History Series / Bridgerton

In 2021, Netflix announced a six-episode prequel miniseries centered around Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom (Creator/GoldaRosheuvel). Titled ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory'', the series premiered in May 2023 between seasons 2 and 3.

In 2021, Netflix announced an eight-episode prequel miniseries centered around Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom (Creator/GoldaRosheuvel). Titled ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory'', the series premiered in May 2023.

* FeelingYourHeartbeat: Anthony's father was apparently allergic to bees & died from a bee sting approximately ten (10) years before the series begins. [[TraumaButton understandably makes Anthony very fearful of this happening to anyone around him]]. When Kate is stung by a bee, he starts to have a panic attack, but she calms him down by putting one of his hands on her chest with one hand, then holding his other hand to his chest with her other and gently talking to him. This is an exceptionally intimate gesture due to such physical contact being rather taboo at the time the show is set, and it highlights the growing romantic tension between them.

** While a debutante is considered the very image of innocence, this image changes the second that she is married. Daphne, for all her naivete, is considered more mature than her older brother Colin. To the extent that she is able to chaperone a meeting between him and Marina immediately upon returning from her honeymoon.

* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Though they clearly love each other, the more classically feminine Daphne (pretty) is regularly at odds with her SpiritedYoungLady sister Eloise (smart), who has no interest in marriage or Society and wants to pursue her education and her dreams of being a writer. Daphne cannot understand Eloise’s preference for reading and studying, while Eloise abhors all the trappings of society and fashion that Daphne enjoys. Eloise seems to have a mild resentment of Daphne for being "perfect" and conforming to society's expectations of her. Downplayed in that she also is clearly relieved that Daphne is not entering a loveless marriage with Berbrooke, and confides that she's scared of ever becoming a mother or having children.
--> '''Daphne:''' ...There is light to be found at their end. And I know one day, we both will find it.\\
'''Eloise:''' It must be taxing.\\

* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: Daphne explicitly forces Simon to finish inside her, which is rape. It is never brought up as such or called out, but Simon is portrayed as unsympathetic for lying about his fertility.

** Eloise teases Colin that if she were Lady Whistledown as he asks, she wouldn't confirm or deny it. [[spoiler:We find out one reason that Eloise could never be a gossip running to print as fast as possible; she understands how hurtful such public words are to families and real people, and how the serious ramifications play out. Season 2 has her note that Lady Whistledown is powerful but she enables a broken system of Regency seasons rather than using her words to positively change the establishment. She's furious when finding out that Penelope is Lady Whistledown because the printed words hurt her siblings' reputations, Marina, and others -- plainly stating she merely gets off on her power instead of actually doing good]].

* FeelingYourHeartbeat: Anthony's father died from a bee sting when he was young, [[TraumaButton making him very fearful of this happening to anyone around him]]. When Kate is stung by a bee, he starts to have a panic attack, but she calms him down by putting one of his hands on her chest with one hand, then holding his other hand to his chest with her other and gently talking to him. This is an exceptionally intimate gesture due to such physical contact being rather taboo at the time the show is set, and it highlights the growing romantic tension between them.

''Bridgerton'' is a 2020 period drama created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Creator/ShondaRhimes for Creator/{{Netflix}}. It is an adaptation of [[Literature/TheBridgertonSeries the eponymous romance novel series]] by Creator/JuliaQuinn.

The series takes place in an alternative, racially integrated RegencyEngland, where the marriage mart is in full swing and young ladies and their families scheme for good matches. The plot revolves around the sons and daughters of the rich and respected Bridgerton clan as they find love and come of age. Among the family are eldest daughter Daphne (Creator/PhoebeDynevor), a debutante set to find her match in the new season; oldest brother Anthony (Creator/JonathanBailey), who tries to balance his lordship duties with his personal desires; second and third sons Benedict (Creator/LukeThompson) and Colin (Creator/LukeNewton), who want to find their own ways in life; and younger sister Eloise (Creator/ClaudiaJessie), disdainful of the marriage mart and the society that makes it.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Simon tries to explain to Daphne what sex is, and starts with “It is the continuation of what you do at night in bed,” when has to explain to her what ''that'' means, since she never touched herself. Daphne immediately tries it out and gains some new perspectives.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is column shaped as seen in [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ France.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ retained wide panniers]]. The hoops were abolished around 1820, 7 years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is column shaped as seen in [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ France.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ retained the wide panniers]]. The hoops were abolished around 1820, 7 years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is column shaped like the [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ French ones.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ retained the wide panniers]]. The hoops were abolished around 1820, 7 years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is in the [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ French style.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ featured very wide hoops]] that were used in court dress from about 50-70 years earlier. The hoops were abolished around 1820, 7 years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is in the [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ French style.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ featured very wide hoops]] that were used in court dress about 50-70 years earlier. The hoops were abolished around 1820, 7 years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is in the [[https://candicehern.com/regencyworld/french-court-dress-july-1814/ French style.]] British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ featured very wide hoops]] that were used in court dress about 50 years earlier. The hoops were abolished around 1820, seven years after season 1 is set.

** The court dresses the debutantes are wearing is accurate but only for France. British court dress during this time still [[https://janeaustensworld.com/2015/10/24/awkward-the-regency-court-gown-regency-fashion/ featured very wide hoops]] that were used in court dress about 50 years earlier. The hoops were abolished around 1820, seven years after season 1 is set.

