Sorry, but Anthony Bridgerton Is Actually Toxic and Doesn’t Deserve Fan Love

Bridgerton is a show about a whole other era and should be treated as such, but that doesn’t mean that characters should be absolved of all responsibility for their actions. Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest child and the so-called head of the household, is no exception.

Since his debut in season 1, Anthony has been nothing but a controlling and self-centered man with a holier-than-thou attitude to his siblings and pretty much everyone around him. Yet, no one dares to defy him (at least, not enough), and his “crimes” seem to be forgiven time and time again.

In season 1, Anthony is the biggest hypocrite there is. He wants to force Daphne, his sister, into doing things she doesn’t like and doesn’t let her do those that she does.

Anthony acts all high and mighty, telling his family to act proper and his sister to be an exemplary woman, while he is having his fun with Siena, not intending to marry her or settle down.

He is extremely rude to his siblings and his mother, thinking that he is the patriarch of the family, thus, he can get away with it. Anthony doesn’t respect Violet and puts his selfish desires first, therefore, disregarding his own mother. Don’t even get us started on how he treats Simon, his supposed bestie, for the majority of the season.

We get that Anthony is trying to be protective of his sister, but still. He should really mind his own business. In season 2, he is somehow even worse. Having gone on a quest to find a wife, Anthony doesn’t let anyone stay in his way.

Not only is he downright sexist toward potential candidates when he laughs about their simple hobbies, but he also treats these eligible women as objects, sets of certain traits he looks for in a wife, and nothing more. It’s disgusting.

Anthony’s whole engagement storyline is another issue. He chooses Edwina as his Viscountess, but he has no feelings for her, and the poor clueless girl has no idea. Their age difference is abysmal, Anthony’s behavior around Edwina is far from gentlemanly, and the love triangle twist is ridiculous.

Anthony does find happiness at the end of Bridgerton season 2 when he and Kate finally realize their affections for each other, and Anthony seems much less annoying. Still, we sincerely hope that this useless character won’t be around much in season 3 — or at least learns how to do better.