As an avid watcher of Bridgerton season one, I had my doubts about how season two could possibly live up to the intense, romantic, and beautiful prospects that season one had to offer.

Similar to season one, season two is eight episodes long, and while that may not seem like many, each episode is roughly an hour long. This makes it feel more like an extensive movie rather than a TV show.

Each new season is unique with its plot, whereas most shows follow the same main characters throughout the course of their timeline. Bridgerton picks a new couple’s love story to unpack and share with each new season. 

Although this intriguing style of the show made me more curious to watch, I was sad to have to say goodbye to the original couple: Daphne and Simon. Daphne is still present in season two, but her appearance is a rarity, and her love interest, Simon, seems to have disappeared from the cast list entirely. 

One of the main reasons I was hesitant on whether I would like season two was because of how much I indulged in Daphne and Simon’s encapsulating portrayal of love and passion during season one. The pair’s on-screen chemistry was unmatched, or so I thought. 

With the return of season two, it seems the latest character in a triumph of love is Daphne’s eldest brother, Anthony. 

In season one, Anthony was portrayed as a sort of grumpy older brother, burdened with the responsibilities of being head of the household. He carried too many grudges on his shoulders, and in turn, it made him a rather unlikeable character. 

However, in season two, lots of character development took place. While Anthony is still insufferable at times, with his constant complaining about his sibling’s lack of appreciation for him, he is now more than tolerable to have on-screen. 

Throughout the course of the season, we get to see his struggles to find love with the right person because he can’t have the girl he truly has feelings for due to unthinkable circumstances. He battles these emotions in the most outrageous of ways until he eventually has no choice but to face them. 

The plot, the acting, the chemistry, and everything else about season two felt familiar in the sense that it had the same ambiance as season one, but at the same time, it felt slightly more riveting. 

In addition to the captivating performances by all the actors, the old England sets and exquisite costumes had a certain overlay of vibrant, modern colors that made watching each methodically placed flower and sequin on the women’s gowns sparkle almost as entertaining as the plot itself. 

I expect season two will get just as much well-deserved praise as season one did when it first aired. Whether you’re looking for an enthralling romance, an immaculate display of the different sibling relationships, or simply want to watch art dance across the screen in front of you, Bridgerton deserves to be viewed by all.