TV & Film
‘Tis the season once again to find the diamond of the ton!
Bridgerton has returned on Netflix for its second season following the mass success of the show’s first season, which revolved around the heated “fake dating” plot featuring Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). Loaded with sexual tension and scandal, the second season reangles itself towards emotional discovery with a new protagonist, Daphne’s older brother, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).
The first season established Anthony as the eldest son of the Bridgerton family and the ever-responsible man of the house—despite hiding a secret affair on the side. His duty towards his family was evident from the beginning, subsequently pushing into the forefront of the new season.
Admittedly, Anthony didn’t win me over as the protagonist from the get-go, but you start to understand him halfway into the season. Though typically seen as the impassive eldest child, Anthony unpacks the emotional trauma that came with the death of the Bridgerton patriarch—which is the reason he was made viscount at such a young age. Bailey does an exquisite job keeping the audience in tune with Anthony’s emotions and thought process while simultaneously keeping his supporting characters at arms’ length.
But alas, Anthony had to let his guard down eventually. As he looks for a wife—his new viscountess—we are introduced to the Sharma sisters.
British-Indian actresses Charithra Chandran and Simone Ashley are the season’s gems, rejuvenating Bridgerton as Edwina and Kate Sharma respectively. Their love triangle with Anthony is well-supplied with the elegance they bring to the table as his fondness for Edwina is so visually distinct from his desire for Kate.
It becomes known that since both Anthony and Kate are eldest siblings, their common ground is their duty towards their families. This, however, doesn’t create a strong enough foundation for them as they are left secretly pining for each other through an uncomfortable cycle of stares, sniffs, and bickering. Despite the juicy “enemies to lovers” framework we all love to see, the buildup in the first seven episodes doesn’t feel like it satisfies their happy ending.
Furthermore, there were moments here and there where the couple’s chemistry felt forced. For instance, in a scene where Anthony experiences what seems to be a panic attack, Kate tries to calm him down by holding him close, which leads them to almost share a kiss. Though the intention is there, the romantic potential of this particular scene is ruined when it’s prefaced by something as triggering as anxiety.
While I admire the writers’ attempt at shining more light on romance this season, I’ll be honest: The sex scenes from the first season were simply more entertaining than the try-hard moments from Season 2. After the initial season banked so much on Daphne’s sexual exploration and her eventual romance with the Duke, one would expect this season to up its game. Unfortunately, attention on their new protagonists scattered more onto the supporting cast.
While the Bridgerton actors deserve much credit for giving their all in their performances, it was the text that pushed them under the bus. New subplots for some characters were injected into the narrative, most of which seemed forced and unnecessary. With Benedict’s sudden School of Humanities student character development and the Featheringtons’ new “sugar daddy,” it felt as if the show was overcompensating for the exit of Regé-Jean Page, who was a key factor in the positive reception of Season 1.
With the demotion of Daphne’s character to a recurring role in this new season, it almost hurts to say that the show felt incomplete when she wasn’t in an episode.
Needless to say, Bridgerton Season 2 felt like a hollow diamond—one the Queen would not deem worthy of her endorsement. There was an opportunity for the writers to really build a proper romance between Anthony and Kate but all their silent and distant stares culminated in what felt like nothing.
Marks were missed, leading us to only feel infatuated with the characters—not truly in love. Lady Whistledown would state this similarly, but this author could’ve lived without seeing this season. However, if you’re looking for a visually-pleasing watch, checking out the beautiful actors of this show would be a valid way to kill time.
