Tom Jones Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Episode Three

A masquerade provides a potential lead in Tom’s search for Sophia but is diverted by Lady Bellaston’ s machinations making for another entry of near misses, complications, and messiness on Tom Jones Season 1 Episode 3, “Episode Three.”

Sophia’s life in London is beginning to feel much like the life she led at her grandfather’s side as her aunt Bellaston is determined to marry her off to the highest-titled gentleman that heads their way. Meanwhile, Tom continues the strange trajectory he believes will lead him to Sophia again.

Of course, Lady Bellaston’s presence does nothing to bring Tom and Sophia any closer to their happy ending, and at this point, you must be wondering if that’s something to root for actively.

There are moments when it’s clear that there is still love there, and you find them victims of the circumstances leading to their misguided London travels to escape the expectations put upon them by their families.

While we see Sophia maintain that balance between the optimism of her prospective freedom without marriage and the realities of her life as a young, unmarried heiress, we don’t see much of it from Tom’s perspective.

His scenes in the early part of the hour with Lady Bellaston show how easily led Tom is and doesn’t seem to hold any kind of determination when it comes to finding Sophia and explaining things to her, trying to make things right. It doesn’t take much for him to fall into another’s bed, leaving you in a frustrating position as you watch another ill-advised life decision.

Granted, there are moments when consent becomes a large issue, as he gets plied with liquor the first time and he meets Lady Bellaston. But it’s the time after that the sympathy well begins to dry.

It’s only in the final act that he begins to understand the ramifications of his own actions, and I can’t help but wonder how long it takes him to realize it.

I appreciate the layers they add to the antagonists in this episode.

Lady Bellaston’s need to take on new lovers and keep it low-key (and miserably failing) begins to make sense when you realize that she craves the power that comes from deciding the terms for any liaison. Those decisions and the parameters allow her to keep the men she chooses eager for her company and give her the feeling of being the first chosen one.

It’s clear when she meets Tom in his room at the boarding house. The scene doesn’t make it grand enough to merit sympathy, but it’s enough to elicit some pity.

Hannah Waddingham, as Lady Bellaston, does a wonderful job playing the antagonist of the hour, working hard to guide Sophia into a match devised by her own hand while trying to steal Tom’s affections away from her niece.

Meanwhile, William’s feelings about his lot in life become apparent when he corners Sophia in her own room in her grandfather’s London home. He forcefully pleads with her about her feelings on their impending nuptials.

While interesting to hear, it could have gone on without his driving force ever being put to words. From the moment we were introduced to Tom and William, you can see the long-standing, one-sided rivalry’s origins.

With only one entry left in this limited series, will we be getting a return to the light, idyllic feeling the country had at the beginning of the first hour? Will we get a “love conquers all” moment for Tom and Sophia?

Only time will tell.

Random Thoughts

• The way the masquerade plays out is every bit Baz Luhrmann-esque as an actual Baz Luhrmann production.
• I feel like I am missing a lot because I am unfamiliar with the novel. If I had read it, these characters would be livelier to me. Book readers, how is this adaptation treating you?
• Am I missing the point of the story? Is this not supposed to be centered on a romance? If so, am I the only one feeling this lack of sympathy for Tom?

What did you think of this episode of Tom Jones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Tom Jones airs Sundays at 9/8c on PBS.

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