Dearest reader, 

The time has come when Bridgerton has made its return to our screens with a new game of courtship. Shonda Rhymes has delighted us with eight episodes filled with tension, passion, elegance, breathtaking moments, and another opportunity to travel back in time to 19th-century London.

Now that Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest Bridgerton, is married and practically absent, all eyes are on Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey). Troubled by past experiences, he refuses to believe in love, but it is up to this season’s Ladies to change his mind and become his Viscountess. The Viscount is looking for a lady with not just beauty and brains, but someone who fits his idea of perfection. 

The season brings new characters as well. Miss Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Miss Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) have made their way from Bombay, India, for this season’s social events. While Kate is not actively looking for a match, she must help Edwina find love amongst the many gentlemen in London. 

In season one, we learned that Penelope Featherington was behind the gossip papers of Lady Whistledown. In this season, she continues to dictate the season’s latest gossip, as she finds new ways to deliver her letters to the printer, and faces Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) determination to find her. The show also follows the side stories of the rest of the Bridgerton siblings, Eloise, Collin, and Benedict, as they search for their purposes. 

Unlike season one of the show, season two has way less sex and nudity. In season one, we saw unusually explicit sex scenes concentrating on the female’s pleasure that made it seem like part of the plot. This was due to the natural young-lover, horny chemistry that existed between Daphne and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). In this season, however, the sexual tension feels more adult and less playful, as the Viscount faces his emotions getting in the way of his duties as the eldest son. He finds himself stuck in a triangle between raging love and responsibility for his family’s reputation. 

The pieces that make Bridgerton such a unique series remain outstanding in season two. The strings section in the background plays cover versions of iconic songs, such as Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”  The color palettes of every scene remain impeccable, with the incorporation of the lavish gardens and balls on the immense 19-century style homes. And of course, Lady Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh) elegance and influence on the season’s matching of the Queen’s diamond could not be left behind. 

The story repeats itself by the end of the season, with a happy ending and neatly tied bonds between families. Even though the story as a whole felt a tad repetitive, it remains enjoyable and worth the watch, as it had a different angle on how the story came to be. The season is available for streaming on Netflix.