Bridgerton Season Two has arrived!
It’s here!
I’ve just watched episode one–I thought it was smashing. I love the Queen’s boredom, Kate’s chat with Lady Danbury, Penelope’s desire for Lady Whistledown to do more, Benedict’s humor. The tone is less frivolous than season one which works for me. And I’ve adjusted to the changes the show is making–the Featherington heir, the Sharmas’ background and economic peril. And I don’t miss Simon–yes, he was hot as sin but this is a new season and he’d just be a distraction.
How about you? Did you watch it? And if you’re going to offer a spoiler for later episodes just tag it as such!
It´s very unusual for me, but I am a total happy camper with series 2. Quite frankly I loved all about it.
“The Viscount who loves me” is my favourite Bridgerton book, but I admit I´ve grown to strongly dislike the forced marriage trope, so I am not just fine with the changes I am actually jubilant about it. I love, love, love that it was their mutual decision in the end to choose one another. Both on eye level, taking a bit of a leap, because they want to. I honestly think the story was the better for it.
The actors did a wonderful job in bringing Kate and Anthony to life. They sizzle throughout the series and their many almost kisses really kept me on the edge of my seat. I love that it was slow burn and I don´t mind that there were less sex scenes at all. I read some reviews criticizing that and I can´t help but feeling it´s just underrating the variety of the romance novel genre yet again. It irks me.
I also liked Edwina a lot and I like that her story has been expanded. She started out as a sheltered and naive sweetheart, who looked at Kate for everything. Her anger after realizing that Kate and Anthony had “feelings” for one another was not only justified, but set up a really great development. Her own and also Kates, who really needed to hear that she has to butt out of Edwinas life and let her make her own decision. It was heartwarming how Edwina in the end became a total cheerleader for Kate and Anthony.
I love Penelope and Eloise and I don´t mind their fallout in the end one bit. Mainly because I am sure we will get a story where they will mend their friendship and I am really looking forward to that, because it will keep the focus -also- on their friendship and not “just” on their individual romance with Colin and Sir Philip (or whoever). Eloise in the books wasn´t a favourite character for me, but I find the actress playing her wonderfully lively and I enjoy the emphasis on the feminist angle Eloise brings into the story. Her unhappyness with not having the same choice as her brothers and having to live a more restricted life totally speaks to me. And Penelope is just darling.
One of my favorite scenes is the laughing fit Lady Danburry and Lady Bridgerton share. That was adorable and very funny. I liked Violet more this season anyway. The way she could put Anthony into his place (“there is a lesson for you somewhere, Anthony” Aww.) and how she took matters into hands after the botched wedding. I loved that she was more annoyed than embarassed when she got the cut from the other ton members and when nobody came to her ball. Besides, the ball without guests and how they all danced together instead was another favourite scene.
So for me season 2 was very much a winner. I am looking forward to the next. I am really wondering if it will be Benedicts of if they throw some arcs together next season.
I really enjoyed this lively recap with comments/opinions on each episode:
https://ew.com/tv/recaps/bridgerton-season-2-episodes-1-8/
I enjoyed Season 2 more than Season 1 and it’s all due to Anthony and Kate’s chemistry. Bailey and Ashley were wonderful together as the tension between Anthony and Kate kept ratcheting up. Last season, I was not a Daphne fan and watched mainly for the Rege-Jean eye candy. This season I got my eye candy and a couple I enjoyed. I read the book twenty years ago, so wasn’t wed to any particular storyline or scene. I liked the addition of Theo, even though I couldn’t see his relationship with Eloise going anywhere. But I much preferred her reading books given to her by a man who appreciated her than her obsession with Lady Whistledown. I could take or leave Edwina, but loved her scene with the King. Portia Featherington is fun and her dresses were much better than anything she put her daughters in. Still have mixed feelings about knowing who Lady Whistledown is this early, but I think Nicola Couglan is excellent. Benedict is fun, but so far Colin is boring. I’m glad to see the multicultural inclusivity of the show continue — Quinn writes fun wallpaper romances and this wallpaper is much more interesting.
