Bridgerton second season breaks season one’s streaming record

Season 1 of Bridgerton was, to borrow Lady Whistledown’s Regency parlance, Netflix’s ‘Incomparable’. Its record 625.49 million hours viewed over its first four weeks of availability on the streaming platform set the bar, and a record, for English language series. However, it has now been bested by its second season. Bridgerton’s second season has achieved 627.11 million views in its first four weeks. That 28-day benchmark is how Netflix gauges a show’s success or failure-much like Queen Charlotte choosing her ‘Diamond of the first water out of the Ton’s bevy of debutantes.

This triumph for Bridgerton season 2 comes fast on the heels of another accomplishment for the series. In its first week, the second season of the Shondaland drama was 251.7 million hours viewed, breaking the viewership record previously held by the series Inventing Anna. As of April 19, Yahoo reports that Season 2 reached 66.61 million views. It also appeared in the Top 10 list of 88 countries.

The smashing success of the second season could be attributed to its more family-friendly tone than the previous installment.  Season 1 blithely explored the ballrooms and bedrooms of Regency London as eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne was wooed by rakish duke Simon. Season 2 has focused on the oldest brother and erstwhile family patriarch Anthony’s quest to woo one Sharma sister, Edwina while falling in love with the other, Kate. The result is, as per Indie Wire, “…a more chaste series that almost everyone can watch together.” While Anthony and Kate’s love story is center stage, many subplots weave through the second season, widening the canvas and exploring the lives of fan favorites like rebellious younger Bridgerton sister Eloise and family friend Penelope Featherington.

Bridgerton, like the belles of the aristocratic balls it depicts, can consider this a successful season.