When Bridgerton hit theaters in late 2020, it burned instantly in our hearts, and our obsession with the Shondaland drama has barely left us ever since. Period dramas set in Regency England are always a hit (hello, Jane Austen), but there's something magical about watching the Duke of Hastings and the Bridgertons navigate the marriage market like never before. The show reached 82 million households in just 28 days, breaking a Netflix record.
The show is adapted from Julia Quinn's best-selling romance novel series and follows Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the wealthy Bridgerton family, in her first dating season. As she tries to find a good husband, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the "man of the house" after the death of her brother and father, gets in the way with his overbearing overprotectiveness. Enter Anthony’s old friend, the formidable Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett (Reggie Jean Page). He vowed never to marry, so naturally, Daphne and Simon made a pact to have a sham relationship. As we know from all movies and novels: a fake romance can quickly turn into something very real.
Like everything else on the internet, I finished watching the first season after it was dropped and spent months re-watching and re-watching Ton. Ahead of the much-anticipated second season, I couldn't help but return. As I sit back and re-watch the eight-episode season, here are some of the main takeaways that stand out.
Diversity is always a good thing
The fantastic cast is one of the main reasons why Bridgerton is such a hit, and I think it's safe to say that Shonda Rhimes' color-blind casting policy is the best thing since sliced bread. If Léger-Jean Page couldn't play Simon Bassett, the world would be a sad place indeed. From the moment he strides into town and blesses the screen, it's game over. But enough has been said about our dear Duke since the show went off the air. Golda Rocheville's performance as Queen Charlotte is incredible and an absolute unbridled joy. Not even the diamonds of the season can distract me from Her Majesty's brilliance whenever she appears in a scene. Plus, Adjoa Andoh's performance as Lady Danbury is on the level of a rich aunt I can only dream of. It still fills her heart to see these talented actors take on roles that wouldn't have been an option before. Always more content like this please and thank you.
Did London ever look so good?
Bridgerton says goodbye to pastels and hello to all colors. This show is so bright and beautiful in the best way. I'm so excited to be entering a world where the streets are so clean, the people are dressed in the most gorgeous colors, and everything is so pleasing to the eye. Seeing this again makes me want to go for a walk in the park with my friends ASAP.
The pressure society exerts on individuals is another matter
Times move on, but some things never really change... Maybe it's the anticipation for S2, but Anthony Bridgerton's storyline feels much heavier this time around. It's a reminder to all of us that bearing the pressure of being the firstborn isn't always fun—even as a man. He clearly had no idea what he was doing and was under a lot of pressure to make decisions as the "head of the family". A man can't be with the woman he loves because she works - I mean, what's going on? It's really sad.
Apparently, being the eldest daughter, Daphne was in a worse position. The pressure to be perfect, to find the perfect marriage partner, to be the perfect wife, to never make any mistakes...it's all very intense. The most pressing thing in my book, though, is Marina Thompson's rush to marry someone before she realized she was pregnant...
What happened to Daphne's dazzling necklace?
The scene where Prince Friedrich gives Daphne that rather dazzling necklace is wonderful. But there was also the time when she left the rather expensive piece haphazardly on a wall, never to be seen again, and then snuck off to the garden to kiss Simon. The fact that we'll never see it again still baffles me. That's got to be a pretty big plot hole, right? It should be used as a tool to reveal that Cressida has been spying on them...or even get back to Prince Friedrich to alert him that something is wrong with Daphne. Either way, an opportunity was missed.
Sex education is really important
Penelope and Eloise have to go on a mission, and it might be hilarious to learn "how one does it with a child," but it's crazy to think of someone being so ignorant and unprepared. Even in a fictional world. We're delighted that Simon helps Daphne discover the joys of self-pleasure before her wedding night.
Speaking of their wedding night, Daphne's mother really didn't prepare her for the "ahem" that was to come. Shame on you, Mrs. Bridgerton. It took poor Daphne weeks to realize she was married to the biggest fan of extraction!
The power of the spoon is still very strong
Is there any shot more seductive than this? I seriously doubt this. Even knowing it was coming, I wasn't prepared for how powerful this sequence really was. Equally pressing question: Where is the Duke's spoon now? It belongs in a museum or some kind of chapel.
Kudos to the intimacy coordinator, writers and everyone involved because that spooning scene - and the honeymoon sex montage - is still flawless!
But the scene where Daphne jumps over the Duke is still pretty awkward
It's hard not to physically cringe when the Duke realizes that Daphne won't let him back out. Frankly, the less said the better. Fast forward...
Daphne and Eloise share something very powerful
Daphne and Héloïse may be very different, but they have something very important in common: both empower women incredibly. Watching Eloise and Penelope struggle to focus on their education and question why they can't make money on their own without male help is a welcome injection of modern feminism. At the same time, watching Daphne fight for love and build the life she wants is equally powerful. Her card game with other married women in Tonley is a good reminder of how much ladies of the time did whatever they could to circumvent patriarchal laws. Watching Anthony's mistress Sienna Rosseau have her breakup on her own terms was also a real "good for her" moment.
Will and his wife are couple goals
Boxing champ Will Mondrich and Simon's sparring partner is a wonderful addition to the series, but the moments we see him interact with his wife Alice make it clear they have the strongest and most loving relationship of the ton one of the relationships. Alice hints that her man won't keep secrets from her, and anyone will tell you that honesty at all times is good for a marriage. They may not be as wealthy as other characters, but they seem to have an abundance of joy and love, which is nice to see. Hopefully the boxing scandal won't cause any trouble in season two.
This is the story of Queen Charlotte
Netflix has announced a prequel that dives deeper into Queen Charlotte's story, and it's fantastic. After Season 1 revealed that the King fell in love with her and that their union changed the rules for what it means to be black in high society (i.e., the world of Bridgerton ), there's definitely a lot to uncover. However, her husband has lost his memory and we learn that she always asks if he is dead because she cannot bear to see him turned into a shell of his former self. Watching her explain the death of their daughter Amelia was probably the saddest scene of the entire season.
Gossip Girl wishes she had the same powers as Lady Whistledown
Listening to Dame Julie Andrews read Lady Whistledown's scathing words cemented the fact that she was the ultimate gossip queen. Gossip Girl may have caused an uproar on the internet, but Ms Whistledown made the people of London pay to watch her mock them in the gossip papers. Pretty iconic if you ask me.
