Summary
A welcome return to Bridgerton. Many will have counted down the days for this episode, and it doesn’t fail to entertain. The new arrivals bring a sense of mystery, more so Lord Jack, as audiences are likely to wonder what his entrance will mean for Portia.
This recap of Netflix’s Bridgerton season 2, episode 1, “Capital R Rake,” contains spoilers.
Read the season 2 review of Bridgerton.
Bridgerton season 2, episode 1 recap
After Daphne coaxes Eloise out of her bedroom, she takes her to the Queen. But the staged event is over before it can truly begin when the Queen receives the latest issue from Lady Whistledown. As the local residents speculate whether Lady Whistledown is one of them, Penelope hides items underneath her floorboards. Seemingly desperate to find a wife, Anthony asks his mother, Violet, for her ring. She, however, refuses and claims that she will only give it to him when he finds someone he truly loves. Although he goes on several dates to further his goal, his methods of dating aren’t exactly the most useful.
Whilst riding on a horse, Anthony seems taken aback by Bridgerton’s newest arrival Kate Sharma, and despite the pair engaging in a short conversation, she fails to introduce herself properly. It seems clear that Kate is not a fan of Anthony. Meanwhile, also arriving in Mayfair are Kate’s sister Edwina Sharma, and their mother Lady Mary Sharma, along with their dog Newton.
As the new Lord Featherington still waits to arrive, many, mostly Portia, fear what their future may hold. More than aware that she and her daughters will be at the man’s mercy, Portia decides that it’s time for her daughters to find men. As Kate and Edwina explore Mayfair, Edwina fears that there was gossip many years ago from when Mary married Appa.
In another typical Bridgerton event, in which Material Girl plays, Portia is unable to believe that Mary is there. Here, we learn that Mary got married to a clerk who already had a daughter (Kate). And that very fact caused quite the stir. As Edwina dances away, Penelope continues to spy to write under her alias Lady Whistledown. With Antony apparently the “prize catch”, Kate overhears his high standard/requirements for his future wife. Once the party is over, Penelope sets about with her latest issue, which speculates on the Queen selecting her diamond.
The ending
With Antony continuing to reject women, Violet warns that he will end up alone with such high expectations. Still fearful for the future, Portia sneaks a way to learn the worth of family items. After Lady Danbury catches Kate sneaking around, Kate reveals the truth of their return to Mayfair. In a tale of “forgeries and half-truths”, Kate reveals that money is running out. But the Sheffields have agreed to bestow a sizable dowry on her sister and to look after mama, but only if Edwina marries an English man of nobility. And to further complicate matters, Kate has not told Edwina of the crisis as she believes that Edwina would marry the first person she could to save her family’s future.
As Lady Danbury pushes Queen Charlotte into making the diamond, Eloise attempts to ruin her chances of becoming the diamond. (A plot that seemingly backfires). But luckily for Eloise, Edwina is announced as the diamond. After Anthony and Edwina dance, Kate warns her sister not to go anywhere near him. As for Anthony, he informs his mother, Violet, that Edwina shall be the woman that he will marry. In the closing section of the first episode of the second season, the new Lord Featherington arrives, Lord Jack. He has Portia’s possessions moved as in the latest issue from Lady Whistledown questions whether being a diamond is ridiculous, adding that a woman can be so much more.
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