Why is Anthony Bridgerton Afraid of Bees, Explained

Bridgerton's Season 2 takes us on a beautiful romantic journey, featuring one of the most meticulously crafted enemies-to-lovers narratives in recent memory. Even 14 months after its premiere, the electrifying love story between Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton continues to draw new viewers.

Some, particularly those unfamiliar with Julia Quinn's novels upon which the series is based, may find themselves puzzling over a few key moments in the season.

An especially bewildering scene for many in Season 2 involves Kate being stung by a bee, which subsequently triggers a severe panic attack in Anthony. The show justifies Anthony's phobia through a heart-wrenching flashback wherein his father, Edmund Bridgerton, succumbs to a bee sting when Anthony was barely 18. This raises the question amongst viewers: Is this scene purely fictional, or can a bee sting indeed be fatal? Is Anthony's fear of bees warranted?

Typically, an individual can withstand numerous bee stings without any grave repercussions. However, should that person be allergic to bee venom, even a single sting could potentially result in death due to an anaphylactic reaction. Regrettably, this befell Edmund, as elucidated in Julia Quinn's endnotes.

Interestingly, the book also mentions that Edmund had survived a bee sting before, which is consistent with the scientific understanding that anaphylaxis typically does not occur upon the first sting.

In conclusion, not being allergic to bee stings, Kate was not in danger during the garden incident, rendering Anthony's anxiety unnecessary. Nevertheless, his panic is completely understandable, considering the traumatic experience of witnessing his father's sudden, inexplicable, and inevitable death. Currently, an average of 62 Americans succumb annually to insect bites. Without EpiPens, the threat was even more imminent during the Regency era.

The bee sting narrative inevitably raises another question - could Anthony be at risk? Since allergies often have a genetic component, Anthony's bee phobia might be a harbinger of his fate. In the final notes, Julia Quinn assuaged her readers' worries by confirming that Anthony is not allergic to bee venom.

'Oh thank God! I couldn't stand if Anthony would perish because of a bee sting!' a fan commented on the author's decision, and we can't help but agree.

Source: Reddit.