Bridgerton

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Bridgerton

 Regency romance
Genre
 Period drama

Created by Chris Van Dusen

Based on Bridgerton

by Julia Quinn

Starring  Adjoa Andoh

 Lorraine Ashbourne

 Jonathan Bailey

 Ruby Barker
 Sabrina Bartlett

 Harriet Cains

 Bessie Carter

 Nicola Coughlan

 Phoebe Dynevor

 Ruth Gemmell

 Florence Hunt

 Claudia Jessie

 Ben Miller

 Luke Newton

 Regé-Jean Page
  Golda Rosheuvel

 Luke Thompson

 Will Tilston

 Polly Walker

 Julie Andrews

Composer Kris Bowers

Country of origin United States

Original language English

No. of seasons 1

No. of episodes 8

Production

Executive producers  Shonda Rhimes

 Betsy Beers

 Chris Van Dusen

 Julie Anne Robinson

Producers  Sarada McDermontt

 Holden Chang

 Sarah Dollard

Editor Jim Flynn

Running time 57–72 minutes

Production company Shondaland

Distributor Netflix

Release

Original release December 25, 2020 –

present
Bridgerton is an American streaming television period drama series created by Chris
Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes. It is based on Julia Quinn's novels set in
the competitive world of Regency era London's ton during the season,
when debutantes are presented at court. Bridgerton is Shonda Rhimes's first scripted
Netflix series.
Bridgerton premiered on Netflix on December 25, 2020. The eight-episode first season
was met with positive reviews. With a viewership of 82 million households, it has
become the most-watched series on Netflix.[1] The series reached No. 1 in 76 countries
on Netflix. In January 2021, the series was renewed for a second season.

Contents

 1Plot

 2Cast and characters

o 2.1Main

o 2.2Recurring

o 2.3Guest

 3Episodes

 4Production

o 4.1Development

o 4.2Casting

o 4.3Filming

o 4.4Music

 5Release

 6Historical accuracy

 7Reception

o 7.1Critical response

o 7.2Audience viewership

o 7.3Accolades
  8References

 9External links

Plot[edit]
The drama takes place in Regency era London in 1813, centering on the aristocratic
Bridgerton family. The widow Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton is mother to eight
children: her four sons, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, and Gregory, and her four daughters,
Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, and Hyacinth. Also featured are their gaudy neighbors, the
Featheringtons: Portia, Lady Featherington; her husband the Baron; and their three
daughters, Philippa, Prudence and Penelope; as well as their mysterious cousin Marina
Thompson. Each episode includes narration by actress Julie Andrews, who voices the
anonymous and ever-scandalous newsletter columnist known as Lady Whistledown.
Lady Whistledown knows all the information in London, and everyone focuses on Lady
Whistledown's article, even Queen Charlotte.
As eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton enters her first season with Queen Charlotte's
favor, she meets Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings and best friend of her eldest brother,
Anthony. Despite being encouraged by his mentor, Lady Danbury, the Duke is
determined not to marry and plots with Daphne to secure his bachelordom and her a
suitable marriage.
Unlike the series of novels,[2] Bridgerton is set in an alternate history with a racially
integrated London where people of color are members of the ton, some with titles
granted by the sovereign. Creator Chris Van Dusen was inspired by historical debate
over the 1940s African ancestry claims of Queen Charlotte "...to base the show in an
alternative history in which Queen Charlotte's mixed race heritage was not only well-
established but was transformative for Black people and other people of color in
England."[3][4][5][6] Van Dusen says the series is not "color-blind" because "that would imply
that color and race were never considered, when color and race are part of the show." [7]

Cast and characters[edit]

Main[edit]

 Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, a sharp-tongued, insightful doyenne of London

