Previously on Netflix’s original series Bridgerton, we watched Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) as she tried to put effort into fixing her relationships. Her ex-best friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) did not want anything to do with her, while also becoming close friends with their enemy, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen). Penelope and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) decide to start their pact with him being her wingman to find a suitable husband. Viewers also saw the lovely couple Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Bridgerton (Simone Ashley) finish their honeymoon. Penelope and Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) will both be out this season as debutantes.
At the beginning of the second episode of the new season, “How Bright The Moon,” we see Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) discussing plans on her diamond for the season with Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh). She tells Lady Danbury that she hasn’t seen any signs yet from any of the girls for this season.
Shortly after, we see Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and his wife Alice (Emma Naomi) as they and their children come to their new home. Now that their son Nicholas is the new Baron of Kent, they have to make a big change. It’s a lot of responsibility for a young boy.
Eloise, Colin, and their brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) are taking a walk. They make sly remarks as everyone stares at Colin. Colin leaves his siblings and walks with Penelope. Colin takes her to the first group of men so that he can see what skills she may or may not have. He tells her to bat her eyelashes and uses a fan, but she does it embarrassingly, struggling to do it normally. Afterward, she goes home and is disappointed and frustrated at herself and the situation.
Lady Danbury visits the Bridgerton estate. She sits with Francesca, Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), and their mother Violet (Ruth Gemmell). She tells the three of them that the Queen is still looking for her diamond this season.
Penelope’s mother Portia (Polly Walker) and her sisters Philippa (Harriet Cains) and Prudence (Bessie Carter) talk about their love lives. Portia asks Prudence about how often she and her husband have been intimate with each other. Prudence tells her that they need to do things more often so that they can successfully have children.
Colin meets with Penelope again. He tries to lift her spirits and tell her that she knows how to be confident and make conversation with people, but she disagrees. She feels as though she can’t be confident because she doesn’t know how to talk to suitors. It’s clear she’s more of an introvert. He then asks her why she wants a husband. Penelope tells him that when she’s married, she’ll become more comfortable with knowing she has someone by her side. She wants to find someone who makes her comfortable to be herself with. Before he can get an answer from her about what happened with Eloise, she leaves briskly, telling him that they can’t be noticed together.
Colin has Penelope come to the Bridgerton estate to practice moments for the next ball. As they begin to practice making conversation, Penelope compliments Colin’s eyes. For a moment, they become lost in each other’s gaze before breaking out of their trance and back to reality. The next thing they hear is Eloise coming back home. Colin rushes Penelope to the study so she won’t be found. As she’s in the study, she looks around and finds Colin’s journal.
As she’s reading it, she gets caught by Colin and he tries to take it from her, but a glass breaks and he cuts his hand. She wraps it for him and then leaves. Before leaving the house, she sees Eloise, and the two of them quickly look away from each other.
It is now time for the ball and everyone seems to be having a good time. Penelope and Colin make a deal that if she successfully talks to one Lord tonight, then she’ll be able to read some more from his journal. While they’re talking, Eloise hangs out with Cressida and her friends. They compliment her on her humor.
Will and Alice come to their first ball and Benedict greets them as they walk in. Alice asks if he’s a suitor this season and he says no. When they had walked in, he just finished dancing with a young lady, just for the fun of it. But, it now seems that people will automatically start to think that he’s ready to find love.
Next, we see Violet bringing a suitor to Francesca. Lord Petri (Noof Ousellam) is a cello player. The two of them discuss their love for music. Violet walks away, letting them talk alone. Francesca gets nervous as she’s talking to him.
As Colin and Penelope are talking, they start to notice people speaking about them and their pact. He asks what a group of women are talking about and they are dissapointingly vocal about their thoughts on the situation. Penelope notices and walks away from the event.
Colin tries to go after her and notices Eloise as well. He confronts his sister and she tells him that she told Cressida, but did not think she’d say anything. He yells at her and continues to go after Penelope.
The next day comes and Eloise talks to Cressida. Cressida tells her that she did not tell anyone about Penelope and Colin, but that Eloise was not quiet when she confided in her. The girls they were with overheard what Eloise told her. Because of this, Cressida and Eloise’s friendship is now on the rocks.
Late at night, Colin visits Penelope to check on her. Worried about her future, she asks if he can kiss her. Hesitantly, he does so. Afterward, she thanks him and goes back inside her home.
Overall, this was an entertaining episode. There was a good amount of humor, while there were also heartfelt moments as well. It will be interesting to see how Colin and Penelope will move forward now that they have kissed. How will Eloise be now that she has possibly lost her only two friends? What is to come for the next episode?
Rating: 9/10