‘Bridgerton’ On Netflix Looks Like A Ye Olde ‘Gossip Girl’
"If there's a scandal, I shall uncover it, and share every last detail" XOXO Lady Whistledown
This Christmas is set to be smaller than usual. Thankfully our Netflix overlords are gracing us with Bridgerton, a Gossip Girl style look into the scandalous lives of Regency London’s elite.
Based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling novels, the show follows the eight siblings of the powerful Bridgerton family. As Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the family makes her debut into society and sets about finding a husband, a gossip newsletter written by anonymous Lady Whistledown starts causing trouble for her.
Like any good anonymous source of gossip, Lady Whistledown’s promises that “if there’s a scandal, I shall uncover it, and share every last detail”.
And of course, she assures that “you do not know me and never shall”.
Certainly sounds familiar. Though we’re hoping that the show’s finale, whenever that might be, doesn’t crush our spirits like Gossip Girl‘s bizarre Dan reveal did.
This looks like the love child of Gossip Girl and Sense & Sensibility (this is a very good thing)#Sanditon #SaveSanditon pic.twitter.com/o1rAyESeuK
— Disco Darling (@darling_disco) November 2, 2020
Victorian gossip girl????? SIGN ME TF UPPPPPPP pic.twitter.com/s6VjF98L4p
— Xoxo Gossip Red💋 (@BeatricetheGold) November 2, 2020
The show is the first of Shonda Rimes’ $150 million dollar deal with Netflix, after she left Disney over being refused free Disneyland passes. Their loss is our gain, clearly, as the producer who has previously gifted us with shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal is putting her own spin on what could have been just another period drama.
Fans are praising her for the diverse casting, as the inclusion of people of colour in shows of this genre has been limited at best. Characters of colour have been included have often been sidelined, one dimensional, or just cast as the staff who wait on the wealthy white people.
The trailer shows clearly that in Bridgerton, this won’t be the case, these characters will be front and centre too.
Love it! Love the diverse casting. The sexy times! The different body types. The costumes. The last period drama I loved and became obsessed with was/is #Sanditon and #Bridgerton looks like a new obsession. There is room for all!
— 🐋Jane Austen’s Ghost (@MaryPocrnic) November 2, 2020
The drama, the corsets, POC in a period piece. Shonda is speaking directly to my soul @sovivACEous
— The Grand High Witch (@Ashapaloooza) November 2, 2020
Bridgerton debuts December 25 on Netflix.