The new social season is approaching. Bridgerton has won the hearts of many people. Including myself. With season 2 of Bridgerton approaching soon, in this blog, I will give a summary and review of season 1. Be aware there will be spoilers if you haven’t seen the show.
To start things off, let’s meet our characters for season one and the majority will be back for season 2:
The Bridgerton Family: Lady Violet Bridgerton and her 8 children: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. (Notice they are in alphabetical order oldest to youngest)
The Featherington Family: Lady Portia and Lord Archibald Featherington and their daughters: Prudence, Philippa, and Penelope, their distant cousin, Marina Thompson.
The Basset Family: Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Simon's father), Sarah Basset (Simon's mother).
Royal and Nobility: Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, Lord Nigel Berbrooke, Prince Friedrich, Cressida Cowper.
Other Characters: Lady Whistledown, Sienna Rosso, Genevieve Delacroix, William Mondrich, Alice Mondrich, Henry Granville.
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Episode 1: Diamond of The First Water
Summary:
In 1813, Daphne Bridgerton debuts into the London social season. Queen Charlotte gives Daphne high praise over other debutantes, including the three Featherington sisters. A new scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown circulates London. Marina Thompson, Lord Featherington's distant cousin, comes to stay for the season under the supervision of Lady Featherington. Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, returns to London after the death of his father. Lady Danbury has Simon into joining the season. Anthony drives away many potential suitors for Daphne, except the detestable Lord Berbrooke. Marina picks up the slack, irritating the Queen and Lady Featherington. After breaking up with his not so secretive mistress, Siena Rosso, Anthony promises Daphne to Berbrooke, dismaying her. Lady Featherington discovers that Marina is pregnant. After Berbrooke accosts Daphne, and she hits him to protect herself, Simon arrives and suggests they pretend to court in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Daphne agrees, attracting the attention of the entire town.
Review:
This episode started strong. Gave a good amount of drama. I did want to slap Anthony for driving away every suitor from Daphne. I understand that the big brother looks out for this younger sister, but that was too extreme. I loved how Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton decided to play matchmaker by setting Simon and Daphne up. The Featherington family, Lady Featherington was being cold to Marina. And became even colder to her when she found out Marina is pregnant. Marina said she didn't want to be there. The amount of attention Simon and Daphne brought with their fake relationship was insanely good. My #2 favorite part was when Lady Bridgerton calls out Anthony for driving away many potential suitors away from Daphne and about his mistress. Like, go mom. Anthony interfered too much. Like there were some good guys. Why pick an old man for Daphne? My #1 favorite part was when Daphne punched Lord Berbrooke. She knocked him out cold. Plus, Simon was impressed and he said so himself. Homegirl stood her own. The tone was set perfectly.
Favorite quotes:
“But as we know, the brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn.” - Lady Whistledown
“You must ask yourself, are you merely an older brother or are you the man of this house?” - Lady Bridgerton
“Every presumptuous mother in town will leave me alone, and every suitor will be looking at you.” - Simon
Episode 2: Shock and Delight
Summary:
Flashbacks reveal Simon's tragic childhood. After his mother died during childbirth, Simon's cruel father rejected him after discovering his speaking problem. Lady Danbury came to his aid, guiding him in managing his speaking problem and supervising his education. On his father's deathbed, Simon vows he will never marry, sire an heir, and that the Hastings line will end with him to spite his father. In the present, the Queen grows more frustrated with Lady Whistledown's writings. Eloise Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington are confused as to how one becomes with a child. Marina remains confined to her room but shares with Penelope that her child was conceived in love with a man named Sir George Crane, who is fighting in Spain. Simon and Daphne's fake courtship works perfectly, but Anthony is upset. When Simon tells Anthony what Lord Berbrooke tried to do to Daphne, Anthony cancels his offer with Lord Berbrooke, but Berbrooke acquires a special marriage license to Daphne and threatens to ruin her name. Lady Bridgerton intervenes and finds some gossip about Lord Berbrooke. It can get Lady Whistledown to reveal a scandal that forces Berbrooke to withdraw from London.