I just finished the series last night and I have THOUGHTS…. (note: long post and many spoilers) I feel that to enjoy the TV series, you must look at it as “based on the books by Julia Quinn” rather than true book adaptations. There is too much that is different from the books’ storylines. There is the whole multicultural world, which I do enjoy. I particularly liked seeing Indian culture represented this season. Then there are completely new story threads, like the Featheringtons and Eloise/Theo Sharp, as well as elements that have been moved forward, such as the Lady Whistledown reveal. I have come around to being able to enjoy the TV series for what it is and accept that it is not going to be faithful to the books. This season seemed to be weighed more towards Anthony’s growth and development than Kate’s. We got to see the trauma that thrust him into adulthood and the weight he carried on his shoulders of being responsible for his family. He was dislikable in S1 and I wondered how would be redeemed but they did a really good job of it. His scenes with his mother explained their tense relationship in S1 and we got to see them work around to a level of better understanding and forgiveness. Anthony softened a lot by the end and we even got a glimpse of what he will be like as a father in that scene at the end with Gregory. The evolution of Anthony was excellently done. I wished we had seen more of Kate’s growth. She also carried the (self-imposed) responsibility for her family and felt she had to sacrifice her desires/dreams to be loved. We got one scene at the end with Mary where this was addressed but overall, it wasn’t as rich a transition as we saw with Anthony. Regarding the A&K romance, I enjoy a slow burn but the series was too lopsided with the majority of the romance storyline about Edwina. The best part of slow burn is seeing the characters get to know each other better and we didn’t have enough scenes of Anthony and Kate spending time together to get to know each other better. I didn’t mind the change in the bee sting scene but wished the Kate/Anthony rainstorm scene in the library had stayed true to the book. That being said, the sex scene in the gazebo was hot and Anthony’s declaration of love at the end was just lovely. I was also amused to see nods to several classic romance novel elements. One was the hero who proposes to the heroine after compromising her without also telling her that he actually loves her. Another was one main character being obsessed with the other’s scent. All the small touches and glances were sexy and very well done. I thought their passionate kissing at the very end in front of the whole family was a bit much (not period accurate). I had mixed feelings about Edwina. At times she seemed very young and naïve and at other times she seemed wise and adult. I do think she had a right to feel frustrated that so much was kept from her. I admit that I prefer the storyline from the book where she is not ever a real contender for Anthony’s affections. The main thing I didn’t like was that there was too much A&E and not enough A&K scenes. I did feel that the series did a good job of showing a strong sisterly bond and that even when stretched, it didn’t break. I think they did a good job of showing progression of the Bridgerton siblings’ storylines. We saw both Benedict and Colin trying to figure out their places in the world, which I think is a reasonable thing that 2nd/3rd sons would struggle with at that time. I honestly don’t remember much of Benedict’s book but I found his character sympathetic enough by the end that I will have interest in S3. As for Eloise, I didn’t like her much in the books and she is honestly somewhat dislikable in the TV series but she too is quite young and has a lot to learn. Will she really end up with Sir Philip Crane in the TV series? I really liked Marina this season – her last scene with Colin where she basically tells him to grow up was powerful so I will be sad if she dies. I liked seeing Daphne settled and happy and didn’t miss Simon at all. I also liked Daphne’s scenes with Anthony where she tried to provide wise guidance – it was nice… Read more »
I haven’t read the books, so I’m enjoying the seasons as they are. I’ll read the books when the Netflix series is done. (No point in reading them now as so many are disappointed with the differences between the show and the books).
Watching the last episode was… not much fun. I so hate the Eloise/Pen storyline–they’ve robbed Pen of the pride she shows in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. Edwina and Kate dancing seemed just odd. And for Mrs. Featherington to be putting her daughters first and managing to upend inheritance law was unbelievable.
I do still love the Queen.
Considering they’re making it a fantasy loosely based on historical romances that are not all that historically accurate in the first place I think it’s useless to complain about unhistorical things. I just view it as a an adult multicultural Fairy Tale.
I’m not complaining about the historicity. I like how unhistorical it is. I just didn’t like the randomness of Portia’s behavior.
As much as I love a good Regency era dance, dare I say there was maybe one or two too many this season?!? Especially with the family dance an episode earlier, this one between the sisters felt redundant. Come on Season 3 writers, come up with another metaphor to express strong emotions!
