Viscountess Kate & Viscount Anthony Moments From Bridgerton Season Three, Part II (Spoiler Heavy)

 

Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey)’s short-lived return takes endless missteps. DP: Alicia Robbins. 

A year before the Benedict centered fourth season debuts, this long awaited second part sheds light on more moments that Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and his lovely wife Viscountess Kate Bridgerton’s shared in Bridgerton season three. The viscount and the viscountess have nineteen minutes across the two episodes: Tick Tock and Joining of Hands, more than the paltry eight minutes depicted here.

Kate in her trademark contemplative state. DP: Alicia Robbins.

Writers are often instructed to “show, not tell.”

Kate and Anthony vocalize accounts without the production giving them the necessary screentime. For example, in Tick Tock, season three’s fifth episode, Kate and Anthony take a grand carriage ride back to the Bridgerton family home, returning from another extended offscreen holiday. Kate’s expecting their first child despite their sparse love scenes always showing Anthony giving his wife oral penetration as opposed to the usual way that pregnancy is achieved. Now this bears no disregard on the emphasis of women’s gratification being the pinnacle pleasure hallmark as male-dominated films and television programs historically placed a man’s desire above all else—consent or not. Yet, it’s questionable choices to have their most intimate moments tucked away, left onto the watcher’s imagination as opposed to using these two gifted actors with phenomenal chemistry to depict these acts on camera. Otherwise, the behind-the-scenes decision making seems to invent that their child came from a stork or happens to be immaculately conceived. 

An insatiable Anthony wants what he wants whenever he wants unfortunately things couldn’t become too steamy as…

Newton, nation’s favorite corgi, was watching. DP: Alicia Robbins.

Furthermore, in season three, episode seven’s Joining of Hands, Anthony talks to Colin about his nervous jitters and drinking profusely before his second wedding— a wedding yet to be seen. A flashback would have helped move the eldest brother’s thoughts along, but of course, this wasn’t Kate and Anthony’s season anymore. We are no longer supposed to care about them, invest in the fragmented puzzle pieces of their happiness, of just how their nuptial bliss came about. Were there lilies filling and smelling up the place— in a church or outside someplace? Did it happen around morning or near evening? What did they wear? Had Kate and Anthony wrote their own vows? What did they say to each other? Where was the barely mentioned Mary— Kate’s stepmother? 

Kate and Anthony being pure and affectionate. DP: Jeffrey Jur.

The laziest, most offensive writing involves Kate recounting her sister Edwina riding horses and marrying a scholar (as she DID in the book). Anthony senses his wife’s displeasure and suggests that they take a third holiday— to India. While completely understanding that Anthony adores his wife, it’s unbelievable that he would shirk his familial obligations and present a dangerous opportunity to a pregnant woman. All the money in the world (during that particular time period) would not protect Kate from the dangers of extended boat travel. The Bridgerton series as a whole takes extreme liberties disregarding the appropriate history, hair, fashion, and music— but this eccentric direction feels an aggressive slight to remove Kate and Anthony, to not even let them linger in the background. 

Overall, Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey delivered the smoldering gold that keeps us connected to Kate and Anthony’s love story. Yet season three presence reemphasizes downplaying a great couple deserving to be championed onscreen and off. Sure, there are promising moments worth rewinding— a dance, smooches, Kate hosting her first function as viscountess, a game of charades, Newton appearances, and vulnerable conversation. It’s simply not enough for a couple of this excellent caliber— a couple with many potential storylines that twenty plus minutes sporadically sprinkled across a few episodes will not cut. 

Shondaland should invest in a Kate and Anthony spin off series like yesterday.