Bridgerton season 2 is on the way, and Julia Quinn’s romance novels offer some interesting insight into what could be in store. The first season of the smash-hit series was based on the first Bridgerton book, The Duke and I, which centers on Daphne and Simon. The other novels put different characters in the spotlight, however, and they give some hints as to what fans can expect going forward.
By the end of season 1, a lot had gone down in the lives of the Bridgerton family. Daphne and Simon finally learned how to communicate effectively and started a family. Benedict dipped his toe into a more bohemian world. Anthony sore off love, Eloise was thwarted by Lady Whistledown (secretly her best friend Penelope Featherington), and Colin left for a world tour after an unfortunate falling out with Marina Thompson. Ms. Thompson herself agreed to marry Phillip Crane, the brother of her former lover George, for the good of her and her unborn child.
Some of the main plot arcs of Bridgerton season 1 found resolution by the end, but there’s still lots of drama left hanging for season 2 to pick up. With production happening this spring, the next installment of Bridgerton could arrive quite soon. Here are some of the big things fans can expect from season 2, according to what happens in the books.
Anthony Bridgerton Takes Center Stage
The second of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels, The Viscount Who Loved Me, puts Anthony Bridgerton in the leading role. Anthony’s story was hinted at in the final moments of season 1, and it’s since been confirmed that season 2 will be taking direct inspiration from the novels in that regard. Sex Education’s Simone Ashley has already been cast as Anthony’s main love interest Kate Sharma, who will presumably be based on the books’ Kate Sheffield character.
Anthony’s lead role will have implications for the rest of the show as well. Given that Bridgerton’s success on Netflix was largely due to the individual performances of and chemistry between Simon and Daphne, they’ll likely play a larger role in season 2 of the show than they do in the later books. However, they’ll still inevitably have to take a backseat while the other Bridgerton siblings find love. There’s also a chance that Siena Rosso could return in Bridgerton season 2, as the character she’s based on appears solely in The Viscount Who Loved Me.
Colin And Penelope’s Story Isn’t Over
One of Bridgerton season 1’s more ancillary (but very tender) plotlines was Penelope Featherington’s unrequited love for Colin Bridgerton. After a quick courtship of Marina Thompson ends in embarrassment for Colin, he decides to leave London for some extended travels. That doesn’t mean that Penelope and Colin’s story is over yet, however, at least not if the novels have anything to say about it.
Colin and Penelope’s proper courtship is the subject of the fourth Bridgerton book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, so it’s very likely that Colin will eventually catch feels for Penelope in the show as well. Their story could be complicated, however, by the fact that Penelope’s secret identity as Lady Whistledown was revealed much earlier n the show than in the books. Penelope seems to expose Marina’s pregnancy specifically out of her love for Colin in season 1 – a move that is questionably ethical at best. It may be sometime before the other characters discover Penelope’s alter ego, and it’s unclear how large a role Colin will play in season 2, but further steps in their love story will likely come soon.
More Bridgerton Family History Will Be Revealed
With Anthony taking center stage in Bridgerton season 2, the show will also likely dive deeper into the history of the family – specifically, the life and tragic death of their father, Edmund Bridgerton. In the books, Edmund died after an allergic reaction to a bee sting when Anthony was only a teenager. Season 1 shows Anthony grappling with his father’s legacy, and that trend will only continue in season 2. Due to allergies sometimes having genetic connections, Anthony lives in fear of bees in the books – a symptom of his broader, unprocessed grief at losing him so young. Obviously, the death of Edmund Bridgerton had sweeping impacts on all members of the family, and viewers can expect more of that history to be explored in Bridgerton season 2.
Marina And Eloise’s Stories Could Be Connected
Of all the Bridgerton characters, Marina Thompson might be the most changed from her book self. In Quinn’s novels, Marina is never even seen. She dies by suicide, leaving Phillip a widower, and is only mentioned after the fact. Phillip is the much more important character in Quinn’s version of the story, as he becomes the main suitor and eventual husband of Eloise in the fifth book, To Sir Phillip, With Love. Marina’s arc has been drastically different in the Netflix version so far, and it will likely continue to be, but there’s still plenty of potential for her story and Eloise’s to become intertwined. Hopefully that intersection won’t mean another grim ending for Marina.
Benedict Bridgerton’s Love Story Could Continue
Benedict Bridgerton has an interesting storyline in season 1, which saw him step out of his high society parties and into the more bohemian world of art and free love. Since Benedict is the main focus of the third Bridgerton novel, An Offer From a Gentleman, it’s likely that season 2 of the Netflix series will start planting seeds for his own leading role. The books show Benedict fall in love with Sophie Beckett, the illegitimate daughter of an earl.
Benedict’s Netflix story could look very different than it does in the books, however, as it’s already been notably altered. The seamstress Madame Delacroix, who Benedict begins seeing romantically in season 1, is an entirely new character, and his time with artist Henry Granville is also original to the show. Netflix has been accused of queerbaiting in Benedict’s season 1 story, and it should be interesting to see which book elements the series keeps going forward, and which ones it will toss out.
The Hunt For Lady Whistledown Continues
The mystery of Lady Whistledown’s identity was a central storyline of Bridgerton season 1, ending in the shocking twist that it was Penelope Featherington all along. Only the viewers were clued in, however, leaving the other characters in darkness. Penelope’s secret role isn’t revealed until much later in Julia Quinn’s novels, so its unclear whether or not more people will discover Lady Whisteown’s identity in Bridgerton season 2. At the very least, though, the quest to uncover Lady Whistledown should get even more intense. Queen Charlotte has already put money on the table to suss out the rumormonger’s identity, and she and the rest of the ton may become even more dedicated to finding out the truth. That could make things tricky for Penelope, and it should make for great drama in Bridgerton season 2.