‘Bridgerton’ reviews round-up: ‘Glossy, glorious escapism’ will ‘cheer you up’

Netflix’s much-anticipated Bridgerton series launches tomorrow!

Based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn, the upcoming historical romance drama comes from the makers of Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy.

Bridgerton follows eight close-knit siblings in early 1800s England as they look for love and happiness in Regency London high society.

The cast includes Adjoa Andoh (Doctor Who), Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch), Claudia Jessie (Line of Duty), Polly Walker (Rome), Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls), Sabrina Bartlett (Game of Thrones), Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter), and Ben Miller (Death in Paradise), with the voice of Dame Julie Andrews.

Watch the trailer:

 

The eight-part series is described as “a romantic, scandalous, and quick-witted series that celebrates the timelessness of enduring friendships, families finding their way, and the search for a love that conquers all.”

We’ve rounded up a selection of reviews to help you decide if you’d like to watch the series:

 

Bridgerton is so good! It’s so much fun! I love it wholly and unapologetically! It cheered me right up at a generally awful time, and it will cheer you up too … Bridgerton is basically a cross between Gossip Girl and Jane Austen … The costumes are sumptuous, the locations are stunning, and the whole thing is full of bright colours.” ★★★★★ – Radio Times

 

“The dialogue is often preposterous, and so many liberties are taken with historical accuracy that I half-expected to see characters in Zoom meetings. However, these are quibbles. Bridgerton is witty, daring, refreshing, and may just have reinvigorated the costume drama.” – The Guardian

 

“Netflix’s period drama is the shiny little stocking filler the world needs this Christmas … Shonda Rhimes’ historical romance series is all the better for putting entertainment before accuracy … Nobody’s going to mistake Bridgerton for Austen, but it hardly matters. It looks great, rattles along, and doesn’t ask too much of the exhausted, depressed, locked-down Christmas viewer.” ★★★★ – The Independent

 

“A sparkly period piece with a difference.” – New York Times

 

“Naysayers will doubtless dismiss the pacy dialogue, dramatic plot reveals and end-of-episode cliffhangers as soapy and silly, but what was Downton Abbey if not a soap dressed up in period attire? With seven more books in Quinn’s series ripe for adaptation, there’s certainly scope for Bridgerton to rival Julian Fellowes’ long-running hit. A pleasingly OTT exercise in glossy, glorious escapism, Bridgerton is a jolt of joy and romance at the end of a year that, for most of us, has been sorely lacking in both.” ★★★★ – The Evening Standard

 

“At the end of this miserable year, at least there is Bridgerton, arriving this holiday season like a frivolous but fulfilling present … Bridgerton’s end result is a heady cloud of pleasure and true love set in an idealized, more inclusive milieu. At a time when I’m longing to escape the real world, few fantasies are more inviting.” – Vulture

 

“Netflix’s newest romance period drama, lives up to the fandom and marketing hype.” ★★★★ – Den of Geek

 

“Regardless of whether you’ve read Quinn’s novels or haven’t read a romance in your life, Bridgerton is sure to delight and will provide many with the perfect Christmas binge-watch. It’s the sort of cozy viewing experience perfectly designed for such seasons … Just leave your cynicism at the door and press play.” – IGN

 

Bridgerton will be available to watch now exclusively on Netflix around the world tomorrow.

Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels are available on Amazon.