Bridgerton Season 2 is finally here, and there’s something about the season that might strike a chord with our communities. Yes, Bridgerton is a romance, but in this season in particular, it’s also a little bit of a telenovela. Okay, more than a little bit. And we’ve got proof right here.
From two leads yearning for each other and everyone seeing it, to love triangles that make us want to pull out our hair in frustration, we’ve seen it all, one time or another in telenovelas. There’s even a little room there for a shocking accident changing things for the leads and their families.
So without further ado dear reader, let us discuss 5 ways in which Bridgerton season 2 reminds us of some of our favorite telenovelas and how just like telenovelas, we can’t stop watching.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead.
1
Leaving the groom at the altar because "drama"
We love our telenovelas, but they always have the drama turned up to a thousand. And the wedding-that-wasn’t is one of the genre’s favorite tropes. Like Bridgerton Season 2, it seems like telenovelas cannot possibly feature two people deciding they don’t want to get married before getting dressed and walking down the aisle, no. They must literally come to that monumental decision while standing in church, in front of family and friends.
One great example of this is the original Rebelde, where Valeria waits for Franco to say yes before saying she won’t marry him, you know, just like in the wedding episodes of Love is Blind.
2
A love triangle
Telenovelas are known for the love triangles, and much like in Bridgerton Season 2, we all know which way the triangle is going. Despite that, though, we all must spend way too long with the couple that isn’t endgame before finally getting what we want.
Though telenovelas do it take it much farther than Bridgerton ever could, by virtue of having many more episodes. And a good – and classic – example of this is the Mexican telenovela La Usurpadora, where there’s also a love triangle …between sisters!
3
The yearning looks
Telenovelas have made a living off yearning looks. That is why they go for the love triangles and the drama, after all. So they can have two characters the audience wants together, and who want to be together, be pulled apart by circumstances – which means, longing looks.
It’s a tried-and-true formula, that has produced some of the best and most beloved telenovelas, like Muñeca Brava, an Argentinian production that kept its main couple apart for so long every look they gave each other felt like they, and the audience, were going to catch fire. This is pretty much the Kate and Anthony vibe in Bridgerton season 2.
4
Family as supporting characters
Basically, in every telenovela that has ever existed, the leads’ families act as supporting characters, and we often follow their stories as well, though in the background. This is similar to how Bridgerton Season 2 allows some buildup for Penelope and Colin and gives Eloise a love interest – even if that doesn’t end well. In telenovelas, however, since the secondary characters won’t get a chance to have their story told later, they usually get less focus, but their own happy ending.
A good example is the Colombian telenovela Café con Aroma de Mujer, translated to The Scent of Passion, which sees the entire family of Sebastian, the main character, involved in the plot and getting their happy endings.
5
An accident!
Kate isn’t exactly original, with the falling off a horse. Many a telenovela has been there, done that, and used accidents to provoke conversations between the main two characters – and often, even love declarations. Telenovelas have even used the horse accident to end love triangles, by killing off one half, because they are ruthless that away. Corazon Salvaje did it with Aimee almost thirty years ago!