The Intricate World Of Bridgerton

If you haven’t been living under a rock, chances are you’ve heard of the original hit show Bridgerton on Netflix! Originally debuting in December 2020, Bridgerton follows the elite Bridgerton family (consisting of 8 children) through their drama and cunning antics in 1813 London. The second season of the show just came out on March 25, 2022, but for those of you who haven’t watched the show yet, don’t worry – this article contains minimal to no spoilers about both seasons !! 

The show introduces us to the Bridgerton family – one character is Daphne Bridgerton, one of the two main love interests in season one. Daphne bumps (literally!) into Simon, a Duke who becomes her future love interest. Throughout the entirety of season one, we watch a gossip writer, Lady Whistledown, reveal everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets (including the Duke and Daphne’s) – now whether or not the characters want these secrets revealed to the town is another story. Lady Whistledown is the source of great tension throughout the majority of the plot as she shares the gossip everyone wants to hear but are afraid to share. Lady Whistledown is an alias, so naturally everyone is trying to figure out the true identity of this brave writer (remember that in the 1800s, secrets don’t last for long). At the end of season one, we discover who this mysterious writer is. We watch the plot of this show develop with intrigue and passion throughout both seasons as the characters gain and lose wealth, prosper, and journey through life in the early 1800s, all the while trying to figure out where they fit in society.

Sometimes when a show has a massive cast in its midst, the plot of a show can become cluttered or hard to follow and understand … this is definitely not the case with Bridgerton. If anything, the show was made even more exciting because of its cast with a variety of different personalities, interests, and formalities. Lords, Ladies, Dukes, Duchesses, and other formal titles are constantly used throughout the show, adding to the ingenuity of the show.

The costumes also need mentioning because they truly encompass what was worn by men and women in London in the 1800s.  The gowns, ascots, vest, and blazers on display have the most intricate details that fit right into the authenticity of this time period. From the note cards and invitations to the debutante dances, to the candlelit rooms and the pianoforte the young women play, it is evident that this show stays authentic to its era. Women appear to know their place in society – that is, they are raised to be debuted and married, then to have children and be heirs to fortunes, but in this writer’s mind, this plays right into women trying to stand up for themselves, especially with Lady Whistledown’s voiceover, narrating much of the story.

One might argue that Bridgerton features the first women in the 1800s who tried standing up for themselves in a male-dominated society. Although Daphne Bridgerton is constantly nagged about getting married to someone who has a title and wealth, Daphne sticks to her core beliefs of wanting to find love rather than simply being pushed off to spend the rest of her life with someone she barely knows and/or gets along with. The same occurs with Kathani (Kate) Sharma, another character introduced in season two as viewers watch her stick to her beliefs about not wanting to marry and only wanting to help her sister. As season two unfolds, we see Kate’s unrelenting stubbornness and craftiness start to crumble and shift as she leans toward her emotional side of yearning for love instead of her logical one.

One can only wonder what will happen next in the world of debutantes as seasons three and four of Bridgerton have been confirmed but have yet to commence filming!

Until next time,

Lady Whistledown

(For those of you who know the show, I imagine you will be laughing right about now!)