Always a pleasure, never a chore (but sometimes an over-saccharine trifle): Bridgerton is back! Having lassoed the zeitgeist upon its 2020 debut – and fast-tracked its young stars to household names in the process – it feels odd to note that this is merely the third outing for Netflix’s costume drama for people who don’t like costume dramas. That is a real credit to the show: Bridgerton has established its arresting yet soothing take on Regency Mayfair with aplomb. It’s an immaculately constructed dreamland; the pinnacle of comfort TV.
It’s also immediately clear that Bridgerton is benefiting from having two seasons under its corset already, laying the foundations for the most captivating courtship yet. Thus far, each series has focused on different members of the Bridgerton children as per Julia Quinn’s novels: Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) found love with Regé-Jean Page’s Duke of Hastings, before eldest son Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) met his match in 26-year-old “spinster” Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). This season sees Francesca Bridgerton, a composed pianist with a businesslike approach to marriage, make her society debut. Yet the real beating-heart of these first four episodes (the final four will be released in mid-June) is the long-simmering romance between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and his neighbour Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
