Bridgerton Netflix
Skint BBC Four | iPlayer
Then Barbara Met Alan BBC Two | iPlayer
The Simpler Life Channel 4 | All 4
It’s obvious why some shameless types will be here for a Bridgerton second series review, so let’s get straight on to the sex quotient. In the opener, this series’ central character, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), reveals his naked posterior. In ensuing episodes (all on Netflix), there is much feral flirting between him and Kate (Simone Ashley), sister of Edwina (Charithra Chandran), whom he is courting. Anthony also has a “wet shirt” moment, but it’s a bit sub-Darcy: not gratuitous/lingering enough, in my professional opinion. And Bridgerton wouldn’t be Bridgerton without Georgian cunnilingus; last time, performed by Simon (Regé-Jean Page) upon Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) against a thankfully sturdy staircase. Here, such scenes are a long time, erm, coming. Which says it all about this serving of frothy, anachronistic, knowingly silly Bridgerton, based on Julia Quinn’s historical novel series; it arrives with a sumptuous jangle of crystal chandeliers, but then it never quite gets going.
