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Harlots EP Moira Buffini talks the series’ biggest shocker and where season 3 goes from here

By Lacy Baugher

HARLOTS -- Episode 303 -- All of Soho are gearing up for an illicit boxing party at Lady FitzÕs house Ð quite a statement for an aristocrat to make. But with Lydia out of Bedlam, Blayne back in England, and the Pinchers determined to seal a lucrative deal, thereÕs tension in the air. Just as the evening is taking off, an old friendÕs arrival stokes long-held rivalries. Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Liam Daniel/Hulu)
HARLOTS -- Episode 303 -- All of Soho are gearing up for an illicit boxing party at Lady FitzÕs house Ð quite a statement for an aristocrat to make. But with Lydia out of Bedlam, Blayne back in England, and the Pinchers determined to seal a lucrative deal, thereÕs tension in the air. Just as the evening is taking off, an old friendÕs arrival stokes long-held rivalries. Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Liam Daniel/Hulu) /
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The Harlots co-creator chats with Culturess about the reasons behind Season 3’s biggest twist, and where the show goes from here.

So, Harlots, huh?

The third episode of the gritty period drama’s third season served up the series’ biggest twist(s) to date, killing off a major character in a shocking accident and welcoming another back from exile.

It was kind of a lot to take in. So, suffice it to say, if you haven’t watched this episode yet, you should stop reading right now.

The most shocking moment this season – probably in the series to date – has to be the death of Charlotte Wells, the heart and soul of Harlots and the linchpin around which so many storylines turn. She dies suddenly, shoved over a balcony during an argument between the Pincher brothers at a secret boxing soiree at Lady Fitzwilliam’s house.

It’s a heartbreaking sequence, and one which Harlots fans will likely take a while to recover from. So we decided to go straight to the source, and ask co-creator and Executive Producer about Charlotte’s death, Jessica Brown Findlay’s exit and what we can look forward to in the rest of season 3.

HARLOTS — Set against the backdrop of 18th century Georgian London, Harlots continues to follow the fortunes of the Wells family. Set a year after the dramatic events of Season 2, Margaret (Samantha Morton) has been sent to America in chains and Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) is vanquished and in Bedlam. It seems that the Wells girls can finally free themselves of their motherÕs feud, helped by allies such as Lady Fitz (Liv Tyler). But Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown-Findlay) soon learns that running a lucrative brothel brings enemies as well as friends, including new pimp in town Isaac Pincher (Alfie Allen). Meanwhile Lydia still finds a way to bite, even in her darkest hour. Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam (Liv Tyler) and Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Liam Daniel/Hulu)
HARLOTS — Set against the backdrop of 18th century Georgian London, Harlots continues to follow the fortunes of the Wells family. Set a year after the dramatic events of Season 2, Margaret (Samantha Morton) has been sent to America in chains and Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) is vanquished and in Bedlam. It seems that the Wells girls can finally free themselves of their motherÕs feud, helped by allies such as Lady Fitz (Liv Tyler). But Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown-Findlay) soon learns that running a lucrative brothel brings enemies as well as friends, including new pimp in town Isaac Pincher (Alfie Allen). Meanwhile Lydia still finds a way to bite, even in her darkest hour. Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam (Liv Tyler) and Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Liam Daniel/Hulu) /

First, if it makes anyone feel better, Charlotte’s death was largely motivated by casting needs.

“We knew we only had Jess Brown Findlay for two seasons,” Buffini explained. “[But] she loves playing Charlotte and we love writing for her so she agreed to come back for three episodes [in order to wrap up her story].”

Apparently Charlotte’s death didn’t just make fans emotional, but the series’ writers as well.

“There were many tears in the writers room at the thought of killing Charlotte,” Buffini said. “She is such a bright and beautiful life force. But we had to write an ending that would give story for all the other characters.”

Unfortunately, deciding how to write Charlotte out was difficult, given her central role in the series and her connection to all the other characters.

“We didn’t want a malicious murder at the hands of some two-dimensional psycho but we did think Charlotte’s death would probably have to be violent,” Buffini explained. “She was such a fighter. It seemed right that she should die as she lived – precariously, in the moment, impulsively.”

To be fair, it’s hard to imagine Charlotte abandoning London for her dream life in America. But it’s equally difficult to picture Harlots without her.

Which, it would seem, is part of the point.

HARLOTS — Episode 302 — With CharlotteÕs brothel fire-damaged and all of her savings up in smoke, she is determined to retaliate – but the Wells women will need to be clever: The Pinchers are violent men. Lucy offers to help her sister in a way that also benefits her new business. Meanwhile, in Bedlam, Lydia and Kate dream of escape, LydiaÕs sights set on a return to her old home. Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Des Willie/Hulu)
HARLOTS — Episode 302 — With CharlotteÕs brothel fire-damaged and all of her savings up in smoke, she is determined to retaliate – but the Wells women will need to be clever: The Pinchers are violent men. Lucy offers to help her sister in a way that also benefits her new business. Meanwhile, in Bedlam, Lydia and Kate dream of escape, LydiaÕs sights set on a return to her old home. Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay), shown. (Photo by: Des Willie/Hulu) /

“Her death has an impact on everyone and its reverberations are felt right through the [rest of the] series,” Buffini said.

“I went through the grief and anger with her family and friends when I wrote Episode Four. And I think it’s the episode of Harlots I am most proud of.”

As for the rest of the season to come, Buffini was rather tight-lipped.

When asked what viewers could expect in future episodes, she merely advised, “Fasten your seatbelts.”

And with the return of Margaret Wells, who must now mourn her daughter, evade the police and take on the men she will inevitably view as responsible for Charlotte’s death, well. It feels like anything can happen, and as though the rest of this season of Harlots will look quite different than anything we’ve seen before.

Related Story. Harlots season 3 review: The series’ most shocking episode to date changes everything. light

New episodes of Harlots stream Wednesdays on Hulu.

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