Bridgerton: Anthony Using Kate’s REAL Name Is Bigger Than You Think

Warning: Spoilers for Bridgerton season 2.

Toward the emotional ending of Bridgerton season 2, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) calls Kate (Simone Ashley) by her real, full name — a gesture much bigger than viewers may think. The return of the Regency Era drama set a new viewing record. Merely three days from its premiere, Bridgerton season 2 has been watched for 193 million hours, making it the most successful opening weekend of an English-language Netflix show. This success is mostly due to returning viewers’ expectations and this installment’s fresh take on Julia Quinn’s novel series, especially on its central romance.

While the show’s season 1 focuses on the steamy courtship between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), Bridgerton season 2 follows a slightly different path. As newcomers Edwina (Charithra Chandran) and Kate Sharma get introduced into the highly-competitive ton, Anthony Bridgerton pursues the former, seeing how she is perfect to be a viscountess. Over time, however, his harbored feelings for Kate complicate matters, and a confusing yet reciprocated duty-over-heart conflict ensues.

After a slow-burn romance, Anthony and Kate finally surrender to their emotions. Their passionate confession is made even more meaningful by Anthony using Kate’s real name. “Is that a promise, Kathani Sharma?” is Anthony’s response to Kate promising that she will always be vexed by him. Though simple, this act signifies how intimate the couple has become, as it sheds away the formalities that accompany pretensions and emotional barriers. In the Bridgerton season 2 ending, for Anthony, she is no longer Miss Sharma, the eldest of the family, or even Kate, the sister and mentor of Edwina. After months of battling their feelings, in Anthony’s eyes, she finally becomes Kathani, his other half whom he knows thoroughly.

In a society that strongly implements boundaries between opposite genders, using a person’s real first name is an indication of familiarity that other people might otherwise find scandalous. Midway through Bridgerton season 2, Edwina expresses her excitement over building a family with Anthony. Her casual use of the viscount’s first name shocks Kate, as people in the Regency Era only allow addressing each other on a first-name basis within their families. Such informality in the Jane Austen-inspired Bridgerton season is considered improper, especially without the consent of the other party. In fact, a man overheard calling a woman unrelated to him by her real name can cause speculations about the true nature of their relationship. However, while there are engaged couples who mutually agree to call each other by their first names in private, Edwina’s one-sided use of Anthony’s real name could also be a representation of her overwhelming yet unrequited feelings towards him.

On the other hand, Anthony using Kate’s real name is him finally giving in to the intense desires that have been plaguing him. He is not merely a stoic Viscount marrying to fulfill his duty, but he becomes a vulnerable man willingly opening himself up to love. No matter how small that gesture might be, it is a huge leap forward in their relationship. After all, Anthony and Kate’s story ends in a blissful marriage and eventually a happy family life, which will hopefully be shown in Bridgerton season 3.

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