The wait is finally over! After two years of waiting, season 2 of Bridgerton is out!!
It’s all there. From the looks, tension, groveling, bantering, sneaky links, smirks, smiles, and more. This season was utter PERFECTION *chefs kiss.*
When everyone found out that the Duke of Hastings, a.k.a Simon Basset, played by Regé-Jean Page, was not going to appear in season 2 of Bridgerton, viewers were devastated. But after binging this new season, dare I say, I am completely okay with him not coming out. Chris Van Dusen, the executive producer, made sure to make up for that fact by giving us a trope and many scenes we did not know we needed.
*WARNING: Please do not continue to read if you have not watched Bridgerton Season 2 because there are many spoilers ahead*
Slow-Burn Enemies to Lovers Plot
Where does one even begin?
This Netflix original regency piece is adapted from Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series books focusing on the eight siblings: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. The first season is based on the book The Duke and I, which focuses on Daphne’s story. Daphne’s relationship with the Duke of Hastings follows a fake relationship trope. This season and trope were good, but when reminiscing about the first season, all we can think of are all the steamy scenes, right?
Now don’t get me wrong, season 1 was really good, but it was like the trial run of the series. Season 2 is completely different from the first because not only does it follow another book and trope, The Viscount Who Loved Me, but it also has so many improvements overall. This season is about Viscount Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) intentions to marry while adapting the slow-burn enemies to lovers trope. Who doesn’t love a good enemies- to-lovers trope? With his story, the writers and producers took a different approach leaving viewers gasping for air and clutching their pearls.
In Season 1, we get a very sexual side of Anthony with an opera singer, Siena (Sabrina Bartlett), whom he seemed to have a relationship with. He kept her hidden and claimed to love her, but in the end, she rejected him and decided to go with another man. It is at this very moment that Anthony swears off love, but of course, this does not last for long.
As mentioned, Anthony’s story revolves around the search for a young lady to marry and take on the role of the Viscountess. He is looking for someone who can fulfill his list of requirements—she must be tolerable, dutiful, have suitable enough hips for childbearing, and at least half a brain (this one is more of a preference). As ridiculous as his list seems, he is constantly referencing it when interviewing young ladies. While on his pursuit of finding a wife, he comes across the Sharma sisters, Kate (Simone Ashley) and Edwina (Charithra Chandran).
To make things easier for himself, Anthony decides he will marry the diamond of the season: Edwina Sharma. However, things take a toll when Kate overhears a conversation Anthony has with some friends. From that moment on there is constant groveling, bantering, and stolen glances between the two. The tension that arises between Kanthony (Kate and Anthony’s ship name) is everything!
The Dynamic Trio of the Season
In the first season, we got a glimpse of Anothony Bridgerton, but we did not exactly get to know him. He tended to be a jerk and force his decisions on his family, which essentially led to isolating himself from them. Anthony saw marriage as a duty to fulfill because of his position as Viscount and head of the family. He was looking for a Viscountess in his wife rather than a lover. But what made him like this? In this season, we finally get to see Anthony’s background and why he is the way he is. Through a series of flashback scenes, we get to see Anthony’s childhood and his close relationship with his father.
Through the death of his late father, which he happened to witness, Anthony’s persona and life took a 360 degree turn. He was now responsible for his seven siblings, his mother, and all the duties that fell under being a Viscount. Many say that he had daddy issues, but others say that he just had a lot to deal with, which resulted in emotional displacement.
Similarly, Kate Sharma, the eldest Sharma sister, believes she has certain responsibilities to fulfill, especially regarding her sister Edwina. After her Appa (dad) passed away, she automatically took the role of being the head of the family. She makes it her mission to find a suitor for Edwina to marry. Kate hopes that Edwina can find someone who can give her a happily ever after but, most importantly, love. Her entire life, Kate has always put others before herself, just like Anthony. And just like him, Kate oversteps with her sister, which puts her in a position where she must decide whether she will finally put herself first or not.
