Emmy Catch-Up: Bridgerton

Every year, I watch the six submitted episodes of every series I don’t regularly watch that’s up for one of the Emmy series prizes. Last year, I started watching the entire season of each show to get a better idea of the quality I missed, and I’ve decided to continue that this year.

Bridgerton: Season 1, Episode 3 “Art of the Swoon” (B+)

Not knowing too much about this show despite being very late to the party months after everyone else obsessed over it, I did not realize that the deception would be done so early. That said, Simon did get a stern talking-to from Lady Danbury regarding his true intentions and the problematic nature of keeping Daphne from getting a truly beneficial match, which made him do what any romantic partner always does when they want to prevent the other from getting hurt. Pushing Daphne away so bluntly, especially after he opened her eyes to a sexual experience that she has never even considered, was a clear move to prevent any further hurt, but what it prompted was an immediate flirtation with Prince Friedrich that caused him to promptly cast aside his previous swooning selection. I’m intrigued to be learning more about Eloise and how her approach to matchmaking and happiness differs from Daphne’s. Lady Violet’s perspective continues to be considerably more enlightened than so many of her generation, and most similar to Daphne’s, urging her to marry the person she considers her best friend, who in this case should absolutely be Simon. I also enjoyed the assertion that maybe she was Lady Whistledown, which would be interesting indeed. Lady Portia is determined to get what she wants, and forging a letter so that Marina would start cooperating and stop pining for her faraway lover achieved her desired effect but is sure to backfire once the truth inevitably comes to light, which it surely will.