
Most readers were likely shocked by a recent plot twist. While the books featured a fire at Fergus and Marsali’s home and print shop (set in Philadelphia, not Savannah), the casualty wasn’t Fergus himself, but their son, Henri-Christian. Though equally heartbreaking, many viewers might have anticipated this change, especially given the increased focus on Henri-Christian lately. The show even dedicated screen time to Fergus and both of his sons, with only Henri-Christian having speaking lines. However, this turned out to be a misdirection. We should have been watching Fergus, who had several scenes that strongly hinted at his impending death. The most telling was at the print shop, where he taught his sons how to use the printing press, both practically and as a metaphor for fighting for what they believe in. He reassured Henri-Christian that he was never a disappointment, and later, beamed with pride at his ink-covered son. These moments clearly signaled that Fergus’s time was limited.