CLEVELAND, Ohio — If the first season of “Bridgerton” lit a fire under you, season two is more of a slow burn.
The steamy romance that made the lavish period drama one of the most popular and sexiest Netflix shows of all time? Gone. Breakout star Regé-Jean Page opted out of the series and leading lady Phoebe Dynevor has been relegated to recurring status.
But, heavy sigh of relief, this Regency Era tale, from executive producer Shonda Rhimes and showrunner Chris Van Dusen, remains every bit of the soapy guilty pleasure you remember. Come for the fancy balls, costumes and pop songs remixed into orchestral bops, stay for the secrets, scandals and forbidden love!
The second season opens in the same manner as the first: at the start of London’s annual marriage mart with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) looking to select this season’s “Diamond,” aka the most eligible bachelorette of the season. It’s a decision followed closely by Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews), the TMZ of the ton, and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). Seems the eldest and most serious of the Bridgerton siblings is finally ready to settle down and find a wife.
Enter Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), a beautiful, kind and well-read young woman who has just arrived for the marriage season from India along with her protective sister, Kate (Simone Ashley), and devoted mother, Mary (Shelley Conn). Anthony sees her perfectly suited for the role of his Viscountess. Their courtship begins, much to the dismay of Kate, who after an exhilarating initial encounter with the Viscount, realizes he doesn’t love her sister and is only looking to check a box.
The two swear themselves as enemies and bicker constantly, that is, when they’re not busy exchanging stolen glances at each other. You need not a passing grade in Romance Novel 101 to know where this is headed. What is required, however, is a great deal of patience. Their romance moves at a pace you’d expect of two people who value duty, responsibility and propriety over pesky endeavors like love, passion and honesty. Poor Edwina, who deserves so much better than this.
In episode five of last season, the Duke of Hastings uttered those now four iconic words to Daphne, “I burn for you.” The best season two can offer at the same point in time is Anthony telling Kate, rather matter of factly, “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.” But before anything untoward can happen, she storms off, something she does frequently this season, leaving the viewer to live to swoon another day.
This more methodical approach to the central romance gives some of the other characters more room to breathe and a chance to shine. Lady Featherington (Polly Walker) makes quite a comeback after being cast as the villain last season. Left desperate and near penniless after the death of her husband, her scheming and clawing for the survival of her and her daughters in London society by any means necessary amid the arrival of a new Lord Featherington provides the series with its most entertaining moments of the new season. Walker is clearly having a blast in the role and will you too watching her.
Just as surprising is the transformation of Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) from observant wallflower to cold-blooded pot-stirrer and, gulp, the season’s real villain. Her secret identity as Lady Whistledown puts her on a crash course with best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), who is as determined as ever to unmask the town gossip. The pursuit leads her to an unlikely and dangerous new relationship. The emotional fallout is devastating and hits harder than you might expect, a credit to both actresses.
Still, there’s a reason the novel on which this season is based is called “The Viscount Who Loved Me.” The love story between Anthony and Kate is indeed tortured and can be maddening to watch at times as their actions, or more accurately, inaction constantly digs them deeper into an untenable situation. But it’s never not interesting. Bailey, perhaps the least compelling Bridgerton of season one, injects the Viscount with complexity and depth this time around, aided by flashbacks that recount the circumstances of his father’s death. Ashley gives Kate a disarming combination of vulnerability and strength thanks to an uncanny ability to act with her eyes and face as much as with her voice. Their performances draw you in, their chemistry so palpable that when they finally surrender to it, the result is a crescendo of passion that is, yes, worth the wait.
Turns out yearning can be just as satisfying as burning. It just takes a little longer.
All eight episodes of “Bridgerton” season two will be available on Netflix starting March 25
