Bridgerton

Bridgerton: Jane Austen for the TikTok Generation

^{Review by Jennifer Ariesta}

Regency romance was a term as dated as the dusty novels in the library’s Romance section. That is, before Bridgerton came along. Shonda Rhimes (yes, the lady who created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal) exec-produced the Netflix adaptation of Julia Quinn’s book series and true to form, spiced up the usually demure period piece with modern music, quippy banters and A LOT of sex. The result is a massive hit that puts regency romance back on the cool map, rejuvenates an entire genre and catapults its breakout stars to international stardom.

Bridgerton revolves around the romantic travails of the Bridgerton siblings, a well-respected aristocratic family of the ton (the show’s unique way of calling the English polite society.) The family’s eldest daughter, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) is at the centre of the first season. Entering her debut year in the marriage market, she’s having a hard time attracting suitors due to her restrictive older brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey). This prompts her to then strike up a fake relationship agreement with Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). Simon wants to dismiss the ladies who are after him, while Daphne wants to restore her reputation around the ton. It’s a win-win situation until feelings and misunderstandings get in the way. You can pretty much guess what happens next.

In season 2, it’s Anthony’s turn in the spotlight. Headstrong and pragmatic, Anthony has time only for finding the most perfect bride and none for love. But his plan is upended when he encounters Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Similarly headstrong and pragmatic, Kate’s life mission is to find a suitable husband for her sister Edwina (Charitra Chandran). So, when famous rake Anthony tries to court Edwina, Kate makes his life hell for trying. Doesn’t take a genius to guess who ends up falling in love instead.

Launched in the middle of a worldwide lockdown (Christmas 2020), Bridgerton’s pastel-washed, opulently romantic world was the perfect antidote to the bleakness of the real world. The first season was a comfort show that offered up something people hadn’t seen on that scale ever since 2005’s Pride and Prejudice. It’s also tailor made to appeal to modern taste: the faux dating tropes, classical renditions of Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande’s hits for soundtrack, bare abs (and more) everywhere. Combined with the presence of Lady Whistledown, a sort of Regency-era Deux Moi who’s always spilling the hottest tea in ton, and voilà, you’ve got Jane Austen for the TikTok age! The second season came back even better. It improved upon criticisms directed at the first season, like trading season 1’s sex overload for simmering sexual tension that actually added more oomph to the enemies-to-lovers romance. 

Every season of Bridgerton spotlights a different sibling’s love life, another key uniqueness of the show. Season 3 centres on Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), Eloise Bridgerton’s (Claudia Jessie) timid best friend who’s been secretly unearthing scandals among London’s high society under the pseudonym ‘Lady Whistledown’. In season 2, her longtime crush on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) seemingly ends after she overhears his disparaging remark about her. Penelope and Eloise's friendship also hangs in the balance when the latter discovers her identity as Lady Whistledown.

We now meet a more assured Penelope who’s determined to find a husband at all costs. However, despite her best efforts, she still cannot shake off her social insecurity. A remorseful Colin tries to patch up with Penelope by offering to coach her in the ways of romance. Just as their plan seems to be working, Colin belatedly realizes that he has feelings for Penelope after all.

Penelope’s story has always been the one fans of the books anticipate the most. Unlike other Bridgerton love interests, she’s been there since the beginning, the wallflower BFF of Eloise who’s in love with her brother. This translates well to screen. Coughlan’s portrayal of Penelope has been so lovable and sympathetic. From her insecurity about her body to her Cinderella-esque predicament (sidelined and belittled by her own family), it’s so easy to root for Penelope. Over the course of two seasons, the show has established Penelope and Colin’s (Polin, according to fans) genuine connection and why she’s pining after him. The stage is set for them to finally pay it off.

In a show like Bridgerton, it won’t be a spoiler to tell you that the couple finally get their happy ending. Polin fans would be pleased to see them go from friends to lovers, oh so passionately at that. It’s just that the road to wedding bells seems a bit rough this time around.

The show crams in so many side plots that have little to do with the central romance. Nearly every supporting character has some kind of arc going on that’s frankly not that interesting. The problem is, instead of giving us more of the side characters that audiences do care about, Anthony and Kate for example, the show bafflingly decides we need to see Bridgerton’s matriarch Violet having a love interest, or Will Mondrich – Simon Basset’s boxer friend from season 1 – struggling with inherited fortune. In a 22-episode network series? Sure, this can fly. But not when you have only 8 episodes a season. As a result, Polin do not have nearly as much screen time together. For a show about their burgeoning romance, it feels like they’re just part of an ensemble instead.

As a show geared mainly toward female and history buffs, the fashion also suffers a massive downgrade. Not only is it about craftsmanship or design, but the show seems to go out of the way to be as gaudy and anachronistic as possible. While Penelope gets the glow-up she’s always deserved, the costumes on everyone else look aggressively tacky, for lack of better words. This is true especially for resident mean girl Cressida Cowper, the rest of the Featheringtons (no surprise there), and it pains me to say, Queen Charlotte. This is a controversial opinion, but no amount of mechanical millinery can salvage the over-the-top campiness.

While it is as sumptuously lavish and scandalous as ever, season 3 of Bridgerton is ultimately bogged down by too many stray plots and not enough of the main characters’ romantic journey. Penelope might have survived the marriage market, but this season is, regrettably, a faux pas.

However, with its unique format, every season takes on a different subgenre in romance, giving romance fans every single thing they love. So if that is you: warm up your tea and get ready to waltz into the world of Bridgerton.