History Series / Bridgerton

*** Eloise frequently appears in blueish green, as she's more on edge of the family and doesn't fit into her role as well.

** This eventually happens to Anthony and Siena. In the beginning, Siena is shocked when Anthony suddenly declares a break-up with her after he promised to always protect her. In the end, as Anthony believes he could finally be together with Siena in public, she unexpectedly dumped him for another man.

* JokeAndReceive: When Eloise (a rebellious young lady uncomfortable with being out in society) is presented to the queen, she makes an unpolished comment about preferring emeralds to diamonds[[note]]the Queen had been expected to declare the season's diamond/Incomparable at said ball[[/note]]. After an uncomfortable {{beat}}, the Queen is delighted by her comment, impressed by how Eloise "knew" her favorite necklace was an emerald one. Eloise is horrified at how she's just failed upwards.

* ShirtlessScene: In season 1, Simon and his friend, Will, in the boxing scenes and Anthony when fooling around with his mistress, Siena, are all shirtless.

* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: In the season 2 premiere, Anthony has a montage of awkward dates with debutantes.

* WorthyOpponent: Queen Charlotte thinks that Lady Whistledown is this to her, as shown in the season 2 premiere. She respects someone that has the balls to seemingly disrespect royalty, and commits to finding her identity. [[spoiler:She might be put out if she learns that Penelope Featherington, a romantic teenager, is writing the papers, to get some money on the side ''and'' show off her writing talent]].

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: With both Daphne and Kate.
** The Daphne Bridgerton of the books is described as an unconventional beauty, while here Phoebe Dynevor plays her as the ideal Regency belle -- a "diamond of the first water" -- and she is treated as such by everyone around her.
** Similarly, the Kate Sheffield of the books is not supposed to be especially beautiful to anyone but Anthony, with Edwina being the more clear and traditional beauty of the family. The show raises Kate Sharma's age from 21 to 26 -- making her an OldMaid by Regency standards and thus an unlikely candidate for marriage -- rather than make any attempt to pretend that her actress, Simone Ashley, is anything less than stunningly beautiful.

* NoWomansLand: It's Regency England, after all. Queen Charlotte is the only female figure with enough power and authority to do what she wants.

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: [[spoiler: Anthony and Kate could've had at least been more on friendly terms had they just opened up to each other earlier; explaining the reason why he refuses to marry for love and why she keeps preventing him from courting and marrying her younger sister, Edwina. And Anthony and Edwina's wedding won't happen had Kate talked to Edwina explicitly about Anthony's refusal to marry for love. Even if Edwina still refuses to believe or comply, at least Kate has tried to warn her]].

** It also comes with Anthony and Siena. In the beginning, Siena is shocked when Anthony suddenly declares a break-up with her after he promised to always protect her. In the end, as Anthony believes he could finally be together with Siena in public, she unexpectedly dumped him for another man.

** It also comes with Anthony and Siena. In the beginning, Siena is shocked when Anthony suddenly declares a break-up with her after he promised to always protect her. In the end, when Anthony believes he could finally be together in public, Siena unexpectedly dumped him for another man.

** Anthony in season 1 spent a few episodes chasing off most of the eligible suitors with the wealth, status and etiquette to match Daphne's features out of a sense of being a KnightTemplarBigBrother. Season 2 has Anthony realizing what it feels like from the other side, that Kate outright forbids him from courting her sister because she wants to ensure that Edwina is married to a man she loves, not a man that sees her as a business investment. Colin and Benedict spend a ''lot'' of time mocking Anthony for it while they fence to let off steam, while Violet smirks behind her eldest son's back.

** On the first season, Anthony, the eldest son of a reputable high society family, is in a relationship with Siena, a working-class opera singer. It's especially painful on her part because it means they can never be seen together in public. [[spoiler: Eventually, Siena gets fed up with being treated like a dirty secret, thus she tells Anthony to move on]]. On the second season, Anthony meets and falls in love with Kate, who is later revealed to be [[spoiler:''not'' [[BlueBlood a noble born]]. However, she is proven to be [[BirdsOfAFeather a perfect match]] for him in every ways that matters, thus he is adamant to marry her]].

** In season 2 episode 5, when Kate confronts Anthony about their [[AlmostKiss almost-kiss]] incident (but interrupted by Daphne) in the Aubrey Hall in episode 4, he coldly denies it. Later, when trying to outshine Thomas Dorset (in courting Kate) out of jealousy by helping her getting out of the boat and lingers his hand on hers, she suddenly snatches her hand away. Caught off-guard, he trips over Newton the corgi and plunges into the lake alongside with Dorset, [[HilarityEnsues watched by the promenaders nearby]]. In episode 7, when he recalls her about their first kiss in the church, Kate retaliates him by coldly denying it either, much to his dismay.