Review:
The tea of it all in this episode. The flashbacks to Simon’s childhood hurts, but we understand why he is the way he is. To be honest, you can’t blame him. I love that Lady Danbury was like a mother figure to Simon in his childhood. She helped him a lot. His dad is a total jerk. You would’ve never expected to hate a character so fast. The guy wasn’t concerned or didn’t even care to check on his wife after she gave birth to Simon. He was happy to have a male heir to the Hastings line. In the book, it explains far worse what Simon’s mother went through to give her husband a boy. My #2 favorite part, is at the next ball Simon and Daphne are dancing and you can tell that they starting to like each other. The way Simon smiles at Daphne is the bee’s knees. My #1 favorite part, is when Lady Bridgerton has Lord Berbrooke’s mother over for tea and the maids found out some gossip about Lord Berbrooke. The maids talk about him out loud when they are out in town and word gets out fast. Hot gossip saves lives.
Favorite quotes:
“If I were truly courting you, I would not need flowers, only five minutes alone with you in the drawing-room.” - Simon
“How does a lady come to be with child”? - Eloise
“I sharpened my wit, my wardrobe, and my eye, and I made myself the most terrifying creature in any room I entered.” - Lady Danbury
“So we shall do what women do. We shall talk.” - Lady Bridgerton
Episode 3: Art of the Swoon
Summary:
Simon and Daphne become closer, leading to Daphne turning down multiple proposals. Lady Featherington tries to match Marina again, but she waits for George to write back. Determined to prove that she is still the true ruler of London society, the Queen schemes to match Daphne with her nephew, the handsome and kind Prince Friedrich of Prussia. Lady Danbury tells Simon that he needs to propose to Daphne or step aside to make way for the superior match. Simon reluctantly calls off the ruse with Daphne. Benedict suspects Eloise of being Lady Whistledown. Anthony tries to take up with Siena again, but she turns him down. George writes a letter to Marina, claiming that there was nothing between them, but the letter was faked by Lady Featherington. Lady Bridgerton pushes Anthony to think about a match for himself. Simon decides to leave London ahead of schedule as a heartbroken Daphne embraces Prince Friedrich's attention.
Review:
Art of the Swoon is the “bend and snap” from Legally Blonde of this episode. In this episode, Simon and Daphne are starting to like each other even though they faking their relationship because of the amount of time they are spending together. Plus, a new character, Prince Friedrich, enters this marriage market game. And Simon gives Daphne “the talk”, but it’s a different type of talk. Just knowing from that part tells that Daphne doesn’t know a thing about sex. During that time period, girls have no idea what sex is. Lady Featherington on the other hand continues to be cold-hearted to Marina about her pregnancy. So she sets her up with old, old men for her to marry. Like in Marina’s situation she could get a younger guy or a guy the same age as her. But faking that letter is beyond wrong. My #2 favorite part is at an event where everyone is looking at paintings, Simon and Daphne are alone looking at a painting that was Simon’s mother’s favorite and he doesn’t know why. This moment they hold hands for a good minute and this is where you can tell that Daphne is in love with Simon. My #1 favorite part is at the end of the episode after Simon ends his friendship with Daphne, at the ball, Daphne swoons Prince Friedrich. Simon is jealous and knows what he has lost.
Favorite quote:
“You must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend.” - Lady Bridgerton
Episode 4: An Affair of Honor
Summary:
Prince Friedrich invites Daphne to the palace and gifts her a beautiful necklace. Marina is presented to older suitors in want of heirs, to marry her quickly. Eloise decides she will find out Lady Whistledown's identity. Daphne attends a boxing match with Prince Friedrich. Marina is set up with an older suitor and is saved by Colin. At a sumptuous fete, Prince Friedrich prepares to propose, but an undecided Daphne flees to the garden. Simon approaches her to say goodbye and apologize. Daphne, upset, runs into a hedge maze, followed shortly by Simon, and the two kiss passionately. Anthony interrupts and demands that Simon marry Daphne. Simon refuses and Anthony challenges him to a duel at dawn. Penelope is crushed by Colin's attention to Marina, which causes a fight with Eloise. Anthony plans to use the duel to free himself from society and be with Siena. Lady Featherington discovers the extent of her husband's gambling debts. Daphne realizes that Cressida Cowper, her rival for Prince Friedrich's affections, witnessed what happened in the garden and races to stop the duel. Simon tells her that the reason he cannot marry her is that he cannot provide her with children. Weighing her options, Daphne firmly declares they will marry anyway.
