Dearest Reader …
(⚠️ Warning, SPOILERS AHEAD)
I’m finally all caught up with Bridgerton, after being 4 years late to the trend. I’m surprised I finished watching the first season as I had zero interest in the main couple. But thankfully I gave it a second chance and season 2’s chemistry was electric! The third season was a mixed bag for me, but still better than the first season for sure.
Season 1 – The Duke and I
I think the concept was fresh at the time so that helped its popularity. I didn’t care too much for the spicy bits but I enjoyed the gossip and costumes. As someone who enjoys Western period pieces (think Anne with an E), it was nice to watch a period drama that was part of the mainstream.
I think the biggest problem with this season was that I wasn’t invested in the main storyline. The duke was so guarded that he felt distant, and I couldn’t empathise with him. Daphne was also a “perfect daughter” archetype which gave me little to relate to. I just felt bored and frustrated by the constant stone-walling. Thankfully the friendships, family, and mystery of Lady Whistledown kept me watching till the end. My favourite character was Eloise, who acted like a gen Z stuck in the 1820s.
Season 2 – The Viscount who Loved Me
I heard that there are two groups of Bridgerton fans: The fans who like the spice from Season 1 and the fans who like the slow burn from Season 2. I belong to the latter.
Perhaps I am used to the K-drama slow burn, but there is just something more exciting about the chase. It certainly helps that the leads are downright gorgeous and share a fiery chemistry that lights up the screen. With a bigger budget, I got to see so many more wonderful costumes and set pieces. I highly recommend this season.
Season 3 – Romancing Mr Bridgerton
I think this season felt more like Penelope’s season than Colin’s. Considering how Colin was largely absent from the previous two seasons, I’m not surprised that I was more attached to Penelope. I think it works, since the season ends with her signing off as “Penelope Bridgerton”, perhaps implying that she was a Bridgerton all along.
The middle of this season dragged for me. I couldn’t quite believe that this was a friends-to-lovers romance when it always felt more like a one-sided crush. Colin’s sudden affections for Penelope were never explained, and their friendship never felt fully developed. Like the Duke in season 1, Colin felt too distant and I failed to understand his position.
Thankfully, this season had a lot more focus on the subplots to make up for the lacklustre central storyline. In particular, watching the Featherington family is always a treat, especially the comic relief provided by the sisters. The exploration of Cressida Cowper’s character was also refreshing. It provided a contrasting view of what women might have experienced if they couldn’t find their happily ever after.
There were also some interesting queer developments in the storyline that intrigued me. I was not surprised by Benedict (we shall see what happens in season 4), but Francesca’s development definitely shocked me. At first I thought I was reading too much into the final scene but as it turns out, I was right!
Credits
I would like to specifically credit Mina Le’s series of videos of her thoughts on the Bridgerton seasons. She was much more topical and released a review every time a new season aired. I thoroughly agree with her thoughts on all 3 seasons. Her review of season 1 was more about the concept and the costumes, as she was more niched into fashion at the time. But she did more holistic reviews of seasons 2 and 3 which perfectly sum up my thoughts.
I would highly encourage you to watch all three of her review videos:
References:
- All Bridgerton posters belong to Netflix.
- All pie chart designs are my own, made in Google Sheets.
P.S. Which was your favourite Bridgerton season? Let me know in the comments below 👇
💜jy