Why is a friendship breakdown so much worse than a romantic break-up?

The fleeting glances across the ballroom. The tears springing to your eyes at the very thought of someone. The tension you could cut with a knife. Netflix’s Regency romp Bridgerton would have us believe that the current third season – which began last week – is all about the will-they-won’t-they romance between bookish Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and boy-next-door Colin (Luke Newton). But when I watched, the real tension was between two of the leading ladies. Rather than willing the romantic leads to get together, I was struck by the sadness of a rift between best friends Penelope and Eloise (Claudia Jessie).