Bridgerton Series 2 starts Friday 25 - Contains spoilers

[Febrier]

It's back. I struggled to get in to series 1 at first, but then I got hooked. I am so ready for this escapist drama.

[quote PrinzessinCressida]@kavalkada

Exactly! I can hear each of those in my head.

Those of you who see red flags, where do you see them? Asking genuinely and happy to be corrected. I see a young man who suffered a very traumatic event and could not receive the support he needed afterwards, because his remaining parent was equally traumatised, and who has had to cope from too much responsibility from a very young age and has therefore developed some less than ideal coping mechanisms. But proper red flags? We all have baggage.

They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They do not mean to, but they do. And on and on it goes, alas.[/quote]
I agree, Anthony is certainly damaged by the death of his father and the sense of duty and responsibility he has felt since, together with the constant self doubt that he isn't doing enough or measuring up to his father.

I think the strength of his feelings for Kate and his eventual surrender to them in spite of the potential consequences sort of saves him in a way.

Over the course of the 8 episodes there is some explanation as to why he behaves as he does. His childhood experiences have meant that he questions the value of falling in love and therefore opening yourself up to grief and loss. But he also respects his duty to produce an heir and follow traditions.
So a loveless marriage where both partners understand the expectations and are content to fulfil them seems to him sensible.
However, his character does develop.

That said it's a bit of froth and there isn't any great psychological analysis

Season 2 is basically season 1 with Kate as the Duke and Anthony as Daphne! Still enjoying it though!

@ChardonnaysPetDragon the phrase "More red flags than the Russian Army here." is really making me laugh, though.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon the phrase "More red flags than the Russian Army here." is really making me laugh, though.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon the phrase "More red flags than the Russian Army here." is really making me laugh, though.

So, only about 33% then?

[quote Febrier]**@ChardonnaysPetDragon the phrase "More red flags than the Russian Army here." is really making me laugh, though.

So, only about 33% then? [/quote]
Not quite sure how many they have left. They do seem to be losing their equipment left right and centre.

Another problem is that (I've just watching the sex scene and I'm on this thread) is that Anthony just doesn't do it for me, he is not The Duke!

Not quite sure how many they have left Presumably a lot fewer than, say, a communist party.

Notonthestairs
That said it's a bit of froth and there isn't any great psychological analysis grin

Yes, please let us not forget this. Any psychological analysis is rather sledghammered in, anyway. This is mostly escapism, for me - I personally don't want to be too distracted from the Viscount saying all the things @kavalkada listed.

The red flags I've noticed so far, (based on what I've seen of episode 1 and part of episode 2.) I mean it's all about him isn't it? He has unrealistic expectations about what he wants in a wife. It's all about his potential brides accomplishments. And nothing about what he could offer a wife. He just arrogantly assumes any women would want to marry him. And on that basis he just assumes Edwina would want to marry him without considering any of her other options, to the point he pushes in front of her other suiters, as if their getting married was a forgone conclusion. He doesn't even bring so much as a bunch of flowers with him.

But all of those things are "normal" for the time period. Anthony is a Viscount, that is what he has to offer his wife - the security, the title, the money etc thstcomea from such a high rank - hence why he is such an eligible bachelor. He has great prospects which is what every society parent was looking for in a potential husband for their daughter. A love match was a bonus, but loveless "dutiful" marriages were entirely standard.

Its why everyone was after Simon in S1 - he was a Duke and everyone wanted their daughter to marry him for that not because they genuinely loved him, hence why he went along with the whole "let's pretend to court each other to make you more desirable to other men and to give me a break from the society mamas" plan with Daphne in the first place.

Or in the same way that cousin Jack Featherington is like yes I could marry Prudence but Miss Cowper is better suited because I / the Featheringtons are skint and the Cowpers aren't. Sort of works both ways

Yep, if a man needed money then he would try and find a woman with a large dowry especially if he was high ranking and needed to keep the family's reputation in society.

In Jack's case he was looking for the biggest payday he could secure to keep the family solvent (but couldn't look too desperate) whereas Anthony didn't need the money so could be for more choosy about what he wanted in a wife - if he was looking for specific qualities then he could afford to reject multiple women, but ladies in their debutante season would know that this season was their best chance at marrying well because the older they got the less chance they would have to compete against the new debutantes each year (hence why Kate was classed as a spinster at 26 while Anthony was desirable at 29)

I enjoyed S2's couple more than S1. Kate and Anthony have so much chemistry. Their story in the book is one of the better ones, but still really thin.

Realistically they have an EA while he courts her sister which is a big old red flag in my book. I do love them though.

I think Jonathan Bailey is a much better actor than Rege. He did well playing the younger version of his character. Simone Ashley is great and has the most flawless glowy skin. She is stunning.

Lady Danbury was wonderful. I love her friendship with Violet. As a middle aged woman, I love the older ladies in this, they absolutely blow the younger cast away.

The sub plots in S2 were really tedious. Eloise shreds my last nerve unless she is with Benedict. He and Colin are really annoying. I can see why Anthony gets so pissed off with them.

I started off thinking Kate and Anthony had no chemistry but as time went on (and it was an incredibly slow burn) I became convinced of them as a couple.

I thought it was a couple of episodes too long though. Their story arc just dragged. And there wasn't enough sex.

I used to like Penelope but now I'm not so sure. I won't spoil the story but what she did to Eloise was awful, and then to claim Poor Me at the end!

I like Eloise. She's a woman out of her time.

I hate the Featheringtons with a passion. I hate their attitude and their storyline. Huge pass.

I love Benedict too. Colin is a bit more disagreeable.

I loved the Queen's wigs. How high can we go? I admire the actress who had to try and act with them! How heavy/hot must they have been?

How Edwina helped the King was lovely. A tear was shed.

It's funny how Eloise has become a bit of a bugbear. She should be the character I like the most - she loves books, doesn't want to get bogged down in romantic relationships, bit immature but fun and kind. And yet...is it the storyline (which is pretty tedious although necessary to set up next season) or is it the character?

Anyone read the books and can confirm/deny that she's more likeable in those?

Eloise is very selfish, she uses Pen.

I have speed-read Eloise's love story, and if they stick at it we're all in for a surprise. To answer the question, she seemed even more pointlessly and slightly posturingly stubborn (in that one book I speedread, mind) than in the TV series so far. But I do like Eloise. I understand why Penelope did what she did, and why Eloise reacted the way she did. And, this being Bridgerton, I am comforted by the certainty that their spat will be happily resolved.

Eloise is very selfish, she uses Pen.

Pen uses everybody.

I can't believe I'm having a discussion about Regency bonkbusters

In difficult times we all benefit from a bit of lightweight, pretty drivel

"she seemed even more pointlessly and slightly posturingly stubborn" - perfect description of Eloise. Maybe it will be better when they focus on her story rather than her flapping around obsessing over Lady Whistledown.

I might try the books on holiday.

So far has it been a book per series? So if I buy book 3 it will lead on well enough?

Are the books any good?

They are a light read, @Trixiefirecracker, but enjoyable. I’m currently rereading the series and enjoying it a lot.

@YetDespiteTheLookOnMyFace

So far has it been a book per series? So if I buy book 3 it will lead on well enough?

Pretty much yes - they've borrowed a few bits from later books to pad out the storylines but nothing really major.

Tbh whilst all of the books focus on the Bridgerton family each sibling's story is fairly standalone too, so whilst Daphne and Simon/Anthony and Kate etc show up in later stories they're mostly just there as background characters once you're past their book.

Love it. Currently rewatching series 2 and it’s only been out since Friday. 😂