‘Tis the season to curl up on the couch and binge-watch a whole lot of TV. If you’ve found yourself feeling like you’ve watched just about every new series out there, there’s some good news. Netflix’s Bridgerton is almost here.
Between its glamorous gowns, scandalous secrets and plenty of drama, Bridgerton is the new Netflix series that’s set to have everyone hooked this December. Produced by Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland and based on Julia Quinn’s historical romance series of the same name, it follows the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons — and a number of others — as they try and find love in Regency London.
Daphne Bridgerton’s (Phoebe Dynevor) making her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. She’s keen to be matched based on true love, just like her parents. And it seems like that’s going to happen, thanks to her prospects. But things don’t go to plan — but do they ever in these kind of shows? It doesn’t help that her eldest brother is determined to rule out would-be suitors. Then, there’s Lady Whistledown and her scandal sheet, which is a whole different problem in itself. The return of Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings, changes things; and sparks start to fly as the season goes on.
While the show may have swoon-worthy love stories at its heart, Bridgerton is about so, so much more.
Yes, it has all the aspects of what you would expect from a series set in the nineteenth century: the glamorous costumes, glitzy balls, and the dialogue to match. However, the show is also a deep dive into the pressures that the characters would have faced at the time — from the societal ones to the familial ones — and a look at what they would do to protect those that they love.
The first episode of Bridgerton, while a bit of a slow burn, is the perfect start to the series. Besides introducing us to the dynamics between the Featheringtons and the Bridgertons, it gives viewers an incredible insight into their world. Cumulatively, a lavish ball sets the wheels in motion for the rest of the season.
Standing at eight episodes in length, Bridgerton is on the shorter side. And yet, each of the central figures in the show undergoes a lot of character development; which makes it feel, at times, like it is a much longer show than it actually is. Thanks to the incredible performances of the cast, it’s impossible not to get invested in what’s going to happen next; from who will (and who won’t) achieve what they want out of life to who’ll get their happily ever after.
Bridgerton has its fair share of heavier moments, as it explores Regency London’s society, but the lighter scenes definitely shine through.
And that’s helped, in part, by the almost Gossip Girl-esque character of Lady Whistledown. The all-knowing, all-seeing gossip columnist — voiced by Julie Andrews — sends the straitlaced ton into a frenzy. Her scandal sheet helps some of their deepest, most scandalous secrets see the light of day. The biggest of these secrets is, of course, saved for the finale — although, it’s definitely worth the wait.
Bridgerton debuts on Netflix on December 25.
Header: Bridgerton (Netflix)
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