High society, arranged marriage, and power clashes will take centre stage in Netflix's upcoming show Bridgerton [1]. The drama — which is being helmed by Scandal [2] producer Chris Van Dusen and Grey's Anatomy [3] showrunner Shonda Rhimes — is based on Julia Quinn's eight-book series. If you're into regal rivalries and 19th-century love affairs, this is indeed the show for you.
Similar to the books, the eight-episode season will focus on the fictional Bridgerton [4] family, a ménage of eight siblings connected to some of the hottest happenings in London during the early 1800s Regency era. As a part of high society, the Bridgertons find themselves engulfed in power struggles, love tangles, and all sorts of adventures. So, yes, you can expect to see lavish lifestyles and sexy romances against glitzy backdrops, such as the lush ballrooms of London's upscale Mayfair district and the posh palaces of Park Lane.
The Bridgerton [5] siblings will especially become entangled in sticky situations as some of them prepare for the marriage mart, which is a business that arranges marriage contracts. All the while, they must also deal with the death of their father while their loving mother, Lady Violet (Ruth Gemmell), continues to support them the best way she knows how. Even though the marriage mart is inherently contrived, Lady Violet wants her children to marry for love rather than opportunity.
Lady Violet's oldest daughter, Daphne Bridgerton [7] (Phoebe Dynevor [8]), has long awaited her debut on the marriage mart. She's prepared to be the picture-perfect debutante practically her entire life. However, a wrench is thrown in her plan when she meets a particular duke. On the contrary, Daphne's younger sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie) has no interest in being married off on the market. She's approaching the age at which she's to be wed, but she sees herself doing something much greater. Meanwhile, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) — the handsome and fetching eldest Bridgerton — must assume the role of viscount following the death of his father, but his pursuance of pleasure over duty might get in the way of him stepping into his newfound position of nobility.
News of the show was announced way back in the summer of 2019, but after over a year of waiting, Netflix finally announced they'd be releasing the series on 25th December 2020, and shared several photos from the show that you can peruse below. There's no trailer as of yet, but watch this space because it's sure to come very soon.
