Regency Review Roundup: Sanditon and Bridgerton Season 2 Reviews

*There will be spoilers for Sanditon.

The Regency era is an interesting time in human history. Looking back, it is easy to see that, as a species. we are on the road to the modernity that is life today. But we are also still clinging to the rules and social structure of previous generations.

Bridgerton

After a year and a half wait, season two of Bridgerton premiered last weekend on Netflix. It’s been nine months since the narrative of season one ended. Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Bassett (Phoebe Dyvenor and Rege-Jean Page, who decided to move onto other projects) are happily married and have a baby boy. The oldest Bridgerton son Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) has decided it is his time to settle down. Among the eligible women of the ton, he chooses Edwina Sharma (Charitha Chandran). But before they can walk down the aisle, he has to get through her overprotective older sister, Kate (Simone Ashley). She is tough, smart, and unwilling to compromise on whom she sees as her future brother-in-law. The problem is that there is something between Anthony and Kate that cannot be ignored.

If last season one was hot, this season has the fire of several volcanoes exploding at the same time. The chemistry between Ashley and Bailey is intense. The enemies to lovers/slow-burn narrative is so perfect that I would recommend that anyone who wants to write a good romance novel watch this series. It’s that good.

Sanditon

Its been nine months since the audience has spent time with the denizens of Sanditon. After the death of her first love, Sydney Parker (Theo James), Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) has returned to the seaside town and the Parkers. Bringing her younger sister, Alison (Rosie Graham) with her, Charlotte reunites with old friends while making new male acquaintances. Among them are Charles Lockhart (Alexander Vlahos) and Colonel Francis Lennox (Tom Weston-Jones).

With her usual tenacity and intelligence, Charlotte is trying to move on with her life. But she is still grieving (as I suspect the viewers are as well) for what might have been, had things gone in another direction. As much as we all miss Sydney, I feel like this is opening the door for new opportunities for her in both the romantic and career arenas (as much as a woman could have back then). Akin to Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) dying in a car crash at the end of the third season of Downton Abbey, it was a heartbreaking loss. But I feel like if we look at it from a modern perspective, this unexpected change is normal. Not everyone spends their life with the first person they fell in love with. It sometimes takes a few years and a few relationships to find your other half.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Bridgerton is available for streaming on Netflix. Sanditon airs on PBS on Sunday night at 9PM.

Advertisement

Missing-Series 4 Spoiler READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

*-These characters belong with love and respect; belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc. I am simply a humble admirer borrowing the characters.

*-The story contains a spoiler based for series 4, episode 1. Read at your own risk.

Missing

It all happened so fast. George’s birth and Matthew’s accident.

There were nearly a 100 bedrooms for Mary to choose from after Matthew died. But she chose to stay in the bedroom that she shared with him during their short marriage, to sleep in the bed where their son, their only child was created.

It took three months of coaxing from Anna and Cora to convince to Mary to allow the sheets to be washed.

Mary’s depression caused her parents to be concerned. She had never been melancholy sort, but loosing Matthew seemed to have broken her.

She might have not left her room, if it wasn’t for Georgie. George Matthew Crawley, Mary and Matthew’s son and heir to his grandfather’s title was the light of her life. Her grandmother kept insisting that Mary hire a nursemaid, but Mary declined. The only person to nurse her son was his mother.

Tonight was a party being thrown in her honor. Robert and Cora hoped that some new faces might bring a smile to their eldest daughter’s face.

When Sybil died, Mary missed her sister and sympathized with her husband. Tom had become part of the family and Sybee was adored by the adults around her. But until Matthew died, she did not understand the magnitude of such a loss, to parent your child without the one person who you loved above all others.

Tom had been her rock in past six months; she didn’t know what she would do without him.

“Are you ready?” Cora gently knocked before stepping into the room while Anna put the finishing touches on Mary’s hair.

“As I will ever be”.

“Will there be anything else, milady” Anna asked.

“No, Anna, that will be all, thank you” with a final curtsy, Anna left the room.

“You look lovely, my darling”.

“I hope so, mama”.

As Mary began to ascend down the stairs, she heard George cry.

“Georgie”.

“Mary, I checked on Georgie and Sybie. They are both sleeping”.

“Mama, please, I will be right down, I promise”.

Entering the nursery, Mary found both her son and niece sleeping peacefully.

“I do the same thing” Tom came up behind her.

“Sybil would be proud of you, Tom, the way you’ve built your life here”.

