‘Under the Vines’ Recap: ‘The Wellerman’ & ‘Know When to Hold ‘Em’

8/20/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Simon Mead, Charles Edwards, Rebecca Gibney, and Trae Tae Wiki as Gus, Louis, Daisy and Tippy in Episode 301 of ‘Under the Vines’ – ‘The Wellerman’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Three Premiere of ‘Under the Vines’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

It is definitely safe to say, that the hit Acorn TV series, Under the Vines, can be used as a guide for life. Simply because, Daisy and Louis have gone through moments we are all going to experience or have experienced. Since there will come a day when death changes our life in ways we never thought possible. Where new chapters will arise and force us to think differently about our path and well, that’s just a wonderful thing. Because far too often, stories merely focus upon one theme and one concept regarding life, whereas this show is taking us on the journey, and showcasing all the ups and downs and changes we go through, and mistakes we make along the way, and never was that more evident than during the show’s season three premiere.

For ‘The Wellerman’ and ‘Know When to Hold ‘Em’ pondered deeply upon how best to navigate the troublesome moments and people that keep us from getting hold of everything we want in this life. Alongside how hard it is for us to sometimes let go of the life we lead to head into a new chapter of it. Not to mention, these episodes were just full of surprises. Such as the fact that six months after William pushed his way into the award-winning world of Oakley Wines, Tippy met someone and had a baby on the way because of that encounter. Not to mention, Gus came home because he broke up with Griff and those were just those little surprises we sometimes encounter in life and were complimented nicely by those other explorations. In fact, Marissa and Don were the folks who examined the struggles we face with letting go.

Because a friendly chat with William helped Don to understand, that he and Marissa really hadn’t lived their lives. They dedicated everything to the business and sacrificed quiet time to see those awards roll in and that awakened something within Don. In that, he wanted to be free of the trappings he created, and hand off the winery and go see the world with his wife. Who… did not want to let go. For the thought of being anyone or anything else than a vintner was terrifying, and that prompted fights and an odd alliance between Marissa and Hilary, who was also battling the changes in life that a loss of sight brought her. But that aside, this was a grand look at how hard it is to let go of parts of life that we hold to greatly, and it does set the stage for a grand exploration on how we either overcome that or potentially how we lock ourselves away within what is comfortable.

Rebecca Gibney, Charles Edwards, and Mark Mitchinson as Daisy, Louis, and William in Episode 302 of ‘Under the Vines’ – ‘Know When to Hold ‘Em’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

But of course, the centerpiece exploration in this tale, involved Louis and Daisy, who were very much stuck with William in their lives, and he was indeed ruining how they wanted to run the winery. For he flexed up often about how he was half owner and that his input should be heard. Which was the problem at hand. Since he refused to hear any ideas other than his own and well, that prompted this duo to get to mediation as quick as they could to finally be free of the man. But alas, he had a signed deed to the place, that complicated matters further and left this duo listless for a time. Because it put them back at square one at a time when they should be moving forward and growing the business as they saw fit. Which in turn pushed them to despair and drinking and that in turn, brought about trouble.

Because a nasty remark from William regarding Tippy’s future with the winery, prompted a drunken defense from Daisy. One where she challenged dear William to a poker game, and if she won, he would leave and let Oakley be run by Daisy and Louis and if he won… they would move out of the main house and give William free reign there, and well, despite their efforts to cheat, they lost and faced that change and well… the point of that moment was quite clear to say the least. In that, their actions were a cautionary tale, of how one cannot let emotion and anger cloud one’s mind when an obstacle to a dream or a chance to do something amazing comes into play. Because to do so, brings forth chaos, whereas level heads would have allowed for this intelligent duo to find their seemingly impossible out.

All of which made, for a thoughtful premiere, one that also featured growth and other curious moments for the season to explore. Since Vic and Nic revealed their fight to handle the potential results of their pregnancy, and of course… Louis and Daisy danced with the flutters in their hearts again, despite Louis toying with love and despite Daisy inching closer to the big day. But what mattered more here, were those life lessons we can relate to, and those moments that remind us life is quite the wonderous journey that takes us unexpected places often, and it will be interesting to see what other lessons lie ahead as season three of this magnificent show continues along. Until next time.

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