Dearest gentle reader, the middle of the night marked the release of the second part and the end to this frightful season of Bridgerton. The lusty period piece has become highly popular since the release of its debut season in December 2020.
Despite following the same storyline of entangling conflict and romance as the previous seasons, certain changes have been made.
This season focuses on recurring characters Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton and the romance that long-time viewers have been anticipating since the series began.
Their story is sweet, detailing how they first met each other but it also dives into the complexities of their relationship — complexities caused by Penelope’s secret alter ego that will temporarily plague their relationship. The season is a realistic portrayal of how all relationships are not always smooth sailing.
Despite the endearing plot of the main story, it is the underlying factors that are truly the most anxiety-inducing.
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This season not only focuses on love, but on friendship. Penelope saw her friendship with Eloise Bridgerton fall into jeopardy at the end of season two because of the reveal of her gossiping alias.
Eloise and Penelope’s relationship perfectly shows what it’s like to be wounded by a companion and the hardships that come along with that, especially when the one who betrayed you suddenly becomes betrothed to your brother.
Penelope is one of the most well-written characters in the series because of the power that she obtained from building an empire off of the weaknesses of high society. Her story dives into how her work jeopardizes her relationships — platonic and romantic — and vice versa. It shows how great success can also have great moral implications.
Adding to the suspense, producers of the show decided to split the season into two parts with a month in between each release. Certainly an odd choice considering that this was the first season of Bridgerton released in this manner.
Viewers of the historical drama know that writers and producers do not shy away from diverse representation. The inclusion of LGBTQ characters in this season is something to be applauded and not ignored.
An intriguing subplot is found within the life of Benedict Bridgerton when Paul Suarez is introduced as a bisexual character. Benedict is seen accepting Paul for who he is and also experiments with his own sexuality, showing the first homoerotic relationship involving a main character in the series.
The season also includes relationships that are seemingly perfect. Will Mondrich and his wife, Alice, inheriting a large sum of money and being thrown into a new life is certainly heartwarming, as is the budding romance between the season’s shrinking violets, Francesca Bridgerton and John Stirling.
Intricacies such as the classical covers of modern songs are essential in the Bridgerton universe and add a contemporary touch to the show. This season included instrumental covers of “Jealous” by Nick Jonas, “pov” by Ariana Grande, “Yellow” by Coldplay and more.
Overall, this season of Bridgerton is definitely one for the books. The suspenseful storylines and complexities definitely make this story worth watching.
