Bridgerton Season 2 Review: Kate Sharma brings balls and beauty to epic Netflix series

Less sex, more story, Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton Season 2 could actually be better than the first. Bridgerton Season 2 is currently streaming on Netflix.

Netflix's Bridgerton Season 2 just dropped. At the stroke of 1:30 pm (IST), the Sharma family pulled over in their carriage and into our hearts, and transported us back into the dreamy, almost surreal world of balls and all things beautiful we've come to call 'Shondaland'. And balls there are aplenty, one way or another.

Shonda Rhimes sticks firmly to her pursuit of shattering stereotypes, this time bringing an Indian family from Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra into London's elite society. The void that Regé-Jean Page's (Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings) absence created - in terms of representation - was filled up quite well by the presence of Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma. Together with Chaithra Chandran as Edwina, her sister, and Shelly Conn as Mary, their mother, they 'get off the ship' - a metaphor used pragmatically in the series - and walk right into Lady Danbury's home. Adjoa Andoh obviously reprises her role as the razor-tongued Lady Danbury. They bring with them secrets to further the plot, as well as a sharp contrast to the previous lead pair's coy-girl flamboyant-man combination. More on that later.

But Kate Sharma is not the 'diamond' this ton season, her younger sister Edwina Sharma is. Kate simply wants her beloved younger sibling to find a suitable match in an Englishman of nobility, one that's tied together with love, admiration and mutual respect. As for her, she wants to head back to India, and live alone as a governess. Perhaps a much-needed hint to the audience lest they fall too hard for her, as they did for Regé, only to be disappointed later if she doesn't return for Season 3. If Bridgerton's history tells us anything, that's what will happen.

Watch the trailer of Bridgerton Season 2 here:

But while Kate may not return, Lady Whistledown certainly does. Season 1 finale had already revealed Penelope Featherington as London's most-loved most-hated gossip writer, but let's just say this revelation will only add to poor Pen's woes. Yes, Colin Bridgerton returns from his travels, but Pen's love life doesn't seem as sunny as the sunshine-yellow gowns her Mumma, Lady Portia Featherington, still makes her wear.

Where Bridgerton Season 2, not so much as differs as it evolves from Season 1, is in its women characters. Credit, of course, goes to Julia Quinn’s impeccable source material. Kate is nothing like Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor). And Jonathan Bailey's Anthony Bridgerton is not a shadow of the Duke of Hastings either. Even the intent to marry has shifted genders - Anthony wants a wife because it's his duty, unlike the Duke of Season yore, while Kate is invested in the 'rich men wooing comely young ladies' game only for her sister. She's rather happy to be considered 'older' at 26 because that means fewer suitors.

So Anthony tries to woe this season's 'diamond', Edwina, while Kate does everything in her power to stop this match for she firmly believes he isn't a good one. And thus starts a repartee that's most enjoyable for the audience.