Bridgerton Season 2 First Look Reveals Anthony’s Central Focus
Netflix’s TUDUM event revealed its first look at season 2 of Bridgerton. Season 1 of the hit drama about regency-era London centered on Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). Daphne and Simon underwent many ups and downs in their relationship before eventually achieving a happy marriage together. Yet, now that Daphne's story is more or less complete, the TV series is moving on to another Bridgerton sibling.
Bridgerton is based on the book series by Julia Quinn, with each novel focusing on a different character. While the first book was about Daphne, the second novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, centered on her older brother Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). Netflix's first look at its upcoming season, set to release in 2022, reveals that the TV adaptation is following this pattern.
Netflix shared a clip from Bridgerton season 2 in which Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) starts leaving a party until Anthony follows after her. In a moment reminiscent of the snappy back-and-forth in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Kate angrily rebukes Anthony for comments she overheard him make about his "ideal wife." Anthony stands there, mouth agape, as Kate aims insult after insult in his direction. She wittily remarks on his overabundance of arrogance and, in her opinion, little else. She says coolly: "Your character is as deficient as your horsemanship." This conversation is far from romantic, yet the tension between these two implies an eventual romance in their future.
The end of Bridgerton season 1 found Anthony swearing off romantic love forever after his heart was broken by opera singer Sienna Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett). In The Viscount Who Loved Me, Anthony had set his sights on making Kate's younger sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran) his future wife, but Kate disapproved. This conflict will undoubtedly make for a second season as entertaining as the first as Anthony struggles with what he thinks he must do, instead of what will actually make him happy. Kate's casting is also a noteworthy reminder that Netflix remains committed to diversifying its source material by making her family of Indian descent and changing their last name from Sheffield to Sharma. Only time will reveal in what other ways the TV show updates the novels.
Many fans of the first season were disappointed to learn that heartthrob Regé-Jean Page would not be returning as Simon. Anthony has big shoes to fill in his place, but his story is definitely up to the challenge. Kate's cynical nature offers a refreshing change from Daphne's naivete and should provide a welcome challenge to Anthony's uncompromising worldview. Overall, this Netflix first look should satisfy any Bridgerton fans who worried season 2 would lose any of the fun relationship dynamics or heartwarming romance from its first season. If the rest of the season is as exciting as this clip, viewers will have plenty to look forward to.