“I think Matthew would say the same thing about you. He’s fine boy, Mary, you should be very proud of him”.

“I am, every day”.

“Tom, Mary, are you coming?” Now it was Edith’s turn to call out.

“Yes, we’re coming”.

The party was a great success. Mary’s smile started to slowly return that evening. Though she would never truly get over the loss of her husband, she knew that everything would be alright in the end.

Birthday

*-The only character that I have created is Reggie Crawley. The rest belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc.

Birthday

The invitations had been sent out three weeks ago. The RSVPS had been returned.

The decorations were being put up and the kitchen was working to make sure that the guests would be properly fed.

Tomorrow was the 10th birthday of Master Reginald Robert Crawley, grandson and heir to the Earl of Grantham.

It was also the 10th anniversary of the passing of his late father, Matthew Crawley.

Despite his young age, Reggie knew that his birthday was also the day that his father died in the car accident.

The adults around him spoke in low tones, trying to not spoil the celebration. His mother, Lady Mary Crawley and his paternal grandmother Isobel Crawley, each a vibrant and outgoing woman in her own right, were unusually quiet.

Mary was consulting with Anna about the finals details for the party when Reggie stood in her doorway.

“Mama, am I the reason that papa died?”.

“I’ll be back, my lady”.

“Come here” Reggie walked into his mother’s arms.

“You are not to blame for your father’s death. It was an accident, nothing else”.

“Why did he have to die?” Reggie asked, his eyes as blue as Matthew’s.

Mary had always known that Reggie was Matthew’s son, but at that moment, it as if Matthew was standing in front of her.

“If I had answer, darling, I would tell you. But I do know that your father is watching over us and I will always treasure our time together”.

“I miss him, mama”.

“We all miss him” Mary began to feel tears dot her eyelashes. It was nearly ten years since Matthew died, but the grief had never fully subsided.

Lifting her son’s face up to hers, she kissed his tears away.

“Papa wouldn’t want you crying, darling. He would want you to enjoy your birthday”.

“I love you, mama” Reggie again folded himself into his mother’s arms.

“And I love you, my darling boy”.

The party was a rousing success. The birthday boy was a gracious and giving host, the children invited thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Later that night, long after the guests had left, the party had been cleaned up and the residents of Downton Abbey had gone to bed, a sliver of moon light passed through windows.

It first stopped in Mary’s bedroom before darting into Reggie’s room.

“I’m here son, I will never leave your or mother, I promise” it then disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Relief – Series 3 Christmas Episode Spoiler- Read At Your Own Risk

*-The only character that I have created is Reggie Crawley. The rest belong to Julian Fellows, Carnival, etc.

*-The story takes place right after World War II ends.

*-The story contains a huge and heartbreaking spoiler from the Christmas episode. If you have not seen the episode, read at your own risk.

*-WRAF- Womens Unit in the Royal Air Force. I didn’t do a lot of research about the WRAF, if the history isn’t 100% accurate, I apologize.
Relief

The war was coming to an end; the soldiers were finally coming home.

Lady Mary Crawley was not an emotional woman, at least not in her everyday life.

But today was not an ordinary day. Her son and only child, her darling boy, Reggie was coming home.

Matthew had died right after Reggie was born, that day was the hardest of her life. Her grandmother and Isobel died fifteen years ago, within six months of each other. Her mother died two years ago. She loved and missed them, but it was the death of Matthew so soon after their wedding and their son’s birth that nearly broke her.

In time, she began to heal and raised their son the way Matthew would have wanted him to be raised. Reggie had his father’s striking blue eyes and his humor, and his mother’s dark hair and intelligence.

When the war broke out, Mary knew that her son would enlist; it was just a matter of when.

“Will I do?” Reggie asked his mother, stepping into the library in full uniform.

“You will, my dear, very well” he looked so much like Matthew at that moment, it was hard to believe that the baby she once held in her arms was now a grown man.

“I will come back safe and sound, mother, I promise you”.

“I know you will”.

The war years were not easy for any of them, least of all, Mary. When it was announced that the war in Europe was over, Mary could finally smile again.

“Miss Branson, my lady” the maid announced. For a moment, Mary could see Anna; the girl only slightly resembled her.

Anna was more than an employee. Anna was more like a sister and a friend; Mary was as close to Anna as she was to Edith. After Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson retired, Anna and Bates took over the positions of housekeeper and butler. But the years wore on and Bates’s health began to decline. It was not easy to let Anna go to take care of her husband, but Mary knew it was the right thing to do.

