Let's get caught up!
With the first half of Season 3 of ‘Bridgerton’ about to begin, we recap where we left off.
‘A shockingly prolific family noted for its bounty of perfectly handsome sons and perfectly beautiful daughters.’
This is the description by Lady Whistledown of the Bridgerton family at the opening of the Netflix series. These sons and daughters (eight of them in total and all named after a letter of the alphabet. A tradition giving me serious Kardashian vibes) become the framework for Julia Quinn‘s bestselling book series and in turn for the TV programme. Each season, showrunner Shonda Rimes of Grey’s Anatomy fame, has followed the example of the books and spotlights one of the Bridgerton siblings and the twists and turns of their love lives.
In Season 1 it was Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the family and her journey to triumph on the marriage mart. And in Season 2 it was Anthony’s turn. Since his father’s death some years earlier, Anthony is head of the family and saddled with the title of Viscount Bridgerton and the social standing of the entire family. He starts the season by promising that he will marry with his head but, you guessed it, ends up being ruled by his heart when he meets the feisty Kate Sharma.
The remaining Bridgerton children are:
Benedict
Colin
Eloise
Francesca
Gregory
Hyacinth
So there is still some way to go to see how all of their stories turn out. Plus, in between the end of Season 2 and the return of Bridgerton in 2024, fans were treated to a spin off series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, which focused on the leader of the Ton herself and was loosely based on the real-life love story between Charlotte and King George III.
And so for two seasons we have been invited into the Bridger-verse and have accompanied the Ton as they have navigated the marriage market, experienced the rise and fall of their financial fortunes, attended too many events of the Season in too many outlandish outfits to count and all while providing a healthy dose of Regency titillation. As we stand ready to plunge headfirst into that world again let’s first recap what has come before.
Season one:
The first season is all about Daphne. From the moment that Eloise brilliantly screams at her older sister from the bottom of the Bridgerton staircase that they ‘Must make haste!’, we know that this particular debutante will be front and centre of the action.
Daphne is beautiful, elegant and about to make her debut into society in front of Queen Charlotte. When Her Majesty proclaims Daphne her ‘diamond’ of the Season, it looks like things are going rather well. However, when a rival debutante Marina Thompson (who is a relative of the nouveau-riche Featherington family) arrives on the scene, Daphne’s suitors dry up. Enter Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, a devastatingly handsome rake and friend to Daphne’s brother Anthony whose title every society matron wants to secure for their daughters.
Daphne and the Duke hatch a plan. They will pretend to be courting, so that Daphne will attract more male attention and the Duke will be left alone to continue his bachelor lifestyle. However, as the pair get to know each other their explosive chemistry is palpable. They fall in love, and are eventually caught sharing a passionate kiss. To protect Daphne’s reputation the pair agree to marry but not before the Duke tells her that he won’t be able to give her children.
Despite this bombshell, the newlyweds begin married life with Simon very enthusiastically giving a naive Daphne a thorough sex education. However, he leaves out one part. It turns out he is able to have children but has vowed not to because of his own complicated relationship with his father. Simon relies on his bride not understanding the mechanics of conception and him being really good at pulling out at the right time. When Daphne cottons on to the Duke’s lie, she feels completely betrayed.
‘The Hastings line will die with me’ - Simon, Duke of Hastings.
Meanwhile, Daphne’s younger sister Eloise is determined to uncover the identity of Lady Whistledown, the author of a scandal sheet that lays bare all the secrets of the Ton. Along with her friend the fiercely intelligent and kind hearted Penelope Featherington (who has a major thing for gaudy yellow dresses and Colin Bridgerton) and an increasingly obsessed Queen Charlotte, they attempt to track down the illusive author. However, Eloise also admires Whistledown for her acerbic commentary on society, so when the Queen’s guard come close to unmasking Whistledown, Eloise tips her off and she gets away.
It is then that Penelope Featherington is revealed to the audience as Lady Whistledown! What will Eloise say when she finds out?
Back on the honeymoon from hell, Daphne has decided to take matters into her own hands and there is a scene where let’s just say, she takes control of the marital bed and lots of questions are raised about non-consensual sex.
The couple argue some more and all seems lost, yet by the end of the season they have reconciled, Daphne gives birth to her first child and the Duke seems thrilled to be a father even agreeing for the baby’s name to begin with an ‘A’ in true Bridgerton style.
‘Perhaps I will come forward one day, though you must know, dear reader that decision will be left entirely up to me. Yours truly, Lady Whistledown.’ - Season 1, Episode 8.
Let’s get caught up!
In the next newsletter, a recap of Season 2 and it’s all about Anthony…
What were your best bits of Season 1?
This is such a great page, looking forward to seeing more!