5 shows to stream if you like Netflix's 'Bridgerton'
Netflix witnessed a craze like never before when its Regency-era show Bridgerton dropped in 2020. It gave us period drama, romance, balls, along with a parallelly-running mystery about the identity of Lady Whistledown. Most importantly, it promised us multiple seasons, and we're getting season two on March 25. While you wait, try out these 5 shows that match the tone and setting of Bridgerton.
'The Great'
Let's begin with an American production that also dropped in 2020, The Great. This fictionalized period comedy-drama by Hulu starred Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great, the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia. The Emmy-nominated show is actually an engaging watch if you love royalty drama, girl power, and a good dosage of humor. Two seasons (20 episodes) are available to watch.
'Dickinson'
Apple TV+ Original Dickinson has it all. Period setting: check; modernized tale: check; strong female characters: double-check. Exploring the life and work of English poet Emily Dickinson in a fictionalized setting, Hailee Steinfeld essays the lead character. Although the show is a bit short on the romance element; lovers of literature are sure to enjoy the style that creator Alena Smith has adopted.
'Gossip Girl'
Next, we will be ditching the period setting in return for thematic similarities. Like Bridgerton, the iconic CW show Gossip Girl was narrated by a sort of omnipresent character who knew everyone's dirty secrets. Also, both shows had the narrative set around unearthing the identity of the narrator. Kristen Bell, who voiced the narration in the original Gossip Girl, also returned for its reboot.
'Downton Abbey'
Bridgerton wasn't just about a family and its members but about a ton, its people, a glamorous social season, and so much more. We got a cinematic portrayal of another such community in the much-acclaimed PBC series, Downton Abbey. The British drama series followed the lives of the Crawley family and its servants and bagged umpteen Emmy Awards during its six-season run.
'Outlander'
And, last but not the least, we have Outlander from the house of Netflix. Like Bridgerton, this show has been adapted from a widely famous novel series and offers a great deal of romance and drama, wrapped in the foil of time travel. Also, Ronald D. Moore's creation matches the sensual quotient of the Shondaland-backed show. Currently, new episodes of S06 are coming weekly.
