Tintagel gets messier, the corsets stay tight, and a new “bad-boy” Duke promises trouble for our American heroines.
Apple TV+ is bringing back the corsets and cliffside drama — The Buccaneers has officially been renewed for a third season.
The period romance, inspired by Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel, follows a band of bold young American women shaking up elite London society in the 1870s. If the past two seasons are any guide, Season 3 will crank up the passion, the gossip and the stakes.
For viewers who fell for the show’s mix of romance, social commentary and sumptuous costumes, the renewal is welcome but not surprising. The series has built its identity on sharp character work and modern sensibilities wrapped in Victorian finery — a combination that lets audiences root for women who refuse to be defined by status or marriage alone.
Season 3 reportedly finds the group stronger and more determined: the girls aren’t just navigating first loves anymore; they’re hunting the loves of their lives — and maybe something even bigger.
Expect new heat at Tintagel. The show’s creative team teases a “mysterious Duke” whose arrival threatens to upend everything the Buccaneers have fought for. That kind of narrative pivot is smart TV: bring in an unpredictable antagonist and watch alliances shift, secrets surface and loyalties get tested. It’s the perfect setup for television that wants both heart and sting.
The ensemble cast that helped make Season 2 a lively affair is returning, giving the show both youthful energy and seasoned gravitas. Names attached across the previous season included Kristine Frøseth, Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse and Mia Threapleton, alongside veteran stars such as Christina Hendricks and Leighton Meester.
Behind the camera, Katherine Jakeways continues to steer the ship creatively; her voice — witty, compassionate and observant — is the show’s compass. Season 2 saw direction from William McGregor, Rachel Leiterman, John Hardwick and Charlie Manton, and producers Beth Willis and Jakeways remain central figures as the series moves forward.
As a writer watching this world evolve, I’m genuinely excited by how the show has modernized Wharton’s themes without losing the historical texture. Period pieces often risk feeling remote, but The Buccaneers keeps its finger on contemporary pulses — gender politics, class friction, the complicated pursuit of independence — while still delivering that glossy, escapist appeal viewers love.
Adding a darker, more enigmatic male lead is a smart shake-up; now the challenge is to ensure the women remain the story’s driving force, not props for a single-man drama.
What to watch for next season: deeper friendships (not just love stories), sharper social satire, and emotional payoffs that reflect how much these characters have grown. If the production keeps investing in costumes, locations and performances the way it has, Season 3 could be the one that cements The Buccaneers as a modern classic in the prestige TV era.
Fans have been vocal online — celebrating, speculating and already drafting fan theories about the Duke and which relationships will survive Tintagel’s turbulence. That buzz matters; in streaming land, passionate audiences are the difference between a one-off hit and a long-running sensation.
Apple TV+ and production house The Forge Entertainment (a Banijay U.K. company) are back in partnership, and Joe Innes joins the executive producer roster this season. Those behind-the-scenes additions suggest the show’s team is preparing for bigger storytelling and — hopefully — bigger emotional payoffs.
So polish your dancing shoes and set a reminder: the Buccaneers return, and with them, a mix of romance, rebellion and cliff-hanging drama. If you’re into shows that pair costume-opulence with modern heart, Season 3 should be at the top of your watchlist.
Did the renewal make you cheer or gasp? Drop your wildest Duke theories in the comments and share this story with fellow period-drama addicts — let’s get Tintagel trending.