society, who was a close friend of Simon's mother and helped raise him after her
death.
 Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley, the Featheringtons' housekeeper
 Jonathan Bailey as Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton, the eldest Bridgerton son and heir
to the family title and estate. Since their father's passing, he is also responsible for
finding suitable spouses for his sisters while he himself is unwilling to marry.
 Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson, a Featherington cousin from a upper middle
class rural gentry family who comes to debut in London society as payment for a
debt Baron Featherington owes her father. Marina is strikingly beautiful but also has
a secret that will devastate not only her reputation but the entire family's.
 Sabrina Bartlett as Siena Rosso, an opera singer who is Anthony's lover.
  Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington, the middle Featherington daughter
 Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington, the eldest Featherington daughter
 Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington daughter
who is also best friends with Eloise and Colin Bridgerton.
 Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bassett (née Bridgerton), Duchess of Hastings, the
fourth Bridgerton child and eldest daughter. After her societal debut, she catches the
eye of Queen Charlotte and becomes entangled in a courting deception with the
Duke of Hastings, which becomes the epicenter of the gossip column from the
mysterious "Lady Whistledown."
 Ruth Gemmell as Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton, the widowed mother of
the eight Bridgerton children. Her decades-long marriage, which ended with her
husband's death, is the inspiration for her daughter Daphne's ideal "love-match."
 Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, the eighth and youngest Bridgerton child
 Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth Bridgerton child and second daughter.
Eloise is an independent young woman who is dreading having to make her societal
debut. She is close with her brother Benedict, and is best friends with Penelope
Featherington. She ardently searches for the real identity of Lady Whistledown.
 Ben Miller as Archibald, Baron Featherington, the Featherington patriarch. He has a
gambling habit that has left him deeply in debt.
 Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton son and close friend of
Penelope Featherington. Though he longs for adventure, he is smitten with Marina
Thompson.
 Regé-Jean Page as Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings (season 1),[8] one of London's
most eligible bachelors who famously refuses to marry. He is best friends with
Anthony Bridgerton.
 Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland. While she thrives on the gossip of the ton, she is agitated by the
appearance of Lady Whistledown, whose scoops often go against the Queen's own
plotting.
 Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, the second Bridgerton son. Like his sister
Eloise, he longs for a life beyond the confines of the ton, and is an artist.
 Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, the seventh Bridgerton child and youngest son
 Polly Walker as Portia, Baroness Featherington, the Baron's ambitious wife and
mother of his daughters. She believes herself to be cunning, scheming to get her
daughters courted during their season; and, later, forced to try to make a match for
Marina Thompson.
 Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown, the author of a scandalous society
newsletter.
Recurring[edit]

 Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton daughter who has spent
the season in France with relatives.
 Molly McGlynn as Rose Nolan, Daphne's loyal maid and confidant
 Joanna Bobin as Lady Cowper, Cressida's mother
 Jessica Madsen as the debutante Cressida Cowper, Daphne's rival
  Jason Barnett as Jeffries, the Basset butler
 Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, the Queen's secretary
 Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, a boxer and confidant of the Duke of Hastings
 Geraldine Alexander as Mrs. Wilson, the Bridgerton housekeeper
 Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix, a high society modiste/dressmaker
 Simon Ludders as Humboldt, a Bridgerton footman.
 Julian Ovenden as Sir Henry Granville, an artist who befriends Benedict.
Guest[edit]

 Jamie Beamish as Nigel Berbrooke, a suitor of Daphne

 Freddie Stroma as Prince Frederick of Prussia, the Queen's grandnephew who
hopes to marry Daphne.
 Amy Beth Hayes as Lady Trowbridge, a widow
 James Fleet as King George III, the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland. He suffers from an unknown mental illness that left him debilitated for much
of the season.
 Céline Buckens as Kitty Langham, a general's wife
 Chris Fulton as Sir Phillip Crane, a baronet and the younger brother of Marina's
lover, Sir George
 Oscar Coleman as 4-year-old Simon
 Cairo Eusebe as 6-year-old Simon
 Lucas Booth-Clibborn as 11-year-old Simon
 Daphne Di Cinto as Sarah Bassett, Duchess of Hastings, Simon's mother who died
during childbirth.
 Richard Pepple as Duke of Hastings, Simon's father, who was absent and verbally
abusive.
 Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich, Will Mondrich's wife

Episodes[edit]
No. Title Directed by

1 "Diamond of the First Water" Julie Anne Robinson

In 1813, households are preparing for the social season of arranging matches for marriage. Among the debutantes presented t
whom Queen Charlotte praises highly, giving her an edge over the other young ladies. A new scandal sheet written by the mys
distant cousin of Lord Featherington, Marina Thompson, comes to stay for the season under the supervision of Lady Featherin
Simon's confidante, Lady Danbury, pressures him into joining the season. Viscount Anthony Bridgerton deems all potential sui
Lord Berbrooke. Miss Thompson picks up the slack, to the anger of the queen and Lady Featherington. Lady Danbury and Lady
Siena Rosso. Lady Featherington deduces that Miss Thompson is pregnant. Simon and Daphne agree to pretend to court so th
have respite from ambitious young ladies and their mothers.

