Parents' Guide to Bridgerton: Season 2

As another social season dawns in 19th-century London, the Bridgerton clan has another sibling ready to marry, and this time it's Anthony's turn. He's known around town as Bridgerton's "capital ‘R' rake," according to Lady Danbury, but he's ready to reform, and embarks on a series of first dates, looking for the woman who's worthy of his title. Watching a series of eligible ladies try and fail to meet his strict standards is a lark, but things get serious when Anthony meets the two glorious sisters of the Sharma family, and gets engaged to one, despite having strong feelings for the other. That's the strongest part of Bridgerton's second season: The simmering, electric chemistry between Anthony and Kate, which is intense enough to make viewers' hair stand on end, particularly during one steamy encounter during a thunderstorm that's justifiably infamous amongst fans.

Compared with the galvanic sexual tension between these two, Bridgerton's B, C, D, and E stories are more lighthearted: Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) continues to harbor a massive crush on Colin (Luke Newton) and to secretly write as Lady Whistledown; Eloise alternates between hiding her face behind a book and sneaking down to the rough side of town to consort with eccentrics and intellectuals; Benedict (Luke Thompson) studies art and any number of naked ladies; and the inimitable Featherington clan struggles to maintain its fortunes with Lady Featherington (Polly Walker) scheming to marry off both Philippa (Harriet Canes) and Prudence (Bessie Carter) to rich guys who don't ask many questions. Bridgerton has lost none of its freshness or vigor in its sophomore year despite the show's one-marriage-a-season setup; instead, these now-familiar actors feel like friends we already know well, but are excited to spend time with again.