Bridgerton Season 2 Roundtable
We are back in the Regency era in England for another amazing season of Bridgerton. Though this season was missing the Duke, it did not lack steamy hotness. Thanks to the Viscount himself, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).
Book 2 in the Bridgerton series is “The Viscount Who Loved Me” and season 2 of the Netflix series based on that book. But that is about it. The show and book are almost completely different. Not to say I was disappointed in how this season turned out, it was just different. So let’s get into it with this Bridgerton Season 2 roundtable with me PurpleBrina and our editor Clare.
This season opens with yet another Bridgerton daughter being presented to society and ready for marriage. Miss Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) is of age for marriage but she is not ready in any way for it. What did you think of how Eloise was saved from being judged by the Queen (Golda Rosheuvel)?
PB: Of course we all know now that Eloise’s best friend is Lady Whistledown, so it totally makes perfect sense that she would have perfect timing and Eloise would escape the Queen.
C: Oh my poor Eloise. She was absolutely my fave last season (yeah, I was the nerdy, awkward one at that age). I did like that it was a new Whistledown paper that saved her from her incredibly awkward introduction to the Queen, although it was a shame she didn’t get “properly” introduced to society.
Speaking of Lady Whistledown aka Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), she is the perfect person to be this gossip. Everyone disregards her and she is able to be a wallflower and hear all the whispers. Did you think it would take Eloise so long to figure it out?
C: I was actually a little surprised that Eloise renewed her efforts to uncover Whistledown’s true identity after letting her get away at the end of season 1. I do think Pen should have told her though, instead of betraying her the way she did. I know she only did it to take the Queen’s suspicion off of Eloise but that must have hurt so much.
PB: I was a little surprised it took her so long. I was also shocked that Penelope wouldn’t just tell her. They are, or maybe were, the best of friends, and I honestly think it would have gone over better if she had told her the truth. But instead Penelope threw Eloise under the bus and lied. She really did her dirty. I am not sure how Eloise will ever forgive her.
The Viscount, Anthony Bridgerton is one determined man. And he is determined to get married this season. He is a known Rake but now he is trying to change his ways for his family. What did you think of his list of questions he was asking all the women?
PB: I thought that part was so funny. To me, it reminded me of dating apps. Some of them have all those questions you have to answer, so Anthony was ahead of his time. Haha He really knows what he wants but what he needs is love. He really needs love.
C: YES, it was totally like a dating app pre-screen questionnaire and bloody hilarious. I know he was trying to find the best match out of a sense of duty but good lord Anthony, get a clue!
The Queen did pick her diamond of the season. Thanks to a little help from her friend Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh). Miss Edwina Sharma (Carithra Chandran) is the diamond that every eligible male wants to court and marry, even Anthony. What do you think of Edwina Sharma?
C: Too young for Anthony by far, given that she’s been introduced in the same season as Eloise that makes her the same age as one of his MUCH younger sisters (girls usually “came out” in Society around 15). Edwina was very sweet, and I’m sure she will find a charming husband, but let’s be real, there was only one real Diamond and that was Edwina’s older sister Kate (Simone Ashley)!
PB: Honestly for me she looked too young for Anthony. She is very pretty and very sweet but I really thought Kate, her sister, was much more beautiful. You see in the book Edwina is the most beautiful woman and her sister Kate was written as average. I think casting might have got this wrong.
The Sharma sisters were hiding several secrets, both from Society and each other. Obviously Kate had feelings for Anthony which she tried (unsuccessfully) to hide, but she was also keeping the secret of Edwina’s inheritance/dowry from her grandparents. Do you think that she should have been honest with her sister, or do you think she did the right thing keeping the truth from her?
PB: Kate should have at least told her mom. Like why not even tell her the truth. She had to know that this wasn’t going to end well. I am sure her heart was in the right place but she should have been honest.
C: I do think she should have told her sooner, maybe even before they arrived. She’d spent all that time preparing her sister, educating her to ensure she would secure the right match but left the poor girl rather clueless and naive.
This season felt a lot more like a traditional “Jane Austen” style Regency romance, full of longing looks and barely there touches, instead of the more steamy shenanigans of Daphne and the Duke last season. Which do you prefer?