Review:
This. Episode. My goodness. The amount of craziness and emotions being played with. Daphne spends a lot of time with Prince Friedrich Plus, there is a lot of jealousy seen back and forth between Simon and Daphne. I understand Simon made a vow, but your dad is dead and you don't have to live with the burden he put you through. It was so petty and I loved it. Daphne was unsure about her feelings. The homegirl just discovered her hormone and has no control when she sees Simon. As far as the Featheringtons they make their problems, even more, worse than it already is. Being so careless. My favorite part was when Simon followed Daphne in the garden at the Trowbridge ball, there are mixed emotions felt with the scene. Like you are happy, but at the same time sad. Who would have rather for Daphne to be with Prince Friedrich or Simon?
Favorite quotes:
“We were two separate societies, divided by color until a king fell in love with one of us. Love, Your Grace, conquers all.” - Lady Danbury
“It is because I regard you so highly that I cannot marry you.” - Simon
“There will be no need to resume. The duke and I are to be married.” - Daphne
Episode 5: The Duke and I
Summary:
Daphne and Simon petition for a special license, but are refused due to the Queen' taking it personal that Daphne rejected her nephew. Prince Friedrich visits Daphne for closure. Anthony promises to take care of Siena no matter what, but modiste Genevieve Delacroix claims she has left town. As money issues plague the Featherington home, Penelope grows more jealous of Colin's attention to Marina. Cressida and Daphne confront each other. Benedict is invited by Sir Henry Granville to a party. Lady Featherington orders Marina to cut out Colin. Simon and Daphne appeal to the Queen for an early wedding; with King George growing more incapacitated, the Queen is moved by Simon's impassioned plea. Simon and Daphne are married in a simple church ceremony. At the wedding reception, Marina gets a proposal from Colin, but with the request of a long engagement. The Queen takes interest in Eloise's investigation of Lady Whistledown's identity. Lady Bridgerton and Daphne's conversation about sex leaves Daphne with more questions. Simon and Daphne stay at an inn on their way to Clyvedon. Daphne finally confronts Simon over his avoidance of her, and the pair realize that they are madly in love and consummate their marriage.
Review:
We have a wedding!! Yay!! But the engagement was…very hard to watch. To get ahead of the rumors of them being alone, Simon and Daphne requested a special license to get married. But Queen Charlotte has it denied because Daphne rejected her nephew, Prince Friedrich. Petty. The prince wasn't a bad guy at all. I would've married him, but we are all pulling for Simon. It is clear that Penelope has a crush on Colin. Honestly, that whole situation with them and Marina has me undecided on how I feel. There could have been a much better solution, but that is rich people. My #2 favorite part was when Simon and Daphne went before the Queen to allow them to get married early. That whole monologue that Simon says warms my heart. Can we talk about that? Perfect. My #1 favorite part was Simon and Daphne on their wedding night at the inn admitting to each other about their feelings for one another. Like they literally wasted their entire engagement and wedding thinking that one didn’t like the other. This episode had a steamy ending.
