During the holiday break, I was definitely struggling until I came across Netflix’s original, Bridgerton. The show is a cross between Gossip Girl and Pride and Prejudice and is most definitely binge-worthy. This eight-episode original was released on Christmas Day on Netflix and adapts the first of eight Regency romance novels written by Julia Quinn. The books are mainly set in the early 19th century, following the eight siblings of the Bridgerton family as they find love.
The first season primarily follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest Bridgerton daughter, as she enters the competitive marriage season. These marriage seasons involve a series of dances where young women are introduced to young men, who call on their favorites at the women’s homes to be inspected for their family’s approval. Daphne’s debut season starts off successfully after she gains Queen Charlotte’s favor (Golda Rosheuval), which makes much of this wealthy society’s topic of chatter. After a few mistakes, Daphne fears she is losing her “value” in the marriage market. She comes up with a plan for Simon (Rege-Jean Page) the Duke of Hastings. They pretend to court each other so that she gains favor amongst the young men. He can in turn fend off families who want their daughters set up with him.
Although Daphne and Simon are the main focus of the story, several other Bridgerton siblings and a different high society family have subplots intertwined. On top of this, all the drama and scandal are reported to the entire town in an anonymous paper published by a writer called “Lady Whistledown” (voiced by Julie Andrews).
What first drew me to the show after the first episode was the grandiosity of the Regency era portrayed along with the enemies to lovers’ tropes quite evident between the main couple. After watching a few more episodes, I couldn’t get enough of the little twists and other subplots. The show is easy to follow with each episode’s ending keeping you wanting more. My favorite part of the show was Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), the second oldest daughter of the Bridgerton family. Eloise is quite an entertaining character, and you really get to love her. She sets out on her own agenda to find out who Lady Whistledown is. Eloise is very vocal about not wanting to be a part of high society in the way Daphne is. Instead, she hopes to gain higher education and travel the world.
I particularly enjoyed a specific scene when Simon claimed his love for Daphne in front of Queen Charlotte. This scene emphasizes how Simon feels about Daphne, from forming a foundation revolved around friendship to wanting her to be his wife. It was absolutely romantic and swoon-worthy hearing him describe his feelings for her.
Bridgerton has gained quite a lot of popularity over the past few weeks, even inspiring a TikTok musical. Netflix has already confirmed season two of Bridgerton with filming starting in Spring of 2021. According to an Instagram post, “Lady Whistledown” announces the next season will focus on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton, and most eligible bachelor. I’m excited to see what this next season has to offer. Hopefully, we’ll see more of our favorite characters and maybe even some new faces.
