Bridgerton season 2 lost Regé-Jean Page, but here’s what it gained

BridgertonThe second season has finally arrived. Netflix’s first season of Regency romance was released in December 2020. It was an oasis of calm after months of suffering from pandemics. More than a year later, the world looks a lot different — but so does BridgertonSeason 2.

The second season sees the Duchess and Duke of Hastings in blissful marriage. Which means it’s now Viscount Anthony Bridgerton’s turn to find true love and happiness. Having been burned before, he starts the season off much more interested in finding a woman who can fulfill the role of viscountess than he is in the “true love match” his mother encourages. Naturally, when Kate Sharma (a young, charming woman in town) seduces him, he does what is logical: He marries her sister.

Of course, Kate and Anthony’s story is more than just their own. Follow-up to the success of the original season meant that Kate and Anthony would have to step into large shoes. This was going be the beginning of a new era. Bridgerton’s run, which (per the book series it’s based on) will spend a season on each Bridgerton kids’ love story. Is season 2 able to match the passion and intensity of season 1? We asked Polygon’s biggest BridgertonYou can weigh in.

[Ed. note: This chat discusses some general spoilers for plotlines in season 2.]

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Petrana: Being a sucker for mutual pining, and also enemies-to–lovers tropes as well as romance, it’s something I believe in. AbsolutlyThe highs from season 1 were surpassed by this episode. There certainly are not as many sex scenes in this season, which I understand detracts from some people’s enjoyment of the show, but I always find the almost-but-not-quite moments to be delicious. Also, personally speaking, Anthony Bridgerton has all the traits I find particularly compelling in a male romantic lead — not only is he a former capital-R-Rake, but he is a tortured, big brother trying to do his best but suppressing his emotions. Kate, I love her! Her! She is far more interesting to me than Daphne, even if it’s just my opinion.

I enjoyed Daphne and the Duke, but I feel like there was such an imbalance between them in terms of knowledge of … romance and sex and life. Kate and Anthony were perfectly matched, and I loved their dynamic. Although it took a while to finish, the kisses were worth every second.

NicoleI agree with you about season 2, doing a better job of the romance pairing. Especially to your point about Kate and Anthony being on more equal terms — though I’ll say the pacing was also a double-edged sword for me.

But I’ll back up a bit. Also, In love enemies-to-lovers. Clear BridgertonAlso, he knows how entertaining this trope can make the show fun since it was an integral part of the initial season. They are always so excited to finally arrive. Finally kiss, most — that’s where the foundation is laid, where the characters have the best banter, establish chemistry, and are thrown into [wink]Indecorous situations This is an example of a Gossip GirlI had to be fully engaged for the Regency romance-esque scenes. This is what disappointed me in season 1. The lead-up was great, but the excitement dwindled quickly once the couple got to know each other. This is especially thanks to the first season’s disturbing rape scene between Daphne and the Duke, in her pursuit of having children.

Season 2 seems to have taken the far opposite tack, deciding to swerve to the “let’s stretch this out for as long as possible” approach. Although it was more enjoyable for me, it took a lot of patience.

Image by Liam Daniel/Netflix

Zosha: Nicole, you hit my main problem on the head: Yes, I love a good enemies-to-lovers burn (who doesn’t?This is a great article. Bridgertonfor not relying on the sexual assault of women for drama. The season’s attempt to make everything seem longer made some of it feel forced. The chemistry between Anthony and Kate was so palpable, and so clearly borne of at least some acknowledgement of the other as a “match” (at least in terms of sensibilities) that every time one of them feigned indifference — or even loathing — it rang a little false.

Nicole: How many times did I want to shout at Anthony Bridgerton just a bit? (OK, it was a lot.

Zosha: Exactly! They shared moments of intimacy. SoYou are strong and, like you, very romantic! The characters’ inability to feel their feelings was a major problem. They were also made to look slow and uninteresting. They seemed to have a very clear idea of what the main three players — Anthony, Kate, and her sister Edwina — needed to be, but maybe felt a draft or two away from smoothly transitioning those stories between the polite societal standards and volatile horniness they all engage in at one point or another.

Nicole: There should have been more honey bees.

Petrana:This season was for everyone who sent Alexander Hamilton and Angelica Schuyler in, I thought. HamiltonYou can also use a.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Zosha: This sums up the feeling of the entire season. I suppose my own curmudgeonly instincts here felt borne of a little concern for what the show will be: As we bounce to a new Bridgerton sibling’s love story every season, BridgertonThe romance of its leads and their vulnerability will define the lives and deaths of this series. So each time I felt a little let down by the story or the grounding of Anthony’s character, I could see the future coming where next up is Benedict, who so far (when he has been distinguishable from his brother) has been merely “art kid.” How do you two feel about the coming seasons and the next few Bridgerton boys’ chances?

