Bridgerton Season 2 Will Give Eloise Even Bigger Storyline, Says Creator
Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen previews the bigger storyline that's coming for Eloise in season 2 of the hit Netflix series. The first Netflix show to emerge from producer Shonda Rhimes' overall deal, Bridgerton premiered at the very end of 2020 and became an international success. Now it's set to return for season 2 this Friday, and it'll focus on a brand new romance. This time around, Bridgerton's eldest child, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), will be the one to find love, though he starts season 2 not intending to find it. All Anthony wants is a wife, though newcomer Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) will challenge his efforts in a big way.
Much like how Bridgerton season 1 was Daphne's (Phoebe Dynevor) story, season 2 belongs to Anthony. However, that doesn't mean the rest of the titular family will be left to the sidelines. Daphne returns for a smaller role this time around, and Anthony's many siblings will all play key parts in his romantic journey. Fans in particular will be excited to hear what's coming for second daughter Eloise (Claudia Jessie). After spending Bridgerton season 1 investigating gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, Eloise will find herself in a vastly new position for the upcoming episodes.
Van Dusen recently spoke to The Wrap and previewed what lies ahead for the various members of the Bridgerton clan. When it comes to Eloise, Van Dusen said that season 2 will push her into a unique position as she makes her official entrance into London society. As those who watched season 1 know, Eloise strongly dislikes everything associated with the ton, making her arrival that much harder. Van Dusen said:
“Eloise – this is her first official season out, and to say that she doesn’t like it would be the understatement of the century, I think. She has no interest in any of this stuff. She has really big shoes to fill this season being Daphne’s younger sister. The expectations on her are that much higher. People are looking at her as Daphne’s younger sister. So it’s been fascinating to watch Eloise come to terms with that.”
Bridgerton season 1 offered a hint at how Eloise will feel as she makes her debut; while attending a ball at Daphne's new home, Eloise felt suffocated and anxious. With season 2, she won't be able to avoid coming out, and she's going to have to grapple with her place in society. As Van Dusen pointed out, Daphne's shadow will be an even larger obstacle for Eloise, especially since her older sister was deemed the diamond of her first season. In other words, Bridgerton season 2 just might find Eloise less confident than the first season did.
Eloise's new arc is just a small part of Bridgerton season 2. In addition to Anthony and Kate's romance, the new episodes will further explore Penelope's (Nicola Coughlan) role as Lady Whistledown and contend with Regé-Jean Page's exit. As Bridgerton became Netflix's biggest original show with its first season, expectations are high for season 2. So far, though, it sounds like the creative team is looking to up the stakes in several ways, so it should be exciting to watch it all unfold.
Bridgerton season 2 premieres Friday, March 25 on Netflix.
Source: The Wrap