The opening
“After the Rain” begins with Benedict painting Daphne and Simon. The couple talks about Simon quitting in London as soon as possible. They plan Simon’s last commitments. It’s obvious they are playing against each other, and it isn’t going to work — they are in love. It’s their stubbornness that is hurting them both. Meanwhile, Penelope checks up on Marina, who is in a rush to pack and go home. The ending of Bridgerton season 1 displays happy endings and heartbreaks — there’s a feeling it could go either way in “After the Rain”.

Extending an invitation
Daphne tells her mother that she and the Duke are going to go their separate ways. Lady Violet Bridgerton tells her they should find a way forward and find patience and forgiveness. Lady Featherington intrudes and tells them that they were not invited to the Ball. Daphne decides to extend her invitation and forget the errors of the past. Is it Daphne’s youth and maturity that shows her being kind to those who are unfortunate in a cruel world? We almost wonder if her mother used to be the same.

Devastating news for Marina
George’s brother visits the town and shares bad news — George has died on the battlefield; Marina walks off in shock. Daphne chases after her; Marina tells her that George was writing to her as he died — he was telling her that he loved her and wanted a family. She’s devastated and regrets believing he was a villain. Marina has definitely been wronged in the story, and we must wonder what Season 2 holds for her — hopefully, her life turns around.

Closer to exposing Lady Whistledown
Believing her to be Lady Whistledown, Eloise visits Genevieve at her shop and asks for a dress for the ball. She talks about Lady Whistledown’s muses. She then brings up her brother Benedict who normally withstands gossip — he’s hiding at the back of the store. Genevieve tells Eloise that she wouldn’t mean harm to anyone, and she believes that Lady Whistledown can handle herself. Eloise seems closer to finding out who Lady Whistledown is…

Trying to reach out to Simon
As Simon heads to a boxing match, Daphne asks what his father did and wants an explanation. Simon tells Daphne that he’s doing this for her own good and that she will be better off without him. Before the fight, Will is unsure what to do and considers losing, so they receive the scam purse — he feels the pressure from Lord Featherington.

A supporting offer
George’s brother Sir Phillip asks Marina if she will marry him — he feels it his duty. Lady Featherington believes it is a good deal. Marina does not want to marry Sir Phillip because she does not love him. Phillip wants to fulfill his brother’s wishes and look after her. Marina rejects it and asks him to leave. When he leaves, Lady Featherington is furious.

Searching for the truth
Daphne scours the Hastings house to search for answers. She finds a pile of letters from Simon to his father that were unopened. There’s a sad expression on her face — it seems she understands now. This is a turning point — Daphne now can approach the situation with sympathy rather than frustration — it’s written in the story well and centers the ending of Bridgerton season 1.

Sex and scams
At the boxing, Anthony cannot keep his eyes off Siena — they are intensely staring at each other, and they meet each other in the back and have sex. Meanwhile, Will continues to box, but he loses on purpose. Lord Featherington celebrates the amount of money he’s won.

Simon knows Will faked his loss and approaches him about it — he asks about his honor. Will believes his honor is looking after his family and brings up Simon’s wife. Will senses Simon is angry, but not with him — he tells him to do something about it.

Speaking to Lady Danbury
Daphne asks Lady Danbury about the letters from the Duke to her father. She had no idea that Simon could not speak as a child. Lady Danbury tells Daphne of the Duke’s triumph and how it was his alone despite her encouragement.

A family gathering
The next morning, Daphne joins Simon for breakfast which surprises him. She asks Simon to join her at Bridgerton house because Francesca has returned and there will be a family gathering. There’s a calmness between them, and Daphne is making an effort to heal the tension between them. The story has turned on its head; there’s no bitterness or game playing; they are slowly reaching a conclusion for each other.

Eloise updates Penelope
Benedict tells Eloise to leave Genevieve alone; Anthony overhears and learns that Benedict that his brother has a “close friendship” with her. Penelope shows up at the gathering, and Eloise updates her on who Lady Whistledown is and that they can change the fortunes of the Featherington family. Penelope does not believe the status of her family will be changing any time soon and she withdraws — this becomes clearer later on in the chapter as to why she was downbeat. At the gathering, Simon plays with the children and Daphne looks on; she’s proud that he’s good with children.

Moments of clarity
Marina suddenly needs a doctor and alerts Lady Featherington. A doctor tells her that the poisonous tea will not be ridding the baby, and she was foolish to think so. Meanwhile, Anthony enjoys his time with Siena. He tells her that he will not be dancing with a lady at the last ball of the season; he asks her to join him as he believes they have a path now to a relationship. Siena believes it is a fantasy, but Anthony says he wants her there by his side; Benedict’s new relationship with Genevieve has obviously changed his mind. He’s found clarity in his life.



