Bridgerton: The Netflix Series of Successes
By Zoe Kramer
You might not have expected Netflix’s first smash hit of the year to be a regency-era romance series, but then again, Bridgerton has proven itself capable of defying expectations in more ways than one.
After debuting in December, the steamy drama took the world by storm, becoming the number one ranked title globally. It was also one of only a handful of shows to reclaim the number one spot for a second time.
But wait, it gets better.
In its first 28 days, Bridgerton was watched by an astounding 82 million member households. That means roughly 40% of Netflix subscribers decided to give it a try. As a result, it had the biggest-ever debut for an original series on a streaming service. That’s the holy grail for any streaming network.
But how exactly did Bridgerton do this well? What’s its secret?
One simple factor may be timing. Bridgerton was released during the holiday season, a time when an upswing in travel led to higher numbers of Covid cases. This caused widespread lockdowns in January, so there were plenty of people stuck at home, with nothing much to do but watch television. But perhaps this captive audience notion isn’t giving Bridgerton enough credit; after all, there were plenty of other shows released around the same time which didn’t do nearly as well.
“The art of television is running to the spot where lightning has just struck.”
Netflix exec Jinny Howe recalled how her love of the romance genre led to Bridgerton as something of a dream project:
“During my Netflix interviews I remember being asked: “If you could make any show, what kind would it be and why?” I dared say the truth – that in a pop culture world dominated by sci-fi and fantasy, I’ve always loved beautiful, lush romances. Being direct paid off, though little did I imagine that the first project I would help bring to life at Netflix would be Bridgerton.”
In this sense, Bridgerton may have tapped into the same phenomenon that caused the original Pride and Prejudice novel to sell out during its first release in 1813. Director Julie Anne Robinson said in an interview with Newswrap, “The art of television is running to the spot where lightning has just struck.” So what is the lightning? Romances written for women by women, romances with the right amount of passion and smarts, speak to something universal.
Another in the lineup of talented Bridgerton creators is Shonda Rhimes, the esteemed showrunner of such hits as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder. Rhimes, who founded the production company and lifestyle website, Shondaland, is known as a proponent of diverse casting, and she has delivered. Queen Charlotte is reimagined as a black woman, among a host of other POC characters. This adds to the widespread appeal of the show, as people of all backgrounds can see themselves represented on the screen.
Bridgerton is also appealing in that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s playfully anachronistic, with a soundtrack that features covers of modern hits such as Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” and Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy.” This gives it a fresh feel, rather than the stuffiness normally associated with the regency era.
Overall, the show has exactly what pandemic audiences want — escapism, love and unrepentant joy.
So what might TV producers and networks take away from Bridgerton? Don’t be too quick to mock romance, because it can be a powerhouse.