Also agree that Pen and Eloise fight was frustrating. I just keep reminding myself Anthony was as uninspiring as they come in season 1 and I felt the actor and writers did a great 180 on him. Here’s to hoping they can do same in that storyline!!
I seem to be in the minority who absolutely hated this season.
I understand that creative licenses are taken when adapting content for television, but as someone expecting an adaptation of a beloved book I feel cheated. This was a different story altogether!
They also ruined aspects the book handled beautifully. The love triangle aspect just made the whole thing feel sordid and icky and the entire “romance” seemed based on physical attraction.
I haven’t hated it but I haven’t really liked it either. It started strong and then, midway, went downhill.
Think about how the Station Eleven fans feel.
I just watched the penultimate episode and hated it so much I had to quit. Edwina was HORRIBLE. Why? Violet was bitchy. I sort of feel as though this is love seen through the patriarchy’s eyes–all women have to have a dark side and suffer. And I hate head injuries which in real life often leave patients with long lasting challenging symptoms.
I will persevere and watch the last episode with the hope the show redeems itself.
Edwina was really harsh in episode 7, I hated that. However, I actually really loved the episode because of the beautiful sex scene between Kate and Anthony. The song, the setting and the passion between those two – phew! I also found it hilarious when Lady Danbury caught Anthony sniffing Kate;)
I usually am all for sex scenes but this one seemed, which is its own thing I guess, over the top. For Kate to have slept with Anthony outside of marriage and with no promise of marriage seems so out of character for her. It also seems like the last thing a highly disciplined young Indian woman would have done back then.
I feel as if everyone in this show behaves so randomly–character consistency has been poorly done this season. And, again, I wonder why have Julia Quinn’s wonderful plotting and characters if the show doesn’t plan to use/honor them?
I felt it was out of character, too, for both Kate and Anthony (especially if he wants to live up to the code of being an honorable gentleman).
I get being carried away by passion. But it made Kate in particular a TSTL heroine which she is most definitely not.
Nope, I didn’t watch #1 or #2. I just can’t. Most of the books were wonderful; they had humor, passion, some angst and a well-intentioned family. I loved the “95 Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth because it clung so accurately to the Austen written word. On this one I absolutely know I’d be going “No, not right, no, who?, no, what the hell- a mistress at a ton ball?” The casting looks good (even if Pen is prettier than I have her in my mind) but my poor controlling self just won’t watch a storyline that runs sideways, upside down, and crashes off the written page. And how can they leave off the Library Scene?!?
I’m not quite finished with this season but I wasn’t really prepared for the level of….angst? tension? spite? There’s been a number of things that seem almost mean, which is not something I associate much with JQ’s books.
Anyway, I love the Queen, I love the desi angle on the sisters (Simone Ashley who plays Kate is spectacular), and I love Benedict more than I ever did in the books. Showing up for dinner stoned out of his mind! A Bridgerton who is actually kinda wild!
Also, I’m pretty sure I wore that same haircut as Eloise when I was in sixth grade. Twice I thought she was Francesca, finally getting some lines. It’s not ugly, it just makes her look REALLY young.
As to the love triangle/less sex, I thought this article was interesting, looking at the possible Bollywood influences: https://offcolour.org/2022/03/25/bridgerton-vs-bollywood-regency-romance-with-a-desi-twist/
Mean is a good word.
I too love this Benedict. Book Benedict is a bit dull for me but this guy is a very good time.
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
I liked Benedict as well but I’m not sure he can be a romance hero for the entire season. Both Simon and Anthony set the hight bar there.
Agreed completely Natalie! Simon and Anthony set such a high bar, that I doubt that the actors playing Colin and Benedict will be able to match up. Then again, I couldn’t stand Anthony in season one so perhaps I’m wrong about Benedict and Colin.
I think with the right story Benedict (I mean the show Benedict, not the book one) can pull it off; the Colin character is still underdeveloped so who knows. But honestly–now that I’ve finished S2 and seen that bonkers E8–I don’t think the stories JQ wrote for Benedict OR for Colin are going to offer nearly enough drama for this show.
I haven’t read beyond Anthony’s book yet so I don’t have an opinion on book’s Benedict. Maybe I shouldn’t read the next books at all to judge the next seasons on their own merits.
