“They’re outside of their own lives and incredibly lonely,” teases Bailey.
“They’re two magnets, and they repel and attract each other.
Yet, it won’t be as simple as falling for the wrong sister.
Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in season 2 of ‘Bridgerton’.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Anthony and Edwina also forge a genuine connection.
“Edwina and Anthony have a real, genuine relationship,” says Chandran.
But there are other competing forces.”
“That’s the easiest way that he decides how he is going to find his match.
Whoever it would’ve been, he would’ve set his eye on.
“Love triangles through time have always been intensely appealing,” he adds.
Chandran views their relationship as one built on mutual understanding of their responsibilities and place in life.
“Both Anthony and Edwina have been brought up to fulfill a role,” she adds.
“In her case, it’s to be [the perfect wife].
In his case, it’s to be the viscount.
Edwina genuinely falls in love with the viscount.
It’s a naive love, but her feelings are very genuine.”
“The show and this character hopefully will show them they can be so much more than that.”
“It’s going to take something completelyotherto snap Anthony out of his hypermasculine fog,” adds Bailey.
“She’s outside of the rules,” Bailey muses.
“She’s literally outside of society.
She’s got a lot to work out, and that’s intriguing to him.
He’s probably never seen a woman ride astride before.
She comes through and blows the debutantes of London out of the water.”
An initial mutual loathing arises from their own inability to process their feelings.
“They’re compelled towards each other in a way,” reflects Bailey.
“They’re not wired in the right way.
It will take a lot of hard work and butting heads before they can see their similarities.
And there’s no one better poised to do that than Kate Sharma.
“What does it take for Anthony to really break?”
Bailey says, noting Anthony’s initial commitment to a refusal to allow himself to be vulnerable.
“He has to break so you can rebuild himself.
“There is strength in her vulnerability,” says Ashley.
When it comes toBridgerton, though, that’s spar for the course.
A version of this story appears in the March issue ofEntertainment Weekly, on newsstands Feb. 18.
