The second season of Bridgerton has some major noticeable differences compared to the first, such as the absence of the duke and Anthony's sideburns. Even changes to the viscount's character and personality as the season progressed were things viewers immediately noticed and easily picked up on.
However, there were some subtle details about the characters, their personalities, and the show's plot that were a lot more low-key, but no less remarkable. From hidden hints and subtle symbolism, to references related to the first season, the second installment of Bridgerton had some cool elements that viewers may have missed.
Anthony-Centric Elements In The Intro
The show's full intro isn't present in every episode of the season. As such, it's quite easy to miss the minute differences between the two openings for seasons 1 and 2. For season 1, the intro had several elements related to Daphne, including her name, a tiara, and a dance card.
With season 2's focus being Anthony, the changes made were a neat nod to highlight the switch in the narrative. These included Anthony's name in place of Daphne's in a Lady Whistledown column, his pocket watch inherited from his father, and the Pall Mall wicket and pink ball, which Anthony ended up with while playing the iconic game in the episode "A Bee In Your Bonnet."
The Season 1 Daphne Parallel
The opening scene of season 2 shows Daphne arriving at the Bridgerton home in her carriage and peeking out of the window before entering her family home. This scene is quite similar to another in season 1 where Daphne peeks out of her family's carriage on their way to the queen.
The callback shows how much Daphne changed from the first time viewers saw her as a nervous debutante at the start of her season, bearing a lot of responsibility because of her family name, to the cool and composed Duchess of Hastings. Even her insistence on going into Eloise's room to talk her into coming out mirrors Eloise standing at the foot of the stairs in season 1 and yelling for Daphne to hurry up in a certain way.
The Subtle Nod To Julia Quinn
As many viewers know, Julia Quinn is the author of the Bridgerton books upon which the show is based. Although some parts of her stories changed, both in seasons 1 and 2, many major elements from the original remain the same in the adaptation.
Season 2 went a step further in acknowledging the author with a subtle detail that many may have missed at first glance. This detail was in Anthony's list of eligible debutantes, which included Lady Julia, a romantic, and Miss Quinn, an exceptional writer.
The Symbolism Of Two Ducks
While Anthony was out riding at dawn in the first episode, he came across two ducks, waddling along together. The shot focused on them quite a bit before panning over to Kate riding fast past him, after which he rode after her and they had their first meeting.
Viewers commented on the shot of the ducks as being symbolic of Kate and Anthony's epic love. Even the show's creator, Chris Van Dusen said on Twitter, "These two ducks promenading in front of Anthony on his horse...Even THEY found each other."
A Princely Foreshadowing
In the first episode, while Kate and Edwina are discussing the season and what she hopes to find in a match, Edwina tells her sister she wants someone charming and handsome. She even goes further to hope she meets a prince or a duke.
In the final episode, "The Viscount Who Loved Me," the Queen tells Edwina of her nephew, a prince, and that he is available. Not only was this a great callback to what Edwina said at the beginning of the season, but it may even foreshadow her future match in installments of the show if she appears again.
Kate's Changing Hairstyles
In the first parts of the season, Kate's hair was styled in the same manner; pulled back from her face into an elegant bun, with nary a tendril out of place. As the season, and her relationship with Anthony, progressed, her character became less uptight, as did her hairstyle.
It started out with a few curls separated from the rest of her hair and in the final episode, she had her hair down when she and Anthony ed the other Bridgertons for another game of Pall Mall. This was complemented by the subtle details in the Bridgerton costumes that showed changes in the characters as the season progressed.
Pinkies Extending
Anthony and Kate's slow-burn romance had many viewers on the edges of their seats, wondering if they'd ever give in to their feelings and finally be together. The evolution of their relationship was fraught with many classically romantic Bridgerton quotes, as well as yearning looks between the two of them.
Even their body language highlighted their desire for each other, despite the decisions they made and the words they said indicating the complete opposite. For example, their pinkies extend as Anthony es Kate in the hallway to talk to the Queen and his bride, Edwina. What's even more interesting about this detail is that it's a reference to an Indian wedding tradition called saptapadi, where the bride and groom pinkies during the ceremony.
The Stuck Betrothal Ring
Edwina's engagement to Anthony came as a surprise to viewers and some of the characters as well. When the jeweler suggested using Kate's finger to resize the ring since she and Edwina shared gloves on occasion and the latter wasn't present at the time, it ended up getting stuck on her finger.
The ring getting stuck was not only one of the funniest moments in Bridgerton, but also a cool, little detail showing the twist that came later in the show highlighting that Kate was the rightful owner of the ring and Anthony's heart, and hence never meant to take it off.
Matching Pivotal Moments
One of the most intense twists in season 1 of Bridgerton was the affair of honor between Simon and Anthony when the former refused to marry Daphne after Anthony caught them kissing. Daphne rode into the middle of their duel just as Anthony pulled the trigger and her horse reared, causing her to fall to the ground.
Season 2 had a scene with many similarities in the episode "Harmony," when Kate's horse reared instead of jumping, causing her to fall and hit her head. Anthony at the time had followed Kate there, after he called on her to propose marriage because he had compromised her honor.
Tulips Symbolism
In season 1, Violet talked to Anthony about some embroidery she was doing for Daphne with tulips, which she said represented ion. She even said his bride might want the same someday whenever he finally got around to choosing one.
In the final episode, Anthony went to visit Kate after she awakened from her accident with a bunch of tulips. It was a neat callback to that moment from season 1 and also showed that despite Anthony's adamance against love and taking his mother's advice on the matter, his actions went in contrast to his words.