Ep 8. The Romance of Certain Old Clothes

The Haunting of Bly Manor season 1 episode 8, titled "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes," is a chilling addition to the supernatural series. This episode explores the story of two sisters, Perdita and Viola, and their tumultuous love for the same man, Arthur. The episode is narrated by a character named Isabel, who is reading the story from a book.

The episode begins with Isabel's narration, introducing the sisters as "two perfect beauties, both in love with the same man." We then see flashbacks of the sisters as children, playing together in the family's grand estate, Bly Manor. It becomes clear that despite their close relationship, there is a sense of tension between them as they grow older and their feelings for Arthur become more prominent.

As Perdita and Viola both vie for Arthur's attention, tensions rise and relationships become strained. Perdita, described as being "clever and cunning" by Isabel, manipulates Arthur into proposing to her. However, their joy is short-lived when Viola also confesses her love for Arthur and reveals that she is pregnant with his child.

The sisters' relationship deteriorates further as Viola's health declines during her pregnancy. Perdita becomes increasingly jealous and resentful of her sister, while Viola begins to feel as though she is cursed. Her condition worsens, and after giving birth to a stillborn child, she becomes bedridden.

Isabel's narration takes a supernatural turn as she describes the eerie happenings that occur in Viola's room as she lays dying. The ghosts of her dead relatives begin to appear to her, and she becomes obsessed with the idea of being trapped in the family's old wedding dress. She makes her husband promise to never sell the dress, even after her death.

After Viola's passing, Perdita and Arthur marry, but their happiness is short-lived. Perdita's manipulations finally catch up to her, and Arthur leaves her for another woman. Isabel's narration comes full circle as she reveals that the old wedding dress, which Viola had been obsessed with, has now become a cursed object, haunting the family for generations to come.

Overall, "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" is a haunting tale of jealousy, love, and tragedy. The episode adds depth and context to the ghosts that haunt Bly Manor, and the characters' motivations and backgrounds become clearer. The haunting visuals and chilling narration add to the eerie atmosphere of the series, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.