We all deserved a good end to the year 2020. Looks like Netflix took care of it by providing an interesting romantic drama, ‘Bridgerton’.
The show was released on 25th December 2020 (perfect Christmas gift, too), and on January 4, 2021, just a few days after its debut, it was projected to have been watched by 63 million households worldwide, making it #1 on Netflix! The massive success of the series made ‘Bridgerton’ the fifth most-watched Netflix series launch of all time. The show has also received good ratings from nearly all major critics. But what makes the show exciting? And will there be seasons two of Bridgerton? Read ahead to find out!
Highlights:
- What happened in season one?
- Is ‘Bridgerton’ based on a true story?
- Will there be a season 2?
Is ‘Bridgerton’ based on a true story?
Although the narrative is not entirely adapted from a real-life story, the portrayal of the 19th-century era of the marriage market is accurate. The series is based on Julia Quinn’s novels set in London’s Regency era, but the show is not a history lesson either. ‘Bridgeton’ took a distinct approach to portray London’s high society.
Some characters indeed are real historical figures, such as Queen Charlotte who is believed to be England’s first monarch of mixed race. The production attempts to highlight people of colour and their role in the flourishing but scandal-ridden society of British elites. This depiction is nowhere close to how things were for people of mixed race in England in the said era.
What happened in season 1?
Season 1 aligns very closely with the first book in the series, “The Duke and I“. The book and the series follow the story of the eldest daughter of the ‘Bridgerton’s’, Daphne. Although, it dips into some of the later novels too, to adapt to the OTT screening.
The story revolves around the debut of Daphne Bridgerton in the upper-class rituals of social functions to find the perfect marriage match. Daphene, although belongs to a powerful family, has some trouble attracting suitors. So, she bets that faking courtship with an eligible gentleman would help in attracting suitors. She chooses Simon, the Duke of Hastings.
Simon is a Black man whose family has recently elevated to the peerage, and he has sworn to never have children because he wants his family line to die with him due to the differences with his late father. The fake relationship between the two is beneficial for both as it helps Simon escape the marriage market and allows Daphne to attract relevant suitors. This phoney courtship soon turns into a real romance. In an unlucky turn of events involving love trysts, misunderstandings, etc., the two are tied by an arranged marriage.
The latter part of the series is based on the lie that Simon tells Daphene that he “can’t” have children, as opposed to the reality which is that he “won’t” have children. The story treats the difference between can’t and won’t as a crucial decision, which, when Daphene realises it, fills her with wrath and bitterness.
When Daphene understands this, she becomes a sexual aggressor that horrifies Simon. She explains to Simon that he had lied to her and she was doing the same. Although Simon clarifies that he never meant to betray or lie to her, she continues to accuse him. The hope of getting pregnant convinces her that Simon would be compelled to stay, she also elucidates that his father’s toxicity should not spoil his current happiness. In the end, the duke is happy that she pushed him against his childhood trauma and they continue to deal with Daphene’s family’s escapes from more scandals.
Will there be a Bridgerton season 2?
Season 1 was thrilling, sensual, and had lots of drama with great costumes. This has left fans hopelessly waiting for a second season. As the series is based on the eight-part books of Julia Quinn, fans are hopeful for a second season. Bridgerton season 2 was even scheduled for July 2020 but then COVID-19 happened. The filming is pushed to March 2021, which means season 2 won’t be completed until 2022.
Let us hope the season 2 of Bridgerton is worth the year-long wait! What do you think about season 1? Do you love the series? Comment below to let us know!
