Treasure Island Episode 3 Officially Kills Off Its First Major Character

MGM+’s Treasure Island has been closer to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel than most adaptations, but Episode 3 takes a sharp and deadly turn away from the book. Titled The Wide Eternal Sea, the third chapter of Robert Murphy’s six-part series finds the Hispaniola running low on food and patience.

After the big battle of the last episode, food is being rationed and the ship has no surgeon, leaving the crew more restless. Meanwhile, Hayley Atwell‘s Bess Hawkins leans on Jack Huston’s Aaron Graham for protection, while Jim, played by Tom Sweet, drifts closer to David Oyelowo‘s Long John Silver.

Every adult on board wants Flint’s £700,000 treasure, and the episode makes it clear that nobody can be trusted. By the end of the hour, Bess Hawkins is dead, and the mother-and-son team that started this journey is officially over. In Stevenson’s book, Jim’s mother never even boards the ship, making it a major change in the series.

Long John Silver Is Accused of Murdering Bess Hawkins

David Oyelowo as Long John Silver in Treasure Island | Credits: MGM+

Long John Silver has been quietly building power on the Hispaniola. He now has a loyal crew around him, one of whom even carves him a new wooden leg. He has also spread the word that Bess holds the map, and she can only watch as his grip on the ship grows tighter.

Bess does not hide her hatred for him. In their final conversation, she openly insults Silver, and Captain Smollett sees the whole confrontation. Silver walks away, but soon after, Bess opens her cabin door to an unseen visitor. She was expecting Aaron Graham, but she was surprised to see this visitor instead.

When Jim returns, he finds his mother dead and the cabin torn apart. For everyone on board, the answer seems obvious. Silver had motive, and Smollett saw the two of them argue just before her death. Even Jim, who had started trusting the cook, turns on him.

Silver is arrested and sentenced to be executed. Viewers never see who was at the door, and Silver is far from the only person who wanted the map. Considering everyone’s hidden motives on this ship, Bess’s killer could be anyone on this ship. Even Graham is not off the hook for this murder.

Jim Discovers Aaron Graham’s Secret Plan

Jack Huston as Aaron Graham in Treasure Island | Credits: MGM+

Bess Hawkins chose Aaron Graham as her protector right from the moment she set foot on his ship in Episode 1, but he has been working his own angle all along. When he asks why Silver followed them aboard if the map was burned, Bess finally admits she has a copy.

But she claims Billy Bones slipped it into her bags, hiding the truth that the only copy lives in Jim’s head. Graham tries to send her away, but she wins him over by seducing him. She then makes her move, warning Graham that Silver wants his ship. She promises to show him the map, but only after Silver is locked up and Graham has full control of the crew.

The crew soon demands to know why they are not sailing to Jamaica as planned. Graham suggests a stop at San Dominic for trade, promising everyone a share. When Silver questions whether it is legal, Graham turns his guns on the crew, and Silver backs down.

The sudden change in plans worries Jim, and he turns to Silver after fighting with his mother. Silver shows him the letter Squire Livesey sent to the Admiral, which he found among Graham’s things. Graham was sent to take the treasure for the Crown. When Bess confronts him, Graham admits it but insists he loves her. He offers her half of his 20% fee, just £70,000, and she accepts.

Silver and Graham Finally Discover Where the Treasure Island Map Is

Hayley Atwell as Bess Hawkins and Tom Sweet as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island | Credits: MGM+

For most of the episode, Long John Silver works on Jim Hawkins the same way he did in Episode 2. He warns the boy about Graham and tells him to stop relying on his mother and think for himself. He even offers Jim half of Flint’s treasure if he helps him. While Bess teams up with Graham, Jim leans toward Silver.

Silver also proves how ruthless he can be. With rats eating the food and Graham again blaming him for the dead cat, Silver kills a dying sailor and throws his body into the sea as bait. It attracts a shark, which the crew catches for fresh meat. It is a grim reminder that Silver will do whatever it takes to survive.

The secret Bess died protecting does not stay hidden for long. At her funeral, Jim glances at a page of the Bible and then recites the whole thing from memory. Both Silver and Graham watch him do it, and they finally understand that there is no paper map at all. The map is in Jim’s head. With his mother gone, Jim is now alone on a ship full of men who will stop at nothing to get the treasure.

Was Bess Hawkins’ murder a shocking turn of events for you in this episode? Let us know in the comments below!

Treasure Island airs weekly on MGM+ in the US, with new episodes landing on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland a day later.