ITV’s Beecham House – Episode 1 recap and 4 unanswered questions
MOVE over Poldark, ITV has launched their rival show Beecham House – and it has already got viewers talking.
We take you through what happened in the first episode of ITV’s hottest new drama.
What happened on episode one of Beecham House?
The show kicks off in India 1795 and a lone carriage is driven through the wild countryside on the outskirts of Delhi.
At the front of the carriage is John Beecham.
His guards sit close by, with their guns at the ready, looking out for strangers and bandits.
In the background a grand mansion is being prepared for a new master.
The household servants, Baadal and Mool Chand, wait in anticipation whilst Bindu, Mool Chand’s wife, says prayers to bless the house and predicts
John takes up residence in the grand mansion on the outskirts of the city.
The staff are shocked to discover that their secretive new master is not only English but has also arrived with his infant son August who is a baby of mixed parentage.
Next we see John having sex with an Indian woman called Chanchal , who we later learn is there to look after his son.
An invitation arrives at the house from General Castillon, a French mercenary who works for the Emperor at The Red Fort.
Baadal warns John that he is not a good man.
Castillon clearly has a deep dislike for the British and the Company and is suspicious of John’s motives for being in Delhi.
He is convinced that he is an agent for the Company. John informs Castillon that he has a new life as an independent trader and requests a licence to trade.
Only the Emperor can give this licence. It’s clear Castillon will do all that he can to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Murad Beg, a neighbour, invites John to a party at his home. John soon catches the eye of the only English woman at the party called Margaret who is a governess .
The connection between them is immediate and undeniable.
John meets the Emperor and makes his request for a licence.
Castillon disapproves of John and tells the Emperor and he decides to test John. Find the perfect gift for the Empress’s birthday and, if he succeeds, maybe John will be given a licence.
With the country in turmoil and political tensions on a knife edge, displeasing the Emperor could prove fatal, and John must tread carefully if he is to secure his future and keep his family safe.
John travels to the docks to meet his mother Henrietta and is surprised to discover that she has travelled with a companion, Violet.
It seems that coincidentally a close friend and former soldier Samuel Parker is on the same boat.
Henrietta, Violet and Margaret see baby August, John’s son.
They are shocked and John’s mother demands to know who the mother is.
At the end of the show, we see what appears to be John’s long lost brother Daniel enjoying himself smoking on a shisha pipe surrounded by dancing women.
Four unanswered questions on episode one of Beecham House?
1) Who is the mother of John’s child?
We saw him having sex with an Indian woman called Chanchal when he arrived at Beecham House with, so it is likely that she is the mother of the child.
She also talked about them having a “clean slate” now they were at their new home – does this mean they did have a relationship which is now coming to an end?
2) What is Samuel Parker up to?
It seemed odd that John’s old army pal Samuel arrived with his mother in India.
It was also revealed that Samuel had paid her a visit in England as well.
He also seems keen to find John’s brother Daniel.
3) What is the deal with is John’s brother Daniel?
This leads us to our next question – what’s Daniel’s story? We know that he has been serving in the East India company of the army, but why has he cut off his family?
He also clearly likes the hedonistic lifestyle. What will happen when he comes to Beecham House?
4) Will there be a love triangle between Margaret and Chanchal?
There was definitely a connection between John and Margaret when they met at the party and they have been spending time together with each other ever since.
But John clearly has history with Chanchal and there is a high chance that she is the mother of his son.
With this is in mind, will he let Chanchal go for a chance with Margaret?
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When is Beecham House back on?
Beecham House will be back TOMORROW (June 24, 2019) at 9pm on ITV.
This will be the second episode out of six.
You can catch up with episodes you miss on the ITV Hub.