It’s been a good week. We kicked the tiny fist man out of the White House. Michelle Obama stole the show looking like a plum Avenger. Seeing all the girl power on the inauguration stage just made me giddy. And I thought my week, nay my month, was absolutely made. Until I woke up to the headline that Netflix has officially announced that Bridgerton has been renewed for a second season. The second installment will follow the story of Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton. Netflix confirmed this in their press release with a letter from Lady Whistledown. Kathryn Drysdale, who plays Genevieve Delacroix the owner of Modiste, says that Season two will definitely follow the love life of Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey. She says that Jonathan will be able to hold our attention in season two as he is sexy and a very good actor. Below is more on the story via The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix noted that the Shondaland drama was on pace to be seen by 63 million households across its first 28 days of release. While the company, like other streamers, does not release traditional viewership data, it counts two minutes — aka long enough to illustrate the choice to watch was intentional — as a view.
Bridgerton has an impressive 90 percent and 83 percent rating among critics and viewers, respectively, on RottenTomatoes.com. The drama starring Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor serves as Rhimes’ first show for Netflix after the Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal creator departed her longtime home at ABC for a five-year, $100 million overall deal with the streamer in 2017.
Through the pact, Rhimes and producing partner Betsy Beers have big plans for Shondaland at Netflix and are prepping multiple other projects, including the Anna Delvy drama, Inventing Anna, which is due this year. Other titles in the works include Recursion, The Warmth of Other Suns, Reset, The Residence, anthology Notes on Love and a film and TV universe collaboration with Matt Reeves (The Batman).
As for Bridgerton, showrunner Chris Van Dusen (Scandal) has a long-term plan in place and hopes the drama runs eight seasons — one for each book in author Quinn’s series. Season two is expected to be based on Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me.
OMG I get to see more of Rege-Jean and I am here for it. Hopefully, Bridgerton being renewed for a second season won’t ruin Rege’s chances for at least a cameo in the next installment of the Bond Series. Although Anthony is my least favorite Bridgerton (he is such a bore), I am hoping they cast a dark-skinned Black woman or South Asian woman for his love interest, Kate Sheffield. I think that would balance the lack of dark-skinned folks being love interests in the first season of the show. With that being said, whomever they choose for Kate will definitely need to be as charming as Rege to offset Anthony’s stale personality. That’s not to take away from actor Jonathan Bailey, whom I think is a great actor. But the writers in season 1 didn’t give Jonathan much to work with. Hopefully, Anthony will be developed more and his personality fleshed out in Season 2. I also know that the Duke doesn’t make much of an appearance in the second book but I hope the writers find a way to bring back the Duke so I can at least enjoy the show.
My week has been made. I am excited that my favorite obsession will continue. And if Production Weekly’s report is correct, season 2 of Bridgerton will begin filming in March, in England if the pandemic allows. All I can say is 2022 is looking up. I will get seasons 2 of Bridgerton AND The Witcher.
Photos via Instagram and also credit Liam Daniel/Netflix
Well hopefully they do something to make him more likeable, because I really thought he was a douche in the first season. A douche to his mistress and a douche to his sister. He was my least favorite as well
Yes, he was a total douche, but the 2nd season will be based on book 2 in the series. He grows up a lot and becomes a much nicer person in that book, so I think we’ll all fall in love him with when the next season comes out! 🙂
he was a total douche, but I’m interested in Anthony and what his love life will be like!
I’m all for RegeJean, but I’m into bridgerton for the romance and how love is being knit more that what happens to the duke and duchess. They already have their forever happy.
Ugh I am so ready for Anthony’s hot angsty fuxxboy melodrama
I just read the second book and I do hope they keep all the witty dialogue
Yesssss I am toooooooooooo. Anthony issss everrryythinggg. I just read the second book this week, and I’m thinking about re-reading it this weekend. lol The second book is way better than the first! I read the first a couple years ago and didn’t continue because I really didn’t like Daphne (or her actions) in the first book. I may have also read the third book (uggghhhh Benedicctttt is everrryyytthinnnggg toooo) and the fourth (meh not as good as everyone says). I may be starting the fifth soon. Comfort reading, sigh.
Yes, you need to meet the fifth book’s Sir Phillip. I like him better than any of the Bridgerton bros.
They better not mess up Anthony’s story because he is one of my favourites.
They did him so dirty is season one though that they’ve left themselves a lot of work to redeem him. The Viscount Who Loved Me is a much better book and Anthony and Kate are one of my favourite fictional pairings. I was pissed at how they ruined Anthony just to make Simon and Daphne more likable in the series. Now lots of people hate his character which is a shame because he’s really great and deserved better than he got in season one
I can’t wait to see who is playing Kate. Fingers crossed for a WOC who can bring all of Kate’s spirit and vulnerabilities to life.
A WOC of color would totally make sense for Kate since she’s got darker hair/complexion (and therefore considered less pretty by society) than her sister! I hope they cast a Latina.
