~ Spoiler Alert ~

 

Dearest Readers, 

 

Many gratitudes for reading this week’s edition of TN2. We have received a plethora of requests regarding the biggest show of 2020, Bridgerton. This show offered us an escape from the horrors of covid, politics, and lockdown when we needed it most. What Bridgerton lacks in historical accuracy, it makes up for in spades with drama and intrigue. The world was captivated, with 82 million households streaming the show in its first 28 days online, more than any other Netflix show. It turns out sex sells more than chess, who would have known? 

The first season of Bridgerton, which has graciously been renewed for a second season, follows the eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), through her journey into society and search for a suitable groom to guarantee her family’s station. The challenge is that Daphne is strong willed and wishes to marry for love, as her mother did, a rare privilege amongst the debutante set. We also watch as her sister, brother, and friends promenade with suitors and navigate this world where even the slightest misstep into impropriety can be your downfall. Daphne finds herself in an alliance with the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), a true rake (Regency slang for playboy). The two are aligned as the Duke seeks to remain unwed, using Daphne as a buffer to fend off all the mothers who would have him swiftly wed to their daughters, while Daphne wants to use the appearance of a powerful match to entice other suitors to step up. For a while their ruse works perfectly, but eventually falls apart in dramatic fashion. Now I refuse to spoil the rest, but trust me, it’s worth the watch, just maybe not with the parents (I’m looking at you episode six).

This show is colourful in more ways than one. First, the costume department chose a wide range of colours far outside what anyone would expect to see in Regency Era British fashion. The silhouettes of the gowns and suits are kept consistent with fashions of the time, but their colour palette alludes to a more modern period. This choice stands out because the families are all coordinated, with the Bridgertons wearing calming shades of blues, silvers, and greens, while the Featherington family is dressed in gaudy hues of yellow, red, and pink. These choices reflect the personalities of the families as well. The Bridgertons are known for their class and status, whereas the Featherington colours are meant to draw attention and stress their “new money” status. Colour palette changes were also used to symbolize character development. For example, Daphne trades her traditional blues for purples as she grows close to the Duke, who is known for his bold reds. 

Second, the casting choices of Bridgerton stood out from other period dramas because they favored a more diverse cast, again breaking from historical accuracy. In a refreshing twist, people from minority ethnic backgrounds are ever-present in the show’s society, playing everyone from the Queen to the Duke. Bridgerton showcases people of colour in roles of power, which at first is not directly addressed, leading us to believe this is a world without a racial hierarchy. However, in the fourth episode, viewers are given an explanation from Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), the Duke’s mother figure. She reminds him, “we were two separate societies divided by colour until a king fell in love with one of us. Look at everything it is doing for us, allowing us to become. Love, Your Grace, conquers all.” This reminder is a rare dialogue on race, of which the show offers very few. It seems the show favors escapism over activism when it comes to racial tensions. While some may wish for more obvious discussions, it is also refreshing to see people of colour given opportunities for roles that few other shows would cast them in. 

But despite the historical inaccuracies, Bridgerton caught the attention of my whole household, regardless of gender. Even the boys were excited to sit and escape the reality of lockdown for a few brief hours. However, I do wonder whether or not this show would have enjoyed it’s unparalleled success during normal circumstances. It has all the makings of classic girly drama, reminiscent of the CW’s Reign, with stunning costumes, handsome men, and plenty of sexual tension. With real life being so dull these days, Bridgerton is an instant crowd pleaser.