Scene Breakdown: A Family Dance in Bridgerton’s “Harmony”

Anthony and Hyacinth Bridgerton in the Bridgerton Family's Country dance
©Netflix

In what might be the most cheerful scene in Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 2, the family’s country dance brings to our screens a moment of untarnished joy, temporarily liberating each person in the room from whatever cross they’re carrying. It’s an utterly precious and beautifully heartwarming dance that reminds us why the Bridgerton family is a comfort to us all, and more than anything, it allows us to feel every ounce of the love they have for one another. If it were a full house, including Daphne and Francesca, it’d reach a level of perfection for which we’d then have no words.

It’s an incredibly moving moment for Gregory and Hyacinth Bridgerton, allowing them to finally partake in a ball as opposed to looking in from the outside. And for Hyacinth of all the children—it’s a moment to be her most authentic, ineffable self in a room full of people who adore every fiber of her being.

Anthony Bridgerton is far from perfect. Sometimes, he shows up too late (and while that’s another scene we’ll break down later), it’s worth noting that this ultimately exhibits much of who he is and how deeply he adores his family. Thrust into a position where he’s forced to be a father instead of their big brother puts colossal pressure on him, but there’s no denying that Hyacinth shines as their joy in the darkness. And it’s precisely why this moment stands out because it shows us a critical detail from the books that couldn’t be translated onto the screen with words the way that it could through actions, in this case, a dance.

“Hyacinth, who was now just eleven, had never even been held in her father’s arms. Anthony had tried to fill the gap as best as he could, but he knew he was a very pale comparison.”

From the second he realizes everyone’s still upset to the moment where it clicks that a new perspective is a way to go, Jonathan Bailey is outstanding in showing us what’s scheming within. This moment doesn’t call for a challenging solution; the answer, for once, is clear as day—what would his father do? What would he, Anthonydo? When Edmund goes to pick flowers for Violet, Anthony suggests picking some for Daphne as well. Jaded and broken in a multitude of ways, but the love that lives in Anthony Bridgerton is paramount. His compassion is boundless, and his love for his family is unmistakable. He might’ve lost sight of his gentle spirit amidst scrambling to fulfill his duties, but he never once lost an ounce of the love he carries for his family. 

And much of his adoration is not only pronounced in his physicality, but we hear the affectionate pride in his voice as he calls out Hyacinth! Come down here and do me the honor—moving with utmost translucence to the staircase to wait for her, twirling her with the ease only someone with colossal tenderness can do. And as brilliant as Jonathan Bailey is in this moment, we need to sing ample praises for Florence Hunt. She shows us much of Hyacinth’s disbelief through every move she makes and the enchanting shimmer in her eyes as she looks up at the ceiling, allowing the moment’s magic to completely envelope her. This might be her home, but she’s never had this chance before, a moment to bask in the glory of dancing with her family by her side.

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Bridgerton. (L to R) Shelley Conn as Mary Sharma, Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, Florence Emilia Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in episode 207 of Bridgerton.
Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2022

Per Anthony’s suggestion, a country dance equates to a gorgeous representation of what family is—a mess in more ways than one who could all come together for laughter when the time is right. A moment to ease the pain and understand each other better. There is something so profoundly emotional about how the music thrusts them towards losing themselves in the unparalleled joy of sharing this moment as a family, including the littles.

It’s significant to note Kate’s expression right before the number begins. She looks towards Anthony, understanding down to her very bones what he’s doing, why he’s doing it and falling more in love with him because of the compassion he displays. It’s not something she’ll utter aloud yet, it’s not even something she’ll allow herself to sit with, but Simone Ashley shows such a brilliantly subtle change in Kate as she divulges her heart’s contentment. 

These are the notable moments that show Kate (and everyone else in the room) that there is nothing Anthony wouldn’t do for his family. This dance authenticates the detail that he’s constantly thinking of them and wanting them to be happy, even though the belief that they all hate him continues to haunt him daily. The movements, though choreographed, symbolically represent how effortless Anthony’s adoration pours through despite how incapable he is of seeing the same in others. They all love him as much as he loves them, and perhaps he could feel it briefly, but it doesn’t stick quite yet.

