by Kristin Blake
*Contains spoilers for season one, no season two spoilers
Dearest reader,
Alas, season two of Bridgerton has been released on Netflix, and I have watched it and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. I dare say, I enjoyed season two better than season one.
For those of you unaware, Bridgerton is a Netflix original drama set in London’s Regency era. However, the drama has a twist with classical renditions of modern music and is not historically accurate. One example of this is racially inclusive nobility as the show is set in a different timeline than our own.
While season one dealt mainly with Daphne Bridgerton finding her love with the Duke of Hastings, season two follows the oldest Bridgeton sibling, Anthony, as he finally decides that he will find a bride this season. His choice of the season is miss Edwina Sharma, but his advances are interrupted by her sister, miss Kate Sharma’s disapproval.
First and foremost, I quite enjoyed how season two of the show was much more emotionally intimate than physically intimate. With the exception of two scenes towards the end of the series, most of the intimacy between characters comes in the form of lingering glances and almost kisses. I also enjoyed how they incorporated pieces of Indian and Desi cultures into Edwina and Kate’s lives. They are from India, and they could’ve easily ignored that piece of their culture.
I also liked that season two explored more storylines than season one. We follow Lady Whistledown’s endeavors, Eleanor’s debut, the Featherington’s coping with their father’s loss, and the Sharma arrival back to London along with Anthony’s storyline. Following this many stories could have a tendency to be confusing, but Bridgerton did not have this problem. Lastly, every character in this season had beautiful character development throughout the season. They are faced with difficult choices and forced to confront their greatest fears and insecurities.
One of my few dislikes of the show is that some of the storylines seemed incomplete or rushed towards the end. They had very convenient endings which could be seen as a bit unrealistic.
If you choose to watch Bridgerton, be aware that the show does contain inappropriate themes, but if you enjoy period dramas, this is a good show for you.
