Apple TV+ has officially renewed The Buccaneers for a third season — news enthusiastically welcomed by creator Katherine Jakeways, who teased “more corsets, ballroom gowns, and cliffside chases through Tintagel.” Inspired (loosely, at this point) by Edith Wharton’s unfinished final novel, the series has built a loyal following among younger viewers and fans of modernized costume dramas, even as it continues to divide literary purists.

According to Apple’s press release, the new season will see the “Buccaneers” reacting and moving forward together. While the first season focused on the thrill and disillusionment of first love, season three will explore what the platform calls “the loves of their lives.” A mysterious new duke will arrive to shake up Tintagel, and Joe Innes joins as an executive producer for this next chapter.

But for those of us who admire Wharton, the excitement rings hollow. I’m in the group that isn’t celebrating. Over time, The Buccaneers has morphed from a sharp, socially observant critique of class, marriage, and power into something glossy and adolescent — charming at times, yes, but utterly unrecognizable in spirit. The original Wharton tone — ironic, elegant, and devastating — has vanished behind slow-motion montages and indie-pop soundtracks.

Wharton’s story, left unfinished by her death, was about American women pushed into the British marriage market as a form of social mobility. On television, they’ve become near-feminist icons in pastel gowns, symbols of modern sisterhood. There’s nothing wrong with reinvention, but there’s a thin line between reinterpretation and distortion — and that line was crossed long ago.

There’s no release date yet for season three, though production is expected to begin soon. It might well be the show’s most ambitious outing. But for those who fell in love with Wharton’s world before Apple did, this is no longer The Buccaneers she once imagined — and perhaps would no longer recognize.