If you haven’t jumped on the Bridgerton bandwagon yet, what have you been doing with your life?
Bridgerton, for those of you who have been living under a rock, is Netflix’s most recent binge-worthy series based on a series of romance novels by Julia Quinn and produced by the GOAT, Shonda Rhimes. Here’s a very basic synopsis according to the Los Angeles Times: “This juicy drama is set right in the midst of London’s Regency Era in the early 1800s and follows beautiful young aristocrat Daphne Bridgerton as she makes her social debut with the goal of marrying for love.” And it’s the ultimate show for exhausted moms.
If it’s not calling your name yet, here are just a few reasons why you need to watch Bridgerton stat:
The Smart, Witty Banter
If you, like so many women, crave that fun, witty conversation with your significant other, but find yourself stuck in the humdrum interaction of talking grocery orders, pickup schedules, and potty training routines instead, this show will tickle your fancy. The conversation between all characters, primarily the male and female love interests, are full of polite English jabs heavy with sarcasm and underlying flirtation. Their banter is an artform that you’ll find yourself trying to copy in real life.
So Much Eye Candy
Yes, that truly required all caps. If you Google the “Duke of Hastings,” get ready for some butterflies to come alive in your tummy. Actor Regé-Jean Page’s arrogant exterior fits perfectly with his chiseled shoulders and quizzical brow, but it’s his hesitant devotion and passionate love scenes that give many a mama all the feels.
It Features Realistic Relationships
While the setting is long ago in the past, you’ll find that the issues in their relationships are very here and now. From fights over finances and lifestyle choices, to discussions about whether or not to have children, this show is a reflection of the very issues faced today in most partnerships. It turns out marriage has always been hard, and worrying about your kids is a constant both now and then.
It Defies Racial Stereotypes
This show takes place more than 200 ago, but that doesn’t mean the writers are limiting the storylines to how they would have been back in the early 1800s. While the very center of the storyline is the class system, these royal families and marriages come from all racial backgrounds. While the social system is far from ideal, seeing a racially diverse cast represent all levels of high society is a very intentional and wonderful decision by the show’s creators.
It Has Strong Female Characters
Who would have thought that it would take looking into the past to bring forward such empowered leading ladies? While the show is clear about the social norms of men carrying all the decision-making power in society, it is the ladies who run the world — and make the ultimate decisions about their bodies and their lives.
It Shows Family Values
The large Bridgerton family is lovingly led by the widowed Lady Violet who, despite her gowns and perfect posture, is a quite relatable fellow mama. She’s as down to earth as she was allowed to be, preaches to her children that love and hard work make a marriage, and has successfully raised a group of eight children who genuinely like one another as adults. Now if that’s not #momgoals, I don’t know what is.
An Engaging Interwoven Storyline
One may grow tired of following just one specific storyline (though with the main plot of the Duke and Miss Bridgerton, that would be hard to imagine). Luckily, the many Bridgerton siblings each have their own interwoven story arcs and keep the view guessing through every episode.
It’s Booked for a Second Season
In case you, like me, get very distraught when a show you love ends and there is no follow-up, rest easy. Bridgerton has been picked up for a second season, and, if the show follows the course of the books, we have the story of the eldest brother, Antony, to look forward to in just a few months!
It's True Escapist TV
In times like these, let’s be real, all of us mamas need some major escapism in our lives — and Bridgerton will transport you to another world. The show is filled with decadent costumes, elaborate sets, gorgeous scenery, traditions of a bygone era (duels, anyone?), and it’s sexy AF. What more could an exhausted and overwhelmed mom want right now?
So whether you’re desperately looking for a new show to binge or you have a mile-long list of “must-see” recommendations, stop what you are doing. Bump this show to the top of your list and settle in — you won’t regret it.
