“I can imagine no greater bliss than to lie about, reading novels all day.”
-Julia Quinn
If you are a sucker for period drama, like the person writing this review, Bridgerton is the perfect weekend binge for you. It has romance and drama and is filled with juicy bits of gossip, as one expects from a period drama.
If this isn’t enough, the soundtrack is a musical treat. All your contemporary favorites are revamped into beautiful piano pieces to have ballroom dances on. The cast is amazing and the story, well I’ll leave for you to decide.
Introduction
Name of the Show - Bridgerton
Name of the Creator - Chris Van Dusen based on the book by Julia Quinn
Genre - Period Drama
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler Alert!
The Bridgertons are preparing to introduce their eldest daughter Daphne to the society and hopefully acquire a suitable match for her to get married. While Daphne looks for a husband among countless suitors, the other siblings look for their own passions.
The town is introduced to a newsletter called Lady Whistledown who seems to know everything about everyone and Daphne’s younger sister Eloise tries to uncover the identity of this secret reporter.
Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton wants Daphne to marry Nigel Berbrooke, a well to do suitor but Daphne has some other plans.
About the Writer
Picture Credit- Domain
Julie Pottingter. Better known by her pen name Julai Quinn is an American Romance novelist, whose romance novels have been translated into twenty- nine languages. She has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list nine-ten times.
Surprisingly, Julia was a science student and began writing light-hearted Regency novels in order to escape the monotony of college life. It worked out great for her as her books have now been adapted by none other than Shonda Rhimes to be made into the Bridgerton series on Netflix.
About the Show
The show is an eight episode series that begins with Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynevor preparing for her debutante ball. As was common in the Regency era , a group of eligible young women of high society were introduced in the social groups in order for them to find a suitable husband.
Daphne goes to the ball along with her siblings and dowager mother and instantly becomes the center of everyone’s attention when she is chosen the “diamond” of the season. Daphne meets Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings and a close friend of her eldest brother Anthony.
Suitors come calling on the Bridgertons’ door and this makes their neighbors the Featheringtons supremely jealous. The Featheringtons have been visited by a Miss Thompson who is supposed to be this exotic beauty, only she has a secret.
Anthony persuades Daphne to marry Nigel Berbrooke but Daphne does not like him. To save each other from the constant banterings of their respective families, Simon and Daphne enter into a pact wherein they will pretend to be courting each other.
While all of this is going on a newsletter called Lady Whistledown comes into town. Although anonymous, this Lady Whistledown seems to know everything about everyone. Daphne is courted by the Prince which makes everyone jealous and Simon and Daphne grow closer.
Anthony is against this relationship because he knows his friend has the reputation of being a Casanova and also has sworn never to marry. Time passes and the two fall in love but Simon refuses to marry Daphne because of an oath he had taken at the deathbed of his father to never father an heir.
There are arguments and fights and also a duel, at the end of which Simon marries Daphne. They both move to Hastings and enjoy what seemed like a pretty good life, only Daphne doesn’t know about Simon’s oath to never have children. The matter soon comes to light and they have many arguments about it.
Simultaneously, the Queen makes Eloise in-charge of finding out the identity of Lady Whistledown, Colin is deceived into almost marrying Miss Thompson, who is pregnant and Benedict Bridgerton begins a relationship with the town seamstress.
The first season ends with Daphne and Simon having a son, Eloise realizing it was her best friend who was Lady Whistledown, Benedict deciding that he wants to be an artist and Anthony coming to the conclusion that he needs to marry and take on more responsibility.
The first season is only the adaptation of the book called ‘The Duke and I’ and focuses mainly on Daphne and Simon. The next few seasons will showcase all the Bridgertons by turn.
Themes Involved
The major themes of the show are of course the Regency period and the shallowness of the upper middle class society. One thing that is noticeable is how the cast is of mixed race and not all white, which is a great accomplishment for the creators of the show.
The discrepancy among opportunities available for men and women was also a highlight of the show. While Benedict was free to choose and do whatever his heart desired, Eloise’s fate reduced her to only being married no matter what great dreams and aspirations, she must have had.
The ignorance of Daphne about what happens on the wedding night is also something that has been highlighted in the show. Daphne admonishes her mother for marrying her off without giving her any information on the married life.
Famous Quotes
“The brighter a Lady shines, the faster she may burn.”
“You have no idea what it is to be a woman. What it might be like to have one’s entire life reduced to a single moment.”
“Having a nice face and pleasant hair is not an accomplishment. Do you know what is an accomplishment? Attending University! If I were a man, I could do that, you know.”
“If you desire the sun and the moon, all you have to do is go shoot at the sky. Some of us cannot.
The Bottom Line
Bridgerton is a must watch for all the period drama lovers and not just them, everybody. You will enjoy the show thoroughly, the beautiful cast, the views and also the progressive viewpoints that the creators have tried and successfully presented about what all was wrong during the time.
My ratings for the show - 4 on 5
Written By - Sakshi Singh
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