2 "Shock and Delight" Tom Verica

Flashbacks reveal Simon's tragic childhood. After his mother died in childbirth, Simon was left under the control of his cruel fat
assisting him in managing his stammer and supervising his education. On his father's deathbed, Simon vows he will never sire
Whistledown's writings. Eloise and Penelope are confused as to how one becomes with child. Marina remains confined to her
Crane who is fighting in Spain. Simon and Daphne's ruse works perfectly, but Anthony is upset, knowing of Simon's rakish beha
Anthony cancels his offer with Lord Berbrooke. Hastings and Berbrooke fight over Daphne's honor. Berbrooke acquires a speci
tables on him, however, after successive teas with the Queen and Lord Berbrooke's mother reveal a scandal that makes its wa

3 "Art of the Swoon" Tom Verica

Simon and Daphne become quite close, leading to Daphne turning down multiple proposals. Simon meets Siena, who invites h
waits for George to write back. Determined to prove that she is still the true ruler of London society, the Queen schemes to m
tells Simon that he needs to propose to Daphne or step aside to make way for the superior match. Simon reluctantly calls off t
with Siena again but she turns him down, as she does not wish to be only loved in the dark. Sir George writes to Marina that th
Featherington. Lady Bridgerton pushes Anthony to think about a match for himself. Simon decides to leave London ahead of s

4 "An Affair of Honor" Sheree Folkson

Prince Friedrich invites Daphne to the palace and gifts her a beautiful necklace. Marina is presented to older suitors in want of
Daphne attends a boxing match with Prince Friedrich. Marina is set up with an older suitor and is saved by Colin. At a sumptuo
approaches her to say goodbye and apologize. Daphne, upset, runs into a hedge maze, followed shortly by Simon, and the two
Anthony challenges him to a duel at dawn. Penelope is crushed by Colin's attention to Marina which causes a fight with Eloise.
discovers the extent of her husband's gambling debts. Daphne realizes that Cressida Cowper, her rival for Friedrich's affections
reason he cannot marry her is because he cannot provide her with children. Weighing her options, Daphne firmly declares the

5 "The Duke and I" Sheree Folkson

Daphne and Simon petition the Archbishop of Canterbury for an expedited marriage license, but he refuses at the behest of th
they cannot be together, but Genevieve claims she has left town. Money issues boil up at the Featherington home. Penelope b
other during a dress fitting. Benedict attends a party at the invitation of Sir Henry Granville. Lady Featherington intends for Ma
Queen to allow for an early wedding; faced with losing her beloved King George to his increasing dementia, the Queen is move
the wedding reception, Marina gets a proposal from Colin, but with the request of a long engagement. The Queen takes intere
awkward conversation about sex which leaves her with more questions than answers. Simon and Daphne leave for Clyvedon,
his avoidance of her, and the pair realize that they are in fact madly in love. He takes her virginity, consummating their marriag

6 "Swish" Julie Anne Robinson

The Duke and Duchess arrive at Clyvedon for their honeymoon and spend much time together. Daphne has difficulty building
Daphne and Simon mingle with the villagers. Penelope tries to ruin the engagement by confiding in Colin that Marina is in love
traveling to Scotland. Simon turns his attention to the books after hearing that his tenants' rent has increased. Daphne is told t
more about Simon's upbringing to Daphne. Penelope discovers that George's letter was faked, but Marina chooses to marry C
that Simon can have children, but does not want to. She confronts him about it later that night and they argue. Lady Whistledo

7 "Oceans Apart" Alrick Riley

Simon and Daphne's dispute continues and Daphne decides to return to London after Lady Whistledown’s latest publication su
convince her to restore the Featherington name. Daphne arranges a chaperoned meeting for Colin and Marina. Simon threate
uncovering Lady Whistledown. She throws the Featheringtons out of her luncheon because of Marina's scandal. Lady Danbury
help Marina, flexes her social power to locate Sir George Crane. To settle his debts, Lord Featherington approaches Will to con
discovers why Simon does not want to have children. Eloise realizes that Madame Delacroix is the most likely person to be Lad
menstruation, therefore she is not pregnant. She cries in her mother's arms with Simon overhearing.

