Ep 2. Divorce

Another Period season 1 episode 2, titled "Divorce," continues the outrageous and hilarious story of the Bellacourt sisters and their scandalous escapades during the early 1900s. The episode opens with the arrival of a new character, Hortense, the Bellacourt's cousin who is also their aunt (due to some family intermarriage). Hortense is introduced as a very proper and conservative woman who disapproves of the Bellacourt lifestyle, specifically their love of lavish parties and society affairs. However, the Bellacourts are determined to turn her into a fun-loving and scandalous party girl like themselves.

Meanwhile, Lillian and Beatrice's husbands, Victor and Albert, are at odds after a disastrous hunting trip. Victor is a quack doctor who thinks he can cure Albert's impotence with his patented "Electric Penetrator," to which Albert is very resistant. The tension between the two men only escalates when Albert announces his plans to divorce Beatrice. This sets off a chain of events that involves secret affairs, blackmail, and even a fake pregnancy.

As the episode progresses, Hortense is slowly pulled into the Bellacourt lifestyle, even as she tries to resist. She is introduced to cocaine, attends wild parties, and even ends up having an unexpected steamy encounter with the Bellacourt's butler, Peepers. All the while, the tension between the sisters and their husbands mounts, and the possibility of divorce becomes more and more inevitable.

The humor in "Divorce" largely stems from the absurdity of the Bellacourt sisters' antics as they try to convince Hortense to embrace their way of life, as well as the increasingly ridiculous schemes that the various characters come up with in order to save their marriages (or in some cases, end them). The show's satirical take on the excesses of the wealthy during the Gilded Age is on full display in this episode, with the Bellacourts seeming completely detached from reality as they throw extravagant, over-the-top parties and engage in all manner of bizarre behavior.

Despite the ridiculousness of the plot, the show still manages to touch on some serious issues, particularly in its exploration of the unhappy marriages of Lillian and Beatrice. Both women are trapped in loveless, empty relationships, and it's clear that while they may enjoy their lavish lifestyles and their ability to manipulate those around them, they are ultimately unfulfilled. The show also hints at the many ways in which women were oppressed during this time period, from the lack of opportunities for education and careers to the expectation that they must marry and be subservient to their husbands.

Overall, "Divorce" is a fun and irreverent continuation of Another Period's first season. It's a show that doesn't take itself too seriously, but still manages to be sharp and incisive in its social commentary. As the Bellacourts continue to navigate their scandalous lives, viewers can look forward to even more outrageous moments and biting satire in future episodes.