C: Oh my, I actually preferred this season. The longing looks, stolen moments, all that build up to the final realisation and acceptance, gimme a slow burn any day!
PB: I liked both. I honestly couldn’t wait for Anthony and Kate to kiss. It was killing me that they took so long to kiss. Maybe it just depends on the couple and their attraction for each other.
The Featherington women were shocked by the arrival of their handsome cousin Jack (Rupert Young), who had inherited the family estate. After discovering he wasn’t as wealthy as they initially thought, Mrs Featherington (Polly Walker) set about scheming not only a match for her daughter but also a way to scam money out of the men of the Ton. How do you think that’s going to play out in the future?
PB: I kept waiting for Cousin Jack and Mrs. Featherington to get caught by someone but no one ever walked in on them when Jack was getting close to her. I figured Mrs. Featherington had something up her sleeve because she loves being part of this society and all the drama that comes with it. I was shocked she agreed to go to the Americas with Cousin Jack. She wants to be the top family so bad she was willing to marry off her daughter to Cousin Jack. Something more is coming for this family. I am just not sure it is gonna be good.
C: First up, I had NO IDEA Rupert Young was going to be in this season, when he appeared at the end of episode 1 I got giddy. He’s an absolute sweetheart in person but good lord he plays a great con man (I’ve previously seen him on stage in the play Gaslight and he was fantastic). The flirtation between him and Mrs Featherington I thought was just him getting her onside. I was so shocked when he kissed her at the end, although that’s probably part of his plan.
I do think she’s going to end up penniless and stranded in the Americas somewhere though. Foolish woman is so seduced by anything that glitters. Maybe Pen will be able to earn enough from Lady Whistledown’s papers to save her family from Cousin Jack!
Speaking of Penelope, this season ended with her overhearing Colin (Luke Newton) basically saying he doesn’t like her. She left the party in tears. Do you think Colin was just trying to save face in front of his boys or do you think he really doesn’t have feelings for her?
C: Colin is a clueless dork but I really don’t know if he has feelings for Pen or not. My heart broke for her to overhear that, but maybe it will bring home the lesson that eavesdropping isn’t all fun and games.
PB: This part kinda broke my heart for Pen. I felt so strongly for her because I have been there and I know what it’s like to have your crush, crush your heart. I hope in the future she meets someone new that will either love her the way she deserves or it wakes up Colin and makes him realize he loves her.
Eloise had her first crush on Theo, the young man from the print shop. Were you surprised to see Elosie want attention from a man, since she said she wants nothing to do with all that?
PB: I loved these two together. I was sad when it didn’t work out. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Theo. But to answer the question I wasn’t shocked or surprised, even bookworms like Eloise have a weak spot for love and handsome, helpful men.
C: I was gutted that it didn’t work out for them as they were really sweet together. I wasn’t surprised that Eloise had a crush despite her protestations that she doesn’t care about all that marriage stuff, she’s a thoroughly modern woman so why shouldn’t she have some more “modern” attitudes to relationships too?
Last question: what was your favorite part of this season?
C: Oh there were so many great moments this season. I think the bee sting scene stands out for me, Anthony’s utter panic when he sees the bee land on her, and that forbidden touch afterwards when she reassures him that she is okay was beautiful.
Pall Mall of course was so much fun, and when Anthony and Kate got stuck in the mud I loved the sudden explosion of the tension between them!
Oh and the surprise cameo from Anthony Stewart Head as the Sharma’s Grandfather!
PB: I really love the scene where Kate and Anthony were stuck in the mud. It was just so funny and they both were having so much fun. I also loved the scene when Edwina calmed down the King when he was all excited over the fireworks. The bee sting scene was also very touching as well.
The next season will be focusing on Benedict Bridgerton and him finding love. Do you have any hopes or wants for next season?
PB: I want to see more of Eloise and Penelope’s friendship. I really hope they can mend it and come back together.
C: Yeah, I wanna see them mend their friendship, although I think that could be tough. Also absolutely no idea who is going to be the right match for our bohemian artist type Benedict!
Overall Rating
C: 8
PB: 8
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