Dear reader,
Did you miss us? Bridgerton season 2 is here and we’re back to analyzing our favorite characters. As we can never get enough of the Bridgerton family, you have already read our reviews from the point of view of a reader, now we ask you to join us in the review from the perspective of a non-reader. It’s time to break down Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” Ready?
Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory” is about love, what happens when your heart interferes with duty, the power of the choice you made, and what we you’re willing to do to keep that choice.
KATHONY AND EDWINA DESERVE BETTER
In Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory” Violet and Daphne remain convinced that Edwina is not the woman Anthony should marry. With that premise, Daphne takes on the task of making sense of her brother’s mind. They have nothing in common, if the Pall Mall game made anything clear, it’s that. But with Kate, things are different.
They fit in a way neither of them was prepared for. Anthony knows this, but he’s convinced that he can’t do anything about it. Is he right? I promise you, dear reader, that we will discover it throughout this review.
Anthony begins to doubt marrying Edwina in Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” The bee moment with Kate makes him rethink his plans for the first time since he laid them out. He can’t stop thinking about Kate and neither can she. But Edwina, despite everything, makes it clear to Kate that she wants no husband other than Anthony. She already chose.
This author doesn’t understand this choice because leaving Kate aside for a moment, Anthony has made it clear that he has no real feelings for her and never will, is that really what Edwina wants for her future? Sweetheart, you have to make better choices.
Edwina has no idea what is going on between Kate and Anthony so she asks Kate to spend time with him. And Kate is dying to, even though she knows she shouldn’t. It’s like torture, having him so close but so far away at the same time, knowing that he’s forbidden. But Edwina is her sister and there’s nothing Kate won’t do for her. So Kate takes a deep breath and she agrees.
At first, everything is too awkward between Kathony. Too much electricity in the air, too many unspoken words, too many unspoken feelings. Soon, they find the comfort of challenge, that mutual recognition that always happens between them when there is a game involved…or a hunt.
THE HUNT
The hunt, apart from making us love Kate more and showing everyone that she is superior in every way, helps Kathony get to know each other a little better. That highlights again how alike they are. They both lost their parents and had to deal with responsibilities because of it. From that moment on, both carried the weight of the world on their shoulders. That’s why they’re willing to sacrifice everything for their family, including themselves, because, for them, it’s a duty and an obligation, it’s what they must do and is expected of them.
Although this conversation is quite close and intimate, neither of them brings up the subject of what happened after the bee sting. It’s a thorny issue that they both prefer to get around because it would mean having to examine what their feelings mean.
But no matter how hard they try to cheat fate, it always finds its way. And they end up together, talking about everything and nothing at the same time, in a situation that gets complicated at times and in which neither says what they feel. It would be crazy and they don’t dare… they weren’t raised to do crazy things.
Anthony looks at her like that again, in that way that pierces through her, that stuns her, that makes her knees go weak, that way that makes her shiver, makes her want more, and in which she feels that he connects with her in level so intimate that no one can match. In the way that makes Kate want to kiss him.
However, the moment is broken and they return to safer territory: a fight. But not even fighting is safe for them right now. The air begins to electrify and everything starts again… but it all ends too soon.
Edwina is excited because she sees them getting closer but it makes Kate feel horrible because that closeness is anything but friendly. And she knows that she will hurt her sister but doesn’t know how to avoid it. Neither does Anthony. She is in his head, in his heart, in his mind, all the time.
THE LIBRARY
The library is witness to their encounters. In the first one Anthony opens up to her a bit and tells her about his father’s death. This author is betting all her money that this is the first time Anthony talked about this with anyone since it happened. Thanks to this she understands the way Anthony reacted when she was stung by the bee…the stark terror in his eyes… it makes sense now.
“Enlightening.” It’s the word Anthony chooses to describe the death of his father. It’s a word that, surely, none of us would choose but that Anthony does is illuminating.
