Bridgerton: Walked So "Gossip Girl" Could Run

If you've heard of Netflix, chances are you've heard of Bridgerton. The period piece, based on Julia Quinn's bestselling book series, focuses on the Bridgerton siblings as they navigate romance, drama, and self-discovery in Regency era England (1811-1820). Each season so far has highlighted a different member of the eponymous family and has a familiar romance trope that's explored (I say "familiar" for anyone who's on bookstagram or booktok).

Season 1: The introductory season centers on Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her unexpected romance with Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page). They agree to a mutually beneficial fake relationship and, as they spend time together, ultimately fall in love. After having watched more recent seasons, the chemistry between these leads felt lackluster in comparison. The ending seemed a bit rushed to me, where all major obstacles were conveniently solved in the last 5 minutes of the season.

Season 2: This season focuses on Daphne's older brother Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his enemies-to-lovers romance with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). The plot is further complicated by Anthony's engagement to Kate's younger sister, Edwina. I actually enjoyed this season more than the first because the chemistry between the leads was incredible. The amazing performances made watching the show so satisfying and everything unfolded pretty seamlessly.

Season 3: This most recent season centers on Anthony's younger brother Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and the evolving relationship with his childhood friend Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). I felt that the romance was more downplayed between the leads this season, rather focusing on themes of self-discovery. Because of that, I had recurring thoughts that the ending was rushed. There were significant plot problems that I felt, again, were fixed too quickly.

I'm a sucker for period piece romances, so overall I really like Bridgerton. Netflix has been doing a surprisingly good job of committing to the source material while making great adjustments for a modern audience, like diversifying the cast. There's great worldbuilding, amazing costume design, and entertaining plotlines. I'm definitely excited for the future and who season 4 is going to focus on.