Daphne keeps it cool
Daphne and Simon look at their portrait together. They discuss the order of events at their ball — they agree on how many dances they should have. They then stare into each other’s eyes. Daphne tells Simon that he was brilliant with the children. Simon reminds her he still doesn’t want any of his own. But Daphne does not react this time.

The ball begins
The last ball of the season begins. Eloise is feeling tense in her corset; she doesn’t want this life. Daphne tells her sister she looks exquisite in her gown. Eloise thanks Daphne for being perfect, so she doesn’t have to be. The Featherington family arrives, and there are a few onlookers. Meanwhile, Lord Featherington is in trouble with the men he scammed.

Someone is leaving
Colin approaches Penelope — she’s nervous around him. Colin apologizes for being a fool for attempting to marry Marina — he tells her he is leaving to travel which makes Penelope emotional and she walks off. This is the last blow for Penelope — she’s well and truly heartbroken.

Warning Genevieve
Eloise wants to tell the Queen about the outcome of the Lady Whistledown investigation, but she is stopped by a guard who tells her that they will unmask Whistledown and she will be seized; Eloise panics and tries to warn Benedict, but he isn’t in the mood to talk. She decides to warn Lady Whistledown herself.

“Let me go.”
Anthony visits Siena’s house, and her partner answers the door. Siena comes to the door, but she refuses to go to the ball with him — she wants to look out for herself, and she believes he is lost. She wants him to let her go as she is comfortable and content because her partner sees her for who she is — “He does not wish for me to change and neither do I”. Anthony cries and apologizes. But there seems to be an understanding on his face; almost like he knows what he has to do. Also, being comfortable does not mean happiness — audiences should not assume this story is over yet.

Advice from Lady Danbury and Lady Violet Bridgerton
At the ball, Lady Danbury asks Simon about the separation. She talks about his pride and how it will cost him everything. Daphne asks her mother if being in love is different for men. Her mother explains how she misses dancing with her father and that her marriage came with trials and overcame them — “We chose to love each other every single day”. She tells Daphne that she is a Bridgerton and there is nothing she cannot do.

The dance
Daphne and Simon dance as planned — a waltz. They are fixated on each other. Thunder begins, and it rains, but while others move away, Daphne wants to feel the rain. She starts laughing as it rains on her. Lady Danbury announces that the evening is complete; she wants everyone to leave Simon and Daphne alone. She knows this is a pivotal moment, and the audience does too.

A romantic plea in the rain
Daphne tells Simon she found the letters to his father and that she read them — she explains that just because it’s not perfect, does not make it any less worthy of love; Daphne believes Simon’s father made him think otherwise: “He made you believe that you needed to be without fault in order to be loved, but he was wrong.” Daphne expresses that she is tired of pretending that she does not love Simon as she loves every part of him, even the parts he perceives to be dark. She gives him a choice — “You can choose to love me as much as I love you”. She then walks away. This was a surprisingly emotional moment because the series decided to drop the sexual tension and made it about feelings only — it was well measured, and the writers had this moment in mind.

Lord Featherington is gone
As Lady Featherington returns home, she learns that her husband is dead. She enters her office to see all the money is gone and she sobs.

Working together
Simon enters Daphne’s bedroom and tells her he doesn’t want to be alone, but also he doesn’t know how he wants to be the man she needs him to be. Daphne tells him he does know how to be that man and tells him to stay; she suggests that they work through every moment together. The couple has sex, but this time, Simon does not pull out — a significant moment in the plot. It’s quite surprising that a plot set in the 1800s gives the ultimate advice for relationships — to work hard through every situation.

The end of the season
The marriage season is ending; Penelope cries in Eloise’s arms as Colin leaves to travel. Lady Featherington calls Marina stronger than her and that she will do well. Marina heads out on a carriage but, in a twist, she leaves with Sir Phillip — she’s chosen a life of security. Lady Featherington learns who will inherit the estate and she looks shocked.

The ending
Benedict tells Eloise that he was with Genevieve the night before; with this information, Eloise realizes that Genevieve cannot be Lady Whistledown. Lady Whistledown narrates that one day she will come forward and reveal herself — the episode shows that Penelope is Lady Whistledown; but why on earth did she not save the fortunes of her family?

As “After the Rain” nears an end, Daphne is pushing out her first baby with her mother and Simon by her side. It’s a boy. A happy ending with no cliffhanger but surely there will be a Season 2.

As expected, the ending of Bridgerton Season 1 comes with drama, heartbreak, tearful moments, and happy endings — “After the Rain” also leaves a few plot points that can be extended into a second installment if Netflix wishes to commission it.

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