Ep 3. The Sugared Plum

In Barkskins season 1 episode 3, titled "The Sugared Plum," tensions rise between the French and English as they each attempt to establish their dominance in the New World. The episode begins with a group of English traders arriving in Wobik, much to the chagrin of the French. The two groups exchange gifts and pleasantries, but it is clear that there is mistrust and animosity between them.

Meanwhile, Trepagny, who has been tasked with overseeing the construction of a new fort, continues to clash with his workers. He becomes particularly frustrated with Cooke, a skilled carpenter who appears to be more interested in drinking and socializing than actually working. Trepagny threatens to fire Cooke, but the other workers convince him to give the man another chance.

Elsewhere, Mari and Duquet continue to struggle to make a living in the forest. Mari expresses her frustration with Duquet's obsession with finding the perfect tree and suggests that they should focus on gathering furs instead. Duquet, however, remains determined to find his "holy grail" of a tree and begins to lose touch with reality.

Back in Wobik, Mathilde is approached by a group of English traders who offer her a job as a cook. Mathilde is initially hesitant, but ultimately agrees to take the position in order to provide for herself and her daughter. However, her employment with the English proves to be short-lived when she refuses the advances of one of their leaders.

As tensions between the French and English escalate, a series of violent incidents occur. Cooke is found dead, and it is suspected that he was murdered by one of Trepagny's workers. Meanwhile, the English accuse the French of stealing from their trading post and demand that they be punished for the supposed theft.

Amidst the chaos, Mari and Duquet stumble upon a group of Huron women who are harvesting wild plums. Mari decides to make a batch of sugared plums, which were her mother's specialty, and sells them to the French traders. The sugared plums prove to be a hit, and Mari realizes that this could be their ticket to financial stability.

Overall, "The Sugared Plum" is a tense and dramatic episode that sets the stage for further conflict between the French and English. The episode also explores the themes of survival and adaptation as the characters struggle to navigate their new surroundings and find a way to make a living.