Why Benedict Doesn’t Have To Follow The Same Rules As Anthony
Warning! This post contains mild spoilers for Bridgerton season 2.
Netflix's Bridgerton is about Regency-era British nobility and that peerage system explains exactly why second-eldest Bridgerton son Benedict doesn't have to follow the same strict rules as the eldest son, Anthony. Based on the Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn, the series was adapted for Netflix by Shonda Rhimes, who also created such television hits as Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Bridgerton was a smash hit for Netflix when it premiered in December of 2020, largely due to the steamy romance between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). The second season, which was released on March 25, 2022, puts Anthony at the forefront as he searches for a wife out of duty. Bridgerton season 2 also shows how stark the difference in responsibility is between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Benedict (Luke Thompson).
The Bridgerton family, headed by Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, are part of the British peerage system in a fictionalized 1800s London. Anthony inherited his title from his father, Edmund Bridgerton, who passed away after having an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Having to become the head of the family at about 16 years old, Anthony was forced to become a responsible leader at a young age, which caused him to have to grow up quickly. Benedict is the second-born son and would have been second in line to inherit the title, behind Anthony. The difference in how they were socialized growing up is evident in the way that Benedict is able to pursue his passions by going to the Royal Academy to study art. Anthony, in contrast, is mostly focused on duty.
Related: Bridgerton: Why Anthony And Kate's Romance Beats
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