8 "After the Rain" Alrick Riley

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George Crane's brother, Sir Phillip Crane, arrives with news that George died in battle. An unfinished letter from George revea
Marina himself, but she turns him down. Eloise confronts Genevieve and, believing her to be Lady Whistledown, tries to convi
relationship with Benedict. Daphne finds the letters Simon wrote to his father and Lady Danbury fills in the blanks about his ch
spending time with Daphne's younger siblings. Anthony reunites with Siena, who has married, and invites her to Daphne and S
and receives his winnings from Archibald, who is poisoned and murdered by his "associates". Marina realizes that her abortion
to marry Phillip Crane. Before Penelope can profess her love for him, Colin announces he is leaving for his tour immediately. T
downpour interrupts Simon and Daphne's ball, but the couple reconcile, leading Lady Whistledown to declare it the best ball o
Genevieve is not Lady Whistledown, who is revealed only to the audience to be Penelope. A flash forward shows the birth of D

Production[edit]
Development[edit]
Bridgerton executive producer Shonda Rhimes

On July 20, 2018, Netflix announced that Shonda Rhimes would produce

the Bridgerton series based on Julia Quinn's bestselling novels, while Chris Van
Dusen would be showrunner.[11] Quinn explained on The Tamron Hall Show that when
she heard from her agent that Rhimes was interested in adapting her novels, she
"almost fell off of [her] stool", and quickly agreed to the offer. [12] On June 19, 2019, Julie
Andrews was cast as Lady Whistledown, whose voice-overs explain much of the series'
action.[13] Van Dusen said in a Shondaland article: "I think [period shows] are considered
a bit traditional and conservative. With Bridgerton, I wanted to take everything I loved
about a period show and turn it into something fresh, topical, and relatable." [14] On
January 21, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a second season. [15]
Casting[edit]
On July 10, 2019, it was announced that Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page would
play leads, while Jonathan Bailey, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Newton, Claudia
Jessie, Nicola Coughlan, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Ruth Gemmell, Adjoa
Andoh and Polly Walker were cast in as regulars.[16]
On February 15, 2021, it was announced that Simone Ashley had been cast as Kate
Sharma, the female lead for season 2.[17] On April 5, 2021, Charithra Chandran then
joined the cast as her sister Edwina in addition to Rupert Young, who is set to play a
new character.[18] Few days later, Shelley Conn was cast as Kate and Edwina's mother
Mary, and Calam Lynch was cast as Theo Sharpe for the second season. [19]
Filming[edit]
Principal photography wrapped in late February 2020.[20] Bridgerton was filmed
in London and Bath,[21] as well as at various estates and parks around England. Although
the series takes place in London, most street scenes were filmed in Bath or York. The
grounds of Wilton House were used for Hyde Park and the grounds of Somerley were
used for Hampstead Heath.
Ranger's House in Greenwich, southeast London was used for the Bridgerton House
exterior and Halton House at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire for the interior.
Wilton House was filmed as the exterior of and entrance to Simon Basset's Hastings
House. Syon House in London and Badminton House in Gloucestershire made up the
rest of the estate. Simon's Clyvedon estate was made up of Castle Howard in North
Yorkshire for the exterior and Wilton House for the interior, [22] with Coneysthorpe being
used as Clyvedon village.[23]
Throne scenes were filmed in the Single Cube Room in Wilton House near Salisbury. A
combination of Hampton Court Palace and Lancaster House made up St. James's
Palace in the series.
Holburne Museum in Bath is the site of Lady Danbury's estate. Vauxhall Pleasure
Gardens, the location of her balls, no longer exists in its entirety. The production team
recreated it by combining the remaining parts with Castle Howard and Stowe Park. The
banqueting room at the Guildhall, Bath was used for another ball as well as the Great
Hall at Leigh Court in Somerset.[24]
Hatfield House in Hertfordshire and Halton House at RAF Halton were combined for the
Featheringtons' interior, and No. 1 Royal Crescent in Bath makes up the exterior meant
to be Grosvenor Square in the series. The Featheringtons go for walks through the
gardens of Painshill in Cobham.
Anthony Bridgerton and Simon Basset meet in the Reform Club on Pall Mall in central
London.[25] The scene in which Lady Featherington takes Marina to the slums was filmed
at Chatham Dockyard in Kent. Boxing scenes were also filmed here in addition
to Normansfield Theatre in Teddington. Theatre scenes were filmed at the Hackney
Empire. Queen's House was used for the exterior of Somerset House and Somerley for
the interior.
A café in Bath, Pickled Greens, was used as the site of the Modiste shop and the
Bathrooms at No.5 store on Trim Street became the site of Gunter's Tea Shop. Dorney
Court is the site of the Coaching Inn that Daphne and Simon visit.[26]
Production for the second season began in March 2021. [27]
Music[edit]
American composer and pianist Kris Bowers composed and arranged the score for the
series. Bowers wrote and composed the first season's soundtrack, featuring nineteen
songs. Musicians recorded the score remotely from their home studios during
the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]
The first season featured orchestral covers of contemporary popular music, which
director and executive producer Julie Anne Robinson said was inspired by the use of
classic rock songs in the 2001 film A Knight's Tale.[29] Songs featured included Ariana
Grande's "Thank U, Next", Maroon 5's "Girls Like You", Shawn Mendes's "In My
Blood", Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy", all four of which were performed by Vitamin String
Quartet. Also included are Celeste's "Strange" performed by Bowers, and Taylor Swift's
"Wildest Dreams" performed by Duomo.[28] Bowers also included modern interpretations
of classical music, such as Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 in D major from Peter
Gregson's Recomposed by Peter Gregson: Bach – The Cello Suites and Vivaldi's The
Four Seasons from Max Richter's Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four
Seasons.[30]

