Answering Your Bridgerton Questions Pt II

What role does Newton play in Season 2?

Newton is absolutely responding to Kate's feelings and offering us a window into her inner thoughts. At first he doesn't like Anthony at all, just like Kate. The last time we see him growling is just before the bee scene. By the time he gets dumped in the river, Newton is just there, not barking or anything. And when Kate is head over heels for Anthony after their kiss, Newton suddenly adores Anthony. It’s a really cute way to use a character that didn’t do much except be adorable and a slight nuisance. It makes sense that they wouldn’t want to shoot a ton of scenes with an animal, so they used him to good purpose when he was there.

Does Anthony owe Kate an apology?

Yes, he does probably owe Kate and apology, though we do get him apologizing to Mary, which is a very good thing on it’s own. But the reality is, Anthony effed up when he proposed to Edwina. He never should have done that, and he admits as much to Violet, though it makes sense for him as a character why he did such a terrible move. He was trying to protect himself and do what he was supposed to do. What he actually does apologize for, the circumstances around their first time in the garden, is the exact opposite of what he should do. Another infuriating move by him, but it is also heartbreaking as he thinks himself alone isn’t enough, that he hurt and defiled Kate with his desire for her. Shattering, honestly. So I understand why that was the apology he made, but it probably wasn’t the right one.

Why didn’t Anthony go for Kate in the first place?

I think Anthony absolutely would have gone for Kate if they hadn’t had that issue outside the Conservatory Ball. It immediately sets them on opposing sides after Anthony says some very bad things in her hearing. If that hadn’t happened, who knows what would have gone on? Kate definitely followed him out there on purpose. I don’t think Anthony ever thought Kate wasn't good enough as herself, though society certainly did, and that's the reason why he went for Edwina. All of it is society and their expectations. Edwina is the diamond, and that’s enough for Anthony to disregard any semblance of feelings that have sprung up with Kate.

Why does Kate hate Anthony so much at the beginning?

I think the secret lies in two scenes. When Anthony comes to call on Edwina before the races, this is an unsung great scene between the two of them. It does wonderful work establishing their banter as well as showing another good reason she has of not trusting him; she's read all about him, clearly in Whistledown. This is a bit of a book nod, but Whistledown definitely reports on Anthony's exploits, the title of the first episode even coming from her scandal sheet about him. Whistledown makes him out to be a rake of the most notorious variety, and while Kate doesn't say it outright, it seems to me that all the evidence she has points to that he won't be faithful to Edwina. This is compounded with the conservatory ball where he shows himself to be an absolute rake who discusses with his friends getting a girl wedded and bedded, then going back to more interesting pursuits and partners. No wonder she's so against him, honestly.

Why did they take away Kate’s fear of storms?

I loved the book but I actually really appreciated the changes. I think they replaced big, irrational fears for both of them with much more realistic and nuanced fears and insecurities that made it so much more meaningful. They nod toward those fears when she talks about her father reading to her through the monsoons, but I think it’s a wonderful thing to show that not all trauma comes from just one, big event. Instead, Kate’s trauma is a series of much smaller but no less traumatizing issues. She has learned a deep insecurity and believes that she must earn her place in the world, and the love she receives, by pushing her own desires aside. That seems to be a much more relatable storyline for all of us watching, which is a good choice as well, and it allows Kate and Anthony to parallel each other without repeating the story beats. Kate doesn't have to turn catatonic in storms to show her trauma. Her breakdown to Mary about feeling the need to earn her keep was more to me than anything in the book. It was so much deeper than an irrational fear because of one bad moment, but instead the constant terror of inadequacy. That’s a much deeper and even more common psychological scar. So they changed her trauma; they didn't eliminate it.

Why didn’t Mary see that Kate and Anthony had feelings for each other?

Honestly? I have no idea. I'm still mad at Mary for this. She says she loves both of her daughters equally but is apparently the only adult woman who can't tell Kate and Anthony have feelings for each other. I can only assume it's because she's paying way more attention to Edwina than Kate. However, if we want them to explore Kate's trauma as I’ve already talked about, Mary can't be some perfect angel who always did right by Kate. Then Kate could have healed already. I am frustrated with Mary immensely, but that is a good thing story wise. Doesn’t mean I don’t still think she should have done better as a person, but as a character, she functions perfectly.

