The Buccaneers season 2, episode 1 recap: Leighton Meester’s cameo adds new twist as Nan steps into her role as Duchess of Tintagel

The Buccaneers Season 2: Leighton Meester in a corset drama? We didn’t see that coming either. But yes, the Gossip Girl star just made her debut in The Buccaneers season 2, and she picked quite the moment to arrive.

Apple TV+ released the first episode of The Buccaneers Season 2 on June 18, picking up right where Season 1 left off, with Nan St George (Kristine Froseth) forced to choose duty over love. In a heartbreaking twist, she parted ways with Guy Thwarte (Matthew Broome) and agreed to marry Duke Theo (Guy Remmers), honouring a promise she made to the Duchess to protect her sister Jinny (Imogine Waterhouse) from her abusive marriage to Lord Seadown (Barney Fishwick).

The Buccaneers Season 2 Episode 1: Leighton Meester's cameo explained

In the very first episode of the new season, Leighton appears as Nell, a woman carrying a huge secret and even heavier emotional baggage, and it is revealed that she’s actually Nan’s biological mother. She also happens to be the younger sister of Patricia, who raised Nan as her own.

Credit: IMDb

In an emotional scene, the two sisters reunite after nineteen years and confront each other about their past. The Gossip Girl alum’s character tells Patricia that it was a summer that felt like a dream, and she never meant to come between her sister and her family. It’s also revealed that Nell didn’t abandon Nan; instead, Patricia made the decision to keep Nell away in order to protect her household.

Nell’s unexpected arrival at Nan’s wedding shocks everyone, including the audience. However, Nan remains unaware that Nell is her biological mother. Whether Leighton returns later in the season for a long-awaited mother-daughter confrontation is something fans will have to wait and see.

According to creator Katherine Jakeways, Nell was written as someone “funny, brave, and nuanced”, and Leighton brought all that plus the kind of emotional weight you wouldn’t expect from a character we’re just meeting. Even Meester admitted she was drawn to the “raw and life-changing” dynamic of Nell’s story, especially the tension of playing a mother who’s been absent her entire daughter’s life and suddenly wants to reconnect.

Episode 1 recap: Nan’s big day goes sideways

The episode opens with what should be a picture-perfect wedding for Nan, but obviously, things don’t stay that way for long. She is torn apart between her love for Guy and protecting Jinny from Seadown. Meanwhile, Theo is unaware of the deal between his mother and Nan, thinking she chose him over Guy. She feels at ease keeping the secret, but the Duchess reminds her that she is now the new Duchess who will have to put the state's interests before her own, with the guarantee that her sister will stay safe.

In her journey, Nan is backed by her loyal friends Conchita (Alisha Boe), Mabel (Josie Totah), and Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag), each navigating their own challenges in London society.

Conchita, who was ready to leave the city and begin a new chapter with her husband, Lord Richard (Josh Dylan), is forced to put her plans on hold due to his father's declining health.

Mabel remains deeply drawn to Honoria Marable (Mia Threapleton), and the two continue their relationship in secret, adding tension to every scene they share.

Meanwhile, Lizzy finds herself unexpectedly charmed by a new man, offering her a fresh start after the heartbreak she endured with Seadown last season.

By the end of the episode, it’s clear this season is going to be messier, more emotional, and way more personal than the last.

When does the next episode drop?

Episode 1 premiered on June 18, and the rest of the season is rolling out weekly on Wednesdays on Apple TV+. So Episode 2 comes out June 25, 2025, and the season finale (Episode 8) is expected on August 6, 2025.

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