Simone Ashley in Gucci
I'm very excited to see her in action opposite Jonathan Bailey, although I read an early review that was not super bullish on the adaptation of book 2 (sounds like they botched the pacing and the depth of character for Kate), and that it's mostly saved by Ashley and Bailey being dynamic on screen. Although not with enough sex, which is WACKY. Anyway...
Et voila. She looks like there was a grave accident in the hosiery factory.
with Jonathan Bailey
When he grins from the side, he gives me real Hugh Jackman vibes. I just realized this is the only photo of Jonathan that I downloaded, but he looks exactly as you expect in a very standard suit.
Charithra Chandran in Carolina Herrera
Charithra plays Kate's/Simone's sister Edwina. And someone saddled her with this heavy thud of a dress. It's perfectly good fabric that's eating her whole.
However, she is smart, and so she picked it up and spun to make sure it had at least a LITTLE joy to it.
Ruby Stokes
Ruby plays Francesca Bridgerton, a character who was -- if I remember correctly? -- a nonentity in the first season, or at least in most of the books until she finally gets her own. People really want to wear capes that hang off their arms these days, eh?
Martins Imhangbe
His character is not in the books at all, but bless the addition, because last season we got to see him and Regé-Jean Page box each other angrily and with much sweat. I know they have a plot for him this time, but without RJP -- his character's primary conduit into this world -- I'm curious what it will be. Maybe he pops by Daphne's house and she's like, "Oh, Simon is out back weeding, go on through."
Golda Rosheuvel in Mia Coco
SHE. IS. A. DELIGHT. I believe if Mario or Luigi eats her, they turn into a sentient bowl of fruit that can fire acidic juice into an enemy's face. Take THAT, Bowser.
Kathryn Drysdale
She played (plays?) the dressmaker who also had a wee fling with Benedict in season one. She looks gorgeous.
Luke Thompson
And here's ol' Benedict himself, hopefully ready for his own season. He looks sharp.
Luke Newton
The OTHER Luke plays Colin, and he's trying to model the color of the season -- brown -- and doing a bit of a stiff job. Those pants are grievous.
Rina Lipa
This is Rina Lipa, of the Dua Lipas (she's Dua's sister). I hate to break it to her, but I think she has a moth problem.
Eva Apio
"A bathrobe, but make it formal."
Shonda Rhimes in Carolina Herrera
I'm glad the Queen herself got to go.
Florence Hunt
Florence plays Hyacinth. I believe she's 15; she was 13 when season 1 came out. I wonder if it's super weird to get cast on a show when you're 13, and know that if it keeps going, eventually you will get your own season full of NAKED SEX.
Joanna Bobin
This feels like it could also be Herrera, but I don't have a credit on it so it's pure guessing. She looks lovely in it.
Jessica Madsen
This has all the bones of a great outfit, but doesn't it feel a few degrees off all around?
Bessie Carter
Bessie -- whose dress seems too big -- is the child of Imelda Staunton and Jim "Mr. Carson" Carter. And I can't TOTALLY decide if I see either of them in her, so I bet it's one of those where if she is STANDING with one of her parents, I would say, "OH YES, I see it," but on her own she just reads as a unique DNA blend. ANYWAY, Bessie is one of the Featherington daughters...
Harriet Cains
... and Harriet is another. Harriet's dress ALSO might be too big? Birds of a sisterly feather, etc. (The main Featherington, Penelope -- Nicola Coughlan -- seems to have skipped this.)
Polly Walker
"I'm sorry, WHO is the main Featherington, did you say????" Quite right, madam, sorry about that. It can be a tie.