Bridgerton

It’s still as escapist as escapism gets, just with an added degree of emotional resonance in the connection between the central pair that strikes a more compellingly sweet cord.

Bridgerton successfully fills the very specific niche of unabashed romance-rooted storytelling that audiences have been anticipating — and those of us who get our thrills from watching people fall in love amidst the backdrop of a very restrained society (set to the tune of many excellent instrumental covers of contemporary pop songs) will have plenty to feast our eyes on.

You get what you got in season 1, except without the charming Regé-Jean Page. ... I breezed through all eight episodes, never surprised, but always pleased by what I saw.

Like its predecessor, season 2 is a guilty pleasure without much guilt. ... Unlike, say, "The Gilded Age," a costume drama that takes itself so seriously it's laughable, "Bridgerton" lampoons its genre and is actual fun.

As played by Claudia Jessie, Eloise is one of the best things here, bringing a spark that is missing from some of the bigger performances. There are times when the central relationship between Anthony and Kate seems to drag on without much passion. But after bingeing the series - in the service of this review, dear reader - their romance swept me away in the end.

So, sure, at times the first few episodes could drag on, but it was impossible not to stay invested in seeing the whole thing play out. Thankfully, the back half of the season is where things really heat up. In all the ways you imagine.

Fans of the original series will be delighted with the incoming batch of debutants and bachelors, familiar romance and delightful fantasy. If the fancy dining silver isn’t dirty, after all, there’s no need to polish it further.

Ultimately, if you loved the first season, you're going to savour every single episode of this regency romp, its intriguing new characters and the impressive performances of its excellent cast, with Jonathan Bailey shining in his well-deserved spotlight.

Take my word, dear reader, this second helping of the smash Netflix series still smolders. Despite a drag in the midsection and the no-show of season-one sex magnet Regé-Jean Page, the dishy Shondaland cosplay brims over with eye-popping spectacle and ravishing romance.

Season 2 proves that there's more than one Bridgerton worth rooting for, and considering future seasons will follow the romantic escapades of other siblings (artsy Benedict is up next), these new episodes pass an important test. "Bridgerton" wasn't just a one-hit wonder.

It’s escapism TV at its best, and while Season Two of “Bridgerton” doesn’t feel quite as captivating or fresh as the original, we couldn’t help but gobble up every single episode in a single viewing, and we bet you will as well, Dear Viewer.

Ten episodes may seem like a long time to stretch out a entangled love triangle, but the romantic complication rings true: Kate may long for Anthony, but her true loyalty lies with her sister, and she can’t ever be with him without hurting Edwina irrevocably. It’s an effective plot hurdle with no easy out. If only any of Bridgerton’s myriad subplots were half as compelling. ... Still, those looking for romantic escapism with picture-perfect historic detail could do a lot worse than Bridgerton.

Still beautiful, still fun and still excellent.

The end result is something that is, on all accounts, honestly mostly fine, but that is ultimately tarnished by the memory of how good what came before it was.

Despite a slow start, there’s a great deal more narrative polish and visual splendor to this season.

Clever asides here and there suggest this is a more PBS version of the romance novel; scant bedroom scenes confirm it. Season Two gets its heat from Anthony’s no-nonsense way of going about his matrimonial business. ... Bailey plays this oh-so-smoothly and raises the bar on “Bridgerton’s” elegance.

Bridgerton Season 2’s main romance is a tortured affair that takes way too long to seal the deal. Bridgerton is still an enchanting bit of escapism, but fans might not fall as hard for its love story this time around. (Through no fault of the show’s leads.)

Bailey and Ashley’s chemistry feels on the whole more evenly matched than their predecessors’ did. ... As with last season, the storylines around the central romance prove to be a mixed bag. ... Season two backs up the reputation season one earned for delivering fine, frothy romance.