If you’re anything like me, you’re waiting anxiously for the next week to come so that you can finally see the next season of Bridgerton. A masterful period drama, full of deception, a turnback of time and mystery. Not only does Bridgerton have great moments, but great actors too! But, what can you do to fill those days while you wait for the second season to finally arrive? I’ve solved that mystery perfectly by gathering some great comfort shows and some bonuses for you to watch while you wait for the new season to come! And if you look closely enough, you’ll see that a few of the shows have some of the actors from Bridgerton, so you can have a dose of it while you wait!
- Gilmore Girls
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This is my all-time favorite show and a great show, regardless of the season. This show is full of feel-good moments, great references to peel through and a stand-out cast. Moreover, it’s a quintessential 2000s show that will make you jealous of the town of Stars Hallow and wish that you could live there for even a moment. If you’re a fan of Milo Ventimiglia, Lauren Graham or Melissa Mcarthy, this is a must-watch that you can now binge on Netflix. Plus it has so many quotable and relatable lines that it’s impossible to count.
- Sex Education
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Now, this show is a bit on the risque side, but it’s to be expected by a show with sex in the title, so watch at your own risk. However, this show is so much more than sex. It takes place at a preparatory school in London with a big issue under the surface. It has amazing much-needed discussions about sexuality, communicating with others and partners and more. Along with amazing ’80s inspired style and characters to root for, I recommend this show for anybody who loves a drama-filled, creative and funny show. Moreover, it stars one of the newest actors of the second season of Bridgerton. So, take a seat and watch this on Netflix and get hooked on the high school drama.
- The Witcher
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I’ve heard a lot of praise for this show and for great reason: it features a great cast, intriguing writing developments and plenty of romantic chemistry. This series has all the fantasy, romance and intrigue that you need while you wait for Bridgerton and is also available on Netflix. But a word of caution, this show does jump around a bit with different timelines so beware! But altogether it has a bit of everything for anyone who is interested in creative storytelling, fantasy and, of course, Henry Cavill.
- Peacemaker
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This series is a bit newer than the ones previously mentioned and it airs on HBO Max, but if you’re a fan of The Suicide Squad I’d recommend you take a look at it. This show looks more into the backstory of the Peacemaker from the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad. This stars John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma and more. As you’ll recall from The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker is an individual who is a champion of peace and fights to keep it at any price. And although he considers himself a hero, the realities may lie elsewhere of that. He’s an interesting character with complex motives, but if you are a fan of action and The Office (some have compared the character to Michael Scott). Check out this show to take a deeper look at this odd character and see how you like it!
- Derry Girls
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Derry Girls is a dark comedy mixed with a coming-of-age tale taking place in Northern Ireland. For those looking for a new comedy with a bit of ’90s nostalgia, this is the show for you. Moreover, it stars everyone’s favorite creative writer from Bridgerton if you know what I mean. The Netflix show provides raunchy humor and high school drama mixed with an interesting traditional school that the rebel characters fight against along with the struggles we all remember of our teenage years.
- The Vampire Diaries
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This is another personal favorite of mine. If you haven’t heard of The Vampire Diaries, this show is a fantasy, drama-filled show starring Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. The acting in this show is really stellar and all actors have a great range with my personal favorites being Candice King, Nina Dobrev and Kat Graham. Moreover, it has some moments in different time periods, notably during the Civil War-era to give you that dose of historical drama. It has some great villains such as the iconic Katherine Pierce and has other spinoffs after the series if you like this one — all available on Netflix. All in all, it’s a great series to get lost in with the crazy vampires, witches and other creatures!
- Reign
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This is another historical drama that features a great female lead. The show tells the story of Queen Mary of Scotland and the twists and turns of royalty and what it takes to truly become a great leader. It’s loosely based on the real-life Queen Mary who ruled during the 16th century and has great drama, romance and scandal. If you’re a fan of history, strong, powerful leading ladies and some Regency-era drama, this is a great binge-worthy show that you can watch on Netflix now.
- Inventing Anna
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Inventing Anna is a new release by Netflix that is also loosely based on a real person, Anna Delvey. In the series, it follows Anna through the eyes of a journalist uncovering the truth about the life of the so-called heiress who stole the riches and hearts of many in the New York City upper class. This has a great cast and leading lady playing Anna and the character and plot had great development towards the end. All in all, a great show to binge while you wait!
- The Queen’s Gambit
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This is another personal favorite of mine starring the talented Anya Taylor-Joy. This is an intriguing series looking into the life of Beth Harmon a female chess player with an addiction to becoming the greatest chess player in the world. It’s a story of ambition, addiction and many masterful moments throughout the story. Along with some familiar childhood faces and voices in the cast, such as Harry Melling from Harry Potter and Thomas Brodie-Sangster from The Maze Runner. Moreover, it’s an interesting portrayal of mental health. This show is also available on Netflix.
- The Princess Diaries Series
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Now, obviously, this last one isn’t a show at all, but I couldn’t help but recommend it due to it featuring the actress who voices Lady Whistledown in it. This is an all-time amazing comfort movie to watch and I think you’ll agree.
This feel-good classic starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway is not only a comical, sweet and nostalgic film, but it has Whitney Houston as one of the producers. This movie tells the tale of Mia Thermopolis, a royally awkward teen who is also a princess of Genovia. Both movies chronicle the journey of Mia handling and figuring out royal life and becoming the very best leader she can be. She’s a powerful female lead and hilarious to watch. It also has many great moments from the iconic response to Mia finding out the truth to Sandra Oh answering the call of the queen to the iconic Paolo makeover scene. I highly recommend revisiting these movies if it’s been a while and refreshing yourself on the majesty and dream-worthy movies that are The Princess Diaries.
Although we’re still a little ways away from diving back into Bridgerton, there are still great shows and films to revisit and watch while you wait for the drama to unfold in the second season. These are just some of my favorite comfort shows and films to watch. Enjoy your binging and don’t forget your popcorn!