Review: 'Bridgerton' burns bright in Season 2, even with less sex and no duke

"Bridgerton" is back, and the dreamy duke is nowhere to be found. But the romance goes on, I can assure you.

Netflix's addictive Regency romantic drama, produced by Shonda Rhimes, lit the streaming service on fire when it premiered on Christmas in 2020, becoming at the time, Netflix's most popular series (it's since been unseated by "Squid Game"). The soapy costume drama show's return is hotly anticipated, but "Bridgerton" is likely to be a little less hot without its breakout star, Regé-Jean Page, who left the show after his story was (mostly) completed in Season 1.

Season 2 (streaming Friday, ★★★ out of four) was always going to be different because it's based on the second book in author Julia Quinn's series, "The Viscount Who Loved Me." While Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) took center stage the first time around, it's her brother Anthony Bridgerton's (Jonathan Bailey) turn to find true love.

But thanks to his electric love interest, Lady Whistledown, drama and the continued excellence of the cast, "Bridgerton" has a strong sophomore season that should keep its fans happy, even if they might wonder where all the sex scenes went.

The new episodes open with the new social season in early 1800s London, and Anthony, who became the Viscount Bridgerton after his father died when Anthony was 19, is ready to tie the knot. He's been in charge of the family for 10 years, focusing with great intensity on his duty, and he sees marriage as just one more box to check off, like balancing finances or hiring staff.

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Anthony is determined to find the perfect bride, and Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), a picture of a debutante new to London society, catches his eye. Her elder sister Kate (Simone Ashley), who's 26 and already an old maid by 19th-century standards, is keeping a watchful eye on her sister as she tries out suitors, determined to get her the best match possible. Kate and Anthony initially clash, of course, but is there some desire behind all that hate? Well, you know how this sort of thing goes.

Elsewhere in the big Bridgerton brood, bookish rebel Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is forced to come out into society but avoids balls and other soirees to attend political rallies and befriends a witty printer. Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) once again is determined to find out who Lady Whistledown is, though we now know she's perennial wallflower Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), wielding her quill as the only weapon she has in a world where she's overlooked.

Perhaps the biggest weakness is that, as the central character, Anthony is a bore. As he steps from supporting to leading man, there are some growing pains for actor and character. By the end of the new season, Anthony is, at last, a romantic hero with some heat behind him and a love worth rooting for, but it takes too long to get there, and Bailey lacks the inherent magnetism of a swoon-worthy hero; he's no Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

However, he is helped immensely by Ashley, the season's clear standout. The plot machinations that keep the lovers apart are mostly self-inflicted, but Ashley makes Kate sympathetic and magnetic even as her actions are frustrating and her manner willfully obtuse.

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But the best part of Season 2 is when the writers spend time on a different kind of love story: the friendship between Penelope and Eloise. Their scenes are heavy with history, lightning-fast dialogue and many yellow and orange gowns. Their friendship is complicated by the fact that Penelope is Whistledown, which changes our perspective on the redhead even as Eloise remains blissfully ignorant.

As both girls grow into women, they are forced to make decisions about what they really care about, which provide some of the more grounded, if sadder moments in the "Bridgerton" fantasy world. Coughlan does great work, balancing Penelope's outward character and the more cunning Whistledown within her. Every conversation Penelope has contains hidden depths, and Coughlan walks an unforgiving tightrope easily.

What made "Bridgerton" such an alluring hit was the glitz and glamour of its era, the palpable romance and sexuality of the characters and, yes, a certain handsome duke. But Season 2 proves that there's more than one Bridgerton worth rooting for, and considering future seasons will follow the romantic escapades of other siblings (artsy Benedict is up next), these new episodes pass an important test. "Bridgerton" wasn't just a one-hit wonder.

It's got enough love to go around for years.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Bridgerton' Season 2 review: No duke, less sex? No problem