Bridgerton is a sexy period drama with intriguing relationships and gorgeous visuals

Netflix’s new television show Bridgerton is visually delightful and narratively addicting, with characters that are easy to fall in love with, splendid performances, and a bright colorful aesthetic.

If you’ve been on the Internet in the past few days since Bridgerton released on Netflix, then you’ve probably heard about its steamy scenes and fake-dating-but-in-the-Regency-era plotline. But what sets this show above other sexy period dramas of its kind is its emphasis on the relationships between its characters, from friendships and romantic entanglements to familial bonds.

Produced by Shonda Rhimes and created by Chris Van Dusen, the show is an adaptation of the first of Julia Quinn’s bestselling book series of the same name. It follows a high society family of the London ton in the early 1800s, a setting those who love Jane Austen’s work will be familiar with.

The wealthy Bridgerton family is composed of eight “perfectly handsome sons and perfectly beautiful daughters,” who are named in alphabetical order. The show opens with the eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dveynor) being presented to the queen as a debutante.

Daphne wants to find a love like her parents shared and it’s easy to see why she’s called the season’s “Incomparable.” She is beautiful, kind, witty, and personable and one thing that makes the show stand out is that it doesn’t shame her for wanting to take the traditional path of being a wife and mother.

But her suitors soon dwindle thanks to her protective older brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), who takes his responsibilities as head of the household after his father’s death perhaps a bit too seriously. (Never mind the fact that he is carrying on a secret affair of his own.)

Daphne hatches a plot with Simon (Regé-Jean Page), the new Duke of Hastings, to fool the ton into thinking she has found her match, saving him from scheming mothers and her from falling out of the public eye. Despite Simon’s complicated past, the pair’s chemistry makes it clear that a platonic relationship is not in the cards for them.

While Anthony and Daphne are most often at the heart of the plot, they’re not the only Bridgertons to love. Benedict (Luke Thompson) is one of the best characters, with his fondness for his siblings and his love of art.

Younger sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is certain to be a fan-favorite with her determination to do more in life than be a debutante and her dedication to her best friend, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). She provides a great foil to Daphne without either one ever being diminished.

Meanwhile, the Featherington family has plenty of issues of their own, both financial and social. While Penelope is the most engaging of the sisters, their cousin Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) also adds a new perspective on the Ton as an outsider coming into it.

There are many other lovable characters from the artist Sir Granville (Julian Ovenden), who leads a rather bohemian lifestyle, to sweet Prince Frederick (Freddie Stroma). Adjoa Andoh shines as Lady Danbury, one of the leading ladies of society and a mother figure to Simon.

But this society is truly ruled by two women: Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews). While Charlotte might be the actual monarch, trying to amuse herself while also dealing with her husband’s deteriorating health, it’s Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheets that seem to have the most influence.

While Lady Whistledown’s newsletters will likely remind modern viewers of Gossip Girl, the Regency era truly did have plenty of gossip columns and scandal sheets in their newspapers. Part of the fun of the series is trying to guess Lady Whistledown’s true identity. (I was wrong; my mother was right.) There’s also something to be said for the juxtaposition of Julie Andrews’s soothing voice with the cutting gossip she delivers.

What sets the show apart from many others of its kind is the genuinely great acting on display from the entire cast. Both Bailey and Pveynor have standout moments, while Page has proven himself to be a perfect leading man.

Like any good Regency era period drama, Bridgerton knows the power of a lingering touch between gloved hands, but it also is generous in providing viewers with plenty of steamy scenes. There is one moment of arguably dubious consent in the series, but it otherwise is better than many shows of its type.

It seems to take pains to ensure that the scenes are balanced in the male and female gaze, with as much (or more) male nudity as there is female nudity. The show also boasts multiple shirtless boxing scenes with Page and other malecharacters, just in case it wasn’t already swoon-worthy enough.

One slightly confusing thing about the show is how it deals with race. The show has a very diverse cast and at first, I had assumed it was a blind cast in regards to race like The Personal History of David Copperfield or Mary Queen of Scots.

However, Lady Danbury at one point tells Simon, “We were two separate societies, divided by color until a King fell in love with one of us.” If Bridgerton really is trying to present an alternate history in which high society was integrated in the Regency era, they don’t do a great job at actually reckoning with race and prejudice.

The design of the show isn’t perfectly historically accurate (the stays worn in the Regency era wouldn’t have been tight-laced like later corsets), but it does an admirable job of replicating the period’s silhouettes. Plus, the bright colors and sumptuous fabrics make for a great visual experience. The production design is also fantastic, with numerous beautiful houses and gardens.

One highlight of the show is its use of instrumentals of pop songs, by the Vitamin String Quartet. From Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” playing at a ball to that montage to Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams,” it’s a great way to blend the modern viewer and the period setting.

Comparisons will be drawn to Downton Abbey and to Gossip Girl, but Bridgerton is something clearly unique. It’s a period drama series that stays fairly light and surface-level but also does have something to impart to modern viewers about the importance of finding your own path and the value of communication in a relationship.

With just eight episodes, it’s easy to breeze through the entire show even if you’re not someone normally prone to binge-watching. The finale provides a satisfying ending but also leaves much to be explored in a second season. Watching Bridgerton is the perfect way to finish out 2020 and escape to a world of non-political scandal-mongering and garden parties.

Did you love Bridgerton? Which character was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter.