Bridgerton season 2 is a major departure — but did it work?

polygon.com:

Bridgerton season 2 has, at long, long last, arrived. The first season, which dropped on Netflix in December 2020, was a breath of fresh air: After months of pandemic life, there was a natural hunger for stories of Regency romance with its strained intimacy and touch sensitivity. More than a year later, the world looks a lot different — but so does Bridgerton season 2.

In the second season, the Duke and Duchess of Hastings are off in wedded bliss. Which means it’s now Viscount Anthony Bridgerton’s turn to find true love and happiness. Having been burned before, he starts the season off much more interested in finding a woman who can fulfill the role of viscountess than he is in the “true love match” his mother encourages. So naturally when he becomes bewitched by Kate Sharma, a new-to-town woman with a wit to rival his own, he does the only logical thing: Try to wed her sister.

Of course, Kate and Anthony’s story is more than just their own. Following up the phenomenon of the first season was always going to involve stepping into big shoes, and setting the tone for the future of Bridgerton’s run, which (per the book series it’s based on) will spend a season on each Bridgerton kids’ love story. So does season 2 match the passionate intensity of the first season? We asked Polygon’s biggest Bridgerton to weigh in.

[Ed. note: This chat discusses some general spoilers for plotlines in season 2.]

Petrana: As someone who is a complete sucker for both enemies-to-lovers and mutual pining as romance tropes, I think it absolutely matched the highs of season 1. There certainly are not as many sex scenes in this season, which I understand detracts from some people’s enjoyment of the show, but I always find the almost-but-not-quite