Release[edit]
Bridgerton was released on December 25, 2020. [9] The teaser and promotional posters
were released in the months prior.[31][32]
Historical accuracy[edit]

A portrait of Queen Charlotte, painted by Thomas Gainsborough

In regards to the historical accuracy of the show, Chris Van Dusen has said that the
show "is a reimagined world, we’re not a history lesson, it’s not a documentary. What
we’re really doing with the show is marrying history and fantasy in what I think is a very
exciting way. One approach that we took to that is our approach to race".
[33]
 The aristocratic Bridgerton family, Lady Whistledown and most of the other characters
in the show are entirely fictional.[34][35][33]
The theory that Queen Charlotte may have had African ancestry has been
characterized as an unhistorical assertion by most scholars. [36][37][38] In an interview
with Insider magazine, American historian Marlene Koenig said the show's
representation of Regency-era London was more diverse than it was in reality, adding
that "diversity as we know what the word means did not exist" in Britain during that
period.[38]
Some classical music pieces used in the first season were composed later than 1813,
the year the first season was set in. Examples include Dmitri Shostakovich's Suite for
Jazz Orchestra No. 2, which was written in 1938, and "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour"
from Jacques Offenbach's 1881 opera The Tales of Hoffmann.[30]

Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an
approval rating of 89% based on 91 reviews, with an average rating of 7.88/10. The
website's critics' consensus reads, "Sumptuous design, soapy drama, and a sterling
cast make Bridgerton a delightful treat."[39] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average
score of 74 out of 100 based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews." [40]
Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and wrote, "Bridgerton, it
seems, is a wonderful diversion for those who love Pride & Prejudice but wish it had
more stairway sex."[41] Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times gave the series four out of
four stars and called it "A show that will give you that unmistakable binge twinge and
have you activating that "Next Episode" time and again, until there are no more "Next
Episodes"."[42]
British GQ described Bridgerton as a cross between Downton Abbey and Gossip Girl,
but noted that it "may just end up being another disappointment" and "it could have
been brilliant."[43] Salamishah Tillet of The New York Times said "Bridgerton provides a
blueprint for British period shows in which Black characters can thrive within the
melodramatic story lines, extravagant costumes and bucolic beauty [...] without having
to be servants or enslaved."[44] Erum Salam of Cosmopolitan wrote "I kept wanting more.
I wanted more explanations of how race factored into this society..." [45]
Carolyn Hinds from The Observer stated "Bridgerton has been praised as a racially
diverse show set in the Regency Era".[46] Vanity Fair's Caroline Framke describes the
sex in the series "isn't altogether shocking material for Shondaland to mine for its first
drama series absent broadcast restraints."[47]
Audience viewership[edit]
On January 27, 2021, Netflix announced that 82 million households had watched the
series in its first 28 days of availability, significantly higher than its January 4 projection
of 63 million. It is the most-watched original series launch to date on the service. [48][49]
Accolades