They need to go all out for me. A deeply melanated female lead (black, Indian or LatinX) otherwise no thanks. We’ve seen plenty of love stories around Caucasian looking Latinos like Jlo, Salma Hayek and Sophia Vegara)
I’m late to the Bridgerton party, and just started watching. I couldn’t quite place Anthony, so off to IMDB I went; he was in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Crashing,” which I loved!
And he played Jack in “W1A” and was delightfully smarmy. I really like him so I’m glad to see there will be more focus on his character next season.
OMG, that’s the same guy? What a different role! I loved Crashing, and wish more people watched it after falling for Fleabag. Loved the different types of relationships and the setting of that show.
I tried but couldn’t get past the first episode. I couldn’t even finish the first episode, I thought it was so boring.
Was it as boring as someone coming into a fan thread to tell them all how boring their entertainment is?
They better hurry up and film this. This is a show clearly getting its viewing public from people stuck in lockdown. When we have choices besides being stuck at home with Netflix, this is going to be one of the first shows to lose out.
Same. I watched the first two episodes and gave up, bored out of my mind. I seriously do not understand what people see in this. There are so many better shows on Netflix.
Was so happy when I head this news yesterday. So looking forward to Season 2. And also want my Bridgerton musical: https://www.buzzfeed.com/andriamoore/these-kids-created-a-musical-version-of-bridgerton-on
Ha! I just ordered the second book so the timing of this is perfect!
I actually liked Anthony haha. I will definitely be tuning in next season as I found Daphne boring but I’m hoping the Anthony/Kate story will be a lot less boring.
PS: Madame Delacroix was really familiar to me so I googled her and it turns out she plays Meghan on The Windsor! For those who don’t know, it’s a parody show on the British Royal Family.
I found it distracting in Bridgerton because I kept imagining her Meghan voice, LOLOL.
Ha same! Once I found out I just couldn’t get it out of my head when I was watching the show.
YAY I’m so excited. I thought they did an okay job with Anthony in the first season (the opera star is only a bit part in the second book) – he’s meant to be obsessed with protecting his family and I think they conveyed that, but it ended up making him look like an ass at times. I hope they bring out more of his charm and wit in the second season – the casting of Kate is really going to be critical here.
I wonder if she’s already been cast. From what I have read filming starts in March so they have likely already made a decision.
Agree!! I love Kate in the book so very much (I actually started a family tradition of playing croquet every holiday and I always play with the black ball, “The Mallet of Death”- my family has no idea why this is important to me). Please, please don’t mess this up!!
Yes!! The Mallet of Death and that whole scene HAS to be in the show.
I hope they work on his posture when sitting in a chair. He sits like my 12 year old does when her dad and I have to talk to her about her grades. Someone on Reddit lectured me on the purpose of gentlemen’s clubs and why he would be allowed, nay, encouraged, to sit like that at the club. Still annoys me…
I agree. Nobody slouched back then. And especially not like that. And gentleman’s clubs were NOT frats. The older men would not have put up with someone making their club look bad.
Anthony’s story was one of my favorites. I’ve seen Jonathan in other stuff and he can bring the comedy and personality. I think he was dull in the first season bc he was meant to be rather dour in the first installment. He livens up when Kate comes in the scene.
Anthony has a true character arc in his book and season 1 of Bridgerton helped set it up without stealing from Daphne and Hastings’ story. Also, only Anthony and Francesca’s books made me cry so….
Is Francesca’s book any good? I was disappointed by Hycanith and Gregory’s books that I was afraid to read Francesca’s.
As for Kate, I’m hoping for a Latina or Asian actress.
Francesca’s book is a little less traditional but it was one of my favourites. I agree that the last two with Gregory and Hyacinth were a bit boring.
Anthony’s book is awesome – fingers crossed for an inspired casting of Kate.
I am all for Netflix hiring Simona Brown to play Kate Sheffield (for Anthony) or Sophie Beckett (for Benedict). 🤩 She is lovely on Grantchester and I know she’s acted opposite the actor who plays Benedict prior.
I’ll also be curious if the diversity switch would bring the same accolades or if the usual double standards for Black women as the desired love interest would end up happening.
I was going to comment on twitter about this – do you think they should use a Black woman for Sophie if they cast a white woman as Kate? I think that would be problematic, but maybe others feel differently. (I think if they cast a WOC for Kate, then the casting for Sophie is different, you know?)
Regardless, I am also interested to see if any switches in diversity change the praise for the series. I am really thinking they’ll go more diverse with the next two female leads because they cant really change anything about Colin and at this point even Eloise is sort of set.
Am I the only person on the planet who thought this show was just ok? I should probably read the books because I am the absolute target audience for them, but the show was just…meh.
It was a cringe-watch for me. I needed an escape from the doom and gloom of the pandemic. Some parts were good but I can’t stand Daphne, such a wet fish in terms of personality. She is easily outshined in most scenes with the other cast members.