* FloralThemeNaming: Daphne and Hyacinth Bridgerton.

* InconvenientAttraction: Neither [[spoiler:Anthony or Kate]] are pleased upon realized to share a mutual attraction, since [[spoiler:Anthony insistently attempts to court and marry Kate's sister, Edwina, as he is dead-set against marrying for love[[note]]due to being traumatized by how his father's sudden tragic death affected his mother so badly[[/note]]]]. [[spoiler:While Kate's reason is because she initially disliked Anthony[[note]]for his refusal to marry for love[[/note]] and she herself never dreams to get married]]. They spend most of the season trying their best to deny or fight their feelings before eventually end up [[TheyDo married]].

** In season 2, Anthony went through a lot in his youth: watched his father died tragically right before his very own eyes, was promoted to a parental role and thrust into the position of viscount when only 18/19 with no time or space to grieve, nearly had to choose between his mother and baby sister's lives, all while taking on the baggage of his mother's human though no less upsetting reaction to loss. And to rub salt into his wound, his longtime mistress, Siena, unexpectedly dumped him for another man ''just'' as he was ready to go public with her. Thus, he let his fear[[note]]of love[[/note]] got the best of him. [[spoiler:When he finally overcame his longtime fear by giving in to his love for Kate, his deepest wish finally comes true: marrying the woman he genuinely loves with his family's blessings]]. The same goes with Kate; spent her youth sacrificing her own desires by willingly took over her late father's position in order to make her family happy (especially Edwina) and to earn a place in her stepmother's family[[note]]her noble maternal step-grandparents never acknowledge her as their granddaughter[[/note]], to the point of spending all her life believing she's unworthy of love. Thankfully, she finally earns happiness [[spoiler:when Anthony admits to genuinely loving her and asks her to marry him]].

** In season 2, Anthony went through a lot in his youth: watched his father died tragically right before his very own eyes, was promoted to a parental role and thrust into the position of viscount when only 18/19 with no time or space to grieve, nearly had to choose between his mother and baby sister's lives, all while taking on the baggage of his mother's human though no less upsetting reaction to loss. And to rub salt into his wound, his long-time mistress, Siena, unexpectedly dumped him for another man ''just'' as he was ready to go public with her. Thus, he let his fear[[note]]of love[[/note]] got the best of him. [[spoiler:When he finally overcame his longtime fear by giving in to his love for Kate, his deepest wish finally comes true: marrying the woman he genuinely loves with his family's blessings]]. The same goes with Kate; spent her youth sacrificing her own desires by willingly took over her late father's position in order to make her family happy (especially Edwina) and to earn a place in her stepmother's family[[note]]her noble maternal step-grandparents never acknowledge her as their granddaughter[[/note]], to the point of spending all her life believing she's unworthy of love. Thankfully, she finally earns happiness [[spoiler:when Anthony admits to genuinely loving her and asks her to marry him]].

* BlendedFamilyDrama: The Sharmas are a blended family in this adaptation: Mr. Sharma already had Kate when he married Mary, and Edwina is Kate's half-sister from that marriage. By all accounts the blended family was very happy and Kate treats Edwina like a full sister, Mary like her mother and vice versa. However when they come to London their differences in social class are very apparent: since Mary is an Earl's daughter, Edwina has privilege, whereas Kate (a commoner) does not. It becomes even more dramatic when [[SiblingTriangle the sisters fall for the same man]]. It is also revealed Kate [[PromotedToParent took on the family's responsibilities at a young age]] to an unfair degree, which she admits was due to feeling like she owed Mary for taking her in and had to work to earn her place. Mary reassures Kate that she never owed her anything, and that love is unconditional, not transactional.

** In season 2, Anthony went through a lot in his youth: watched his father died tragically right before his very own eyes, was promoted to a parental role and thrust into the position of viscount when only 18/19 with no time or space to grieve, nearly had to choose between his mother and baby sister's lives, all while taking on the baggage of his mother's human though no less upsetting reaction to loss. And to rub salt into his wound, his mistress, Siena, dumped him ''just'' as he was ready to go public with her. Thus, he let his fear[[note]]of love[[/note]] got the best of him. [[spoiler:When he finally overcame his longtime fear by giving in to his love for Kate, his deepest wish finally comes true: marrying the woman he genuinely loves with his family's blessings]]. The same goes with Kate; spent her youth sacrificing her own desires by willingly took over her late father's position in order to make her family happy (especially Edwina) and to earn a place in her stepmother's family[[note]]her noble maternal step-grandparents never acknowledge her as their granddaughter[[/note]], to the point of spending all her life believing she's unworthy of love. Thankfully, she finally earns happiness [[spoiler:when Anthony admits to genuinely loving her and asks her to marry him]].

