The Bee in the Bridgerton Finale Could Hint at the Plot of Season 2
The worst thing about Shondaland's Bridgerton? It ends. Season 1 of the addictive Regency-era drama, adapted from the bestselling Julia Quinn romance novels, had its finale after eight dreamy episodes. In "After the End," we saw Daphne and Simon welcome their first child, and the identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown was revealed.
In the shows final seconds, the camera pans over to a single buzzing bee on a windowsill—but the scene lasted a bit too long, suggesting that the bug was alluding to something and wasn't just an aesthetically pleasing image of an insect. We break down what the bee signifies below and how it hints at what's to come for season 2 and Anthony Bridgerton.
The finale's bee is an easter egg for fans of the Bridgerton books.
For readers, the bee serves as a hint at what may come in a potential (not confirmed) second season. It suggests that the next chapter in the Netflix series will focus on The Viscount Who Loved Me, the second novel in Quinn's Bridgerton books that focuses on the eldest brother, Anthony Bridgerton. We discover in the prologue that a bee sting killed the family patriarch, Edmund Bridgerton, at age 38. (You can find the excerpt here). Because of this, Anthony—who was 18 at the time of his father's death—is convinced he will die young, too and has an intense fear of bees. He then spends the majority of his adult life as the dedicated head of the family, but also as a rake who purposefully evades commitment and love.
But ironically—without spoiling The Viscount Who Loved Me's plot entirely—a bee literally forces his hand, leading him to marry Kate Sheffield, the woman who turns out to be his soul mate.
What does the bee mean for a possible season 2?
It seems the mysterious bug suggests that season 2 would primarily focus on Anthony Bridgerton finding his match. Season 1 revolved around Daphne, who was the main subject of Quinn's first book, The Duke and I. Showrunner Chris Van Dusen tells OprahMag.com that going forward, he'd like to take his cue from the novels and tell the love stories of each Bridgerton sibling, which only strengthens our theory. There was also the huge hint in Bridgerton's final episode when Anthony proclaimed to Daphne and Simon that it was time for him to find a wife—sans any romantic attachment.
Looking to the future, Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony, says the finale split between Anthony and his paramour, opera singer Siena, seemed pretty "definite"—on her part at least.
“Out of the two characters, she’s the one who really grows and finds her strength to know herself and what she needs," Bailey tells OprahMag.com. "I don’t think Anthony shows any sign of knowing what he needs and what he wants. He obviously loves her but has no ability to love her in the way that she would need in order to be happy. But we’ll have to wait and see. It’s Shondaland, you never know what’s around the corner."
What about a new lady in Anthony's life?
"There’s love for everyone in the world, even for Anthony. So fingers crossed," he says. 🐝
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