After the dramatic conclusion of episode two, in which Sue (Ella Hunt) finally gives birth to her child, Dickinson Season 3 continues to see almost every major character reach their breaking point. The Civil War looms over the third episode as the series gives us several first-hand accounts of how the bloodiest war in American history took a toll on the nation’s inhabitants.

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Hailee Steinfeld continues to shine in the titular role of Emily. However, while the multitalented singer/actress leads, her supporting cast gets their fair share of attention from the writing room as well. For example, Adrian Blake Enscoe’s Austin Dickinson. After so many of his friends go off to war, an ugly heart-attack-inducing argument with his father, and the birth of his name, the young man is on the edge. On the other hand, after a quick recovery from said heart attack Toby Huss’ Edward Dickinson, the matriarch of the family seems to accept the nature of death with Emily declaring peace within her household.

However, things are not always as Emily seems because, as Anna Baryshnikov’s Vinnie declares: peace is not an option. Emily suddenly fights herself in the middle of a rift between Austin and her father and Sue and her mother (Jane Krakowski), when all she wants to do is put pen to page. Her semblance of peace is suddenly faced with the urgent matters of her family and what they need from her. This, unfortunately, ruins Emily’s semblance of peace, and viewers are taken back to a familiar place with Steinfeld’s character, on the verge of a mental breakdown.

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Up until the season two finale, Dickinson was clearly leading Emily and Sue to get together and love each other. That finale brought that moment to the forefront in a still-talked-about intense sex scene. However, in season three’s addition of Sue’s child, a rift forms in-between the two star-crossed lovers. Sue feels neglected and as if Emily chooses her family first. All the while, Emily is simply trying to make sure everyone is okay. It’s too much for one woman and Steinfeld has a way of expressing that sense of desperation and confusion while Hunt effortlessly allows Sue’s longing for love to feel realistic.

The aforementioned Civil War continues to loom in the background of the series. In the previous two episodes, Henry (Chinaza Uche) is traveling towards the war. However, during the final moments of episode 3, he arrives in the South. Turns out, he is looking to be a part of the first all-Black battalion. The dramatic beat is considerably heartfelt as up until now, Henry has been using his words to fight for freedom.

In the same vein as a conversation that takes place during Vinnie’s sewing party, The Civil War has reached a boiling point to where the effects of the war are eliciting emotions out of everyone. Including Henry, who apparently feels no choice but to sacrifice himself for his beliefs. However, his wife Betty (Amanda Warren) finds herself in the middle of doing something about it as well as works to transcribe the life and times of Sojourner Truth.

Season three of Dickinson looks to build upon its legacy established over the last few years. Tell the story of the ugliness that was early America. The world in which these characters reside is a mess and so are the characters themselves. – Christian Hubbard

Rating: 8/10

New episodes of Dickinson stream Fridays on Apple TV+.

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