Nicole: Anthony, I was thinking Fine — I see what makes him appealing, but it’s not quite my cup of tea? The man was denser than a brick about his own romantic feelings, and mean to his mom for a whole eight episodes, and idk man but that just makes me want better for Kate (Petrana, please don’t hate me). He eventually comes around and experiences some Character Growth — complete with his love’s brush with near-death, allowing him to reprocess some of that inciting trauma.

Benedict makes me happy. Do you think this is controversial? This might be because I have spoiled who some of the other Bridgertons end up with and I’m not thrilled (I love Eloise, but I am still thinking about Theo Sharpe). Benedict spent most of this season drunk on hallucinogenics, trying to eat like normal people, and weeping about the beauty of art. Someone give this man Kacey Musgraves’ Golden HourOr, marry him. You can also marry him! It’s completely unlikely, but the art collective situation in season 1 gave me just a flicker of hope. Actually, I don’t want his Bridgerton season, I just want … fanfic?

Petrana: I have already gone on record on Polygon Dot Com about the reasons Anthony hits all my sweet spots, so I will save y’all the spiel. Nicole, there are some points you make that I like Benedict more than before. Because a large part of Benedict’s art school story is about him feeling guilty for not being a romantic protagonist, and he learns his big brother funded his tuition.

Benedict is the lead for a heterosexual romantic relationship, and I find it frustrating that so much of his plotline was in Season 1. NearlyHe felt as if he was experiencing queer awakenings. Henry Granville, an artist who he attends sex parties and witnesses him with another man is what he describes as “a queer awakening.” huh, that’s a thing?We know that Benedict will not allow that to happen again, even if it does exist. So yeah, Nicole … I want the Bridgerton fanfiction! Considering that this season has already diverted enough from its source, perhaps there’s still hope for Benedict? Word’s out on that, I guess.

Zosha: That’s a fair read! It will be interesting to see what Benedict has to offer. Either way, it seems more promising than Colin, who is so terminally oblivious to Penelope’s adoration that his season essentially amounts to a Taylor Swift video (and Not a Taylor’s Version one at that).

Nicole: I do love a friends-to-lovers romance but usually those are built on a foundation of being a ……….. It’s good friend.

Colin Hutton/Netflix

Petrana:She is often the one he does not like when he’s around. He talks to her about how much he trusts her and how she is one of the best things in his life and it feels like he’s just adding “bro” at the end of his spiels of undying loyalty. He then says that he wouldn’t court her for his friends. It’s a terrible situation! Penelope is getting justice. Also, the plotlines involving friends-to-lovers and general health are all a bit ridiculous.

Nicole: This is the part where I jump in to say why did they go with “Lady Whistledown” when “PEN FEATHERington” was right there. Sorry. To the author’s credit, this is probably the point.

Zosha: You’re not wrong. And it sounds like despite coming out of season 2 with differing takes, we’re mostly on the same page: BridgertonThese romantic tropes will define its success or failure. So far you can see each story working its way through the plot machinations with a little bit of calculus to it — I’m thinking of how much the Hastings both thought They were the dummy in love, or how much Anthony and Kate protest a bit too much — and it’s mostly a matter of getting from Point A to Point B in a deliberate, but believably grounded way.

For all its fanfare, I’m not sure BridgertonWithout fail, the slow burn was a skill that she mastered. But since it’s (intentionally) transparent about the marriage plots it’s evoking, I think it’s also fighting a bit of an uphill battle when it feels too easily compared to other works, either of the fanfiction variety or just literary antecedents.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Nicole: BridgertonReally pulls from many references. Some clear nods are made by the Bridgerton clan Pride and Prejudice’s Bennet sisters, as well as its leading man. Just think about Anthony’s halting declaration of passion in season 2 (along with him climbing out of a lake, shirt plastered to chest), which echo onscreen versions of Mr. Darcy, over the years. It was the Sharma sisters that brought back memories. Sensibility and Sense’s core pair, complete with an excitable younger sister who grows chastened — and an elder sister holding a devastating secret. There’s also some Taming the ShrewFor good measure, thrown in.

It’s hard to bring these texts into modernity — they’ve been reinterpreted so many times. Und BridgertonIt does a poor job. I have complicated feelings, especially about the show’s attempt to also create a kind of post-racial version of Regency England. One episode of Season 1 acknowledges racism. didBefore allowing this to become a historical fantasy, it must exist. The logic doesn’t really hold up under scrutiny, but I also don’t necessarily demand that out of the show, at this point. I’m there for the entertainment value.

Even that can be a little difficult for me. You sometimes feel like someone has put the entire kitchen in there and dialed up the volume. It flirts with camp — bee trauma leading to chest groping? — but a lot of its source text is more satirical. I can’t always make sense of it, and I mostly just keep screaming “make out,” at the screen. As long as that part is satisfying, I think I’m happy.

Petrana: The bees are my true love and hate. [waits in silence for the resounding laughter] … get it… BEE PLOT?