“You are the bane of my existence and the object of all of my desires” …
Dearest readers, that line uttered by the delectable Jonathan Bailey as Lord Anthony Bridgerton, Viscount and known rake, to his vexing love interest Kate Sharma ( the insanely beautiful Simone Ashley of Sex Education fame), was enough to have this author come undone. In fact, I am STILL fanning myself this instant.
While it is true, and has been much lamented about on social media, that the sophomore season of Netflix’s historical romance show Bridgerton is not as hot, heavy and filled with graphic sex scenes as its predecessor, I do find myself quite enamoured with its slow burn.
Readers of Julia Quinn’s source novel for this season will be familiar with the fact that Anthony and Kate’s road to true love was filled with heated verbal exchanges, the near-touches, the lingering glances. While much has been changed from the page to the screen (and this author is none too pleased that her beloved Newton, Kate’s incorrigible corgi -played by the immensely talented Austin – was the character most affected by cut scenes), we can all surely agree that their turn from foes to lovers was worth the long sensual wait.
To see Anthony go from this in Season 1:
… to having his world turned upside down by this interaction is a triumph for all romantics:
The show writers’ gamble to not repeat what was done last season and instead focus on fleshing out the cultural touches and characters for the Sharmas (in particular, Edwina, who has more confidence and intelligence acted with aplomb by actress Charithra Chandran); show us more of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel)’s struggles to balance her rule with caring for her mentally ill husband and discover the identity of Lady Whistledown (voiced by the illustrious Dame Julie Andrews), pays off brilliantly.
I also need to stress my absolute gratitude to Shonda Rhimes and her team for ignoring the reality of the era that the show is set in and casting multiracial performers. I have not been this proud to see a woman of Indian descent be the romantic lead since Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas!
While Anthony’s romance may be the focus of this season of Bridgerton, we do get to catch glimpses of his siblings trying to find their happily ever afters. Benedict (Luke Thompson) embraces his artistic studies (whilst also,uh, “studying” the lucious figure of a nude model); Colin (Luke Newton) finds himself on a trip abroad and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) ,after a spectacular debutante ball failure, discovers her quest for knowledge leads to romance.
And what of Lady Whistledown, you ask, dearest readers? Well, Miss Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) has a few close calls with being discovered by the Queen, only to betray her beloved Eloise and be friendzoned by her true love Colin.
All in all, I declare this second season a slow and sexy burn worth aching for.
‘Tis was a Ton to remember and I, for one, cannot wait for the next one. Dearest Netflix, please do not keep us waiting another two years!