His father’s death taught Anthony everything he thinks he knows right now: what his duty is (to take care of his family, to provide for them, to marry and have a family of his own to ensure the lineage) and that love means pain (he doesn’t want to go through the same thing his mother went through after his father’s death, so there shouldn’t be room for love in their marriage), so looking at it that way, “enlightening” seems like the best possible word.
But when Kate is so close to him that he can feel her breath on his face and can taste her lips, everything he thinks he knows doesn’t make sense anymore. And he wants that more she offers him, even though he doesn’t know exactly what it is.
They’re about to do it, to do something crazy… but then they both come to their senses again, realizing what they’ve been about to do, what they have been about to allow, what can never happen again.
THE BALL
One more ball is celebrated in Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” As soon as Anthony walks through the door, Kate can’t take her eyes off him, remembering how his breath felt on her face, his hands on hers…but all of that seems too far away now that he and his sister look more serious than ever about courtship.
And to top it all off, Kate promised Edwina that she would spend time with Anthony, but that’s dangerous, because when she does she remembers. That’s why neither of them want to dance, because it was what they most wanted to do. The dance has a beautiful symbolism, every time they touch a flame that destroys everything in its path lights up, but that touch, that fire, is prohibited because they are close…but so far away at the same time that it simply breaks our hearts.
Kate wants Edwina to be happy, it’s what she has always wanted, but where does that leave her in all this? She deserves happiness too…she just doesn’t think she can or should have it. Anthony and Kate are so alike…
Speaking of Anthony, he’s not so sure he can make Edwina happy, not anymore. Not after what he feels every time Kate is near him, not after the bee, not after that fire that burns him so bad it hurts. So he asks Kate if she wants him to change his mind. If she wants this, this madness that consumes them.
Anthony is giving Kate a choice here, letting her choose him…or not. For her, he’s willing to leave everything, his heart has already chosen her but he wants to know what she feels. Is she willing to let herself be consumed by the fire of madness with him until they both burn?
The answer is yes, and thousand times yes. Kate would be willing to burn with him, for him, all the way. But the truth is that it doesn’t matter what she wants. Not when the price is her family and her sister’s happiness. It doesn’t matter what she wants to do, it matters what she should do. And she must walk away. For Anthony’s sake, for Edwina’s, and her own, because she’s not so sure she can turn Anthony down again, she doesn’t think she has the strength to do so.
This author wants to hug Anthony very tight when he asks her. In reality, he is pleading with her. Kate is the first person who made him feel alive since his father died since he left him and now she also wants to leave his life.
But Edwina won’t need Kate anymore…and neither will he. Not when he’s married to his sister. It just can’t be. They’re both choosing their duty over themselves.
And this author wonders again what the hell is wrong with Edwina that she doesn’t realize what’s going on here. The room is on fire because of these two and she is still unaware of anything.
Anthony can’t sit still after learning of Kate’s plans. He wants to take her in his arms and make her promise that she will never leave his side. But he knows he can’t, he will chose what he believes is his duty above all else.
But he can’t do anything either…that’s why he’s restless and trying not to imagine a future in which he doesn’t see Kate every day, in which she doesn’t challenge him. A future where she doesn’t make him better and stimulates his mind and his soul. A future where she doesn’t make his heart beat. But he can’t.
So she follows him, to yell at him again, to challenge him. And this moment is the first in which both begin to open up about what they feel. The challenge, the electricity between them makes this author vibrate, they vibrate and yes, it’s irritating but it makes them feel alive.
They have never felt like this, not since the weight of the world fell on their shoulders. But Kate makes Anthony feel alive and vice-versa. And they hate that feeling because living without feelings means not suffering pain, but they also love that feeling because it means living again, loving again, suffering again, yes, but also being happy again. And all of a sudden, they’re not just talking about that feeling anymore, they’re talking about feelings. In a world where they’re destined to pretend to hate each other, hate is synonymous with love.
That intensity…the intense way they look at each other here, almost like they can see into each other’s souls and they’re so close, so, so close. Their lips almost touch but Anthony is a gentleman and he has to remind himself that his heart belongs to Edwina, Kate has to remind herself that this complex, arrogant, wonderful man belongs to her sister. Only it’s not true. This man belongs to her.
