To describe The Buccaneers as a mere love story would be an act of irreverence to its narrative layers. No doubt, the ongoing saga between its romance leads—where Theo and Guy both vie for Nan’s love—steered the ship in the first season, but anyone who’s watched the beloved Apple TV+ regency romp can attest to its real core. 1870s England it may be, but between palpable shows of female solidarity, compelling moments of a mother’s trying love and muddy character arcs on display, the period drama remains full of heart and self-discovery. At the same time, it’s fearless in its fun too; one moment you’re married into proper society and the next, you’re running around barefooted with your crew, splashing around alongside some gorgeous countryside and its babbling brooks. It’s in these moments too, that more poignant moments come to pass for its colourful cast of characters.
One of such highly-anticipated arcs of the currently airing Season 2? That of Theo’s, the dashing Duke of Tintagel, who is currently married to Kristine Froseth’s Nan—despite knowing that something is dangerously amiss between her and his brother-in-arms Guy Thwarte (Matthew Broome). The first episode of the second season wastes no time in getting at the holes in Nan and Theo’s relationship; distrust builds in left-behind coats found in the Duke’s home and Nan’s obvious emotional distance. So with tensions escalating and the truth threatening to break to the surface, it’s clear that Theo will have to deal with a certain can of worms at some point this season. When that moment comes however, there may be a lot of hurt, but there’s also plenty of liberation to be found—at least according to Guy Remmers, who plays Theo in The Buccaneers.
“It’s the first time in his life where he’s just unleashed. He’s free, completely free,” describes a pensive Remmers. “He has lived in a society and a family which has suppressed their feelings but in that moment, he allows himself to just feel.”
Plenty of things to unpack for our brooding Duke then. With more juicy regency drama on its way to us this season, Remmers speaks to Vogue Singapore about Theo’s big moment, dancing on set, and his most adored character arcs of The Buccaneers Season 2.
Season 2 starts with married life for Theo and Nan. Would you say he’s blissfully unaware at the start? Tell us more about his state of mind at the start of the season.
Yeah I think there’s a bit of that. You know, in the last couple episodes of Season 1, he finds out the feelings and relationship that Nan and Guy have. On the morning of the wedding, he gives Nan an ultimatum, because he knows something’s up. So all those feelings haven’t gone, that they’re definitely still there, but she’s shown up. So he’s trying to bury them, but they’re not completely gone. But I think on that wedding day, he needs to try and trust that. So he’s blissfully unaware of some stuff, but he definitely has a little seed of something that doesn’t feel, you know, completely amazing. That doubt grows even in the first episode with little things that he finds. So yeah, I think he’s in denial a little bit.
We can sense a turning point coming for Theo this season. Tell us more about how you prepared for this moment.
I shot this moment first actually, this turning point. So that was a bit of a challenge—mentally starting at the turning point. I had to really think about how someone would deal with their whole life flipping upside down. I thought of it in animalistic terms; you know when we’re children, or an animal is kind of cornered or frightened, they kind of go into fight or flight mode. That was the mentality I applied to how Theo carries himself at that point.
It’s this really lovely moment where he’s already gotten all of his anger and rage out. He just starts to feel. He has lived in a society and a family which has suppressed their feelings but in that moment when he does that dance, he allows himself to just feel with no barriers nor blockages. It’s the first time in his life where he’s just unleashed. He’s free, completely free. Those are the two things I played with: how you are when you’ve been wronged, and the aftermath of that. The sense of ‘I deserve to live’.
So I did a couple of rehearsals with our amazing choreographer, Sam, and we just blocked the skeleton of where I was going to go so the camera would know where I was going to go. But we didn’t really rehearse any dance moves. But I’m kind of lucky, I love to dance. I just had to imagine that nobody else was there. I had to dance as Theo though, so I had to think about how people danced in that time. I couldn’t do something specific, like dabbing or anything contemporary. Luckily, I was allowed to dance to my own music choices.
