‘Bridgerton’ Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: Hunting and Heavy Breathing

The Bridgerton house party kicks into high gear as other guests begin arriving, marking the end of the Sharmas private interlude with the family, and still no engagement for Edwina (this fourth episode of Bridgerton Season 2 is written by Chris Van Dusen & Jess Brownell and directed by Alex Pillai). This is clearly wearing on her, as she frets about why Anthony hasn’t proposed, deciding it’s Kate’s fault—it is—because she and Anthony do not like each other—er, not exactly the reason, Eddie. The solution, then, is simple: Kate must spend more time with Anthony, in order for Anthony and Kate to learn to like each other enough to be amiable in-laws. Eddie, honey, darling, dearest. You are a sweet summer child and deserve only good things, but this is NOT IT. Here is Edwina’s naivete on full display, that she cannot recognize the frankly blatant passion between Kate and Anthony, that she cannot see Anthony’s distraction not as a symptom of faults within her but of faults within him. This is a reminder that Edwina is years younger than Kate and Anthony and lacks their social experience, she can’t see what’s right in front of her because this strict society trains young women NOT to see such things. But anyone with the least bit of intimate experience sees Kate and Anthony dance at the ball and is like—OH.

It is also notable that among the Bridgerton siblings, it is only the married Daphne who detects the true problem with Kate and Anthony. Anthony’s younger siblings are, for the most part, not engaged in affairs of the heart. Benedict has his art orgies, but he’s not fallen in love yet, and it’s unclear if Colin’s travels have resulted in any, er, practical experience. And Eloise is too terrified of marriage to seriously give a suitor the time of day, she flees from any hint of intimacy. But Daphne has been through it, and as she tells Violet, she is still learning new things about Simon a year after their marriage, still learning how intimacy strips you bare to your partner and reveals even that which you most wish to remain hidden. With her eyes open, she can see the simmering desire between Kate and Anthony. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that she walks in on them doing their “breathe directly into your mouth while maintaining strong eye contact” thing in the library.

Since making physical contact in the previous episode, Kate and Anthony suddenly can’t stay away from each other. Whether is flirt-fighting during the hunting party, or flirt-fighting on the dance floor, or flirt-fighting in the library, they’re constantly breathing on each other and whispering-yelling and Anthony has his nose halfway buried in Kate’s hair at any given moment. It’s all very horny but restrained as they fight each other and their feelings tooth and nail. And they have to fight, Anthony because if he jilts Edwina now, it could damage her reputation, and Kate because Edwina declares she wants to marry Anthony. She hasn’t said she’s in love with him, yet, but Edwina has made up her mind and is halfway to convincing herself to use the L-word. And Kate simply cannot bring herself to crush her sister’s expectations or wound her heart. Lady Danbury, though, is again the voice of reason, reminding Kate she cannot withhold truth from Edwina, whether it’s about the stipulations regarding Edwina’s marriage, or Kate’s own feelings for Anthony (which Lady D, being an experienced woman of the world, has also sussed out).

But everyone is really digging in their heels and getting stubborn about their intentions. Just as Edwina is insisting on marrying Anthony, Anthony insists on marrying Edwina no matter how Daphne tries to reason with him about what an obviously bad choice that is for both of them, and Kate is torn between wanting the best for Edwina and wanting Anthony for herself but also there’s that issue of Edwina marrying a member of the aristocracy. If Anthony’s issues stem from the expectations he’s placed on himself to do his duty for his family, Kate’s stem from her inability to just be honest, with herself and others. And now that Anthony has proposed to Edwina, one can’t help but feel this has all gone too far. Breaking an engagement in this world is socially precarious, everyone’s in love with the wrong person, and Edwina STILL doesn’t know about her grandparents. The first episode established this recipe for disaster and now the catastrophe cake is going into the calamity oven.

READ NEXT: Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 5 Recap: “An Unthinkable Fate”

Sarah Marrs is a film critic and the deputy editor of LaineyGossip.com, and a programmer for the Chicago Critics Film Festival. She also has bylines at Pajiba, SYFY Fangrrls, and Consequence of Sound. She can be yelled at on Twitter @Cinesnark. Sometimes she goes places and does things.