I think that’s wise. I am having such a hard time with how utterly different the Lady Whistledown story is because I love love love the way it’s done in the books. I don’t think I’d be so distressed if I didn’t already have a set vision.
I am probably languishing in a minority of one but I am not watching season two. Season one was interesting and eye-catching and, of course, very much of the moment. That’s fine but like other things I have watched in the past – Killing Eve or The Handmaid’s Tale are good examples – one series is enough; a second one just goes where I don’t want to follow. Sometimes once is enough, twice is either a bore or the lustre of the new is gone or I find that I just don’t fit in the creator’s groove. In the case of Bridgerton, I had lost the figurative (not literal) plot by the end of season one.
All I know is this: watching an inclusive period drama is just absolutely rocking my world!!! I have loved period dramas since I was a preteen. But never did I ever think I’d get to see… THIS!!!
I for one am glad for the plot changes. My personal favorite book is Eloise’s. But how terrible of a season would that have been? She spends half the book with none of the characters that have made the tv show so delicious! So while the added storylines, are sometimes perplexing, from my perspective at least, they are creating space for some much needed growth and maturity and complexities. I loved Daphne and Simon, loved Anthony and Kate even more, dearly hope to see how Edwina ends up, and cannot freaking wait for Benedict, Penelope, and Eloise to couple up.
Anybody else concerned kinda sorta immensely that the Colin here just doesn’t have the sparkle he did in the book?? He fared better this season than last, but with Nicola Coughlin just dominating Penelope, I’m not going to lie that is the one pairing I’m worried about. I kinda wish Benedict was the one Pen ended up with because he’s been sparkling SO much!!! And where the heck is Francesca?? At this point it’s kinda laughable that she’s been MIA for the everything…
Agreed on Colin. Book Colin was much wittier and charismatic.
I think there was a brief reference made in season 1 to Francesca being off somewhere studying music (piano maybe?). I can’t quite remember. I suppose they could surprise us with introducing us to her in the next season or just totally cut her out.
Didn’t they show Fracesca at the end of S1? Or was it just a mention?
Apparently she was in the first three episodes of this season.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a39570600/bridgerton-season-2-where-is-francesca-bridgerton/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-03-25/bridgerton-season-2-netflix-showrunner Here’s why there were fewer love scenes this year.
Interesting that they plan a Queen Charlotte prequel, which shows how much of this is driven by ratings and fan service and not the books’ source material (not that I would mind, the actress playing her has really owned the role). From the article:
“And Netflix wasted little time finding ways to expand the universe: A limited prequel series based on the origins of Queen Charlotte, to be written by Rhimes, has already been ordered to series.“
I read a WSJ review (because we get it at work) and the critic (John Anderson) is obviously not a romance reader and typically very condescending. I doubt he watched anything more than the first episode.
That review made me NUTS.
I’m so, so tired of reviews like the WSJ one.
I’m very excited for the Queen Charlotte spin-off though!
So, I was home alone this weekend and binged on the series Friday and Saturday night. Like Season 1, it was rather a mixed bag, but ultimately bingeable. I enjoyed some aspects and did not at all care for other aspects. I accept that when I watch an adaptation that the show is going to be different from the book and since I’ve always considered Quinn’s books an example of what I think of as wallpaper historical romance, the alternate history doesn’t bug me all that much. But as a reader of the books, it’s hard to ignore some of the divergences from plot and character. I think what I missed most from the books is the warmth and humor. Yes, the show captured the sparks between Kate and Anthony and the competitive and adversarial chemistry between them. But it did not capture the gradual warmth that grew between them as they really got to know one another. This is mostly because the show decided to go with Anthony getting engaged to Edwina (not a fan of that). In the books, Kate and Anthony get caught in a compromising position and marry, so they get to spend the rest of the book really getting to know and appreciate one another before realizing they also love one another. That’s totally missing from this adaptation, and I sorely missed it. I also was a bit perplexed with the acting style. So many characters would utter one or two very short lines of dialogue with long pauses between their words. A little of that goes a long way, and it drove me batty how often that happened.