Duty is nothing compared to love. They both get carried away, it’s almost…inevitable. They’re unavoidable. But Anthony wants her consent, he won’t touch her if she doesn’t want him to, he feels so many things… he needs to know that he’s not alone in this, that he’s not risking it all alone. Anthony needs to know that they’re in this madness together.
Because that’s what it is, crazy. But Anthony is not alone. Kate feels… oh goddess, of course, she feels. She feels the intensity, she feels the fire burning her from the inside out, body and soul. Everything burns but they can burn together and that’s all that matters.
Daphne barges in at this point and I wish she hadn’t. It’s time for Kathony to kiss, they both feel too much not to have done it already. This interruption from Daphne changes everything. The magic of the moment is broken and Kathony comes to their senses. And it’s time for brother and sister to put their cards on the table.
DAPHNE TRIES
Daphne knows what Anthony is feeling. She feels the same for Simon, it’s love and it’s foolish that Anthony keeps trying to deny it. Following the heart is always the right thing to do and it’s time for him to do it.
Anthony tries to deny it to Daphne and himself but it’s all too big, too intense, just too much. It’s like trying to cover the sun with a finger. And then, Daphne says that word, “love.” He swore never to fall in love and remembers his mother crying inconsolably, dead in life after the death of his father. He sees that moment in his mind as if it happened yesterday.
He can’t allow Kate to suffer if something happens to him, he can’t allow himself to suffer like this if something were to happen. It’s so ingrained in Anthony that love is pain that he can’t see past it. So he knows what he has to do.
AND LADY DANBURY TRIES TOO
This author holds Lady Danbury in very high regard, which is why she was especially hurt that Lady Danbury disappointed her in Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” Her conversation with Kate did this character a disservice. That is to say, if I loved something about Lady Danbury in season 1, it’s that she always bet on true happiness, for the love of Simon and Daphne.
And now here she is, in front of Kate, knowing that she has feelings for Anthony and vice-versa – there’s no way she missed the electricity between them – and reminds Kate of her place in this story. As we discussed in our review of episode 1, everyone asks Kate to sacrifice more and more of herself.
The Lady Danbury we met in season 1 would have done the impossible for Kathony to find happiness together, not only because they deserve it, but because Edwina also deserves to know what is happening and not join her life to a man who is in love with her sister.
That’s the only thing on which this author agrees with Lady Danbury: Kate must tell her sister the truth. Kate’s position is understandable. The only thing she ever wanted was for her sister to be happy, she fought for that, she sacrificed for it, and now she feels tremendously guilty because she is the one who is going to make her feel miserable. Kate can’t hold back her tears at this. This was the one thing she didn’t want to happen…but it did.
Despite her refusal, her determination, her reluctance… it happened. And Kate just can’t be the one to shatter her sister’s dreams …but Kate must. She must tell Edwina the whole truth and let her decide what to do. Edwina is an adult and it isn’t fair that they don’t let her make decisions about her life.
And just when Kate is about to do it, Anthony shows up and she can’t take her eyes off him. What is he going to do? Will he…? But whatever Kate expected her to do, Anthony surprises her by proposing to…Edwina. After all that they feel, all that they have only said with their eyes…Kate didn’t expect this.
Anthony doesn’t look away from Edwina for a second because he knows that if he does, his resolve will waver and he’ll back down, he’ll go back to being carried away by what he feels, by his dreams, like at that dinner, but he can’t afford that luxury, not again. And we cry for Kathony and the happiness that both of them are so hell-bent on denying.
“I DON’T NEED YOU TO SAVE ME”
Polin is super cute in Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” It’s like impossible not to love them together. Penelope looks at him when she thinks he doesn’t notice, her cheeks flush when she does and Colin doesn’t notice but he also looks at her more than appropriate… too bad they can’t be alone too long because each is wrapped up in their problems. Penelope must find out how far Eloise is going with her investigation and Colin…well, he asks about Marina. Yes, dear reader, there is no mistake, Colin is asking for Marina.
