Featuring lavish ballrooms and dramatic scandals, Bridgerton, Netflix’s latest period drama, is opulence and extravagance captured in eight-episodes. It’s not without its flaws, but mostly it’s an enjoyable watch for anyone who loves the essence of Regency pieces, or is simply looking for something fun to stream without thinking about it too much. Plus, there’s a romance full of yearning that makes this series more exciting than it may seem.
The Shonda Rhimes’ produced series created by Chris Van Dusen (Grey’s Anatomy) is based on a series of Regency novels by Julia Quinn. It follows the Bridgerton family in 1813 England—with some differences, but more on that later—as they take on society and all of the problems that come with elite parties and court life. Specifically, the series centers on eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor, Younger) and her electric romance with the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett (Regé-Jean Page, Sylvie’s Love). At first, we get to see Daphne as she’s introduced to Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuval, Lady Macbeth) and the rest of high society. She’s come of age to look for suitors in the Bridgerton universe so, along with groups of other women, and try to make herselves noticed.
Of course, she’s a Bridgerton, which is something we learn is held in high regard amongst those looking to be wed. The queen immediately favors her as a good frontrunner of the courting season. Daphne also has seven other siblings and her mother, which are all vastly different and begin to form their own storylines as the season progresses. Her brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey, Broadchurch) is the eldest in the family and extremely protective of Daphne. In fact, it’s wildly annoying how he tries to control his sister’s life and command her to do what he wants. An example is when he tells her she has to marry the only suitor he deems acceptable, which causes many men to steer clear of Daphne. Though he gets slightly more tolerable as we see his own plotline unfold, he needs to stop telling his sister what to do. Of all the siblings, it is actually her sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie, Vanity Fair) who is the most interesting.
The focus of the series, Daphne’s romance with the Duke of Hastings, is full of sexual tension. It starts out as a fake romance meant to help them both achieve their respective goals (Daphne wishes to get more attention from suitors that her brother chased off, while Simon wishes not to wed at all). But I’m sure we all know where this is going. Throughout, they are battling feelings for one another and trying not to fall for each other despite their chemistry. There are a lot of intense moments between the two where their passion is clear and makes for a pretty enjoyable romance.
The show also includes very intimate moments and heat between the two of them which helps build their attraction. At times, their frequent arguing can get bothersome to watch, possibly in part because in this time period, the rituals of communication in romantic relationships was very different. But their relationship is a large part of what makes the show what it is.
The story also follows the rival Featherington family, Portia Featherington (Polly Walker, Rome) and her daughters Prudence (Bessie Carter, Howards End), Philippa (Harriet Cains, Marcella), and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan, Derry Girls). They are coping with their own drama and struggles in court; in particular, Penelope has an intriguing personality and compelling storyline.
Everything is set off with a Gossip Girl-esque column written by the anonymous “Lady Whistledown” (voiced by Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins). Everyone follows the gossip she reports on, and she is known as revolutionary because she is a female writer who is unafraid to discuss the occurrences in court. Often, they try to discuss the freedom of women and their role in relationships, though I’m not certain all of their attempts to bring up a deeper conversation land well.
There are also places where the series diverges from the novels. One that is easy to notice right away is the diversity. It’s not necessarily how the social scene in 1813 England would have looked. There are more than just white actors, which is different from many period pieces that feature very few people of color, if they have any at all. I feel this adds immensely to the show because it feels much more in touch with today’s world, even if it is set far in the past. It is also much more interesting than only seeing the same people over and over again.
As a whole, Bridgerton is worth a watch. It’s entertaining, angsty, and does not move slow; it’s a fun experience for people who like costume dramas or Regency shows, but also for those who like engaging romances, intriguing characters, and a lot of tension, sexual or otherwise.
Bridgerton is Now Streaming on Netflix.