Regarding theories about where the show will go from here, given they are planning four seasons right now if they don’t decide to extend it:
I’m already seeing some speculation based on comments from the showrunners that they may not go in book order. Given the focus this season placed on the Featheringtons, Pen and Eloise, I’m guessing they’ll skip over Benjamin and go directly to Colin and Pen and then maybe Eloise with season four with Benjamin’s romance a mere subplot in one of the next two seasons. I also am wondering if they’ll give Eloise a different love interest than the book. It could be that Theo will be for Eloise what Marina has been for Colin, but I could see them actually changing who she ends up with. If they pair her with Sir Phillip, they’re going to have to go down a dark and sad road. But maybe they’re going for drama that would ensue from that? Hard to tell.
IMO, that’s the real heart of the story. As I’ve said, I haven’t seen it and probably won’t bother, so all I know is what I’m reading here and elsewhere… I gather that the library scene is also missing and of course, so is the sucking-of-the-bee venom, as there’s no being compromised into marriage.
The book is one of the first “modern” historical romances I ever read and it still holds a special place in my heart, which is why it makes me sad that they’ve chopped it about so much.
See, Caz, I’m the opposite. I agree 100% with what the showrunner said – that they already told a “compromised and trapped into marriage” story last season and didn’t want to to it again.
The thing is… I don’t like Julia Quinn’s books. They’re superficial and repetitive. If the TV universe were fair, I would be able to binge Netflix adaptations of better books, but unfortunately, Bridgerton is what we have. So I watch it, because I love romance, and it’s much much better than something gory or grim. But as far as changes to JQ goes? I have zero affection for or loyalty to them. I may hate the changes, but not because they are changes – I’d only hate them if they are bad. Which, for me, they weren’t this season.
Quinn is not my favorite HR writer by any means. I do like three books in this series–The Viscount Who Loved Me, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, and When He Was Wicked.
Some of the changes the show has made are great. I love the ahistorical diverse setting, the addition of Queen Charlotte, and the lens on class and color. The changes I don’t like, I don’t like not because they’re changes but because I think they’re poorly done.
Characters’ aren’t consistently written and the plotting is thin in places that matter. That’s what I dislike.
SPOILER!!! SPOILER!!! Okay, hopefully that is enough space! I found it kinda boring until the last 3 episodes, unlike others I enjoyed the wedding episode and the next 2 episodes. I had no issues with Edwina being mad at Kate, with all the lying she did (at the end of the day I didn’t see it as a love triange but as a story of 2 sisters who were so busy trying to keep each other happy they didn’t realize the harm they were doing to their relationship and each other) but the lack of explaination for Kate’s actions – why didn’t we get more into her feeling like she had to make sure her sister and mother would welcome her, want her, love her? I wanted a lot more of that, more background on Kate as we get that in the book. I’d of happily given up some of the other stuff to get that. I loved Lady Featherington, the chemistry between Kate and Anthony was amazing and the Pan Mall game!! I want a mallet of death. And now the character that was bad, briefly better and than awful again – Eloise. I know she’s beloved but I’ve never liked her not in the books and not in the show. When she briefly was interested in the Women’s Rights movement I cheered as maybe the character would become less self-involved and obessed with Whistledown as the writers hit on a way for her to actually accomplish something, get out of her closeted little world of her family and snarking at people. To be involved with Theo and realize that life is NOT easy, that peopel make sacrifices and sitting in your living room reading a book and snarking at them and about to them about others(much worse than Whistledown ever did) does not make you speical or unique. I really wanted to her to have an awakening after Theo confronted her about how their lives were so different and for her to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, but nope it was a way for her to meet a guy, not have any character growth and and get more obessed with Whistledown because she’s doing something Eloise doesn’t have the guts too. Try something, take a risk, grow more! Be someone. Fight for something. Not just insult things as, unlike the Queen or Lady Danbury or any number of characters she has never had to do that or overcome something, she is simply luxurating in the her luck of birth and being completely selfish and self involved. Her fight with Penelope just put me more on the side of Pen and dislike her more. Penelope was exactly right when she said Eloise was jealous that she did something great and tried. She’s right but she missed the mark about the truth of Eloise – Eloise was only friend’s with Penelope because she could get Pen to do whatever she wanted, that Pen made everything about her and Eloise liked that. Yet another person in her closed upper class world who told her how wonderful and smart she was without her having to go out and try somehting. Take a chance. Her barging into Penelope’s room to snoop and condemn her was awful but in character as it just showed she’s not a friend to Pen and never has been. She is jealous of the fact that Pen did something and has life outside of Eloise, that Pen did something Eloise is afraid to do and will never do as it means taking a risk she won’t be the told how wonderful she is, how smart she is. That she may fail and she is terrified to fail. If they readers are going to go off book (so to speak) than do something with different Eloise, not all character’s HEA is falling madly in love. Have her become a person who takes action, who is involved in the world and is not the most selfish self-involved character on the show. The actress is more than capable of that, she is a wonder and such a story would make for fascinating watching. And an excellent thread through the series. Give Eloise true character growth, make her a character worth rooting for. Not one who makes me want to through a shoe at my TV. Most importantly make her GROVEL to Pen to get win her back, make her admit how horrible a friend she was and work to fix it. I don’t want… Read more »
Eloise is very unlikeable. As someone from a large family, if I were her sibling, I’d avoid her.
