‘Treasure Island’ Episode 2 Recap and Ending Explained: Jim’s Decision to Free Long John Silver

Few adventure tales endure like a classic pirate story, and the latest adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless work is designed to captivate a new audience. MGM+’s six-part series follows Jim Hawkins as he transitions from a sheltered boy to a daring young pirate, with his mother Bess facing peril alongside him.

The series features Tom Sweet as Jim, Hayley Atwell as Bess, David Oyelowo as Long John Silver, and Jack Huston as British agent Aaron Graham. It premiered on MGM+ on October 11, with new episodes available on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland the following day. The series finale is scheduled for mid-November.

In the episode titled “Great Britain,” directed by William McGregor, the narrative shifts entirely to the Hispaniola, altering the power dynamics on board. When a Spanish ship launches an attack, Silver finds himself imprisoned, and Jim makes the pivotal choice to set him free. This moment reveals Silver’s true intentions throughout the story.

After Bess burned the treasure map in the premiere, Jim’s recollection becomes the sole copy, making them the most sought-after passengers on the ship. Silver, however, suspects that Bess has made a duplicate. The episode begins with Jim attempting to redraw the map, only for Silver to interrupt before he can finish.

Bess destroys the new version of the map, leading Silver to threaten Jim with a knife while Bess insists they know nothing. His tactics grow increasingly sinister, as he tells the crew that the presence of “the widow” brings misfortune, culminating in him hanging a dead cat in the Hawkins cabin.

When Silver confronts Bess again, she retaliates by pushing him into the sea. The crew rescues him, and Jim assists, though he is displeased to learn of his mother’s actions. Graham later reveals Silver’s harassment of Bess to the crew, resulting in Silver’s imprisonment.

Recognizing she cannot combat Silver alone, Bess seeks Graham’s help. She feigns interest in him, and he shares the story of his wife, who passed away just six weeks prior to the voyage. Bess hopes that by winning him over, his Marines will protect her from Silver.

However, Graham proves to be more than just a simple target. The episode discloses that he boarded the ship after Squire Livesey’s letter reached the right hands. His true objective is the map locked in Jim’s memory, and Flint’s treasure is his mission.

Graham does not have a counterpart in Stevenson’s novel, making him the show’s most unpredictable element. Now, everyone aboard the Hispaniola is after the same boy.

The climax unfolds when the mysterious ship that Graham and Captain Smollett have been tracking returns. It is a Spanish vessel that attacks the Hispaniola. Bess arms herself with a flintlock and sword to fend off the intruders.

As a raider targets Jim, Silver intervenes and implores Jim to release him to help save the ship. Jim complies, and together they leap into the sea, confronting the attackers and setting their ship ablaze.

Jim even rescues Silver when his leg catches fire, using the smoldering boot to ignite the gunpowder as they escape. This act transforms Jim into the day’s hero, ensuring he won’t be punished afterward. Meanwhile, Silver unofficially takes control of the Hispaniola.

This was Silver’s strategy all along. While threatening Jim didn’t yield the map, gaining the boy’s trust might. Earlier, Silver had approached Jim about the dance steps taught by Billy Bones, claiming he never intended to harm Bones.

New trailer for ‘TREASURE ISLAND’ has been released. Starring David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell. Premiering October 11 on MGM+. https://t.co/Sko1cr2vHD

— Nexus Point News (@NexusPointNews) September 24, 2026

The twist lies in Jim’s awareness of Silver’s danger, yet he chooses to ally with him. In the original novel, Silver maintains a friendly facade for much of the journey. In this adaptation, he reveals his true self early on, then regains Jim’s trust through bravery and charm.

Critics have noted this shift, with one review praising Oyelowo’s performance and suggesting that the new direction presents Silver as less of an adversary to Jim and more of an intriguing surrogate father figure. The same review highlights Bess’s expanding role as so seamless that it’s hard to believe she was barely present in the original book.

Silver will need a ship and crew to transport the treasure, and he is already cultivating a crew within the existing one. Bess, Graham, and Silver are all pursuing different agendas, with Jim caught in the middle. It remains to be seen if Jim will recognize he’s being manipulated before it’s too late.

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