Miss Flicks

Regé-Jean Page isn’t as integral to Bridgerton’s appeal as I thought

Regé-Jean Page, who? That’s not a thought I expected to have while watching Bridgerton season two but it turns out he isn’t as vital to the show’s appeal and success as I’d assumed. Plus, who needs Page when you have Jonathan Bailey jumping out of a lake soaking wet?!

Just everyone else, I adored watching Page’s Duke of Hastings fall in love with Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) in season one and was devastated when it was confirmed he wouldn’t be a part of season two. I thought what appealed to me most about the Netflix period drama had been taken away, leaving a big gaping hole in its wake, and the second season could never work for me as well as the first had.

But I was so wrong! In fact, I didn’t miss him at all and I think a little cameo appearance would have distracted everyone from the new love story. Just like I adored Simon and Daphne’s romance, I became fully invested in Anthony Bridgerton’s (Bailey) enemies-to-lovers storyline with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

When I read that there was less sex in the second season compared to the first, I once again thought it wouldn’t be very good as it was such a big factor the first time around. But, again, I didn’t miss it! The palpable sexual tension between Anthony and Kate was so much hotter and made their eventual sex scene more satisfying. The smouldering and yearning, the passion in their eyes, their inability to resist each other – oh la la, I loved it all. And wouldn’t it have been boring if it was a carbon copy of the season before?

Although the love stories are the main event of Bridgerton, my favourite character across both seasons is without a doubt Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie). I love that we’ve got a feminist in this setting and she isn’t interested in just being somebody’s wife. Her dialogue is often hilarious, refreshing and relatable and I hope she never changes.

So, while I feared the novelty had worn off and Bridgerton wouldn’t be the same as before, I was totally wrong. The show was so lovely – like a big warm hug – that I was actually sad when it ended because it meant I had no more to watch!

The third season is supposed to focus on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and I honestly can’t see that working as well – he doesn’t have that hot leading man appeal like Page and Bailey. But I was wrong before and I’m willing to be proven wrong again!

Streaming on Netflix now