In a year where the Christmas TV programming was understandably weak, Netflix’s technicolour period drama Bridgerton has been our saviour.
Described as a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Gossip Girl, the Christmas Day release is based on the bestselling series of romance novels by Julia Quinn and is bought to us by Shonda Rimes, producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. Set in the early 19th Century, we follow the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family looking for love and happiness in ruthless London high society. It’s the perfect frivolous and frothy end to a depressing 2020.
One of the strengths of Bridgerton is the characters. As well as meeting the Bridgertons, we are introduced to the not-quite-as-elegant Featheringtons who live across the street, members of the nobility and the royal family. There is a Bridgerton character for all of us.
After spending my Christmas with the Bridgertons, I rank the principal characters from the series – from dashing dukes to literal queens!
[WARNING – Contains spoiler alerts]1. Penelope Featherington
Portrayed by Derry Girl’s Nicola Coughlan, Penelope is the intelligent and kindly black sheep of the Featherington family. When Marina’s secret is exposed, she’s the only member of the Featherington family to show her any kindness. And like her best friend Eloise Bridgerton, Penelope realises there’s more to life than endless balls, happily declaring to her mum that she would like to take a gap year from the season to concentrate on her studies. Penelope is pure heart, and I want her as my BFF.
Photo – Netflix
2. Eloise Bridgerton
My hero. Second daughter Eloise is vocal about the fact she doesn’t want to follow her sister Daphne into the marriage market, and would much rather go to university. Her ‘investigation’ to uncover Lady Whistledown’s identity is comical, and she comes out with some great witty one liners. But I really fell in love her when she was hiding in the garden at night, smoking a cigarette on the swing. Everyone loves a rebel – even in Regency England.
Photo – Netflix
3. Lady Danbury
You don’t mess with Lady Danbury, deftly portrayed by Adjoa Andoh. In a society where there are rules of etiquette to be followed in a conversation, Lady D is a straight shooter that tells – and sees – it like it is. She is a wealthy widow living her best life and is at the centre of society, including all the gossip – making her a prime candidate for the writer behind the mysterious Lady Whistledown pamphlets.
Photo – Netflix
4. Colin Bridgerton
All round good-egg and true romantic, Colin has his heart broken when he learns via Lady Whistledown’s pamphlets that Marina has duped him into marrying her to take on her illegitimate unborn child. Probably would have been lower down the list until he revealed to Marina in their final conversation that he would have married her anyway if he had known the truth because he loved her. COLIN YOU ARE TOO PURE FOR THIS WORLD.
Photo – Netflix
5. Benedict Bridgerton
The second Bridgerton brother – and the one I would be most likely to attend a party with – Benedict is free of the expectations that weigh on his elder brother Anthony. A wannabe artist, he is equally at home in alcohol fuelled orgies as in the ballroom. He’s also not afraid to tell his family about his affection for someone of a lower rank. Like his brother Anthony, but more fun.
Photo – Netflix
6. Maid Rose
When Daphne falls out with Simon who is there? Maid Rose. When Daphne needs to learn the truth about the birds and the bees who tells her? Maid Rose. When Daphne needs someone to organise her society wedding who is there? Maid Rose. A cross between a PA and BFF, Rose is always there for our female protagonist.
Photo – Netflix
7. Queen Charlotte
London society’s queen bee, Queen Charlotte is omnipotent overseer of The Ton. Her approval can make or break you. But even royalty is not above devouring the gossip contained in Lady Whistledown’s scandal sheets. However, things change when Lady W makes the queen’s garden party a ‘non-event’ by not writing about it, leading the queen to seriously investigate who is behind the Lady W persona.
Photo – Netflix
8. Daphne Bridgerton
The eldest Bridgerton daughter, the series storyline centres on Daphne’s quest to find herself a husband and start a family after being declared the incomparable debutante of the season by Queen Charlotte. While you can’t fault her dedication to her quest to bag herself a husband, was it really fair to flirt with the lovely Prince Friedrich to the point he was ready to propose just to make the Duke jealous?
Photo – Netflix
9. Cressida Cowper
Some people may be surprised to Daphne’s fellow debutante Cressida Cowper on my list, but every heroine needs a good nemesis – and original mean girl Cressida fills that role perfectly. Without her night time stalking of Daphne and The Duke in the garden, Daphne would not have wrangled an engagement out of the reluctant Simon. Think of her as a Regency Regina George to Daphne’s Cady.
Photo – Netlfix
10. Lady Violet Bridgerton
Lady Violet Bridgerton is a Grade A mum (apart from the teeny issue of not fully appraising daughter Daphne of the facts of life, thus leading to a major misunderstanding and near ending of said daughter’s marriage). She is nice and agreeable – but a bit forgettable. Best moment is when she wakes up after a heavy night at a ball in total denial about her hangover.
Photo – Netflix
11. Antony Bridgerton
Look in the dictionary for the term cockblocking and you will find a picture of Antony Bridgerton. Yes, he may be the quintessential English gentleman, eldest Bridgerton sibling and head of the family but he ruins his sister Daphne’s marital prospects to the extent she nearly has to marry the odious Lord Berbrooke. Unforgivable.
Photo – Netflix
12. Marina Thompson
A poor, abandoned country girl with illegitimate babe in womb – you would expect her situation to elicit more response but I found it hard to like the Featherington’s house guest Marina. Maybe because she was intent on duping poor gullible Colin, rather than be engaged to a lord who was willing to overlook her situation? She was also harsh AF to poor Penelope when she realised Pen was in love Colin, basically calling her a child. No one messes with my Penelope.
Photo – Netflix
13. Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings
Man, this guy has ISSUES. Yes, Simon may be the 1813 version of The Bachelor, with all the single ladies clamouring for him to put a ring on it, but this guy has more daddy issues than there are balls in the season. His heart finally melts in the last episode, resulting in him and Daphne producing a heir, but its too little, too late in my opinion. Not a stone cold fox, just stone cold.
Photo – Netflix
14. Philippa and Prudence Featherington
The elder Featherington sisters, these two rank low on the list because they didn’t really bring that much to the story. They had such potential to bring a bit more comedic content to the show, but in the end they just seemed to hover in the background of scenes like some gaudy tropical birds.
Photo – Netflix
15. Lord and Lady Featherington
Lady F is the regency epitome of a pushy mum, but the forging of a letter from the father of Marina’s child to make the poor girl think she has been disowned verges on pure evil. Lord F isn’t much better, squandering the family fortune on gambling to the point he arranges to fix a boxing match for a way out. That didn’t end well, did it?
Photo – Netflix
If you enjoyed Bridgerton, Netflix has released many other period dramas that are well worth a watch. Check out my blog post on the best Autumn/Winter 2020 period dramas from Netflix for more binge-watch inspo.