** On the first season, Anthony (the eldest son of a reputable high society family) is in a relationship with Siena (a working-class opera singer). It's especially painful on her part because it means they can never be seen together in public. [[spoiler: Eventually, Siena gets fed up with being treated like a dirty secret, thus she tells Anthony to move on]]. On the second season, Anthony meets and falls in love with Kate, who is later revealed to be [[spoiler:not [[BlueBlood a noble born]]. However, she is proven to be [[BirdsOfAFeather a perfect match]] for him in every ways that matters, thus he is adamant to marry her]].
** Benedict enters into a casual relationship with dressmaker Genevieve Delacroix.

** In season 2 episode 5, when Kate confronts Anthony about their [[AlmostKiss almost-kiss]] incident (but interrupted by Daphne) in the Aubrey Hall in episode 4, he coldly denies it. Later, when trying to outmaneuver Thomas Dorset (in courting Kate) out of jealousy by helping her getting out of the boat and lingers his hand on hers, she suddenly snatches her hand away. Caught off-guard, he trips over Newton the corgi and plunges into the lake alongside with Dorset, [[HilarityEnsues watched by the promenaders nearby]]. In episode 7, when he recalls her about their first kiss in the church, Kate retaliates him by coldly denying it either, much to his dismay.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Daphne and Simon won't fight and remain hostile for over the course of 2 episodes if only Simon were ''honest'' to Daphne from the beginning about [[spoiler:his wish to never have children and the reason behind it]] and Lady Bridgerton gave enough informations about how the children are conceived.

** Siena's confrontation with Anthony is also quite heavy on this; he's a nobleman who got tired of his mistress and threw her out on the street, but he ''also'' seemingly expected her to mope around and wait for him to take her back, instead of just finding a new rich man to provide for her.

* UnresolvedSexualTension: The main focus of season 2. Anthony tries his best repressing his feelings for Kate due to not only his vows of not to [[MarryForLove marry for love]] after [[spoiler: he just broke up with his mistress, Siena, in season 1]], but also because he has been carrying an emotional wound of a traumatic past[[note]]he watched his mother became terminally depressed following his father's sudden tragic death due to a bee sting[[/note]], while Kate represses her eventual feelings for Anthony because she (initially) disliked him[[note]]she overheard about his wish to not marry for love and his impossibly high standard wishes for a wife[[/note]] and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy wants to make her younger sister, Edwina, happy]]. [[spoiler:They eventually can't fight their true feelings for each other, thus they end up married.]]

* UndisclosedFunds: No exact figures are ever cited, but the Bridgerton fortune is ''large''. Anthony easily pays for the living expenses of his seven siblings and mother, his four sisters' dowries, and multiple family properties and bachelor pads. Benedict and Colin don't have to work to support themselves (which was common for second sons of the gentry at the time), while a dowry isn't even on the list of factors Anthony considers on the wife hunt.

** Giving someone TheReasonYouSuckSpeech doesn't always help, and can in fact make things worse. Violet calling out Anthony actually leads to bigger problems for Daphne, not to mention makes things worse for him and Siena.
** In season 2, [[spoiler: Queen Charlotte confronts Eloise about being Lady Whistledown. Eloise denies it, but the viewers - and the rather sheltered Eloise - are reminded that Queen Charlotte is still the ''Queen,'' and willing to use the power and resources of the state to ruin Eloise and the Bridgertons over a ''gosspic column'' Queen Charlotte doesn't like, with an ImpliedDeathThreat thrown in for good measure. Eloise is naturally terrified, with the show even playing a faint PsychoStrings through the scene.]]
** How the Lady Whistledown arc ends in season two. Eloise expresses admiration for the woman, wishing to know her real identity. [[spoiler:Penelope was talking up Lady Whistledown in Eloise's presence repeatedly, because Eloise questions if Lady Whistledown is actually making change or enabling a broken system. Her ButHeSoundsHandsome BadBadActing plus posting a scandal about Eloise, something only the two of them knew about, leads to the latter figuring out the mystery on a hunch. How does Eloise respond when she realizes that her best friend is the most infamous gossip in town? Not with admiration, but with ''rage''. She asks WasItAllALie because Penelope didn't just hurt her but also her older brothers and sister with her writing and didn't think about the consequences of her actions. Was her family just gossip fodder to earn some spending money? Penelope tries to explain herself, but Eloise can't forget how much Daphne and Colin have suffered, let alone herself, and ends their friendship]].

** The Bridgertons wear - and decorate their house in - shades of [[{{BlueIsHeroic}} pale blue]], reflecting their generally well-bred and good-natured reputation:

*** Daphne wears [[{{TrueBlueFemininity}} blue pastels]] evolving to [[spoiler: pastel purple following her [[{{GracefulLadiesLikePurple}} ascension to married Duchess.]]]]
*** Eloise frequently appears in mint green, as she's more on edge of the family and doesn't fit into her role as well.

