If you’re anything like me, you’ve been absolutely enamoured with the new season of Bridgerton, which follows the second eldest Bridgerton brother, Benedict Bridgerton, and Sophie Baek, a maid in the house of a noble family. The fourth season of this Netflix original is just as beautifully crafted, steamy, and heartwarming (as well as heartbreaking) as the previous seasons. As we eagerly wait for the second half of the season, I’d like to address why exactly Bridgerton has become as popular as it has. Primarily, the show prioritizes diversity and romance, all of which are significant and contribute a necessary complexity to the original novels. However, what makes the romance in Bridgerton so appealing in comparison to many other modern-day romantic comedies? What makes Bridgerton not only romantic, but moving?Â
There is one thing that is true between all four seasons: the Bridgertons love loudly and they love in spite of all the odds. Each season is delivered with forceful monologues and beautiful gestures; each couple from every love story in every season is not afraid to scream their love from the rooftops. They are proudly in love and celebrate love as the powerful emotion that it is. In fact, this love extends far beyond just romantic love. Bridgerton features complex female friendships like Penelope and Eloise, or the way a loving mother can show her love by being a bit overbearing. The era of the show may be regency, but these topics are near to our hearts because they are the same relationships we witness and experience ourselves. Why, then, is it so difficult for people to express their love?Â
It seems so simple, and yet, in a world where communication happens mostly over text or social media, gestures like these feel almost unimaginable. It has felt like so many people are embarrassed by their emotions or find comfort in “nonchalance” or “playing it cool.”Â
In friendships as well as relationships, I find more and more often that people hesitate to express their love. However, in my relationships, I feel the love I have for them almost bubbles up from inside me. The best friendships I have are ones where we can truly appreciate each other. This is the difference, for me, between acquaintances and the friends you will keep for life.Â
After each season of Bridgerton, I am encouraged to show my love to its fullest extent. Life is far too short to be hesitating to be loud about something as beautiful as love. Bridgerton celebrates the emotion as something greater than what we all perceive it to be. It urges us to never be ashamed of our feelings, to never hide or settle for something that you don’t deserve. Our humanity lies in our relationships with others, and it is by fostering those deeper connections and relationships that we stay tethered to our humanity.Â