He knows that the solution at this moment is to involve Hyacinth but what he doesn’t understand is the weight of what it means to her.

When he promises that she could join in on the fun at Aubrey Hall—her joy is indescribable then, as it is right now, and long after the dance, when she wants to go again, perhaps this time, a quadrille. In these intimate and boisterous moments where all she wants is to be by her family’s side, sharing a dance with her eldest brothers, Hyacinth shows that she’s a product of them all. This dance is Anthony’s way of bringing light back into their lives, and it allows Hyacinth to understand much of what makes her a Bridgerton—the good, bad, and the ugly.

There’s light in every move they each make. It’s Gregory bowing to Lady Danbury, Benedict and Eloise reminding us of their closeness, Violet dancing with the future Lady Bridgerton, and finally, ending the moment with Kate and Anthony in each other’s arms. We see the profound intimacy in the two of them holding on for a little longer than they should, basking in the joy they’re experiencing beyond anything else.

It’s the high dwindling towards fruition, the quiet conversation their souls retain, showing us they’re the same, willing to do everything to ensure their siblings are happy.

In every way that it matters, the Bridgerton family dance is a moment that’s going to live with each of them despite the aftermath of Whistedown’s column. Because it’s a moment where even Eloise cannot complain. She’ll hate the formal dance floor, but sharing a moment of joy with her siblings? She’s all in.

It’s Violet Bridgerton’s ball, titled harmony in a moment where it doesn’t exist but for a brief instant, she gets to share it with the people who matter most to her—her babies, each grown and becoming their own, showing her that the purpose to everything has been their happiness all along. And Anthony openly acknowledging her theme, making sure that she understands he’s listening; it’s such beautiful writing, it genuinely floors me.

It’s moments like this where I hoped the show would deliver more than the books do, and it absolutely does—in every way. These are the moments where you could feel the weight of their adoration, and you could dwell in the beauty that such a scene would confirm Edmund Bridgerton is smiling down upon them.

Now streaming on Netflix: What are your thoughts on the Bridgerton family dance? Let us know in the comments below.

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13 comments

  1. One of my favorite scenes in the whole season, if not the #1. Just… seeing no one showed up to the party when it seemed they had managed to turn the tide on the latest scandal and the realization their reputation is really in shambles….to anthony insisting they stay for at least one dance, and calling hyacinth to dance with him, and seeing her utmost joy and surprise, and gregory being excited to join the party too and the family having a blast together, just them, lady danbury (who is part of the extended family) and the sharma (soon to be family too)… amazing. I love it.
    The bridgerton family dynamics is a highlight of the show (I haven’t read the books yet) and seeing them like that was truly heartwarming.

    1. It’s one of our favorite scenes too. We keep coming back and replaying it. It’s so lovely!

  2. What a thoughtful and beautiful review! This totally captures everything that worked about this scene, which I also loved. The only thing I didn’t like was Edwina still looking miserable towards the end, which as you’ve said elsewhere about this season, mars the beauty of what’s growing between Kate and Anthony. Loved seeing Dadthony in action, with Hyacinth in particular and the whole family in general.

  3. Again a very beautiful review, with which I agree whole-heartedly. Between this scene and the pall-mall game, it’s when I think we can better see the love shared in this family. But I wish there were more moments where the sibblings indivudually do something that show that they love Anthony, whether or not he’s able to see it. Because I don’t see it enough. It’s only my opinion. But as I reflect on the whole show, there is nothing that stands out, outside these moments (and the scene with Gregory, that one is a treasure. )

  4. Harmony indeed. I really appreciated this heartfelt review. You captured it perfectly. The Family Ball in episode 7 was such an incredible standout it took my breath away and blew my hair back with absolute joy. I keep watching it and will do especially when I need a boost. I love the Country Dance music so much. Thank you!

    1. Truly, we’ve been looking for it almost every day and will update this when we find it!

  5. If you look closely, you can seem the actors break character and their real selves come out, and it makes me love the whole scene more. It’s just joy and family enjoying being family for a moment.
    Thank you for beautiful commentary on this scene.

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