Favorite quotes:
“Everything you know, I know. And everything I know, well, you eventually catch up.” - Alice
“To meet a beautiful woman is one thing. But to meet your best friend in the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart.” - Simon
“When one burns for someone who does not feel the same!” - Simon
“It is you I cannot sacrifice. I burn for you.” - Daphne
Episode 6: Swish (Trigger warning: this talks about controversial sex scene)
Summary:
Simon and Daphne as the Duke and the new Duchess arrive at Clyvedon for their honeymoon and spend much time together, romantically and sexually. Daphne has difficulty building a relationship with the housekeeper Mrs. Colson. Colin announces his engagement to Marina, to his family's dismay. Daphne and Simon mingle with the villagers. Penelope tries to ruin the engagement by confiding in Colin that Marina is in love with another man. Colin suggests he and Marina marry sooner than their families desire by traveling to Scotland. Simon turns his attention to the books after hearing that his tenants' rent has increased. Daphne is told that she offended the village by not being able to pick a winning pig at the fair. Mrs. Colson reveals more about Simon's upbringing to Daphne. Penelope discovers that George's letter was faked, but Marina chooses to marry Colin anyway, intending to move on from George. Daphne, with the help of her lady's maid, realizes that Simon can have children, but does not want to. She assaults him to get pregnant, and confronts him afterward, blaming him for being ambiguous about his inability. Lady Whistledown publishes Marina's secret, shocking Colin.
Review:
If you are watching this episode with your parents or grandparents, just skip it or watch alone. The number of steamy scenes in this episode. I’m happy that Simon and Daphne can figure out how to make their marriage work and admit that they like each other, but the pin was gonna drop about the ability to have kids. So many lies and secrets were revealed in this episode and it cost a lot of relationships to start failing and reputations to be ruined. Plus, Daphne begins they mystery learning about Simon's childhood, but little does she know. Daphne also finds out how to have kids and that Simon lied to her about it. That causes for them to be mad at each other. Lady Bridgerton didn't explain it the best to Daphne so she found out from her maid. Lady Whistledown reveals that Marina is pregnant causing her engagement to Colin to be broken up. But the question is who revealed Marina being pregnant? My favorite part was the beginning with Simon and Daphne happy. It was bitter-sweet.
Favorite quotes:
“‘Cannot’ and ‘will not’ are two entirely different things!” - Daphne
“The ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars. For what is more fragile than the human heart?” - Lady Whistledown
Episode 7: Oceans Apart
Summary:
Simon and Daphne's dispute continues and Daphne decides to return to London after Lady Whistledown’s latest publication surfaces. Eloise prepares for her debut and continues to try to uncover Lady Whistledown to convince her to restore the Featherington name. Daphne arranges a chaperoned meeting for Colin and Marina. Simon decides to live separate lives if Daphne is not with child. The Queen is impatient with Eloise's progress in uncovering Lady Whistledown. The Queen throws the Featheringtons out of her luncheon because of Marina's scandal. Lady Danbury invites Daphne to a lively party with the married women of the ton, where Daphne, deciding to help Marina, tries to locate Sir George. To settle his debts, Lord Featherington approaches Will to convince him to throw his next fight; Will considers it. Anthony and Simon come to blows. Daphne discovers why Simon does not want to have children. Eloise realizes that Genevieve is the most likely person to be Lady Whistledown. Marina attempts to end her pregnancy and faints. At the opera Daphne begins menstruating, is therefore not pregnant, and cries in her mother's arms with Simon overhearing.
Review:
This episode will make you sad from beginning to end. With secrets and lies being revealed and not knowing how to find common ground, everyone needs therapy. Simon doesn’t tell Daphne the truth of why he doesn’t want to have children. In other words, he has father issues. In my opinion, he should tell her so that she can have a reason to mad at him. That way there could be a better understanding. Marina’s secret is ruined the Featheringtons. Like people in the whole town are giving them the cold shoulder. The saddest thing that happened was Marina trying to abort her child and Daphne getting her period not being pregnant. There is no favorite part in this episode because of the sadness seen. Just two parts that broke my heart. #2 When Marina tried to abort her baby. She passes out and the concern on Penelope's face when she found her passed out. #1 Daphne finding out she's not pregnant. Like that made me cry. Even when Simon's eye's teared up, he felt the pain that Daphne had. He really didn't want to have happiness and he had Daphne to suffer with that over a stupid vow he made to his father.
