9 Bridgerton season 1 moments to remember for Netflix’s season 2

Bridgerton season 2 gets underway quickly — so quickly, in fact, it’s easy to second guess which season 1 details you actually remember from when it aired in December 2020. Some of the season 2 changes are pretty obvious: the Duke of Hastings won’t be returning, as he is happily married, and living a life off in his country estate. (The Duchess Daphne of Hastings, neé Bridgerton, makes appearances but breakout star Regé-Jean Page and his character remain “in the country” and never pop in for a visit.) This season, however, is all about Anthony Bridgerton, who is at the top of this series, and is looking for love, while trying not to be manipulated by Kate Sharma.

To prepare for Friday’s season 2 premiere, we’ve collected all the key tidbits from Bridgerton Season 1 is available here so that you can get up-to-speed quickly. And for an extra bit of fun, we’ve ranked them (in ascending order) for how much the season reminds you you need to know them.

[Ed. note: Spoilers abound for season 1 of Bridgerton, as faithful readers might expect.]

9. Colin becomes a student abroad child

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Colin travels to Greece for emotional healing after he has suffered from heartbreak, from his broken marriage to Marina. This is ranked low on the list both because it’s not terribly important, and also because season 2 very quickly brings viewers up to speed when someone announces to a parlor room that he’ll be stopping off at Albania on his way home. ‘Nuff said.

8. We are certain who Lady Whistledown really is

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Final moments of Season 1 Bridgerton threw a curveball: We were let in on the show’s biggest secret, the identity of ton gossipmonger Lady Whistledown. Penelope Featherington turned out to have been the woman she claimed to be, and her time in ballrooms was rewarded with gossip. It’s unlikely you’ve forgotten this Gossip Girl-esque twist, but since the show is going to remind you very quickly, don’t fret too much if you have!

7. Eloise loves to find out the identity of Lady Whistledown

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While we know Lady Whistledown’s identity, Eloise Bridgerton spent much of season 1 desperately trying to figure it out. Eloise had to be there for her, and she was so determined, even though it proved futile, the queen asked her. But when the young Bridgerton saw what she believed to be Whistledown’s carriage being approached by one of the queen’s spies, she told Whistledown to flee (without catching a glimpse of who it was).

Perhaps most crucial to remember: Eloise isn’t on the hunt just because she’s trying to get the next bit of gossip. She respects Whistledown’s disdain for the establishment and success as an independent woman.

6. Benedict is an Art Hoe

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Benedict Bridgerton is like Eloise and marches to the beat he owns. In season 1, he was finally convinced to follow his heart and pursue art — though for much of the season this mostly amounted to him getting into trysts (with the dressmaker Genevieve Delacroix, among others) and observing affairs (like that of artist Henry Granville and his boyfriend). As Benedict oft demonstrates in season 2, his passion for art is not lost. Art. It is just It happensNude models are to be included.

5. Marina Thompson where are you?

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In a late episode of season 1, it was revealed that Marina became pregnant after she had been married to a soldier. His brother Philip Crane was kind enough to marry her and rescue her from what could have been serious scandal in Regency time. Colin had broken off their engagement after Lady Whistledown — who you’ll remember is Penelope Featherington — blew up Marina’s situation. It’s mid-tier important because it’s something you need to know for a bunch of other stories, but not so much Marina’s. This does speak volumes about Penelope.

4. Right now the King of England is in a very difficult spot

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In all her pomp and grandeur, the queen conceals that the King has dementia. This makes him more susceptible to anger and confusion. It doesn’t come up much, but it’s important to remember that everything the queen does is in service of protecting the King’s (and her) place in society.

3. Everything was lost by the Featheringtons

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Lord Featherington, after arranging a boxing match died. His bookies also took his money back. The Featheringtons only had daughters so the estate was passed to an unnamed male in the family.

2. Anthony’s a capital-R Rake

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Anthony Bridgerton fell in love with an opera singer, even though their classes made it impossible for them to have a romantic relationship.

She called his bluff at the end of season 1, telling him that he “was lost,” and that she wouldn’t let him “set [her] adrift as well.” She reminded him that there are men in her life who don’t need her to dress herself up as something she’s not in order to make her “respectable.” As a result, Anthony decided he was ready to find “and promptly declare” his intentions to a viscountess. But because he got burned by the opera singer, he goes into the arrangement a bit hopeless: “I’ve finally determined the difficulty, love itself. Removing it from all romantic relations shall make me all the better for it.”

It’s ranked here because although Anthony is the protagonist of season 2, his heartbreak over his old relationship is relatively forgotten (but vital!).

1. It was an area for sports.

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Lord Featherington called Will Mondrich to fight the Duke of Hastings. It would be a lucrative bout for them both. The Duke did not like his decision, but Will could now retire from boxing, and he was able settle down with Alice to start a family.

Although this plotline isn’t vital to the first episode of the season, it’s the most cryptically alluded to, and clearly looms rather large over how Will conducts himself in season 2.