I agree Eloise is annoying… but maybe they’re setting up an arc for her? Anthony wasn’t that great either in season 1.
I just don’t see how you get over how horrible she was to Pen at the end, I’m not sure I can unless they really do some hard work on the character.
Maybe. I liked her better in Season One–here’s hoping we see her better self in Season Three.
I think I’m in a minority, but I actually liked Eloise, and found her relationship with Pen to be complex and interesting. She can be very annoying but she is also supposed to be young. I can remember being young and feeling passionate about so many things, but not having the clarity of mind to realise how to pick your battles. Maybe I was insufferable too, I hope that doesn’t put you off hanging out (virtually in the comment box) with me, Dabney;)
I love discussion and am THRILLED you disagree with me.
Your point about the characters’ youth is a good one. I was brought up short in episode seven when Benedict pointed out Colin was just 21. Eloise is immature which makes sense.
But my women defending self just feels like the show is making the women nastier than they were in the books and I’m not sure why they thought they needed to.
My thoughts exactly. I have no problem with the additions or the diversity and inclusion changes, but they are changing the JQ characters! The reasons I love her books are because of the humor and the lovely adult warm relationships between a lot of the women. I would think with this new “woke” reality we are living in they would stop making strong women bitches and stop pitting woman against woman! That’s mnot the story I fell in love with. It makes me sad.
I loved the focus on the relationships between the women. It felt much more interesting to see sisters, friends, rivals, all women center stage.
I liked all but the sisters. I love the Violet/Lady Danbury relationship.
This is a hard one for me. I binged it Friday and Saturday and really liked it but still feel cheated and lied to. I have a real problem with people touting their shows/movies as “based on” certain books/material and then completely re-writing the story. Not a fan.
Otherwise, it was well done, well acted, tugged at the heart and was a very dramatic romance. Just not the one that I was looking forward to from my favorite Bridgerton book. The reason our favorite books are our favortes is because of the story that the author tells and the specific characters they create. When they change the story and or the characters and how they act it isn’t our favorite anymore. I would not have wanted to read the story they told – it’s my very least favorite trope!
So, I guess for the rest of the series I just do as my daughter admonishes constantly. Lower my expectations! Hahaha
To leave on a positive note I’d like to commend them on how they handled Anthony’s relationship with and struggle dealing with his father’s death. They got that right, in my opinion.
To speak to other’s comments…
I did think overall it was better than season 1.
I liked the fact that the sex was toned down.
I liked the addition of the Featherington heir story. It was fun and gave Portia’s character more depth by the end.
I have absolutely no problem with the additional storylines they’ve added to the Bridgerton world. I just wish the ones JQ created could stay intact.
I agree the sets and costumes were outstanding.
I am having the same problem. This is not the story I know and I find it distracting–I keep thinking ‘No!” As I’ve said I don’t like the sisters against one another story and I don’t like this Edwina as much as I like Edwina in the book.
