The series 'Bridgerton' returned with its 2nd season and the turbulent lives of several families, where the eldest brother – Anthony Bridgerton – found himself at the center of the entire story.

The series 'Bridgerton' returned with its 2nd season and the turbulent lives of several families at once, but the eldest brother – Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) found himself at the center of the entire story. The season is based on Julia Quinn's second novel 'The Viscount Who Loved Me' and tells its own version of how Anthony met the love of his life, while also fulfilling his duties as the heir to the family line. Two sisters vied for his heart – Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) and Kate (Simone Ashley).

We'll share our impressions from watching the season, and also tell you a few interesting facts from the set.

Is it better than the first season?

Plot-wise – definitely yes. There is a fairly interesting development of character personalities, their backstories, and experiences, and the previously touched-upon theme of feminism and choosing a life partner is revisited. And most importantly, the focus is not on just one couple, but on several characters at once, each with their own issues.

Yes, the first season was a breakthrough in its new genre, capturing viewers' attention with a certain outrageousness, uniqueness, and scandal. The second season confidently moves towards a quality project, attracting viewers not just with the bare torso of the Duke, played by Regé-Jean Page, but also with the relational problems of the older generation, rather than teenager Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor). 

All the advantages of the first season remain – incredibly beautiful costumes, vibrant locations, romantic clichés, the playlist, sexuality, scandal, and immersion in 19th century London, not only in the world of the elite but also revealing a certain underground/resistance.

Kanthony

This is what the internet dubbed the pairing of the two main characters this season. The potential couple tiptoed around their feelings, sending chills down viewers' spines, keeping everyone in incredible tension using only their glances.

Even the film crew and actors themselves note the characters' chemistry off-screen. Their interaction helped elevate the story to another level – the level of a true romance or 'enemies to lovers' relationship, unlike the first season where the characters are almost immediately swept away by a wave of feelings and physical contact. So you'll find dozens of video edits online about the new couple and their visual contact. The season's motto: less sex, more feelings.

Simone Ashley

The main discovery of the season. The actress appeared before the viewer in a new light in the series, showing off her character and incredible, vibrant beauty, although you might know her from her role in 'Sex Education,' where she played Olivia. 

Playlist

You will definitely add a few original tracks to your playlist, as well as new covers in a classical style, which has become the hallmark of 'Bridgerton' since the first season. This season has twice as many covers. Can you resist Miley Cyrus on violin or Rihanna's Diamonds at a ball? You can listen to the full playlist here.

Lady Whistledown

The detective, if it can be called that, storyline of the series continues in the second season. The local 'gossip girl' gains both allies and dangerous rivals in the form of the Queen, who is also capable of playing her own behind-the-scenes games. The director noted in one interview that actress Nicola Coughlan is his favorite. And we note that the medieval version of a 'gossip girl' is certainly better than the recent reboot-sequel of the cult series.

The Absence of Duke Simon Basset

Regé-Jean Page's refusal to film may not have sat well with the directors, because, let's be honest, it was 'Bridgerton' that brought the actor fame and recognition. And given that his character in the book original of the second part doesn't appear very often, filming a couple of scenes would have been quite possible. But fan fears were in vain – the Bridgerton brothers took the audience's attention into their own hands, and Anthony truly became the main star of social media.

Multiculturalism

Even at the stage of preparation and getting to know the source material, it became clear that the theme of multiculturalism of the 19th century would continue in the second season. If the first season was notable for its scandalousness and to a large extent the rejection of African American actors by some of the public, then the second season brought a distinctive touch in the form of representatives of South Asia, namely India. Their ethnicity and traditions were very beautifully and aesthetically woven into the plot of the series, reflecting vivid features in the form of costumes, folk songs, and pre-wedding ceremonies. I can't help but note the delightful accent of the actresses this season.

Quotes

An important factor in the promotion of the series is the memorable phrases. In the first season, Daphne's words can be considered such: 'I would burn for you.' The second season delighted with an abundance of beautiful reflections on the true essence of love from the Bridgerton family matriarch. But the most striking phrase was Anthony's words: 'You are the bane of my existence… And the object of all my desires.' Fans compare his quote to Darcy's words: 'You have bewitched me, body and soul.' 