I’m with you on the cringe watch. I didn’t even mind Daphne that much. Her brother–who will apparently be the lead in the season 2–was insufferable. I was hoping that Simon would take him out in the duel but alas. To me this show is every bad cliche come to life and it needs way more LGBT representation. I do enjoy seeing the diversity in the cast but other than Simon, I feel like the POC in the cast were relegated to secondary, supporting roles. We need a stunning black woman front and center next season IMO.
Ok peeps. I have read Regency romances since I was a kid. My fave is MC Beaton (no sex in her books) but I also read Julia Quinn. I am so glad to see this era highlighted !! I am here for Anthony Bridgerton and all the rest of them.
Oh geez, the character I enjoyed seeing the least will now dominate season 2??!! I hope they include more Daphne and Simon in Sn 2. Rege is so dreamy.
I think Shondaland has a bit of a problem on their hands in regards to the second season. So much of the love for the show was the actor playing Simon. I really hope that people won’t be too disappointed when he is not a major player in season 2. They are really going to have to up the wow factor with the casting of Kate. They will have to have off the charts chemistry because they will be constantly compared to Simon and Daphney.
I think Anthony is very good looking and has the potential to be charming, which should help. They did make him a douche in S1 but that was more his actions than his overall persona. I’ll be here for S2! Also, maybe get a more charismatic actress to play his love interest? Phoebe was OK as Daphne but I wasn’t wowed by her.
Agreed. I could watch a prequel with just the Duke traveling the world and being his sexy rake self
That was my one real irritation with the most delicious gourmet bag of potato chips that is Bridgerton–Anthony was definitely the weakest link in terms of the writing, serving mostly just to create false impediments in the young lovers’ narrative when the writers needed drama, and doing so in a way that compromised him having any kind of consistent or appealing character. But I imagine this actor will be just fine if they stop making his character stupidly reactive in one moment and totally on board with whatever the next. In any case, I’M HOOKED.
I got what they were trying to do, showing him struggling to take the role as the patriarch of the family while still having a lot of the youthful arrogance and insecurity that undermined his confidence and understanding in making better decisions. It does, however, create some uncomfortable awareness of the massive power difference between the men of that society and the women, particularly with the decisions he makes in regards to his sisters. Even with as many mistakes Daphne makes, it is hard to ignore just how many times her hand is forced by men making decisions for her or with disregard as to how she won’t have the same agency navigating them.
To be honest, I am not that interested in seeing more of the Bridgertons.
BUT: I would love to see more of Lady Danbury and her backround. I loved every second she was on screen.
I’m glad to see romance, which is hands down the biggest money making genre in writing, finally getting more mainstream respect and recognition, but I do question how well the formula for regency series will translate to a multi-season show. Books can get away with loosely connected character stories in ways television sometimes can’t unless the seasons are very solidly sectioned off the way, say, “The Terror” or “American Horror Story” are, but it adds more stress to have to make your audience fall in love with new lead characters each time, especially if the ones that sparked your interest the first time around are still around and are just boring background characters now. For me, the rest of the cast just wasn’t that interesting – or, quite frankly, were effectively cast and dressed down enough to look so young as to be offputting to my cranky 30-something senses about wanting to see them in sexual situations. (I realize most of them are adults, but you know what I mean.)
One of the big things I do wonder about being an issue is the ages of the characters. You can set a book a few years in the future without much problem, but when you have physical actors, you have to wait to age them up a bit or mature them through makeup. I suppose they can recast in some cases, but I do wonder if it’ll slow things down a bit as they get to the younger siblings.
I will be surprised if the show gets enough seasons to focus on the last two. Even Francesca might not happen. She was barely in this one as it was. All three have time jump issues that would need to dealt with.
I’m meh about this show–currently on episode 5 and I’ll admit that it gradually gets better–but he’s my least favorite character. He’s such a douche to his sister, his mother, and his mistress. How are we possibly supposed to root for him in the second season? UGH, he’s the worst.
I’m hoping we get to see a bit more of Simon and Daphne in the second season. I adore them.
I’m easy to please, Bridgerton creatives…All I need are the magical aesthetics, beautiful costuming, shallow drama, and I’m good to go.
I thought this series was only “ok”.Sets and costumes were fine .Acting adequate.I got the impression that in an effort to be ” relevant”, the many sex scenes were trotted out.For a complete contrast to this series, try the movie Persuasion-where the touch of a hand can convey everything.
Persuasion is my favorite of those slew of Austen movies that came out in the 90s. I don’t think Bridgerton is even trying to be remotely like Austen at all. It’s silly and over the top. Would like a bit more character development, some of the inaccuracies of the costuming get on my nerves, but it’s better then all of those cheesy Christmas romance movies that came out around the time it was released. I’m not sure about the casting of the love interest because I got the impression Anthony has a problem with his siblings marrying people of color, even if the writer doesn’t intend it. People feel a ways when they see black women or other ethnicities with white men on screen, but not that reaction with the reverse, hence the stanning with Daphne and the Duke. Too much bad historical baggage there and it will bring out the crazy haters. Will be nice if it’s an Olivia and Fitz chemistry, but who knows. Should be interesting.