Exactly! I have no problem with this story. It’s a typical love triangle love story with all the drama and TSTL moments. Not really my cup of tea but it was good enough. It’s just not Anthony and Kate’s story. It’s Chris Van Dusen’s story that he made up using their names and JQ’s world building. It’s very frustrating. JQ did the work. She did all the heavy lifting – she created stories and characters we fell in love with and instead of honoring her work they just bastardized it. I don’t even mind them adding their own stories to her world but that’s not what they did. The really sad part is that they had the chance to do something original and instead told and aired a story I’ve seen a million times before. It’s typical, ordinary and very predictable.
I have two episodes to go and I am a bit bored. How long can one non-wedding go on??!?!!
It also looks–as I predicted last year–that Eloise will not end up with Lord Crane. So, that’s a whole new story if they stick with her and Theo.
I do like the flirting Lord Heatherington is doing with Lady Featherington. She is the bomb.
I was happy with the season up until the wedding episode. I feel like the stories just went off the rails with the last 2 episodes.
I don’t need 100% fidelity to the books. But some of the changes to too much.
I disliked how they changed the Sharma (Sheffield) family dynamics. I enjoyed how the women knew and respected each other. I loved that Edwina saw that Anthony and Kate were perfect for each other before they realized it. And I love that Edwina knew exactly what she wanted going into the season – and she found it.
I’m not sure I’m happy with the Eloise story. I’m not sure I see a happy love story for her.
I love Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton. They play off each other brilliantly!
I never liked Benedict’s story. And don’t really like Benedict on the show. So not thrilled about season 3.
And who is his Cinderella? Not the woman model, I would think. But really who knows with the way the series has so veered from the books.
I think my biggest gripe is that the wedding episode went on for far too long and was too Edwina centric. I didn’t like how harsh Edwina and Mary were on Kate. I think they decided to go with the love triangle to amplify the drama, but it detrimentally affected the wonderful dynamic between the Sharma sisters. I just wish that we had more Anthony and Kate scenes. Their chemistry was so electric, and I feel like we wasted time with the Featherington plot, Eloise’s random romance with Theo and Marina Thompson’s appearance. Having said that, I still throughly enjoyed the season. Jonathan Bailey in particular, was a stand-out star; an excellent romantic lead.
I so dislike the Edwina remake–she’s both naive and a brat for too much of the time. Poor Kate–the scene where Mary and Edwina both remind Kate that she’s not Mary’s daughter was awful.
My predictions for Theo is he’ll provide an arc for Eloise which will allow her to end up in a place where a man who waxes poetic about plants is someone she can fall in love with (hopefully because I love that book!). Marina is certainly not happily married to said man.
I keep thinking Marina has to die for that marriage to happen which is not a happy thought.
Binge watched season 2 over Friday and Saturday. I like season 2 more than 1, my main reason is Kate. The actress is stunning. The tension and desire between her and Anthony crackles and sizzles as their passion for each other develops. True Anthony is no Simon, but then Simon is a very high bar that few can equal.
The books provide only rough plot outlines for the series. Much is changed, expanded and outright new. I get it, they have to fill an eight hour season. For this season, my least favorite alteration is the Anthony-Edwina ‘romance,’ it goes on too long, painfully so. My favorite addition is Queen Charlotte.
Benedict and his Cinderella-like story should be up next. Looking forward to it.
Last comment, the sets and costumes are fabulous.
I also feel that some of the storylines were a filler. I think they could’ve picked books with more action or mysteries but they probably wanted to keep a fairy-tale feel.
Kate is absolutely stunning and I loved Jonathan Bailey’s nuanced portrayal of Anthony. His scenes with his father and mother were just top-notch, and he perfectly encapsulated the exquisite yearning of a forbidden romance.
Agree. I enjoyed Anthony and Kate this year more than Daphne/Simon last year. I just can’t get over the inconsistent characterisations. Anthony last season was nothing like this season. Last seasons storyline really put me off
Same, I couldn’t stand Anthony last season and was wondering how they were going to redeem him.
I’ve finished the first 3 episodes and am enjoying this much more than season 1.
Have you been reading any of the reviews? They almost universally comment on how this season is less horny, less steamy, has less sex. And they also comment how the horniness, steaminess, and sex was the reason season 1 was such a success.
This is another way that romance readers are misunderstood. I didn’t like season 1 for the sex. I liked it because it finally featured a highly popular romance series in a big production TV series.
