There is such a thing as dragging out sexual tension to the point that it loses all elasticity and Bridgerton Season 2 is proof.
After a pretty perfect opening season, my undercarriage had such high hopes for Anthony’s and Kate’s story – who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers trope? The problem with the season is that it focused too much on their bickering and wasted the potential of their palpable chemistry. In fact the story didn’t get good until the latter part of the season when they started to give in to the attraction. Anthony rasping “The things I could teach you” had me hitting rewind repeatedly and turning up my AC. I nearly broke my remote replaying Kate’s recollection of the torrid night in the folly. Not only did both actors bring intensity to their roles, they made for a truly believable couple. I scratch my head at the decision to delay the sexy bits and starve the audience of what we crave: heat and heart. The season’s other major flaw is its deviation from the novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, where Kate and Anthony actually marry earlier in the story and work through Anthony’s fixation on the belief that he would die young like his father. Staying the course would have made for a stronger hook for audiences but perhaps it was too similar to the Duke of Hasting’s paternal pathos.
Eloise and Penelope got a greater limelight this season which makes sense as their love stories should play out in the upcoming seasons. Although, I love these characters truly, I feel that the expansion of their roles regressed the overall tone. I felt like I was watching a cloying teen romcom sprinkled occasionally with adult content. Penelope’s trajectory felt predictable: despite her hopes, she ended the season friend-zoned by Colin ( I feel an ugly duckling comeback in the works – I am here for a Penelope glowup). Additionally, Eloise discovers that Pen is Lady Whistledown and the ensuing exchange of verbal cuts was actually painful to watch – again, I do like these characters despite the overkill. Eloise and her feminist agenda eroded my nerves after a while. Do not get me wrong, as a feminist, I understand the need to emphasize a woman’s lack of options in Regency England but I do not need to be plowed over the head with it. Now Lady Featherington was a highlight as always. Polly Walker is a master at playing villains you can’t help but root for. She channeled her inner Atia of the Julia in the finale when she fleeced the new Lord Featherington mercilessly. Lady Danbury and our beloved queen felt somewhat diminished this time around, their characters losing some of their usual vim and bite.
I might not have liked season 2 as much as its predecessor but I still enjoyed it. The production was lush, colorful and opulent. Things felt grander this time around, sets more elaborate. At times, I felt positively transported to verdant lawns and brightly light ballrooms. I love how normal seeing people of every hue feels as watch these stories brought to life. I wrapped up the season with my high hopes a little deflated but I was still very much buoyant. Shondaland succeeded again in creating a world that I could see myself apart of and that is still magical.
– The Dope Dowager
