Warning: This article has SPOILERS for Bridgerton season 2!
Bridgerton has been streaming since last Friday and it's already Netflix's most buzzworthy release. It's a phenomenon that has taken the internet by storm and whether people like it or hate it, it's impossible to deny that it's one of the most popular shows at this moment.
Even though the series follows the series of books by Julia Quinn, there are bound to be surprises that not even those who have read the books would see coming. The creators clearly wished to capture the interest of all fans, book readers and show viewers alone, and they had great, unexpected plot twists to entertain and surprise both.
New Lord Featherington Being Broke
At the beginning of the season when the Featherington family is anxiously expecting the new heir, it is made clear that he is most likely an older gentleman, so when a relatively young, good-looking relative shows up, it seems to be the solution to all their problems.
As soon as Lord Featherington or cousin Jack arrives, he assures everyone that the matter of Philippa's dowry is settled, making them believe that he has money to save the Featherington estate. This turns out to be false, and the reason he's courting Cressida Cowper is to marry someone rich and solve their problems.
Lady Danbury's Pull With The Queen
Queen Charlotte is a powerful and fun character that most fans enjoy (and some Bridgerton fans find frustrating), so it was kind of shocking to see Lady Danbury pulling her strings a bit at the beginning. Not only that, the queen takes the advice, or rather the suggestion of Lady Danbury.
This was extremely surprising because even though Lady Danbury is a powerful and intimidating woman, the queen seems to always have a mind of her own, even when it appears otherwise. She also usually does the manipulating instead of being manipulated.
The Queen Accusing Eloise Of Being Lady Whistledown
Queen Charlotte has been after Lady Whistledown since the beginning, but even more so after she published some unfavorable opinions of the Queen and even insinuated that her decisions are untasteful, questioning the need for a diamond in society.
But nobody saw it coming when Queen Charlotte became convinced that Eloise is Lady Whistledown and threatened to expose her, which would ruin her and most likely her family. Since Penelope (the real Lady Whistledown) wanted to help, she posted a vicious rumor about Eloise so she'd stop being a suspect.
Anthony Proposing To Edwina
Most fans, but especially readers of the book, were rather shocked when Anthony actually proposed to Edwina. This was one of the main differences from the book The Viscount Who Loved Me, which inspired season 2 of Bridgerton. The buildup between Kate and Anthony resulted to be much more of a slow burn on the show, and fans had to watch the preparations of the wedding knowing Anthony really wanted to be with Kate.
It was also shocking how far the wedding preparations went - to have it drag out so much only to have it be canceled anyway seems illogical, but perhaps the writers really wanted the dramatic moment of realization, in which case it was definitely achieved.
Edwina Being Clueless
Whether the viewers have read The Viscount Who Loved Me or not, nobody quite expected Edwina to be as clueless. Pretty much everyone around Kate and Anthony figured out something was going on, but Edwina simply attributed the sparks to the hostility.
But still, for her to not see it until it was so obvious and in front of her was unexpected, and fans were surprised along with Edwina.
Eloise (Or Anyone) Uncovering Lady Whistledown
Intrigue was a great part of season 1, and it was already a surprising plot twist that they decided to reveal who Lady Whistledown was by the end. The creators likely thought anybody could find the answer easily in the book.
What's even more unexpected is that they have Eloise uncover Penelope's secret as early as season 2. Of course, this will create a very interesting dynamic between these former friends, but it would have been equally satisfying to drag the secret out a little bit more. It will at least give Eloise some purpose, as her character seemed kind of bland this season, and according to some fans, she got too much screentime in Bridgerton's season 2.
Lack Of Sex But Lots Of Tension
After season 1, every fan expected a season even steamier than the first. After all, Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor delivered an amazing performance with lots of chemistry, so hopes were high for season 2.
However, despite there being some steam, this season relied more on unresolved sexual tension. The lack of intimacy doesn't seem to have had a drastic effect on the audience's perception though, as this season seems to be pretty universally enjoyed.
Edwina's Comment To Kate
This might have been especially shocking for anyone who's read the book, but still, one wouldn't expect this from Edwina. That scene was likely accompanied by a gasp heard all around the world by fans.
She is justified in her anger, but considering the viewers get to watch the heartbreaking scene in which Kate its she felt she had to do something to earn her place in the family, and considering she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for Edwina's, the comment in which Edwina reminds Kate that they are merely half-sisters was a low blow and uncalled for.
Anthony Picking Up Kate's Bangle
Did anyone see this coming? The moment in question was absolutely outrageous, as Kate fidgets with her bangles watching Anthony get married to her sister. It was already clear something would happen to interrupt the wedding - it is a romance story after all, and Edwina wasn't who Anthony was in love with.
As Kate's bangle falls to the floor, Anthony interrupts his own wedding to pick it up, and when their eyes lock, nobody has any doubts left about where these two stand.
Eloise Falls In Love
This is Eloise's first season being officially out at the young age of 18, and she has very clear views of society and all the norms and rules women are subjected to.
This is why it was so shocking when she began to develop feelings for Theo while searching for Lady Whistledown's identity. Sadly, the show didn't quite commit to the love connection, which is likely due to the fact that Eloise has another love interest in the book, and they are still vaguely following the original plot.