Why Eloise Bridgerton is the best character in season 2 *SPOILERS*

With the release of Bridgerton season two last Friday, it has confirmed who my favourite character from the show is and why. Without further ado, let's take a look.

From the very beginning of season one, the second eldest daughter in the famous Bridgerton family, Eloise, quickly won the hearts of fans around the world and has managed to keep everyone invested in her storyline throughout the recently-released season.

But why is it that everyone is so interested in her character, and what exactly is it that makes Miss Eloise Bridgerton different to any other woman in the ton?

It is clear Eloise is best known for her witty remarks and close relationship with her elder brothers, particularly Benedict, making her easily relatable to many viewers.

Perhaps, though, Eloise’s desire for wanting more from life than marriage and striving for her own independence is what really resonates with most viewers.

To this day, women still have to protest for full equality with men. You might remember the protests and vigils concerning the Sarah Everard case last year, or the celebrations of International Women’s Day a few weeks ago.

It might seem surprising since the period drama is based around the Regency period, but Eloise’s empowering feminist views back then are still inspiring for many young women watching.

As a bit of a history geek myself I was excited to hear Eloise quote from Mary Wollstonecraft, a 19th-century feminist writer. This season takes you right into the heart of early modern feminist literature, whilst also acknowledging modern, 21st-century values.

Bridgerton itself clings to historical accuracy but is not afraid to bend a few rules to empower and inspire its viewers – and Eloise has no shame in doing this very thing. In season two, we see the character break class boundaries and end up in a friendship with Theo Sharpe, a printer’s assistant.

While this would have been almost unheard of during the Regency era, this breaking-the-status-quo is exactly what viewers expect and want from a character such as Eloise.

Towards the end of the season, Eloise is described by Lady Whistledown to have been associating with ‘political radicals’. It is interesting to see what we now call 'feminists' being described in such a way and it hints at the social implications of being caught with such different class groups at that time.

I can also see similarities between what Whistledown called ‘political radicalism’ and what many nowadays call ‘wokeism' – I’m sure you’ve seen the vast amount of tweets where people are criticised for being ‘woke’ or ‘too politically correct’, as others might put it.

Perhaps this is a sign that the relatable nature of Eloise is actually due to her storyline being a reflection of issues faced in the present day, leaving me excited to see where they take her character arc in season three.

Edited by Hannah Youds