A series called Great Expectations centers on an orphan who was struggling before meeting Miss Havisham. Olivia Colman, an Academy Award winner, plays Madame Havisham in the show, and Fionn Whitehead plays Pip (the orphan). Let’s get started with the season opener.
Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 1 Recap
The first episode of the series features Pip trying to hang himself by wrapping a rope around his neck and jumping off a bridge in 1839 London. We quickly flashed back seven years after entering the main title card.
A young Pip is toiling away while reciting some Shakespeare. Next, we shift to this tense setting that feels like a prison, where two men (Maywitch and Compeyson) shout about how much they despise one another.
They won’t have a choice because they’ll travel side by side until they reach Australia, according to a guard.
We can tell that Compeyson isn’t content to watch his fellow inmates suffer, so he starts a fire in his cell and hatches a scheme to escape. Maywitch, his jailhouse companion, begs him to let him go; Compeyson threatens him to rot in hell and walks away.
Maywitch, on the other hand, manages to get away and kill the guards one by one.
Young Pip wants to go see his parents on Christmas Eve, but his sister Sara and Joe advise against it because of the cannons. Joe makes an effort to diffuse the issue and convince Pip to remain. Joe then warns Sara that he will leave if she beats Pip once again. We witness Pip sneaking out through the bedroom window later that evening, which causes difficulties.
Read More: Season 13 Premiere Date for Fx’s “archer” on Fxx
Who Takes Pip Hostage for Food?
Pip is captured by Maywitch while visiting the graves of his parents, and she orders him to find food and clothing to keep him warm. If he doesn’t, he’ll bury his sister, her husband, and his parents alongside them.
Pip delivers a lot of food and wine to Maywitch as promised. Maywitch begs him to remove his chains before asking if he has ever seen anybody else who looks like him (talking about Compeyson). A little while later, Compeyson makes an appearance and asks Pip if he has seen Maywitch.
Of course, Pip lies and claims he knows nothing because he is afraid.
What Does Miss Havisham Want to Do with Pip?
Pip, Sara, Joe, and Mr. Pumblechuck show up for dinner with the news that Miss Havisham needs Pip. As they couldn’t locate a male in the right class, Madam Havisham adopted a girl who needed companionship over thirteen years ago, and Mr. Pumblechuck chose Pip.
The guards break into the home and announce that two men have fled and that the soldiers must go outside and look for them while Sara becomes enthusiastic about the prospect of getting paid for Pip to go to Miss Havisham’s.
The troops’ search for these men forces Joe and Pip to join them. Pip admits to Joe that he is unsure of the agreement with Mr. Pumblechuck but is certain that he doesn’t want to take over the blacksmith business while they are on their journey.
The troops overhear Compeyson and Maywitch fighting when they hear some talk. As Maywitch is about to finish Compeyson, a soldier enters and assaults him. At this point, we witness the two soaked in mud fighting each other up.
The commanding officer then queries Maywitch about how he removed his ankle chains. He had the opportunity to put Pip in jail, but he claims that he broke into a blacksmith’s home and got them off.
Read More: What Is Pip Birthday Present from Miss Havisham in Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 2?
In the scene, Pip and Biddy are debating how he utilizes his deal with Miss Havisham to aid Joe and his sister. She informs him that she doesn’t like his plan.
We can now see that Pip and Mr. Pumblechuck are on their way to meet Madam Havisham. Pip finally shows up to the residence to see Miss Havisham and Estella.
Great Expectations Season 1 Episode 1 Ending Explained
The encounter between Miss Havisham, Pip, and Estella is shown in the episode’s final moments, and it goes just as planned. I want to see you play, says Miss Havisham as she forces them to talk about each other. Even though Colman has little on-screen time in the first episode, she nevertheless has an impact.