The Buccaneers creator reveals the details of the heartbreaking death in Season 2

In Episode 6 of The Buccaneers Season 2, a major character dies. Richard Marable, played by Josh Dylan, is shot dead by his brother, Lord James Seadown. This death was not originally planned, but it became part of the story during the writing process.

Series creator Katherine Jakeways confirmed that the writing team struggled with the decision. According to Deadline, Jakeways said,

“It broke our hearts. Absolutely it did. We didn’t know [that this would be the outcome] til really quite late on. We resisted it for a long time.”

This death occurs during a rescue attempt involving Jinny, Seadown’s wife, who had been locked away after being forced to return to her abusive husband. As the characters came together to try to get Jinny and her baby to safety, the conflict between the brothers led to Richard’s fatal shooting.

The episode left a lasting impact on both the audience and the creators. Jakeways said,

“We resisted, we were like ‘We can’t kill Dick, we can’t kill Dick,’ but the more we resisted it, and the more we realized how heartbroken we were about it, the more we realized that was probably the right choice.”

---

What happened in The Buccaneers season 2 episode 6?

Episode 6 of The Buccaneers Season 2 follows the growing tension between Jinny and Seadown. After hiding in Italy with Guy Thwarte, Jinny is found by her husband. Seadown takes their son Freddy back to England, tricking Jinny into meeting him at an opera. He then has her admitted into a psychiatric ward by claiming she is mentally unwell.

To be reunited with her child, Jinny returns to Seadown’s estate. There, his siblings—Richard and Honoria Marable—attempt to rescue her. Honoria manages to get Freddy out of the house. Richard unlocks Jinny’s room and tries to stop Seadown from harming himself.

Jinny escapes but hears a gunshot and returns to find Richard dead. His brother Seadown had shot him. The moment marked the climax of the long-standing conflict between the characters and revealed the serious emotional and physical toll of the abusive relationship.

---

How the writers decided on Richard’s death in The Buccaneers season 2

According to Deadline, the writers originally did not want to kill Richard. Jakeways said,

“We talked about the finale, and we talked about having a scene with the Brittleseas, with Richard and Honoria and Seadown all being in one room, and being able to talk about their childhoods and connect in a way that we’ve never seen them do before.”

The team considered multiple outcomes. Jakeways added,

“We gamed out all of the versions of it, of who we might lose. The obvious choice probably would have been, if it was Seadown, which I think would be what people are expecting.”

Eventually, they chose to kill Richard. Jakeways explained,

“Because he’s so great, and he’s so lovely, and he and Conchita are such a good match. It broke our hearts to think about it. So it was a bit irresistible to do it, but we still feel very sad about it as well.”

---

Impact on Conchita and the future episodes of The Buccaneers

Richard’s death in The Buccaneers Season 2 will affect his wife, Conchita Closson, played by Alisha Boe. According to executive producer Beth Willis,

“We do get to see a whole new side to Conchita. She copes with that grief, and she’s a single mum, and she’s a businesswoman, and she’s looking after his family, her family, her friends, they’re all living with her.”

Willis explained that Conchita’s storyline will change moving forward.

“It’s just this sort of huge burden, which she really kind of steps up to the challenge for. It is absolutely heartbreaking, but when we move past that episode, I feel kind of really excited about what that means for Conchita as a character.”

Richard’s death will likely lead to emotional developments and possibly new challenges for many characters.

---

Richard Marable’s death in The Buccaneers Season 2 was not an early plot decision. It became part of the story late in the writing process, after much hesitation from the creators. The death occurs during a tense rescue scene and sets the stage for major changes in the lives of several characters, especially Conchita.