‘Bridgerton’ Stars Spill on What They Want to See in Season 2

Last night, Decider sat down (virtually) with the stars of Bridgerton for a 92Y Talk about the hit Netflix series. Phoebe Dynevor, Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Anjoh, and Claudia Jessie appeared to have a spoiler-filled discussion about the roles of women in Regency era London, the importance of the female gaze in romance, and to break down some key scenes from the steamy bodice-ripper. Most exciting for fans of the Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn, though? All the actors spilled on what they’d like their characters — Daphne Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington, Lady Danbury, and Eloise Bridgerton — to tackle in a potential Bridgerton Season 2.

**SPOILERS FOR ALL OF BRIDGERTON SEASON 1 AHEAD**

Netflix’s Bridgerton tells the story of young Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), a picture perfect debutante dreaming of making her marriage a love match. Stymying her dreams? Her overprotective older brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and the scribblings of a mysterious gossip writer, Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews). Eventually, she falls in love with determined bachelor Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). After much drama, before and after the wedding day, they finally seem to stumble upon some sort of “happily ever after.” Or do they?

“There’s never really a happy ending, is there?” Dynevor said during the 92Y Talk moderated by Decider last night. “Love always takes new forms and is ever-changing so there will always be hurdles in Daphne and Simon’s relationship in the future, which is always interesting to explore.”

But before Daphne/Simon ‘shippers freak out, Dynevor’s real hopes for Season 2 involve some small manner of payback for the grief Anthony caused Daphne during her time on the marriage market.

“Ueah, Anthony really gets involved in Daphne’s love life so I think it’s time to get her own back, to be honest,” Dynevor said, mischievously.

Lady Danbury actress Adjoa Andoh was eager to see her character create new safe spaces for the women of the ton to be themselves.

“I would love to really develop those female friendships, for Lady Danbury to be a sort of conduit for doing that. For making things happen. For making space for these women to develop. I would love to see some development of the friendships between the older women, particularly, and also more of that bohemian, artistic scene…more of that world,” she said. “But absolutely making space for the extraordinary creativity of those women.”

One woman who’s going to need a lot of space in a potential Bridgerton Season 2? Daphne’s younger sister, Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who has hitherto pushed off her debut in society. But not for much longer…

“If [Bridgerton Season 2] happens, it will literally be Eloise’s debut to the marriage market. After watching her sister, whom she sees as the ‘perfect example’ of what the ‘perfect young lady should do.’ Obviously, Daphne’s been going through all sorts of crap,” Jessie said with a laugh.

“But you know Eloise has this idea: ‘Well, I’m not gonna do it like that.‘ So I’m quite excited. The idea of Eloise being able to be in that environment doing it in Eloise’s way is potentially the funniest thing in the world. Can you imagine her dancing with someone? Can you? I can’t. She’d be terrified and she’s be brilliant.”

But that’s not the only thing that’s likely to change for Eloise in a Bridgerton Season 2. During the whole first season, Eloise made it her mission to unmask Lady Whistledown, little realizing it was her very best friend, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), the whole time!

“Eloise and Penelope’s relationship is gonna change!” Jessie said. “Obviously they’re best mates, but there’s a lot that Penelope hasn’t shared with Eloise. And I’m sure there are loads of secret love and romantic desires that Eloise has had that she hasn’t been brave enough to share.”

Coughlan concurred, and mused that Penelope’s double-identity was a key place where she and her character split.

“Well, it’s funny to me because that’s the part where I realized that Penelope and I really differ in that I can’t keep secrets from my friends. If I’m feeling stressed out about something, I have to say it. And Penelope internalizes. And I always think about how unhealthy that is and it will come out at some point,” Coughlan said. “So the amount of secrets she’s been keeping from Eloise. Not only the Whistledown secret — the huge one — but the fact that she’s completely in love with Eloise’s brother. And is a real romantic! And totally wants to get married and have loads of babies! And be a writer!”

Coughlan also shared that having read Penelope’s book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, first, she’s eager to see how her “Baby Penelope” evolves over time — and if she can develop a relationship with Lady Danbury similar to what develops in the books. However, it is Penelope’s friendship with Eloise that she is most “terrified” about.

“I’d hate to think of the fallout that’s gonna happen with Eloise,” Coughlan said. “That like makes me feel like ill inside.”

In Quinn’s novels, she never provides a scene where the two best friends discuss the revelation that Penelope is the gossip-monger.

“Eloise is very chill about it [in the books] which… I feel like she actually wouldn’t be,” Coughlan said.

“No way!” Jessie said, laughing, suggesting that Bridgerton the series might give us a few more fireworks in this particular storyline than what we get on the page…

Watch Bridgerton on Netflix