Bridgerton Season Two Watch

What I liked:

• Anthony and Kate had fantastic chemistry. Their actors did a really good job. Loved all the longing looks and mutual pining.
• Edwina’s expanded role. She’s more of a plot device in the books, but here she has some actual characterisation and motivations. Although, I think the show could’ve delved more into her reasons for wanting to marry Anthony if they were going to make her a more important character.
• The expansion of Anthony’s backstory made his motivations more understandable. In the books, he kinda seemed like an idiot with the whole ‘I’m going to die young’ fear. But here, I can understand why he’s so traumatised by having to play lord, father and husband at such a young age. The books hinted at it, but the show fleshed it out with the flashbacks.
• Anthony and Kate are both super messy. I can appreciate a messy romance hero/heroine.
• Aging Kate up was a good decision. Her being 21 in the books didn’t really make sense, especially when she acted much older. 

What I didn’t like:

• Not enough Kanthony. Their scenes were good, but there weren’t enough of them, not for the leading couple.
• All of the subplots. I didn’t care for a single one of them. The show did not need to spend that much time of the Featherington’s when they could’ve spent it on Anthony and Kate. I think part of the problem was having characters, like Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, and then having to find things for them to do.
• The Lady Whistledon plot was boring. There’s only so many times you can retread the same ground. I’m not sure what they’ll have left for Penelope’s season.
• The love triangle was too drawn out. I mean, Anthony and Edwina were almost married. It made Edwina look like an idiot who couldn’t see what was right in front of her. Kate and Edwina’s relationship also suffered as a result, since Anthony and Kate were essentially having an emotional affair. In the books, Edwina never really cares for Anthony and I would’ve preferred it if she was marrying Anthony for more practical reasons. It certainly seemed like she wasn’t in love with him, she just admired him.
• What little banter Anthony and Kate had was great, there just wasn’t enough actual interaction between them that wasn’t an argument or talking about Edwina. The show hints at their similarities (older siblings forced to take charge because of their father’s death and mother’s grief) and a scene with them actually bonding over this would’ve been nice. I bought their attraction and that they really wanted to have sex, but not that they were in love.
• Whereas the show expanded Anthony’s backstory, they cut Kate’s to her detriment. Her fear of storms at least gave her some trauma to work through, and provided a nice scene of comfort for her and Anthony. Her backstory was not given equal importance as Anthony’s and it should have been.

Bridgerton Season Two Watch

Episodes 1-3 Thoughts:

What I like:

• Anthony and Kate’s banter has been great.
• Edwina’s expanded role is good. She has very little characterisation in the book, really only existing as Kate’s motivation and Anthony’s goal. But now she has some actual character, feeling pressure to be the best. And she actually stands up to Kate.
• I like how the show has subtly hinted at Anthony and Edwina’s incompatibility, and Anthony and Kate’s compatibility. The dinner scene where he’s talking to Edwina but staring at Kate is great.
• Kate and Edwina’s dynamic with the Bridgerton family is interesting, how Daphne and Eloise clearly like Kate but I don’t think they really like Edwina. Whereas Violet likes Edwina (will see if the show goes as far as to have her dislike Kate, which I think they should).
• Expanding Anthony’s background with the flashbacks worked for his characterisation, making his motivation more understandable.

What I didn’t like:

• The love triangle angle so far has me concerned. It could be done well, but part of what makes Anthony and Kate’s hurried marriage in the books work is because Edwina never felt anything. Her interest in Anthony would certainly up the angst and the betrayal of Kate’s interest in him. It would give Edwina more character, but I’m not sure what it’ll do for Kate.
• On that note, I wish there was a bit more focus on the Anthony/Kate romance. They’ve had some good scenes, but I’m finding them a bit lacklustre so far, partly due to the focus on Anthony/Edwina.
• The Lady Whistledown plotline is boring me. There’s only so many times you can retread the same ground. And I also just don’t like Penelope as a character, both in the books and the show.

Thoughts going forward:

• I’m interested to see where they go with Edwina. While she has clearly stated she wants to marry Anthony, it doesn’t seem like her feelings are engaged in any way.
• Since they changed the bee scene, I am wondering how Anthony and Kate will get together. It’s a big departure from the source material

Lol, the fact that in s2 of Bridgerton Penelope and her sister Prudence bring up the fact the new Lord Featherington is their cousin as some sort of reason not to marry him is laughable. Marriage between cousins in the aristocracy was hardly taboo in the 1810s (and a fourth cousin at that). 

msalyasimmonsfitz:

ANTHONY BRIDGERTON AND KATE SHARMA | “A Bee on Your Bonnet” – Bridgerton 2.03 (2022)

god when kate says ”this feeling between us it will pass” and anthony shakes his head no