Bridgerton season 2, episode 3 recap: A Bee in Your Bonnet

Bridgerton season 2 episode 3 “A Bee In Your Bonnet” explains Anthony’s reservations about marrying for love, while he struggles with whether or not he will propose to Edwina. The Bridgerton family gets together with the Sharmas’ for a game of Pall Mall and Penelope Featherington may have found an ally.

Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3 recap – Edmund Bridgerton

As much as we want the core of the story to be the love triangle Anthony is practically throwing himself into, this episode takes a different turn towards something more sentimental. Throughout the entire episode, Anthony is reminded of his father, Edmund Bridgerton’s death.

What started as a day of father and son hunting together turns into a nightmare when Edmund is stung by a bee and dies. Both Anthony and his mother, who is pregnant with Hyacinth, witness his sudden and traumatic death.

Anthony is thrusted into the title of Viscount, nowhere near ready to take such a role. He is questioned endlessly about funeral preparations, constantly distracted by his mother’s state and unable to even look at his siblings who need his guidance.

It’s a horrid experience for Anthony that doesn’t seem to stop. We see him witnessing his mother’s struggle to give birth while the doctor pleads with him to make a decision about whether to save her or the baby.

Anthony thankfully makes the wise decision and let’s his mother decide. He remembers his mother’s distraught state as she’s unable to process how the one man she loved most in the world was gone.

All of these events, as agonizing as they were, changed Anthony. He refuses to allow a woman to suffer as his mother did.

He refuses to view love as anything more than a tragedy waiting to happen. Anthony is so devastated over the loss of his father that he can’t even visit the grave which Kate Sharma later discovers.

Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3 recap – Pall Mall

As loving and comedic as the Bridgerton family is, they are also quite competitive. Everyone is basically present, including Daphne and her baby boy.

They introduce the game of Pall Mall to Kate and Edwina Sharma while Violet Bridgerton, Lady Danbury and Lady Mary Sheffield Sharma watch. Kate happens to pick Anthony’s mallet and the game begins.

Kate seems to learn quickly whereas Edwina struggles and her ball windows up rolling far from the others. Anthony offers to get it for her, but she declines.

The game continues with both Anthony’s and Kate’s balls rolling into a thickly, wooded area. Fate often had a way of bringing the two together constantly.

The two aggressively search and find them in thick mud. Unaffected by the mud Kate retrieves hers when she gets stuck.

In the struggle to free her from the mud, Anthony and Kate fall into it and share an honest laugh. Anthony takes the opportunity to ask for a clean slate to which Kate agrees.

When she hits his ball, it lands near a bench and Anthony refuses to retrieve it. He quits the game in a huff, leaving her confused.

When she retrieves the ball, she finds his father’s grave. But not all of the episode is sad and tragic.

Benedict confides in Colin about his artistic pursuits and becomes a panicked mess waiting to hear if he had been accepted into the Royal Academy of Arts. Colin suggests a “powder” he used to meditate to help calm his brother’s nerves.

Benedict takes more than enough in his tea and proceeds to act strange at dinner that evening. Before dinner Daphne and Anthony talk about his intentions for Edwina.

When Daphne describes love, Anthony ponders it but we all can tell that he does not feel such things for Edwina but for Kate. The dinner, while comforting for many, takes an unexpected turn as Anthony does not propose to Edwina as she had hoped he would.

Kate noticeably breathes a sigh of relief. The lack of proposal breaks Edwina’s heart as she believes she’s not worthy of Anthony.

Benedict, still “reacting” to the “powder” Colin gave him earlier decides to paint when Eloise arrives with a letter. Benedict was accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts.

When Anthony and Kate meet the following day, a bee stings her. Anthony immediately panics, frightening Kate.

She reassures him she’s fine and the two almost kiss.

Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3 recap – Lady Whistledown’s Ally

Portia Featherington worries about Cousin Jack as he is not married and will undoubtedly look for a wife. In her worrisome mind she believes he would then send her and her daughters to the streets.

She decides that he must marry Prudence and together with Penelope they venture to the Modiste. When Portia does not find a dress she likes for her daughter they decide to try elsewhere.

Before Penelope leaves she lies to Genevieve about why she was seen in the market. Genevieve believes its none of her business what Penelope does.

Throughout the episode Prudence tries and falls to garner Cousin Jack’s attention leading to a rather awkward dinner with the Cowpe family. But Penelope cleverly embarrasses the family as she writes about Cressida’s poor taste in dresses in her next Lady Whistledown pamphlet.

She also writes highly of the Modiste. Penelope decides to be upfront with Genevieve asking for her help.

Genevieve agrees.

Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3 review

There had to be a reason why Anthony was so disillusioned about love and marriage. The unexpected death of his father and the misery that followed was heartbreaking to watch but answered a lot of questions.

When the attention was not on Anthony and his incredible ignorance of his feelings towards Kate, it was divided up pretty graciously amongst other Bridgerton family members like Colin, Benedict and Eloise. The family, as imperfect as they can be, are as enjoyable to watch as they were in season 1.

It was charming to watch Kate and Anthony finally make a little progress towards acting civilized with one another. However, the deeper the feelings Kate has towards Anthony, the more certain Edwina is that he’s the husband for her.

Kate will need to speak up. Ironically, she is far from voicing her opinions except in regard to herself.

She does not wish to be alone but probably feels it is her destiny and so she’s trying to become accustomed to it. She has feelings for Anthony but won’t tell him because she knows her sister is falling for him.

As for the Featheringtons, I admire Portia’s intelligence even if her plans don’t seem to completely work out as she hopes. She’s ambitious and whether you think she’s cutthroat or not she still has her daughters’ best interest at heart.

However, I do worry that Penelope will be put in a position very soon when it’s her turn to find a husband. She loves Colin and only wants Colin but he’s not on the same page.

What did you think of Bridgerton season 2, episode 3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.