These are just my thoughts and I'm not an expert whatsoever
Pros: actors and actresses, photography, scenery, colours.
+ Benedict and Eloise are lovely and their stories are the most interesting at the moment, either because I'm curious about how they'll tell certain situations or because I have no idea where they'll go. (I didn't read the books)
+ In general I liked the characters, I don't likelike all of them, but I like how they're built. They're not the reason I didn't appreciate the show.
+ Sibling's scenes:
Eloise and Benedict smoking, Daphne Anthony and the warm milk, Colin in general, Eloise and sweets...
CONS:
1) Plot: I found it full of clichés, ridiculously predictable and absurd at the same time. If you look to a list of romantic/drama clichés and then you put them in line you have the plot of the series. It's also true that sometimes very predictable plot are very enjoyable because the narration of the facts is compelling. For me, this is not the case. I found episode 4 absurdly ridiculous.
Instead, despite the fact I got it since Ep 5-6, I liked the revelation at the end of the season. Again, I'm not an expert. This is just what I've liked and what I didn't.
2) Absence of disclaimer or tw at the beginning of episode 6
3) Absence of Simon's point of view regarding what happens in episode 6
4) Costumes: I didn't like the costumes at all, they looked modern, but I'm not an expert so instead I advise to watch Karolina Żebrowska's video regarding that department.
This isn't a show I would generally think too hard about or offer an opinion on. I'm definitely not the "Shondaland" audience, and only recently learned Grey's Anatomy is the purview of the Duck Dynasty wives club. That is, there's a certain genre, flow of dialogue, and romance plot line that is very accessible, gossipy, and basic that has a broad appeal across time. Add the gimmick of portraying an era that's the antithesis of conceiving each other equitably, and the show sells itself. Like Sense8, I would describe this as a utopian world not bothered by too many gritty details. It manages, either through casting or the level of detail in the settings, to just breach beyond mere soap opera, but they're definitely cousins, and ones that when they marry you might wince, but it's all perfectly normal.
This is a show that got a ton of "hype machine" attention. The lazy will describe this as another notch in the "woke" doctrine trying to control our minds as though it's an egregious sin to entertain the idea of equality and acceptance. I often find myself pretty easily able to write-off lazy writing and cliche plots the hype machine isn't concerned with acknowledging as they over-faun on trivial details or man-ass. Bridgerton deserves a little more credit.
I suppose I'm struck by a level of sincerity about the nature of connection and complexities within. They take the time to discuss the layers without betraying the characters. You get the impression the creator actually likes the characters and utilizes the setting more than abuses it for a selfish dance with a bigger budget. I'm rooting for them, even if I'm 99% sure I know how things are going to work out. I want to give the show credit. Of course I'll never re-watch it, nor have a desire to turn the speed down from 2x, but that's a matter of taste and TV sophistication, not because this is a straight-up "bad" show for dumb poor people. Is it "good" though? It does one thing pretty well in a setting that really helps sell it. Overall, you know, if that's your thing, sure. Across the TV landscape and others in it's genre, it's fair. I don't know how willing I would be to watch were it given any more episodes a season, and it's the thing I'm watching precisely after I've caught up on the 50 things airing or dropping concurrently, but it's not a struggle. It's a pleasant-enough ride like a carriage on newly built road. It's noisy, there's no air conditioning, the quarters are cramped, and it sometimes smells like horse, but hey, we're not walking and have enough money for a carriage.
Okay Ladies and Gents! Bridgerton is not only binge worthy, but bears being watched at least 5 times! (I confess - I've watched it at least 30 times already!) There is so much depth to so many of the characters in Bridgerton, that each time, you will see something new that you did not notice before... From the multi-layered personality of Eloise who is ambitious enough to want to go to UNIVERSITY! in a time when women were only allowed to study the history of British war heroes, the various lines of the monarchy, societal etiquette, home-maker skills of needlework, playing pianoforte and hierarchical deportment, as part of their education... To the two lead men; Anthony Bridgerton who is in love with someone (below his station) that he is not allowed to marry; who is burdened by the responsibilities placed upon him by societal rules/laws as the eldest male; and also is still obviously grieving the loss/death of his beloved father at age 16... To 24 year old Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset, the Duke of Hastings, who hates his late father for the emotional (and possibly physical) abuse inflicted by the man on him, due to his stammer/stutter and lack of perfection from birth. Simon is obviously at age 24, still longing for his mother who died in childbirth with him (beginning of Episode 2), and is so traumatized by this, that in making a vow to his father on the latter's death bed that he would never sire a child, it is obvious that he is terribly afraid that any wife of his could also die in childbirth as his own mother had done, in addition to him wanting to end the Hastings line with himself. Let us not overlook how strong all of the Bridgerton young ladies are - even those wanting to get married are assertive, outspoken, ambitious and take-charge. Any modern man would find that admirable, and counter to his year 1813 male colleagues' attitudes (including Daphne's own eldest brother, Anthony) the Duke of Hastings is VERY impressed by Daphne's ability to defend herself against the "Loathsome Toad, Lord Berbrook", her assertiveness, and sense of humour, as well as him being respectful enough on their wedding night to ask "Do you want me to stop?" twice! No spousal rape here! I love the way Simon's psychological issues are slowly revealed by his Godmother Lady Danbury, his very perceptive boxing friend Will and his wife Alice, then gradually discovered by an inexperience, but persistent loving wife Daphne, episode by episode, with culmination in her plain spoken, but loving speech to him in the rain at the end- all resulting in his surrender to LOVE itself. As Lady Danbury told him - LOVE CONQUERS ALL!
Review by DeletedBlockedParent2021-02-20T22:15:47Z
Dearest reader,
As you can tell by the intonation on my writing, I have finished watching “Bridgerton”. And, oh my!, how I loved the writing of Lady Whistledown, specially as it is read by our amazing Julie Andrews.
“Bridgerton” is described as Jane Austen meets “Gossip Girl”. Therefore, this series tries to portray how young women have their debut when they reach majority. Following the Bridgerton family, we experience the lives of families during the 1813 social season. The Bridgerton are a family of 8 children, all named alphabetically. This first season follows Daphne, the fourth child, but the eldest of the girls, being debut and being considered the “diamond” of the season. However, Lady Whistledown, the unknown gossiper of the season, started calling another young lady the “Incomparable” of the season. In one event, to resolve both their problems, Simon proposed a solution to Daphne, being pretending they were courting, for Daphne being viewed as wanted to suitors, and for mothers’ not harassing Simon.
I considered this Netflix series very interested. Not only do we learn about the social events of the Regency Era, but also about the difficulties young women suffered during this era. Firstly, they needed to marry or they would be “aunties” for all their lives. They either married to be well-off during the rest of their lives or, the rarest, they actually married for love. However, if one wanted to “fly” and study, for instance, they could not. Eloise, Daphne’s sister, does not want to marry, but she is obliged, for, without a family, she will not be succeeded.
Also, we learn about the matters of love and family, Love is a choice. A choice which involves sacrifices, being one of them choosing to have or not have children. Nonetheless, when one wants to marry, they carry not only themselves, but their families and their family problems. To be successful in one’s marriage, one must be honest and choose to love the honesty of one person.
I vividly recommend watching this series if you love period drama, Jane Austen and love stories.