Is the lack of historical accuracy in Bridgerton a valid criticism?

Here’s the thing: really the only way you can judge a show is if it succeeds on the rubric it has set out for itself. “Citizen Kane” is a terrible stoner comedy and “Pride and Prejudice” is an awful action movie. So we have to ask ourselves: what are Bridgerton’s goals, and how does it do on that metric? Well, it is absolutely not meant to be a treatise on historical truth. I'm not going to go point by point about what is accurate and what isn’t because it misses the entire point of the show. It's a fantasy version of history. People of color didn't have a place in this arena like they do in Bridgerton. The costumes and colors are anachronistic, deliberately. Even the music! They have Madonna playing for goodness sake. If you want perfect historical accuracy, go read a textbook. It's perfectly OK for them to take creative license with history, especially when they admit it as part of their process so freely, and it’s not a valid critique of Bridgerton to gauge it on something it isn’t trying to do.

What is going on with Penelope this season?

Penelope is a complicated character who has a lot of good and a lot of bad as well. Seeing her as a businesswoman was amazing, and watching her voice develop was a powerful arc. I just was very frustrated that she took Eloise's choice away from her. That was really horrendous, and how could she justify ruining Eloise and the Bridgertons just so she wouldn't have to tell one person the truth? It didn't make any sense and was so unbelievably selfish. I forgave and understood her last season with Marina, though that was incredibly problematic as well, but she really should have learned her lesson. It retroactively made me like her less last season because it feels less like a mistake and more like her selfishness and part of who she is. I’m not sure if I think this is poor writing or an intentional character flaw; it seems to me that they didn’t fully comprehend how bad what Pen did was, but I guess we’ll see by how Season 3 plays out.

What was the issue with Violet in Season 1?

Warning: This will be a rant.

Violet plays favorites so hard in Season 1. The playing favorites is "Oh Daphne, follow your heart, but Anthony that girl you're in love with, dump her and do your duty." No wonder he has a complex. And she borderline emotionally abused him with her constant talk of what his dad would have done, how he's failing the family. No wonder the guy gets panic attacks. And moreover, all the times Anthony is behaving so poorly are a pretty direct result of Violet pushing him. Anthony getting Daphne engaged to Berbrooke? That's because Violet told him that his father, the man he idolizes and watched die when he was a teenager, would have made a deal with a friend and gotten Daphne married off already. Then Violet gets angry because Anthony picked a person she doesn’t approve of, but couches it in anger that he did it without Daphne’s consent. Which is what she told him to do!

All Violet does it pick at Anthony for not wanting Daphne with the Duke, but Anthony is the one who is right! He knows Simon doesn't want kids and he doesn't trust that Simon's intentions were honorable. And shocker, they weren't! He felt her up in a garden with zero intention of marrying her. Yes, Anthony is a bit high handed, but all he ever gets from his mom is that he needs to step up and lead the family, but when he makes choices, all he gets is criticized. But precious Daphne gets the whole world tossed at her feet because she is just inherently perfect? I think not.

All that growth happens in S2, her awareness of Eloise and her needs, her sympathy for Anthony, and any emotional maturity or self reflection whatsoever. In S1, the only person she's there for is Daphne, and she even fails her. Violet had a tall order doing what she did alone, but I can't handle parents who treat one kid like the golden child and another with such disdain. They really had some character rehab to do on her in S2 and I'm glad they pulled it off.

I absolutely believe Anthony is responsible for his own actions, but in Anthony and Violet's relationship and, she treats him differently than her other kids. She has no idea whether or not Siena is good for him. She doesn't know her or their relationship. Violet always assumes the best in Daphne and the worst in Anthony, which is way off base. She always comes to her other kids with love and understanding, but if Anthony makes a mistake, like scaring away Daphne's suitors, suddenly he's disappointing his father by that action. She doesn't communicate with Anthony; she guilts him. It's manipulation and highly problematic when she already put way too much on him at such an early stage.

I have sympathy for everyone and what they went through, but Violet's treatment of Anthony is not warranted. Mothers have a right and even an obligation to help their kids see the bigger picture or guide them. In Season 1, Violet does neither for Anthony. She just guilts, manipulates, criticizes, and guilts some more. And that is a problem.