“Sybee darling, I thought you were working until tomorrow” Sybee had followed in her mother’s footsteps, joining the nursing core of the WRAF. After her honorable discharge, Sybee took a position as a nurse in the local hospital, taking up her mother’s mantle.

“I asked one of the girls to switch with me; I wanted to be there to welcome Reggie home”.

“Mary, what time is train coming in?” Robert was heard at the top of the stairs.

“Papa, you shouldn’t be out of bed. Reggie has promised to come see you as soon as we arrive”. Robert Crawley was not a young man anymore, despite what he kept telling himself. The doctor’s recommendation was that Robert cut back and allow Tom, Mary and Edith to run the estate. But stepping down as master of Downton Abbey was not an easy concept for Robert to swallow.

“Pardon me, my lady, there is a young man to see you”.

“Did he give a name?” Mary asked.

“No my lady, he didn’t”.

Entering the library, the young man waiting for her in the library was not who she expected.

“I’m home, mother”.

“My darling boy, you don’t know how glad I am to see you” Mary hugged her son.

“And I am happy to be home”.

“Reggie, your home, we were all so worried about you” Sybee ran to her cousin, locking her arms around him.

“I’m home now; you don’t have to worry anymore”.

“What the commotion down there?” Robert called out.

“I decided to take an earlier train and surprise you all” Reggie stood at the bottom of the staircase.

“My dear boy, you don’t know how much we all missed you” Reggie ran up the stairs to hug his grandfather.

“Reggie, whatever you want for dinner tonight, we will have”.

After dinner, with the car waiting to take Tom and Sybee home, Sybee whispered into her cousin’s ear “I have to work tomorrow morning, but I have some time in the afternoon. I want you to come with me into the village. There is someone I would like you to meet”.

“Does Reggie know?” Robert turned to his daughter, watched his only grandchildren walk hand in hand. They were only a year apart, raised as if they were brother and sister and not cousins.

While serving in the WRAF, Sybee met a young man and after a year of courtship, he came to Yorkshire to meet her family. Tom reported to father and sister in laws that the young man was intelligent, had a solid career and adored his daughter. In short, he had no objections to this young man. Sybee was not yet engaged, but it looked that she would be engaged soon.

“He will know tomorrow”.

“Will there be anything else, tonight, my lady?” her lady’s maid asked as Mary was prepared for bed.

“Nothing else tonight, thank you”.

Every night during the war, Mary prayed. She prayed to god, her grandparents, to Isobel, her mother and sister and most of all, Matthew. She would pray that they would watch over her son and guide him back to Downton safely.

Today, her prayers were answered and for the first time in years, she could sleep soundly.

I Will Always Love You

*-I Will Always Love You” Is by Dolly Parton. Lady Mary Crawley, Matthew Crawley and Lavinia Swire belong to Julian Fellows. Set in early series 2. Neither the song or the Downton Abbey characters are mine and no copyright infringement is intended.

 *- In light of Whitney Houston’s recent passing, I thought this song was a perfect for a Mary/Matthew fic.

 *Thank you to Sara (MrsBates93) for beta reading.

  I Will Always Love You

 There were two faces to Lady Mary Crawley. There was the confident, in control Mary that she had perfected years ago. Then there was the inner Mary, the one with the loving heart that was worn on her sleeve, if anyone had bothered to notice.

 If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I’ll go, but I know
I’ll think of you ev’ry step of the way.

 It had been two years since she had spoken to Matthew. Two years since she let him walk away. They might have married or have had children by now, if had she said yes. But it was too late; he had moved on with his life and brought his fiancé, Miss Lavinia Swire to meet the family.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
You, my darling you. Hmm.

 Mary loved Matthew; he was the only man she would ever truly love. His fiancé was amiable and sweet and seemed overwhelmed by the possibility of her future life. But as Mary Crawley did best, she put on a proper smile and greeted her cousin warmly.

Bittersweet memories
That is all I’m taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don’t cry.
We both know I’m not what you, you need.

 She missed Matthew, she missed their talks. There were few people whom she could talk so openly with. He respected her opinions and did not avoid certain subjects because she was female.

 But Matthew deserved happiness and if Lavinia made him happy, she would not stand in their way. He also deserved a wife who had not allowed her lust for a stranger ruin her reputation.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.

