Bridgerton – Is the Book Better? (no, it’s a real question)

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that… your characters can get away with anything if you put Regency clothing on them.

Here we are, the first impression of the Regency Fantasy Romance series that has been causing the buzz all around. With this kind of short and fast-paced show, one episode is all you need to decide whether to continue devoting your time to it. And I have.

Before I go on to my usual insensitive dissection of the show, let us get one thing out of the way first: If Bridgerton is your favorite TV show right now and you simply cannot bear to hear anything said against it or to see its romance being made fun of, you might want to skip this post.

Let’s begin.

First thing first, people, be aware of this before you go in: THIS IS NOT A FAMILY SHOW. The adult content is signaled to be explicit as the show goes on.

With that out of the way, I have had the “pleasure” of seeing the first episode of Bridgerton without knowing about the novel on which it was based first or doing any research on Julia Quinn’s other novels. So… okay, I guess it’s on me.

BASICALLY…

Bridgerton Season 1 revolves around the story of Daphne, the daughter of an aristocrat, and Simon the Duke. They meet at a party, decide they can’t stand each other for some reason, but then realize that they can actually use each other to get what they want.

Under society’s nose and per Simon’s very “clever” idea, he and Daphne pretend to be dating. Their goal? Giving Daphne’s suitors a reason to fight harder for her hand in marriage and driving Simon’s admirers away.

Not bad, Simon, but did you consider that things might just work the other way around too?

During this time, eligible men were more sought after than women, so if this was true to the Regency period, there’s also a great chance that Daphne’s suitors would just leave her be, and you, Simon, would spend a good chunk of your next days running away from eager proposals.

Putting that aside, this is how the show begins; and you can imagine what happens next. I mean… you should be able to because this is not the first time the “fake relationship” trope is introduced in a romance.

SO… WHY?

Well, I decided to give the show a try due to two trending comments that…erm… probably mean no harm, but are rather misleading:

“If you like Pride and Prejudice, you will like Bridgerton.”

Let me unnecessarily point out that Bridgerton is nothing like Pride and Prejudice; and to be fair, it isn’t even trying to be.

I know, I know, who doesn’t know that Jane Austen belongs up there with the greatest authors in history? But here’s a little explanation anyway.

Pride and Prejudice is a humorous social critique that features a romance in which its protagonists face the challenge of both defying and preserving social norms and acknowledging their shortcomings. And that merely scratches the surface of Jane Austen’s most popular work. Bridgerton is a romance where the main characters face the challenge of being too attractive for their own good and resolving their sexual tension without being seen (yes, I cheated and read some recaps).

So, unless all you remember about Pride and Prejudice is Colin Firth stammering in a wet shirt, which – I admit – is an unforgettable sight, you will very few similarities between P&P and Bridgerton. And we really don’t need more than one episode to tell the difference.

The second comment?

“Bridgerton is the new Downton Abbey.”

No, it really isn’t.

While Downton Abbey also features romance and scandals, it was a successful attempt to bring to the screen the elegance of Edwardian England. The values of this past world are respected and serve as the foundation of the plot and characters. Lunches, dinners, etiquette, hunting parties – Downton Abbey made a point to strive for authenticity.

Bridgerton? Not so much. It seems like the writers got together for a discussion and one of them said: “Let’s just pick whatever Regency values that will drive the main characters to bed the quickest, and screw the others.”

Progressive elements are inconsistent and only show up when they’re needed for the plot.

Lastly, THE SCRIPT is where Bridgerton distinguishes itself the most.

For instance…

Matthew and Mary (Downton Abbey), Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and Simon and Daphne all begin their stories with the iconic love-hate relationship. In all three cases, these couples each share a show-down conversation that signals the start of this relationship. They declare war on each other with the art of conversation, tying a knot they must eventually untie themselves.

Downton Abbey (Season 1, Episode 2) — Lady Mary is pressured to marry Matthew Crawley, the man who will inherit the fortune that would have been hers if it weren’t for England’s complicated laws of inheritance at the time. She expresses her disgust and indignance towards this plan by trying to insult Matthew.

MARY : I’ve been studying the story of Andromeda; do you know it?

MATTHEW : Why?

MARY: Her father was King Cepheus, whose country was being ravaged by storms. And, in the end, he decided the only way to appease the gods was to sacrifice his eldest daughter to a hideous sea monster. So they chained her, naked, to a rock–

MATTHEW: But the sea monster didn’t get her, did he?

MARY: No. Just when it seemed he was the only solution to her father’s problems, she was rescued.

MATTHEW: By Perseus.

MARY: That’s right. Perseus. Son of a god. Rather more fitting, wouldn’t you say?

MATTHEW: That depends. I’d have to know more about the princess and the sea monster in question.

Pride and Prejudice (2005) – when Elizabeth politely points out that she has overheard Darcy’s rude comment earlier on about how she is not good enough for him.

ELIZABETH: I wonder who first discovered the power of poetry in driving away love.

DARCY: I thought poetry was the food of love.

ELIZABETH: Of a fine, stout love it may. But if it is only a vague inclination I’m convinced one poor sonnet would kill it stone dead.

DARCY: So what do you recommend, to encourage affection?

ELIZABETH: Dancing. Even if one’s partner is barely tolerable.

Bridgerton (Season 1, Episode 1 – Daphne and Simon are seated next to each other, and… yeah, that’s it.)

SIMON: We find ourselves seated beside each other, Miss Bridgerton, I’d like to think you’re happy about that.

DAPHNE: Perhaps, Your Grace, it would be better if you refrained from thinking about me at all.

(But of course Daphne goes on to spill everything she shows and hates about this man to him, including…)

DAPHNE: Presumptuous? Clearly. Arrogant? Most definitely. You are a rake, through and through. Tell me I’m wrong. 

SIMON: Who is to refrain from thinking about whom again?

DAPHNE: I assure you, I am anything but interested in you.

SIMON: Good.

DAPHNE: Quite.

SIMON: And I anything but interested in you, the eldest sister of my oldest friend, yet another recent subject of a certain writer. Chaste, neat, desperate.

…

Seriously, are they 12?

IS ALL THIS TO SAY THAT BRIDGERTON IS A BAD SHOW?

This is entirely subjective and I can only say that it depends.

Bridgerton’s sole aim is to deliver a romance. Its premise is no longer fresh. The world building is far from authentic, it is a very Hollywood version of Regency England despite the British-ness of the whole cast and the constant use of the word “lovely”. The screenwriting is everything but 1800s.

In other words, nothing in here really matters except for getting Simon and Daphne together, and the production team don’t seem to pretend otherwise. It all comes down to whether these characters can appeal to you.

To be able to like Bridgeton, I believe, you would have to be a fan of the book. The show has been widely praised as a great “adaptation”, so it obviously has done a passable job there.

I myself have not read any of Julia Quinn’s novels. I cannot in honesty say that I am too crazy about Simon or Daphne.

But that’s just me.

And the last thing you should do is letting one review stop you from enjoying Bridgerton’s dazzling Dukes and Duchesses, absence of bonnets, lavishly flowery dresses, half-baked feminism, side characters who should have been the main characters, and the heroin punching a sleazy dude in the face.