The series takes place in RegencyEngland, where the marriage mart is in full swing and young ladies and their families scheme for good matches. The plot revolves around the sons and daughters of the rich and respected Bridgerton clan as they find love and come of age. Among the family are eldest daughter Daphne (Creator/PhoebeDynevor), a debutante set to find her match in the new season; oldest brother Anthony (Creator/JonathanBailey), who tries to balance his lordship duties with his personal desires; second and third sons Benedict (Creator/LukeThompson) and Colin (Creator/LukeNewton), who want to find their own ways in life; and younger sister Eloise (Creator/ClaudiaJessie), disdainful of the marriage mart and the society that makes it.

* FantasySequence: In season 2 episode 6, when about to exchange vows with Edwina on the wedding, Anthony imagines what it'd be if only Kate were his bride instead of Edwina and just the two of them with no single audience in the church.

* GrayRainOfDepression: In the near end of season 2 chapter 7, rain starts pouring just as Anthony wakes up alone in the morning after spending a passionate night with Kate. Upon learning about Kate's departure, he immediately [[RaceForYourLove rushes to follow her.]] Despite he catches her on time, unfortunately [[spoiler:Kate falls from her horse, thus he immediately rescues her by [[BridalCarry carrying]] her in the middle of the rainstorm]]. The rainstorm reflects their angst and guilt for finally [[spoiler:[[OvercomeWithDesire "giving themselves in" to each other]]]].

** This ultimately happens to Anthony and Siena. In the beginning, Siena was utterly shocked when Anthony suddenly declared a break-up to her after he promised to always protect and take care of her. In the end, as Anthony believed that he could finally be together with Siena in public, she unexpectedly dumped him for another man.

* TheGhost: In season one, during a moment of semi-lucidity, King George asks after his eldest son, the Prince Regent (later King George IV). In season two, Queen Charlotte mentions to Lady Danbury that (as in real life) she had fifteen children. Yet none of these Royals are anywhere to be seen during the 1813 & 1814 social seasons. The lack of the Prince Regent is particularly telling, since the entire period/genre is ''named'' for him. He does eventually show up in the spinoff miniseries ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory''.

In 2021, Netflix announced an eight-episode prequel miniseries centered around Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom (Creator/GoldaRosheuvel). Titled ''Series/QueenCharlotteABridgertonStory'', the series will premiere in May 2023.

* TheGhost: In season one, during a moment of semi-lucidity, King George asks after his eldest son, the Prince Regent (later King George IV). In season two, Queen Charlotte mentions to Lady Danbury that (as in real life) she had fifteen children. Yet none of these Royals are anywhere to be seen during the 1813 & 1814 social seasons. The lack of the Prince Regent is particularly telling, since the entire period/genre is ''named'' for him.

** Among the Sharmas, Kate often wears [[{{TrueBlueFemininity}} teal]] and/or [[{{GracefulLadiesLikePurple}} purple]], reflecting her assertive and bold traits, while Edwina prefers [[{{PinkMeansFeminine}} 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 color scheme than pink and peach.]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bridgerton.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"There is nothing you cannot do. You are a Bridgerton."'']]

%%

The series takes place in RegencyEngland, where the marriage mart is in full swing and young ladies and their families scheme for good matches. The plot revolves around the sons and daughters of the rich and respected Bridgerton clan as they find love and come of age. Among the family are eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), a debutante set to find her match in the new season; oldest brother Anthony (Creator/JonathanBailey), who tries to balance his lordship duties with his personal desires; second and third sons Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Colin (Luke Newton), who want to find their own ways in life; and younger sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie), disdainful of the marriage mart and the society that makes it.

The second season is based on the second book, ''The Viscount Who Loved Me'', and is about Anthony, suddenly determined to find a suitable viscountess with whom he can have an amicable but loveless marriage. With his high standards, a perfect match seems impossible until the arrival of Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran). Anthony's attempts to court her are deterred by her older sister, Kate (Creator/SimoneAshley), who immediately butts heads with the Viscount. The [[BelligerentSexualTension competitive]] hostility between the two slowly turns into romance, but their trauma-induced fears and ([[HisOwnWorstEnemy often misguided]]) [[HonorBeforeReason sense of duty]] to their families--and the impending marriage between Anthony and Edwina--keep the two apart.

In 2021, Netflix announced an eight-episode prequel miniseries centered around Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom (Golda Rosheuvel). Titled ''Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story'', the series will premiere in 2023.

* 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 and heartbroken after his longtime mistress, Siena, dumped him for another man ''just'' as he was ready to go public with her[[/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]].

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: Downplayed. With their attempt to stick to duty having blown up in their faces and caused a scandal, leaving Kate and Anthony feeling like failures to their families that by the near-end of episode 7, they finally decide to [[CoitusEnsues do something for themselves]][[note]]making love[[/note]] for once.

* 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 refused to marry for love and why she kept 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]].

** Bees are a symbol of the Bridgertons, and can be seen embroidered on many of their clothes. [[spoiler: An allergic reaction to a bee sting also killed the late Viscount Bridgerton.]]

** 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 breaks up with Anthony followed by encouraging him 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]].

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