I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you’ve dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love.

They would have a beautiful life and beautiful children. Their son would one day become the Earl of Grantham.

And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.

If loving Matthew meant letting him go and be happy, then so be it. It was better to have loved and lost than have never loved at all. Mary would always love Matthew.

You, darling, I love you.
Ooh, I’ll always, I’ll always love you

 

After Dinner

*-These characters belong to Mr. Fellows and Co, with the exception of Edward Reginald Crawley. I am just a humble admirer.

 *-Thank you to Sara for beta reading.

After Dinner

 

They had returned from their honeymoon a week ago. Spending two weeks in Rome was an experience neither would forget.

 Crawley House in London was being prepared as a permanent residence for Mary and Matthew. They were scheduled to leave in one week, but until then, they were living with Isobel in the village.

 Tonight they were at Downton for dinner and despite his best effort, Matthew could not keep his eyes off his wife.

 Mary was trying to eat dinner and listen to her father’s story, but her husband was determined to distract her.

 She let out a yelp as Matthew tickled her ankle with his toe.

 “Is something wrong?” Robert asked.

 “Nothing, please continue”.

 Mary shot her husband a look, warning him to behave.

 After dinner was finally complete, Matthew announced, “If you excuse us, I think we will retire for the rest of the evening”.

 “Should I have the car sent around?” Cora asked.

 “No thank you, Cousin Cora, I don’t think we need the car just yet”

 The sound of their footsteps were heard until the door to Mary’s former bedroom was slammed behind them. Their kiss quickly escalated as she pushed his jacket off and his lips blazed a trail down her bare neck.

 Mary and Matthew were not seen again until the next morning, each wearing a broad smile.

 For the next nine months, Isobel and Violet would debate ferociously about the name of the future Earl of Grantham. The debate ended when Edward Reginald Crawley was born.

Come Back To Me

*-I don’t own these characters. They belong to Julian Fellows and Co.

 Come Back To Me

They stood on the train station, neither knowing what to say.

 She removed the small stuffed dog from her bag, their hands briefly touched as he took it from her.

 The dog had been a gift from her mother, given to her when she was very young.

 When Mary was six, her parents decided to take a holiday to celebrate their anniversary.  Mary and her sisters were to spend the week with Robert’s sister and brother in law in London.

 The night before they were leave to for London, Cora found her oldest daughter crying in her bed.

 “Oh my dear child, hush, there is no need to cry”.

 “Why are you and papa going away? Cant we stay here?” Mary asked.

 “You know that your papa and I love you all of you. Don’t you trust your aunt and uncle to take care of you?”.

 “I still don’t want you to go” Mary protested.

 “That’s why I brought this?” Cora revealed the toy dog in her hand.

 “For me?” Mary asked, her tears beginning to dry as she hugged the small dog.

 “Yes, but I must tell you a story first” Cora pulled her daughter into her lap.

 “The night before I was to marry your father, I was terrified. I was in a new country, knowing no one other than your father, your grandparents and your aunt…”.

 “Did you love him?” Mary asked.

 “As much as I could, we barely knew each other. My father came into my bedroom and presented me with this. He said that whenever I became lonely, to hold onto the dog and think of them. After a while, I was no longer lonely, I fell in love with your father and that, my darling girl, is how you came along. Are you feeling better?”.

 “Yes, mama”.

 “Good, now back to bed” Cora pulled the covers up and kissed her daughter.

 As he accepted the dog and the kiss on the cheek, the words were on her lips.

 “Come back to me”.

 But she couldn’t say them and watched him walk away. One day she would tell him how she felt, but that was not today.  

 

Sing For Me/Life Of Leaving Home

*-The DA characters are not mine, the only character that I have created is Abigail Bates.

 *- I think I have somehow intertwined the lyrics for Sing For Me and Life of Leaving Home. But that’s ok, because Yellowcard is an awesome band who I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person.

 *-Thank you to Sara for beta reading.

 “You have thirty minutes” The guard said as he stood in the doorway.

 It was their usual routine. John had not hung, but he was not free. Mr. Murray was trying to have the sentence lifted, but his efforts had so far failed. It was still time together, Anna reminded herself. Every two weeks for a half hour, Anna would take the bus into York to see her husband. The chair scraped against the floor as she sat down, the edge of the table grazing her growing abdomen.

 I can see all the footsteps left behind,
Every second I gave!
Every song was a snapshot of my life
I needed something to say!