Favorite quote:
“Judging not, lest we too be judged?” - Daphne
Episode 8: After the Rain
Summary:
Sir Phillip Crane arrives to tell Marina that George, his brother, died in battle. Marina finds out George intended to marry her. Phillip offers to marry Marina himself, but she turns him down. Eloise confronts Genevieve and, believing her to be Lady Whistledown, tries to convince her to write in the Featheringtons' favor. Daphne learns of Simon's childhood from Lady Danbury & Simon's letters that his father never read. Simon reconsiders what he wants after spending time with Daphne's younger siblings. Anthony invites Siena to Daphne and Simon's ball, but Siena tells Anthony to move on. Will throws the fight and receives his winnings from Archibald, who is murdered by his "associates". Marina discovers she is still pregnant and departs London to marry Phillip. Before Penelope can profess her love, Colin announces he is leaving to tour the world. The Queen's agents attempt to capture Lady Whistledown, but Eloise tips her off. Simon and Daphne reconcile after their ball. Anthony announces that he will find a wife without love. Eloise realizes Genevieve is not Lady Whistledown, who is revealed only to the audience to be Penelope. Later, Daphne and Simon have their first child, a son.
Review:
We only got one happy ending with this episode. To all the problems that have happened, there are solutions. But not the best. First, with the Featheringtons, Mariana’s lover is found, but he died in battle. Heartbreak. His brother offers to marry Marina, but she refuses. He's a good guy as well and he was willing to take care of her. But she is pregnant even though she thought she aborted her baby. Daphne learns the real reason why Simon doesn’t want to have kids by finding the letters he wrote to his father and his childhood from Lady Danbury. All of that could have been avoided if they would have sat down and talked. Communicate people. My overall favorite part is at their ball, Daphne tells Simon she knows why he made that vow to his father. Another beautiful monologue. She broke him. They reconcile, fixed their marriage, and had a baby together, a boy. Yay!! But we as the viewers find out who Lady Whistledown is and it was someone whom we least expected it to be. Penelope. There were clues throughout all 8 episodes that showed that Penelope is Lady Whistledown.
Favorite quotes:
“However difficult forgiving someone may be, it is necessary to move forward.” - Lady Bridgerton
“I merely showed him what he was cable of all along.” - Lady Danbury
“Your Grace, whatever could be more honorable besides taking care of one’s family?” - Will
“Pride, Your Grace, it will cost you everything and leave you with nothing.” - Lady Danbury
“Just because something is not perfect, does not make it any less worthy of love. Your father made you believe otherwise. He made you believe that you needed to be without fault to be loved, but he was wrong…And I cannot continue acting as if I do not love you. Because I do. I love all of you. Even the parts that you believe are too dark and too shameful. Every scar. Every flaw. Every imperfection. I love you. You may think you are too damaged and too broken to ever allow yourself to be happy, but you can choose differently, Simon. You can choose to love me as much as I love you.” - Daphne
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Season one was a full wild wind of drama and it set the tone good for season two and hopefully more seasons to come. Speaking of season two, which is coming out soon, I have my thoughts about that as well.
I read the book “The Viscount Who Loved Me” and it was amazing. This enemies turns to lovers story is the best story I’ve read in a long time. From multiple sources and things said on social media, there are things that I can’t wait to be shown in season 2. The significance of the bee (which is seen a few times in season 1), flashbacks to when Anthony was a child explaining why he is the way he is, who inherited the Featherington estate (the main thing I want to know), a peak of baby Basset, and the tension love chemistry between Anthony and Kate. Plus, I know Lady Whistledown is going to be working overtime for this season. If you saw the trailer, then you can tell that this is going to be good. The main thing that everyone is waiting for is the game of Pall Mart. To be honest, I can’t wait too. Reading it in the book, was every fun. That part made me laugh. I hope that I’ll have the same reaction with how Kate impresses Anthony. Even though in season 1, you hate what Anthony does, but season 2 you will sympathize for him and understand why he's the way he is. There are going to be some really good parts going to be shown. I'm really excited.
A review of season 2 will come out soon as I finish. I can’t wait to share my thoughts.