This ep sees Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) putting her feminine wiles to full use as she attempts to gather money for herself (more for herself than Rawdon) and in the process Amelia (Claudia Jessie) realizes her true colours. Well, finally as George (Charlie Rowe) makes a move on Becky! Of course she wouldn't go after a mere pauper since his father now disowns him and only provides him with £2,000 severance pay. Severance as he disowns him as his son and heir and removes his name from the family bible! As he tells the servants to set a plate for George everyday in the hopes of seeing him return and begging for more money and erm his forgiveness. Which I doubt Osborne Senior (Robert Pugh) would even give. As George's sister, Jane (Ellie Kendrick) tells their father he should forgive George but he doesn't see himself as being in the wrong. He even says this to Dobbin (Johnny Flynn) as he too believes that since they are on the eve of leaving for Belgium and war, that he should at least consider communicating with his son. However Osborne makes a remark about pistols at dawn prompting Dobbin to leave. Well he did his best and it was more so for Amelia than George since she will have scarce now't to live on.
Poor Amelia (literally and metaphorically) can't see anything wrong with George and how he consummately despises her. Of course he does, she cost him his fortune and holds Dobbin to blame for this too. Dobbin brings the letter to George whilst they are at port and he holds noting but contempt for Dobbin for allowing him this fool's folly. However, Dobbin would have Amelia in a heartbeat!
Now to Miss Sharp and how she and Rawdon (Tom Bateman) sneak off in the morning without paying their rent or any of their bills. Rawdon complaining of needing a valet to dress him. But fear not as Becky has a plan. Not only did Rawdon manage to get George into further debt after gambling but she is determined that he should pay that £2,000 towards his debt. Amelia not being able to understand why George frets so over the money as she thinks it's adequate. But this isn't the life of luxury that George is used to. Becky adding that it is a mere foot soldier's salary. George further vexed when Dobbin tells him that he will have to live on his soldier's pay! Perish the thought!
As they arrive in Belgium, it's not long before Rawdon and Becky entice George into another card game and Amelia knows that Rawdon is a very good player. As Becky further flirts with George by lighting his cigar for him and telling him how she loves the smell of it. That was a line she also used to ensnare Rawdon too in episode 2! General Tufto (Richard Dixton) also is beguiled by Becky and her charms, or rather her developed bust, as they attend the opera. George not having any money to buy Amelia a bouquet and then has the nerve to ask why everyone has one except for her. Amelia having befriended the wife of Major O'Dowd (Patrick Fitzsymons) Peggy O'Dowd (Monica Dolan). However, all eyes are upon Becky in her new red dress as she and Rawdon sit in the General's box. George waves to her and she waves back which doesn't go unnoticed by Amelia. During the interval it's all George can do to stumble over to the box, just as the General is getting overtly friendly with her. She thanks George for rescuing her and Rawdon invites him to another card game.
George also trying to impress people he believes are worthy of his company, i.e the wealthy parents of Lady Bareacres (Elizabeth Berrington) who snobs as as they are turn their noses up at Amelia and George too. Yet he doesn't see that they don't want anything to do with him. George telling Amelia they are wealthy and their daughter will marry a Duke by blood. However George is a tiresome cad as he refuses to defend his wife for every insult they throw at her. Even asking Lady Bareacres to save dances for him on her dance card and ignoring Amelia when she asks him to save one for her.
George even buys a bouquet for Becky and smuggles a note in there. As Jos Sedley (David Fyn) arrives having a fearful journey on the boat and isn't invited to the dance. Becky introduces Rawdon as her husband. As the General gives her an even bigger bouquet. Rawdon tells Sedly to remove the moustache as it's only reserved for soldiers. Amelia is out of place at the dance and George deserts her as usual, as he asks Becky to dance. Becky having told Amelia she should put her foot down and tell George to stop gambling if that's the case. As gone are the times where women had to be girls all the time. Even telling Amelia to dance with George. Becky dances with George and Dobbin turns up to 'comfort' Amelia.
Napoleon is at the outskttrs of Brussels and the men must leave the next day as they get their marching orders. Becky tells Rawdon to come home with medals so they can flaunt them in his aunt's face. That's the only few words she has for him. Before he leaves for the night, he tells her that marrying her was the one thing that ever made him happy and still does. But she hasn't got any such words for him. In fact she reads the note from George confessing his love for her and stores it in the letter box Amelia gave her like a fanciful trinket! The nerve! Amelia cries alone as George isn't there and Dobbin urges him to go and see her when he's sitting outside Becky's window getting drunk. Becky doesn't even notice him!
Next day they leave and Becky's fast asleep when Amelia can barely stand. Dobbin tasks Jos with looking after Amelia and Becky bursts in to see Jos and asks if he's going into battle too with his military coat. She wants him to look after her too, with a nod towards the camera again. As Amelia tells her to leave. She was poor and she befriended Becky but she treats her with betrayal and flirting with George, regardless of whether anything happened or not, it was the intentions behind the flirting and forgetting Amelia that was the point. As Becky ventures out, cannon fire is heard and she doesn't know what that is as the battle commences next episode. With Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill playing at the end of this week's episode as the soldiers march into war...(Not sung by Kate though!)
Becky finds herself alone but that shouldn't last long. But strange turn of events as George now covets Becky, more lust methinks, whereas he couldn't stand her before and how Amelia realizes what she is really like and sees her in her true light. When Amelia also questions her over whether she really does love Rawdon and she can't answer that, not in the same way Amelia loves George, albeit foolishly, she is still devoted to him and her marriage. Whereas we know, Becky is looking out for her next meal ticket and ways of getting money coming in, such as presents from the General and of course shamelessly accepting them. Funny moment when Jane thinks Dobbin has come to propose to her and he realizes he's used the wrong choice of words. I say everyone was after Dobbin in some way or another! Ha.
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