This author can’t help but wonder what Colin is looking for at Marina’s house in Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory.” It’s the duty of this author to make something clear: Marina is not her favorite. However, this time, Marina is right.
Colin has nothing to do in her house, in her life, because the past will not solve his present or his future. Frankly, what did Colin expect? For Marina to tell him that she is very unhappy and she missed him? Was he expecting a fairy tale or a happy ending? Colin can’t be that naive. For Marina, he was always a means to an end: her survival.
Colin Bridgerton is many things but he is not an idiot. So why is he going after Marina like she’s his lifeline? Because he feels that something is missing. All of his older brothers and sisters have something in their life that fills them.
Eloise has her books and her revolutionary ideas, Benedict has his paintings, Daphne has her family, and Anthony, well, he’s Anthony and he’s full of responsibilities but that makes him have a purpose in life. A purpose is just what Colin doesn’t have.
He imagined a life with Marina, he was sure what his married life would be like, his purpose was clear: to protect the family that he would form with her. As that vanished into thin air, Colin felt the ground disappear from under his feet and he felt…empty, like he didn’t know what his destiny was. So he chose to walk away, but in his travels, he didn’t find that purpose either. So, Colin looks for Marina hoping to find his purpose with her again… but Marina opens his eyes.
She doesn’t need him to show up at her door like a knight in shining armor to rescue her. She doesn’t need rescuing, she never has. She has always rescued herself and will continue to do so. Maybe the life she has is not happy, but she doesn’t need Colin at all, she chose. And she’s happy with that decision.
Colin won’t find answers with Marina. She is his past, nothing more. And one of the things I like most about this scene is the way Marina pushes Colin into Penelope’s arms. It’s time for him to open his eyes and realize that his future is right in front of him, where it has always been.
Marina was always aware of how Penelope felt about Colin and this author believes that this is her way of fixing what she broke when she betrayed Penelope in the worst way by getting close to Colin and trying to trick him the way she did. And I like it… although I still don’t forgive her for what she did.
Right after talking to Marina, Colin runs into Penelope – I see what you did there, Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory,” Polin for the win! (wink, wink) – but Colin still has time to be obtuse and he still defends Marina.
Colin, seriously, you need to grow up and get smart, you can’t be that innocent. Marina chose to deceive you, Lady Whistledown AKA Penelope only opened your eyes so you wouldn’t tie yourself to someone who didn’t feel anything for you and didn’t deserve you.
Penelope, as usual, is upset by Colin’s words. He doesn’t know it but he is blaming her for something she did for him. Penelope’s decision to reveal Marina’s secret was… complicated. She put her family in the eye of the storm, she exposed them to public ridicule. Penelope was aware of the risks, but she did it… for him.
The fact that he now throws something like this in her face, as if Marina were the epitome of innocence and a victim of malicious rumors, it hurts. It hurts Penelope because she sacrificed her entire family for him. And she’s beginning to realize that maybe Colin didn’t deserve it.
The only good thing about this conversation is that Colin finally begins to think about the future, leaving Marina and his past behind him. He isn’t there yet, but it’s the first step to be.
Other Stuff In Bridgerton 2×04 “Victory”
- I love Eloise, she isn’t intimidated by society or by anyone and that dance was EPIC. Eloise rules!
- Lady Featherington’s plan is as cunning and sneaky as she is…part of me admires her and part of me despises her because she has no scruples. Although, this time, nothing goes well for her. Something told me that Jack, the new Lord, wasn’t a good guy.
- I hate Prudence. Why does she think she is treating her sister like this? Protect Penelope at all costs!
Time to say goodbye, for now, dear reader, stay tuned for tomorrow to enjoy a new edition of our Bridgerton season 2 reviews from the perspective of a non-reader.
Love,
Lady R.
Agree? Disagree? Don’t hesitate to share it with us in the comments below!
Bridgerton Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