What songs did you pick?
The first song was Jamiroquai’s ‘You Give Me Something’. They’re like one of my favourite bands of all time and their music just makes me want to dance. And then the second song was ‘Town Called Malice’ by The Jam.When I watched Billy Elliot as a kid—the version with Julie Walters—there’s a sequence where Billy Elliot kind of just starts dancing and kicking stuff and running down the street and tap dancing. I felt like that was kind of Theo in that moment. He was just like, kicking down stuff and and moving madly. So those were the two songs that I chose—they were the keys really. Me and Theo were unleashed simultaneously.
What is something you’ve learnt about Theo along the way?
I would say that throughout your life, you are met with challenges and obstacles but also beautiful circumstances, and happiness and joy. Despite those two things—that are always kind of running alongside each other, and we know it’s also unleashed at some point for Theo— his core, his soul, never changes. You know, he’s an empathetic person and that never changes. Despite things that happen in your life, you still have that soul that is a result of your family, and your friends and your upbringing. I believe that that happens with Theo, you know, despite everything that happens in Season 2. At the end, he’s still an empathetic, kind person.
This show focuses on many other types of love, apart from just romance. What are some of your personal favourite relationships that develop on-screen?
Cool, yeah. In this season, it would definitely be the one between Theo’s mum, the Dowager and Reid Robinson. They have a lovely, lovely relationship, which I loved watching develop on screen. That was a big one. That was my favourite. I also love Theo and Guy’s friendship, and I loved doing those scenes in Season 1 with Matt. We didn’t have loads in Season 2, but when we did, they felt really special. I also love Guy and Paloma. I love their dynamic. I think it’s a fresh dynamic that we haven’t seen yet in The Buccaneers. So, yeah, those are the two that I really enjoyed watching and seeing grow.
Everyone’s obviously very excited about Leighton being added to the cast—do you get to interact or work with her much?
Yeah no, I don’t have a lot of scenes with her, but I did get to meet her a few times. And she’s so lovely. So lovely, so kind, and she was such a beautiful energy to be added to the cast. It felt like she had always been there, you know? We were all very excited that she was joining and then when we all met her, we were just like, wow, she’s so lush. So like I said, I didn’t have loads of scenes of her, but it’s been really cool to watch and see her in the world.
Theo loves his art and painting. What sort of films and art do you think the Duke of Tintagel would love in today’s world?
Oh, what film would Theo love? I think he would love Pride and Prejudice. I think he’d love Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy. Art is a good one. Well he’s a lover of nature and forests and greenery. Maybe in his unleashed era, he would love an expressionist artist like Joan Miró, because it’s all very expressionistic and colourful.
You’ve got an eye for fashion too. Any wardrobe you really wanted to keep?
Yeah, definitely. There’s a scene in Episode 1 where I’m coming back from a walk, and I hang my coat up. We called it my riding coat; it’s this long wax trench, riding coat. I love that and I really wanted that. But there’s so many of the costumes. The tailoring is so amazing and quite different to the tailoring that we wear today, especially with the cravats and the trimmings. I think it’s the only time I’ve ever worn like a full tuxedo, you know? So, I really wanted to keep the tuxedo too.
So out of the world of The Buccaneers, where can we see Guy Remmers next?
I’ve always wanted to play a detective. I love detective dramas. Like Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes, Matthew Mcconaughey’s Rust Cohle in True Detective, Carey Mulligan played a great detective too in Collateral. I’ve also always wanted to be in a Martin McDonaugh movie—I think his characters are so colourful and full of life.
Oh I’m a big fan of racquet sports as well, I played a lot of tennis when I was younger. So when I watched Challengers, I thought I would love to do a movie like that too. I would love to wrestle my way into this racquet sport thing that’s happening at the moment. What else? Hmm, maybe something in space.
So the Duke’s going to space?
The Duke’s going to space.
Watch Season 2 of The Buccaneers on Apple TV+ now.
