From classy and poised to sensual and sexy, Bridgerton has it all
Bridgerton will make you fall in love with the 1800s. Released on Dec. 25, 2020 on Netflix, the show made waves with its debut, becoming an inspiration to fashion enthusiasts and period drama lovers alike. The show is somehow raunchy but also tasteful, with the beauty of the Regency era to tie it all together. It is based on the series of Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn. While the premise of the series follows the Bridgerton family, it more importantly revolves around a young woman, Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her path to marriage. Daphne makes it her personal mission to marry for love, unlike many of her peers. Upon this search, she meets Simon (Regé-Jean Page) the Duke of Hastings. It’s safe to say that the ending of Bridgerton gives the viewers hopes for a season two, since in it Daphne gives birth to Simon’s child.
This series made me thirsty for more shows set during this era. Though the series focuses on Daphne Bridgerton and her road to marriage, there are many more storylines that make up the show, as it also follows Daphne’s brothers, the Featherington’s household, the Queen — and of course, the mystery involving Lady Whistledown. It has interesting characters, plenty of sultry scenes, and an appropriate amount of comedic relief. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be the characters or be friends with them. Each character has such a big personality; it was refreshing to watch. It was like an 1800s rendition of Gossip Girl, from the secrets all the way to a mysterious gossiper revealing the truths of everyone in town. Although there was a pretty equal ratio of female to male cast, I felt like the women were, in a sense, running the show. The storyline for the females was so much stronger than the males, which gives a wonderfully unique feel to a TV show, considering most of the time, TV shows and movies focus more on the male characters. Of course, there are more female-focused shows and movies being released in this day and age, but it’s nice to have the nuances of a female-driven series.
Bridgerton may have found its tremendous popularity due to its cottagecore-esque, tea-party aesthetics and fairy forest vibes. All of these aesthetics are associated with things like reading books in a field of grass and flowers, long flowy dresses, hand-written letters, and soft colours such as sage green or dusty rose. We also can’t forget about the fashion; after the boom of Bridgerton, the spike in corset searches and purchases was astronomical. I guess you could say that viewers wanted to live out their own ethereal lifestyle after watching the show — just be sure to include a handsome suitor too if you choose to do so.
