Cast: Jonathan Bailey, Julie Andrews, Phoebe Dynevor, Luke Newton, Luke Thompson, Nicola Coughlan
Creator: Chris Van Dusen
Director: Tom Verica
Streaming On: Netflix
Language: Hindi & English
Runtime: Around 50 Minutes Each Episode.
What is the plot of Bridgerton 2?
Set in high society in 19th century London, the new season begins with the wedding of the eldest, Daphne Bridgerton. Her official elder brother, Viscount Anthony Bridgeton (Jonathan Bailey) and the head of the Bridgeton family set out to pick the best woman in town and make her a Viscountess. As a dutiful son, he puts his duties as a viscount before his needs, or rather, his “love.” “I can’t give myself over to the blind joy of being in love,” she explains.
Before heading to a carousel of bawdis, parties and songs, he meets Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), a scheming stranger with whom he has a provocative verbal fight. The encounter really excites him and he begins to develop a liking for him, but like a dutiful viscount puts him out of his mind. Later, during the first bowl, he is introduced to Edwina Sharma, who soon becomes a man of Anthony’s stature and the ideal bride for the Bridgeton family. Guess who is Edwina’s sister? A love triangle soon develops between Anthony, Kate and Edwina.
What Works in Bridgerton 2
It’s easy to get lost in the grandeur of Shondaland’s depiction of Regency-era romance, which remains sweet and bubbly compared to other period dramas. Ornate dresses, lavish sets, a bowling carousel and soirées, lush gardens, sprawling houses, and some fantastic horseback rides through the parks kept me interested in the story.
Eloise Bridgerton searches for the true identity of the gossip girl, Lady Whistledown, and does some interesting plot bits to expose her. Her friendship with Penelope Featherington and her sequels are just a few of the scenes that are well written enough to keep the audience hooked.
While Bridgeton 2 may have had fewer sex scenes than season one’s famously hot scenes, it felt like an integral part of the plot, and not just a beautiful confection on top of Glaze Fig.
Bridgerton 2 is a star-studded sequel.
Jonathan Bailey’s performance as a hypocritical royal, steeped in his sense of superiority and selflessness, is commendable. However, he failed to generate the white-hot chemistry with his female counterpart Simone Ashley. All human relations with both seem superficial. The only real connection between them was the sacrifice of their first child made by their respective families.
With a tall frame, googly eyes, and beautiful brown skin, Ashley is a stunner and cements her position as the lead, but her performance falls short. Playing a petty rebel role doesn’t come naturally to him. The rest of the supporting cast did well for him in the last season. Reggae Jean Page did not make an appearance. The Duchess of Hastings, Daphne Bridgerton, has been mostly out of season. Her appearance before the climactic scene of Edwina Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton’s wedding marked a turning point in the story.
What Doesn’t Work in Bridgerton 2:
The first season opened with sexual emancipation and nudity. The surprising raucousness dedicated to Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dienevor) and crowd favorite The Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett (reggae Jean Page) garnered global attention during the pandemic.
However, Bridgerton 2 is a sad drop from there. Almost every character in the series gives me an old lecture about finding “true love” as the only purpose in life for women. I found my pace slow, which also increased my weakness.
The Sharma sisters are often seen addressing their parents as ‘Amma’ and ‘Appa’, a rude stereotype and misrepresentation of the Indian household. Clearly, the creators ignored the difference between North Indian and South Indian culture due to lack of extensive research. Also, just to include, a current trend in international cinema, there is a brunette girl, a Hindi song in the background (a version of the song titled Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), and only audible to one of the many Hindus. Marriages shown for two seconds; He then proceeds with a Catholic wedding that makes no sense. Despite much criticism from orthodox Indians, part of the ‘Western look’ never seems to go in the right direction.
Bridgerton 2 made a feeble attempt to express the ongoing debate over the unique definitions of race, individuality, and freedom for all living things, regardless of what era they live in. There is also a constantly evolving conversation between women and their environment. place in literature and society in general. All of these notions serve as the mostly half-baked and very familiar trope at its core.
Bridgerton 2 Review: Last Words:
If you were expecting the famous sex scenes of the first season and the exciting romance between the main characters, you will be disappointed. The last season was decided by sex as a substance,
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