Which is why I’m liking season 2 so much better. I read romance for the relationships. I love the banter, the glances, the sexual tension. Some of my favorite romance productions (North and South, Pride and Prejudice w/ Colin Firth) didn’t have any sex.
Right now I am loving Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton.
I’m hoping I enjoy the rest of the season!
There is very little sex this season and I was fine with it. What we got was more story and time was spent with all the characters and their developing storylines. It was a case of me enjoying the second season more than the first and I loved the first.
I read that 3 will begin filming this summer. Here’s hoping !
I loved the romantic tension and I thought the lovemaking was rather tastefully done. I wouldn’t have minded seeing a bit more of it, but that’s not the reason I’m watching this.
Almost done, I also agree this was better than season 1 (even though Simon was hotter). It’s interesting they toned down the sex, I guess they listened to some complaints and opted for the slow burn. I’m not sure I like the invented engagement between Anthony and Edwina but I guess they wanted to extend the story to 8 episodes. I wonder who they’ll focus in the next season, Benedict?
I so dislike the Edwina love for Antony–now I’m only on episode six but it’s just kind of icky to have your sister in love with the guy you want. I’m sure it will resolve itself but thus far I’m not loving that.
I’m also not loving Eloise. She’s just so over the top.
But I am, overall, enjoying it more than Season One. This feels richer.
I absolutely hate that they messed with the sisterly relationship which was one of my favorite parts of the book. I really don’t need it to be made into an icky girl fight between sisters over a guy. I loved that the book didn’t go there at all.
Based on the comments here and so many others I’ve seen around I don’t think I’ll bother. The fact that JQ didn’t write a love triangle and that Edwina was actually a nice person were so refreshing in the book, and changing the nature of the relationship between the sisters makes me sad.
I completely understand that it’s not possible to include every scene in a book in an on screen version and that this is an adaptation – but it sounds to me like all they’ve kept are the character names.
On the plus side, if they’re not sticking to the book plotlines, maybe they’ll be able to turn Benedict’s story into one that is less boring than the original.
I do love how the TV show is incorporating modern values into it. It works here in part because they exist in a non-historical world and they aren’t limiting themselves to the original storylines.
I have no problem with it as alt-historical or fantasy or whatever – the originals are wallpapery and they’re very well done. But I can’t help wondering what is the point of “buying” a series of books… and then making huge changes to the stories you bought! They should just have come up with an original series!
It’s been 10+ years since I read Benedict’s story and I only read it once so I can’t really remember it at all. I think they are gearing up to give him a substance abuse problem. I can’t remember if that was in the book or not.
I have no memory of that but I think that’s a forgettable book!
I’m pretty sure it isn’t.
No, but he does go to a dark place after he meets Sophie and can’t find her, when they meet again it’s at a house party where the host nearly rapes her and I believe the impression is given that he knows his friends are bad news but he’s kind of depressed so he’s ultimately indifferent to their behavior. I may be wrong as its been a while.
I read it recently and you’re right, he does go into a dark place before he meets Sophie for the second time. He partied a lot with some unsavoury characters.
Finished it and loved it overall. The thing with Edwina is the only thing I could do without, but I guess it’s just one of those over dramatic things they like to do in adaptations to make it more fun for those who haven’t read the books. But they’re definitely getting better at conveying emotional longing and sexual tension through visuals and music – something that books do better with internal POVs.
Agreed!
I’m almost done with season 2 and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only for Kate and Anthony’s story but for all the others as well. I loved how they fleshed out the other characters and we see their storylines as well. Plus Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte’s scenes are funny! The 2 actresses are having a riot with their characters. Everyone is superb in this.
And why Anthony became the person he is….oh my heart
I just downloaded all the episodes to watch as I fly back to the States!
I absolutely loved it! The chemistry between Anthony and Kate was electrifying and I am sure I am going to rewatch the series. I did not like a number of departures that the show made from the source material, but at the same time, I felt like Anthony and Kate’s love story was far deeper than Simon and Daphne’s in season one. I really could see why they belonged together. Season Two is way better than Season One, in my mind, but my best friend strongly disagrees! Will be interesting to see what everyone thinks.