Review: Love Springs Eternal in 'Bridgerton - Season 2'
With winter passing and another spring season in our midst, love is clearly in the air. After making such a seismic impression in its first season, "Bridgerton" returns, and this time it looks like the eldest Bridgerton is in the crosshairs of all the romantic drama, set against London in the early 1800s Regency-era of debutante balls and social elitism.
Created by Chris Can Dusen, produced by Shonda Rhimes, and based on the series of novels by Julia Quinn, the fanciful historical backdrop is shaken up with some very creative multi-cultural casting and narrated by a mysterious gossip (voiced by the legendary Julie Andrews) who is determined to influence the cultural norms of the time.
Oh, how we all hung tightly and clutched our pearls while devouring every word of the timely gossip column distributed by the mysterious Lady Whistledown (Andrews' narration). Fans learned in the final moments of Season One that the character behind the notoriously popular newsletter was none other Penelope Featherington (series regular Nicola Coughlan), the unassuming youngest daughter of the ill-fated Featherington household, and the best friend of Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), the next daughter to presented as the latest debutantes to the Queen (Golda Rosheuval). In fact, the release of the latest gossip rag — the first of the season — brings the entire event to a halt — much to the chagrin of Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who was closely minding the eligible young woman coming into society.
The viscount, after helping to land Daphne, his eldest sister's, match last season (you will recall that Daphne won the heart of the Duke of Hastings), is now on the hunt for the perfect match for himself. While Anthony obsesses on finding the perfect bride, the rest of London's high society is anxiously awaiting Queen Charlotte's announcement of this season's diamond — the coveted title given to the young lady that holds the highest royal regards, and possibilities of the most viable matches. Enter Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and her guests, the Sharmas.
For the devout audience that feels they've been waiting a long time for the second season, the upcoming trials and tribulations of the Bridgertons, and all of the pomp and circumstance of London during the 1800s (especially among the elites), will have considerable appeal. The scripts are witty and playful, and everyone among the cast is, quite possibly, among the most perfectly sculpted beauties (male and female alike) in entertainment today — and they're all in one show. Jonathan Bailey can get enough of showing off his glorious nakedness, it seems!
The addition of new cast members this season — especially Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, and Charitha Chandran as her younger sister Edwina, who is presented into society — breathes an entirely new level of fanciful romance into the world of the series. What's largely missing from this season is the sort of chemistry that was created by last season's Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page, who were combustible as Daphne and Simon. Though Dynevor returns this season, Page declined to commit to returning to the show, which makes perfect sense, as the attention has shifted to Bailey's Anthony and the viscount's search for a mate.
While Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) hopes her son will marry for love, it's all a bit complex; and thrown into the mix is Eloise's reluctance to play nice. Her debut is interrupted by the latest rantings from Lady Whistledown, which renews interest in the headstrong and "modern" young woman to seek out the truth, which leads her into arms of more socially driven endeavors — not to mention the arms of a possible love interest, too. It completely escapes her that her best friend Penelope (Coughlan) is the scribe that is setting society on fire, while her heart pines for Colin (Luke Newton), who has returned from his worldly travels.
"Bridgerton" Season Two plays exactly as it is intended to: Like a glorious romance novel with eloquence and charm, and a longing that is the perfect diversion in our troubled times. It's not so distracting that it doesn't fortify historical facts, but that really isn't the reason audiences tune in — there's plenty of love, lust, and intrigue to pique our interests, and the hyper-realism is further heightened by the palette of full color given to every shot. Our hearts may not skip a beat as they did for Daphne and Simon last season, but our pulse will quicken, especially when Anthony — the "eye-candy" that he is — appears to have been the 1800s answer to the wet T-shirt contest.
"Bridgerton" returns to Netflix on Friday, March 25.