Edwina Sharma was raised to be the perfect diamond of the season by her sister Kate. She was brought and introduced to the London marriage market in hopes of finding a husband. Throughout the entire process, Edwina confides in her sister to guide her and help her make decisions. By the end, she confronts Kate for vicariously living through her, saying that she didn’t even want to get married. Edwina was quite harsh towards the end of the season, rightfully so, but it did help Kate realize what or who she truly wanted—Anthony.
Major Scenes of the Season
There were several scenes in the book that were essential in bringing the show to life. Here are some of the scenes that will live rent-free in your mind (they are also in chronological order):
- Eloise gets introduced to London’s marriage market.
- Anthony and Kate’s meet-cute scene where they are riding horses at dawn. It is also the first time we see Anthony fully smile.
- Pall Mall game with the Bridgertons and Sharma sisters. When Anthony says “You EXagGerATE”—it will have you chuckling. It is also obvious how well Kate fits in with the Bridgertons because she embraces their competitiveness.
- THE BEE SCENE. Kate gets stung by a bee, which causes Anthony to have a panic attack because of past trauma which leads him to think she will die. Kate tries to soothe him by showing him she is well and unharmed.
- Kate goes hunting with the gentlemen and has a moment with Anthony. The way he is always smelling her or trying to touch her is hilarious.
- Anthony and Kate’s first dance at the Aubrey Hall Ball, where Kate confesses she is to return to India after her sister marries. They start to fight, as usual, and they go to a study where things go down. The sexual tension and attraction radiating in that scene will have you SCREAMING. When he says “I am a gentleman,” I giggled because he is struggling to stay one.
- Anthony gets jealous when Kate gets courted by Mr. Dorset (Sam Frenchum). When helping Kate out of the boat, they have a hand moment that leads to him falling into the lake. It was HILARIOUS.
- Edwina’s pre-wedding Haldi ceremony is a beautiful portrayal of Indian culture, which is very important to the Sharma family. It also foreshadows the ending.
- The almost wedding between Edwina and Anthony had me at the edge of my bed. They honestly had me thinking they would go through with it. Thank goodness for Kate’s bangles (if you know, you know).
- Lady Whistledown snitching on Eloise’s secret outing to visit Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch) unchaperoned.
- THE GARDEN SCENE. This scene absolutely delivered! It was truly perfect because it shows how delicate and loving Anthony is with Kate. He made her and their first time all about her. He worshiped her body like a temple. And the flashbacks that she has the next morning are, phew, toe-curling. It will leave you speechless.
- Kate falls off her horse, and Anthony witnesses it. This scene was very cinematic. It makes Anthony relive what he experienced with his father’s death.
- Anthony declares his love to Kate and tells her he will “humble himself before her.” It was utter PERFECTION how he proposes, and they finally give in to their feelings.
- Eloise discovers Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) is Lady Whistledown and confronts her about it. Not going to lie, I was a little mad because Eloise would admire Lady Whistledown but was harsh to Penelope.
- Penelope overhears Colin saying he would never court her.
THE ENDING. It was immaculate. Perfect. Amazing. We get a small glimpse of Kanthony’s married life after honeymooning for six months. And they end with a game of Pall Mall.
What’s next for the Bridgertons?
As we know, there are eight Bridgerton siblings, and so far, we have only covered two. Although the two seasons have given hints about the other sibling’s storylines, fans anxiously await Polin’s story (Colin and Penelope), Benedict’s Cinderella-like story, and Eloise’s. Even though season 2 was just released, viewers are already asking for season 3. We cannot wait to see more of Kanthony, their married life, and them becoming parents. Many viewers, including myself, were mad that their ending was a bit rushed. We wanted more screen time with these two characters because Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashely’s chemistry was insane.. They definitely outdid themselves and served! The pair fully embodied and studied their characters.
It is officially confirmed by the official Bridgerton Instagram account that there will be two more seasons, and Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington said they will begin filming Season 3 in the summer. Simone Ashely and Anthony Bailey also confirmed that they will return to support the rest of the Bridgerton siblings and their stories. They really are giving the fans what they want with these two.
With that said, what Bridgerton sibling do you think will lead season 3? Colin? Benedict? Or perhaps Eloise?