19th-Century Personalities

Eloise once again becomes a source of knowledge about 19th-century literature, also attending events dedicated to women's rights. But her brilliant trick with the dance card was memorable for many. She wrote the fictional names of Lord Byron and Wellington on it.

Queen Charlotte

Golda Rosheuvel added another pinch of charisma to the local queen in the new season. The character acquired not only a sharp mind for governing the state but also a rather touching love story and relationship with her husband – the King, who is obviously experiencing some psychological trauma.

Pall Mall

The game, a precursor to croquet, became a colorful scene in the new season, where the Bridgertons introduce us to their family tradition. There are verbal sparring matches, competition, and its own backstory. Interestingly, almost all of these scenes are improvisation by the actors. This was the first and only time the directors allowed the actors to go beyond the script.

How did COVID affect it?

The director immediately noted that the release of the series was delayed due to the pandemic. And the large ballroom scenes could have been a big problem. But visual effects, as always, save the filmmakers. In scenes that should have had 300-400 people, only 30-40 were used.

Easter Eggs

So, 'Bridgerton' continues to take a page from the ageless classics. And the new season reminds us of 'Pride and Prejudice' starring Colin Firth many, many times. Just look at the scene of emerging from the lake in a white shirt. The cameramen were also inspired by the films 'Atonement' and 'Barry Lyndon'.

Costumes

And again, as in the review of the first season, I note the costumes. Each episode of the second season shows us on average 90 unique outfits, and sometimes more. For the first episode alone, a total of 146 costumes were made. But what is remarkable here is that the creators of the series played with the color palette and style of the wardrobe of the two main characters – Anthony and Kate – depending on their emotions. So, Anthony Bridgerton began the season in dark, serious tones and suits, as he approached the search for his partner. But over the course of the season, his wardrobe became looser, lighter, and brighter.

Love Triangle

One of the main differences between the books and the second season is the relationship between the sisters and the eldest Bridgerton brother. The series constructed a kind of love triangle from them, where Edwina was in love with Anthony and was even offended by her sister for hiding her true feelings. In the book, Edwina was in the background, she was practically given no time. And she didn't particularly stand out for any depth of feeling towards the viscount; rather, she was fulfilling her duty. Moreover, in the book story, Edwina even encourages the relationship between Anthony and Kate. My subjective opinion – this change only benefited the story, adding sharpness.

Bees

<p>Remember how we pointed out how many there were in the first season. In the second, they tell us a little more about how the father of the family died from a bee sting, and also show a similar scene from the books with Kate being stung by a bee. But here lies the key change in the adaptation – in the original, Anthony sucks the poison from Kate's neck, and they are caught by his mother, which forces the couple to marry. And the characters' relationship develops already in marriage, where they gradually fall in love. In the series, they decided not to repeat the 'compromising' scene we already saw with Daphne and Simon. So the story was changed a little.</p>

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Panic Attacks and Fear of Death

In the book 'The Viscount Who Loved Me,' we are told that Kate struggles for quite a while with grief over her mother's death – she has panic attacks every time there is a thunderstorm outside, reminding her of the events of that night. Something similar is present in Anthony himself. But in the series, they don't reveal this fear of Kate's. Also, they omit the detail of Anthony's behavior – he is obsessed with the idea that he will never be as good a head of the family as his father was. He doesn't see his life beyond 38 years, because his father died at that age. The fear of death constantly haunts the character of the novel, something we don't see in the series character.

What to expect from Season 3?

As we have already mentioned, the series was successfully renewed for seasons 3 and 4 last year. And the second season is showing the same high ratings as the first. Although viewer ratings have become even higher, and critic ratings are slightly lower than the debut season. This suggests that the series will definitely continue to be filmed.

We know that the directors are moving according to the chronology of the novels, which means the third season will tell the love story of Benedict. But we shouldn't forget the screenwriters' words that they won't necessarily follow the order. Therefore, possible hints from this season could point to the story of Colin and Penelope as the centerpiece for the next season. 

Also, don't forget that in the finale of the second season, Queen Charlotte wants to set up Edwina and Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma). It is possible that his character will appear in season 3 of the show.

Filming for the new season will begin this summer, meaning we won't see the continuation until at least 2023.