Surface Season 2 Episode 5 recap: Tess uncovers more family secrets

In Surface Season 2, Episode 5, the story continues with Tess (who used to be called Sophie) trying to uncover more about her past, especially what happened to her mother and her connection to the wealthy Huntley family. The episode is split into three main storylines, each adding more layers to the mystery.

The Huntleys are at the center of the story. Henry Huntley, the family patriarch, is revealed to be Tess’s father. This discovery shakes up the family, especially since Tess has been secretly investigating them.

Quinn, Henry’s son, confronts his dad about possibly being involved in Phoebe’s death. Henry doesn’t admit to it, but he doesn’t deny it either, leaving Quinn, and the audience, wondering if Henry is guilty.

Meanwhile, Eliza, Henry’s daughter, finds old photos of Tess’s mother, Emma, in the house. This hints that Eliza is about to learn the truth about Tess being her half-sister.

Anne, Henry’s sister, also discovers these photos in a hidden darkroom, which suggests that Henry still has feelings for Emma, even though she’s been gone for years. The family is hiding a lot, and Tess’s arrival is forcing their secrets to come out.

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About the departure

Huntley estate, where signs of last night’s celebration between Eliza and Sophie remain. However, Eliza wakes up to find Sophie missing. Anne, Eliza’s aunt, informs her that Sophie left at dawn, claiming she was heading back to London. Eliza pretends she already knew about Sophie’s departure, but she can sense Anne’s growing suspicion.

Anne soon confirms her doubts when she finds the study room door open and the lamp still on, clear signs that someone had been inside. But the real proof comes when she notices that the darkroom door is also slightly open. Inside, Anne sees old photographs of Emma Antoine-Day, Sophie’s mother.

The photos have been conveniently left out in the open, making Anne realize Sophie had found them.

Anne immediately calls her brother, Henry, and tells him that Sophie has come back to uncover the truth about her identity. She is convinced that Sophie is the same woman who worked at their estate ten years ago as a stable hand, Emma’s daughter, and a true Huntley by blood.

Callum, a journalist, is still digging into Tess’s past. With the help of his colleague Clare, he investigates a church that seems connected to Tess’s early life. At the church, they find a file about a young girl named Tess Caldwell who died years ago.

This is confusing because the Tess we know is alive, so it raises questions about her real identity. Did she take the name of a dead girl? And if so, why?

Clare also has a tense conversation with Quinn, revealing that Tess “isn’t who he thinks she is.” This adds more mystery to Tess’s backstory and makes us wonder what else she’s hiding. Callum’s investigation is uncovering pieces of the puzzle, but it’s still not clear how everything fits together.

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James and Tess’s complicated relationship

The other storyline focuses on James, Tess’s ex-husband. He confronts Tess about the $8 million she stole from his law firm. James reveals that he took out shady loans to cover her debts and is now in serious trouble because of it.

He’s being threatened by dangerous people who want their money back.

Tess, however, seems unfazed and even a little annoyed by James’s problems. She brushes off his concerns, saying the firm had insurance, but James explains that it’s not that simple, he’s in real danger.

Tess then reveals to James that Henry Huntley is her father and takes him to her mother’s grave. This is a big moment because it shows Tess is starting to trust James with her secrets. They also visit an old family friend who knew Tess’s mother, Emma, and her father, Henry.

The friend explains that Emma and Henry were in love, but Henry’s father didn’t approve, so they were forced apart. Emma later died under mysterious circumstances, and Tess (who was known as Sophie back then) was sent away.

This fills in some gaps about Tess’s childhood but also raises more questions about what happened to her mother.

At the end of their conversation, Tess gives James $500,000 to help him with his money problems. However, James secretly records the passcode to Tess’s encrypted USB stick, which contains important information about her past.

This suggests that James might betray Tess later, either by stealing her money or using the information against her.

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This episode gives us some answers but also introduces new mysteries. The story is getting more complicated, with secrets about Tess’s identity, her mother’s death, and the Huntley family’s dark past.

If you’re a fan of mysteries and thrillers, this episode is worth watching. It sets up a lot of questions that will hopefully be answered in future episodes.

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