Although the novelty of the period drama series Bridgerton may have seemed to wear off, the show’s social impact remains strong. With the surge of support for “Bridgerton the Musical” on TikTok, along with posts, videos, and conversations being flooded with references of the show, there is still so much to discuss on the series, especially given how many people have still missed out on watching it. The Netflix original series features many dramatic, heart tugging moments, along with good humor and strong, well developed characters. While the season’s conclusion felt a bit rushed, it was an overall quite enjoyable watching experience.
To start off, Bridgerton was jam packed with drama and conflict, and each character had a personal battle to address, making every moment feel full of substance. Of the title family, the women’s conflicts were perhaps the most varied and interesting of the whole show. Daphne fought tooth and nail the whole season just to maintain respect, reputation, and honor for her family. Not only did she insist on having full agency of her own life choices, but she did so while defending the classic family lifestyle she so desperately desired, which was often a belittled role by her own sister, Eloise. The second eldest sister of the Bridgerton clan faced many of her own issues, reflective of the period she is forced to endure. With a fervent need for freedom and expression of her talents, Eloise is desperate to escape the domestic life which her family and society encourage. In this way, Eloise is representative of a modern-day feminist, and is depicted even more realistically in her flawed views of other women’s choices. Most notably, in the way many feminist women today fight for choice, but later look down on the choice many women take to pursue a homemaking lifestyle. By facing her own prejudices against Daphne’s ideal life, Eloise is able to grow as a character, and better support the other women in her life.
One of my favorite elements of the show was watching the development of characters like Simon, who had many pitfalls throughout his time on screen, but ultimately grew to be a more loyal and honorable husband to Daphne. His character arc was… unique, to say the least. In all honesty, his lack of candor throughout his and Daphne’s marriage was one of the most frustrating parts of watching the series, and his constant defense of it made me really hate him for a few minutes. Although he did clearly warm up to Daphne and the reality of having a child with her, that is truly one of my biggest complaints regarding the series. That isn’t to say, however, that his sudden change of heart was something I loved either.
The pacing of Season 1 was perfect, right up until the end. Many of the most prevalent conflicts in the show seemed to be revealed or solved in the last episode of the season, which felt rushed and partly unnecessary. Most notably, Simon spent all 8 episodes of this season with a total aversion to marriage and children, and even after Daphne’s attempts to defy him, was completely against the idea of fathering a child. At this point, I was a little confused when the final episode skipped straight to the happy couple delivering their first child. I felt like I missed out on potential growth or development on Simon’s part, aside from just being caught off guard. Even worse than that, was the reveal of Lady Whistledown’s true identity. As the narrator of the show, presenting everything from a seemingly unbiased and fresh perspective, I feel her identity could have remained both a secret and a plot point well into the next season. The narration will no longer have the same effect for the viewer and will no longer leave them wondering and scavenging to uncover her.
Apart from this small complaint, which was really only an issue in the last episode of the season, I did genuinely enjoy watching the show. The drama and occasionally cheesy romance really made it fun, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear when Simon defended their union to the Queen. I would highly recommend indulging in this period drama, but be sure to really take in all the characters and their conflicts (especially Eloise, she’s awesome) and enjoy the wonderfully humorous moments the series has to offer.
The Drama Drive-In 