One of the few scenes from Bridgerton season one where both Daphne and the Duke are fully clothed.

One of the few scenes from Bridgerton season one where both Daphne and the Duke are fully clothed.Credit:Netflix

All this sex proved to reinforce the adage:sex sells. Season one was a global sensation,drawing in Netflix’s biggest audience at the time,with a record 82 million households worldwide watching the drama within its first month of streaming.

This was later eclipsed by the South Korean show,Squid Game,which attracted 111 million viewers in its first month. Turns out squid sells,too.

Advertisement

This brings us to the highly anticipated second season ofBridgerton and,well,yet another adage:if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it.

We knew going into this season that Rege-Jean Page had decided not to don the Duke’s robes,and instead,the focus would shift to Anthony (Jonathan Bailey),the viscount and eldest son in the Bridgerton family.

But what we didn’t know was that this change would precipitate a far less sexy turn of events.

The focus is on Anthony’s courtship of Edwina (Charithra Chandran),London’s most in-demand debutante. But really,it is Edwina’s older sister,Kate (Simone Ashley),that has caught Anthony’s eye.

Horseplay over foreplay. Bridgerton season two sees a rather restrained courtship between Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton.

Horseplay over foreplay. Bridgerton season two sees a rather restrained courtship between Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton.Credit:Netflix

WhereBridgerton’s first season was a thirst-fest,the second season is snooze-fest,with viewers forced to wait for several episodes before the tension between Anthony and Kate graduates from smouldering glances to red-hot advances.

Which begs the highly appropriate question:what did we come for?

FromDownton Abbey toThe Gilded Age,the television landscape is flush with period dramas where sex is barely mentioned,let alone carried out against a tree. And even the most staunchBridgerton fan would be hard-pressed to argue they fell in love with the show because of its sizzling dialogue or riveting plot.

This is basically the closest Anthony and Kate get all season.

This is basically the closest Anthony and Kate get all season.Credit:Netflix

In an interview withRadio Times,showrunner Chris Van Dusen said,“it was never about quantity[of sex] for us. We use these intimate scenes to tell a story and to push the story forward.”

Loading

Yes,but it was about quantity for us,Chris.Bridgertonwaltzed into our lives at the end of 2020 (Christmas Day,to be exact),arguably the least sexy year in history. After months of social distancing and hand sanitising,we were primed for a little erotic escapism,andBridgerton filled that void,so to speak.

Van Dusen also claimed:“We’ve never done a sex scene for the sake of doing a sex scene,and I don’t think we ever will.” A statement so wildly outrageous even Lady Whistledown would be impressed.

It remains to be seen ifBridgerton’s second season will recapture the show’s initial magic,though no doubt people will still tune in out of curiosity. But if you find yourself feeling a little antsy,craving a spoonful of the oldBridgerton,then I suggest you go back to the beginning.

As Lady Whistledown once reminded us:“Desperate times may call for desperate measures.”

Find out the next TV,streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees.Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

Most Viewed in Culture

Loading