** In season 2, Anthony went through a lot in his youth: watched his father died tragically right before his very own eyes, was promoted to a parental role and thrust into the position of viscount when only 18/19 with no time or space to grieve, nearly had to choose between his mother and baby sister's lives, all while taking on the baggage of his mother's human though no less upsetting reaction to loss. And to rub salt into his wound, his mistress, Siena, dumped him ''just'' as he was ready to go public with her. Thus, he let his fear[[note]]of love[[/note]] got the best of him. [[spoiler:When he finally overcame his longtime fear by giving in to his love for Kate, his deepest wish finally comes true: marrying the woman he genuinely loves with his family's blessings]]. The same goes with Kate; spent her youth sacrificing her own desires by willingly took over her late father's position in order to make her family happy (especially Edwina) and to earn a place in her stepmother's family[[note]]her noble maternal step-grandparents never acknowledge her as their granddaughter[[/note]], to the point of spending all her life believing that she doesn't deserve love. Thankfully, she finally earns happiness [[spoiler:when Anthony admits to genuinely loving her and asks her to marry him]].

** Among the Sharmas, Kate often wears teal and/or purple, reflecting her assertive and bold traits, while Edwina prefers pink or peach, signifying her sweet and ladylike nature. [[spoiler: This also foreshadows that it is Kate not Edwina, who is a match for Anthony, as teal and purple fit much better with the Bridgteron blue colour scheme than pink and peach.]]

* AluminiumChristmasTrees: While Queen Charlotte and her ladies-in-waiting shunning contemporary fashions, by wearing styles up to ''forty years'' out of date, is exaggerated, in real life Charlotte didn't like the French fashions that had come to dominate England in the 1800s. Instead, she insisted on court gowns still retaining panniers.

** By the end of season 1, Daphne and Simon appear to have worked through their issues and settled into a happy and loving marriage. They still are in season 2, though Simon remains off-screen (he's mentioned to be home at Clyvedon taking care of the estate and their son).

** The only thing that can drag the now-blissfully-happily-married Kate and Anthony out of bed is the prospect of a game of pall-mall. Even once they get outside, they seem more interested in snogging each other than playing (which, given that pall-mall is SeriousBusiness in the Bridgerton household, says quite a lot).

* AlternateHistory: The series itself takes place in an alternate and fictional timeline of the Regency time period. In the real-life historical setting of 1813, racism and slavery were still active. However, in this fictional setting, people of all colors are seen as equals. This is due to the King falling in love with a black woman, Queen Charlotte, and making her his wife. Thus, people of all color were allowed to enter aristocratic society, achieve high rankings, and become equals. In fact, racism doesn't even appear to exist in the show's setting; with the only mention of it being by Lady Danbury. She recalls how society was once "divided by color" before the king and queen's marriage ended such thinking and changed history. Queen Charlotte, who in real life was incorrectly speculated to have African ancestry[[note]]the ancestor cited to "prove" this, Madragana, was a) almost certainly Iberian Christian and probably had no African ancestry at all, b) some ''fifteen'' generations removed from Charlotte, and c) also an ancestor to most -- if not all -- German nobility of the time[[/note]], is portrayed by a black actress, which allowed more of Britain's black population to rise in high society like she has.

** The {{Race Lift}}s of about half the cast, including Queen Charlotte, was inspired by a fringe hypothesis that Queen Charlotte may have been part-black. This has no basis whatsoever in reality: while Charlotte did have some ancestry of ''North'' African nobility[[note]]i.e. more likely Maghrebi Arabic than black African[[/note]] several centuries back, she was an ethnic German from Mecklenburg and is depicted as a redheaded Caucasian in all historical portraiture.

* RaceLift: The original novels are set amongst the more historically realistic all-white Regency aristocracy, whereas here the setting takes place in a fictional or alternate historical setting where racism doesn't appear to exist and people of all colors are seen and treated as equals. As a result, multiple cast members are black, biracial, or otherwise non-white -- Queen Charlotte herself is portrayed by a black actress. [[note]]Queen Charlotte is believed by at least one historian to have been mixed race; the show makes this explicit. It should be noted, however, that the evidence for this is slim to none; Madragana, the source of the claims and no less than ''fifteen'' generations removed from Charlotte, was most likely Mozarab (Iberian Christian), not Moorish, and probably had no African ancestry at all[[/note]].

* AdaptationalDiversity: In the book, of course the main and supporting characters are all-white since it's Regency themed. But in the show, due to [[RaceLift race lift]], the actors playing the important characters are black (Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, the Bassets family and Marina Thompson Crane), South-Asians (the Sharma family) and other non-whites, including gay and lesbian.