune.

Eleanor Catton’s original novel is available on Amazon.