 After everything John Bates had done in his life, he had done two things right. He had stayed at Downton and married Anna. He would be a father by the end of the year, for the first time in his life.

I started out in a last slow motion scene,
Watching everyone change!
Made one road from here,
I had no reason to stay!

 chorus:
I am awake and alive
There is something calling me!
More than a moment in time,
It’s a dream I’m following on my own,
On my own, on my own!

More than a moment in time,
It’s a life I’ve lived!

 After he was convicted, John decided for the first time in his life to live. The mistakes he had made were in the past and despite his current circumstances, he would survive. That he would make sure of.

Think of me when the stars come out tonight,
Take a look at the sky!
Never said that I could burn out that
But I needed it to try!

He hated to see the look in Anna’s eyes when she left him. To live free with her, to be the husband and father that she wanted him to be would have been his greatest wish. But he would not let Vera win, even in death.

chorus:
I am awake and alive
There is something calling me!
More than a moment in time,
It’s a dream I’m following on my own,
On my own, on my own!
More than a moment in time,
It’s a life I’ve lived!

The day that I found my voice
I knew that I had no choice look at me, and listen close
So I can tell you how I feel before i go
Just a year it’s not much time
For me to show you I am proud that you are mine
I wish I had known the future in my heart
Was just about to start

When Dr. Clarkson told Anna that she could no longer travel, they wrote letters nearly every day. She spoke of how kindly she was being treated, allowed a respite from some of her responsibilities, how she and Lady Mary were with child at the same time.

Say tomorrow I can’t follow you there
Just close your eyes and sing for me
I will hear you, always near you
And I’ll give you the words, just sing for me

 John missed Anna; he knew this was the best they could do for now. 

Every lock on every door, I put them there to try and hide you from the world
And you kicked yeah you screamed
You never understood you’re everything to me
I just hope you know, the future in your heart
Is just about to start

 John tried to hide his past from her, to warn Anna about what she was getting into with him. He was a convict, a reformed alcoholic. He was nearly fifteen years her senior and certainly not a young man anymore. But she loved him and would not give up on him. For that alone, he was becoming a better man.
Say tomorrow I can’t follow you there

Just close your eyes and sing for me
I will hear you, always near you
And I’ll give you the words, just sing for me

Looking back when I am gone
Sing for me, follow your heart it’s never wrong, sing for me
Looking back when I am gone
Sing for me, don’t second guess to know you’re all
Out of time, oh out of fight
You are the only thing in life that I got right

Say tomorrow I can’t follow you there

Just close your eyes and sing for me
I will hear you, always near you
And I’ll give you the words, just sing for me

Then the letter came.

 “My darling

 We have a daughter, a beautiful, healthy daughter. Her name is Abigail and she is anxious to meet her father. I will bring her as soon as Dr. Clarkson gives his approval.

 You’re loving wife, Anna”.

 Just close your eyes and sing for me, sing for me
just close your eyes and sing for me.
The only way I ever learn some love
..If I found it on my own!
On my own!

chorus:
I am awake and alive
There is something calling me!
More than a moment in time,
It’s a dream I’m following on my own,
On my own, on my own!
More than a moment in time,
It’s a life I’ve lived!

 “Bates, your wife is here” John was escorted to the visitor’s room.

 “John, this is your daughter.” Holding his daughter for the first time, John was amazed to see how much his daughter looked like her mother.

 “Mrs. Bates, may we come in?” Mr. Murray stood in the doorway with Mr. Crawley.

 “Of course, Mr. Murray”.

 “Mr. Bates, we have good news. We have resubmitted the evidence to the crown and they have decided that it is insufficient to uphold the life sentence. However, given your past conviction, if you should be accused again, the life sentence will be reinstated”.

 “Am I free?” John asked.

 “Yes”.

 “Bates, there is more,” Matthew stepped into the conversation “I don’t know if Anna told you, but Mary and I will be leaving Downton for Crawley House in London. We will only need a small number of household staff, for now at least. Anna will be housekeeper and we would like you to be the butler. What do you say?”.

 “Anna?” John looked to his wife.

 “I told them yes, if you would agree”.

 “Thank you, Mr. Crawley, we will be very happy to join you”.

 A month later, the residents of Crawleyhouse had settled down from the night.  Abigail Bates slept comfortably as her father laid her in her crib and then joined her mother in their bed.  The past was behind him and the future was bright.

 The end