Bridgerton
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Bridgerton, blockbuster Netflix romance drama series (2020– ) created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes’s production company, Shondaland. The show, inspired by the eight-book historical fiction series written by author Julia Quinn, follows each of the eight close-knit Bridgerton siblings in their respective journeys to find a match in high-society London during the Regency era (between 1811 and 1820).
About the series
The television series debuted in 2020 and quickly became popular. The first season is inspired by the first book in the series, The Duke and I (2000), and focuses on the eldest Bridgerton daughter, the kind and demure Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor), and the aloof and commitment-phobic duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). The pair were praised for their romantic chemistry; however, one episode featured a scene that many criticized as nonconsensual sex, a point that was not explored onscreen. Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) is the show’s narrator and, within the series, is the anonymous gossip columnist who reports any and all activity among the featured high-class families, collectively called the “Ton.” The show’s tagline “love never plays by the rules,” first introduced in the second season, remains a prominent theme throughout each season.
As the show progresses, viewers learn Lady Whistledown’s true identity and, with it, the limitations of being a member of high-class society. The second season, based on the second book in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me (2000), was released in 2022. The season features Daphne’s elder brother, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), and his romantic interest, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Season 2 also garnered positive reception. Critics pointed out that though it was not as risqué as the first season, the second season had its own merits, featuring an enemies-to-lovers plotline. The third season, based on the fourth book in the series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton (2002), was released in 2024 and featured the Bridgerton sibling Colin (Luke Newton) opposite Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Many Bridgerton fans were disappointed by the season, which was the first to be released in two parts (spaced apart by a month), criticizing its overuse of subplots and the lack of attention paid to its central romantic pair.
Along with its romantic plotlines, Bridgerton has hooked many devoted fans with its diverse casting. Notably Rhimes’s “color-conscious” casting led to a great deal of media attention, both negative and positive, especially as the original novels’ characters are written to be white. The prequel spin-off, Queen Charlotte (2023), spotlights the oppression faced by Black members of the Ton, especially as Queen Charlotte herself (India Amarteifio; her older counterpart is played by Golda Rosheuvel) is Black and marries King George III (Corey Mylchreest; older counterpart is James Fleet), who is white. Their marriage is scrutinized, especially by George’s mother. In the main Netflix series, however, racial issues are rarely, if ever, mentioned. Some critics have spoken negatively about Rhimes’s race-blind approach, calling Bridgerton’s handling of race “clumsy.” Many have also criticized colorism in the show, observing that lighter-skinned Black actors usually play nobility, while darker-skinned actors occupy minor roles.
Additionally, classical instrumental versions of contemporary pop music are often played during ball scenes. For example, in season one, songs by Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish can be identified during ballroom dancing scenes. In the second season, lead character Kate Sharma’s Indian heritage is addressed with a cover of the classic Bollywood song “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (from the 2001 movie of the same name).
Creation and reception
Although Rhimes was not a romance novel enthusiast, she found herself enthralled with The Duke and I while sick in a hotel room in 2017. After reading the rest of the Bridgerton books, Rhimes set the streaming series in motion. Bridgerton became a global phenomenon after its release and was well received by audiences around the world. Within the first month of its premiere on December 25, 2020, the show hit a streaming record of 82 million households worldwide. Its second season premiere became Netflix’s third most popular English-language TV series in just 17 days.
In 2022 Rhimes and long-time producing partner at Shondaland Betsy Beers co-penned Inside Bridgerton. This behind-the-scenes look at how the series was produced features photographs on set, as well as introductions to the cast and crew who made the show possible. It also includes insight into casting, costuming, set design, and other aspects of production that contributed to the show’s success. Since the popularization of the Netflix series, Quinn has released multiple spin-offs and a book of epilogues with a short story entitled “The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After,” which reveals what happened to characters following their stories. The Netflix spin-off Queen Charlotte (2023) presents the capricious queen’s story and explores her romantic journey with King George III, who suffered from what may have been bipolar disorder. Bridgerton was also adapted into a live traveling experience titled The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience in 2022.