AIBU to be disappointed in Bridgerton?

[Scatterlingsofafrica]

I love costume dramas and was excited when I heard there was a new one on Netflix. But it’s awful! I can’t watch it- the costumes, the dialogue, the plot are all completely implausible and unconvincing. Anyone else feel the same?

I thought it was hilariously brilliantly over the top. The music!!
I like to think of it as an alternate reality 1813 where Queen Charlotte really was black and a dukedom of Hastings was created, and that the duke was black.

Early on i was really incensed (still am really) about how restricted women's lives were at that time. I thought it covered that well, especially "we will do what women do: talk". Hilarious.

I just kept seeing Sally Metcalfe's shocked face.

Speaking as a man, AIBU to suggest that Bridgerton is the worst bit of Tele since Loose Women first aired?

Hammertime83, I suggest you seek out Naked Attraction, a show so grim that you will switch back to to Bridgerton with relief and joy.

It isn’t the type of drama I usually like as I pretty much only watch gritty crime drama. But I also got hooked. I thought some of the acting was bad, particularly Marina, but I also stopped caring. The plot was silly and lots of things were unrealistic but you definitely had to let go of that. I still don’t know why I liked it so much actually, but I was obsessed by the end and bereft that it finished. Things I definitely enjoyed however were the gorgeous men and the sex scenes . I also thought Daphne’s acting was v good.

I think you are being unreasonable. You are just holding it up to your high brow ideas of what a costume drama should be. It's different and pure entertainment. It isn't meant to be historically accurate and it's great to see black people in different roles. The Duke of Hastings is fabulous.

It was camp nonsense. Enjoyable if you’re in the mood. I couldn’t be bothered with it after 2 episodes. It’s a pop culture take on a period drama. Very knowing.

The duke is lovely to look at though!

In real life I suspect that many of the beautiful courtiers were actually a bit pock-marked and some syphylis riddled and their teeth, well probably awful, some flea ridden wigs too. That isn't reproduced accurately so the colour of skin shouldn't matter either.

I would have preferred it if it was pantomime. Rege-Jean Page's overacting took away all pleasure from what was promising to be mildly entertaining soap opera.

Is anyone watching The Great? Another enjoyable cod-history costumed romp, this time through the eighteenth century Russian Court. Sunday at 9pm on C4. Very knowing, as Frenchdressing says.

Although, sadly, no Duke of Hastings.

Fun fact- the Duke of Hastings (I can't remember his real name) took up riding for stunt work and loved it so much he bought himself a horse which is called Sparkle😂

@Originalyellowbelly

I just kept seeing Sally Metcalfe's shocked face.

She certainly has some of her mother's mannerisms, I was expecting a scrap o'th'cobbles. The mother Bridgerton is the woman teacher from Fever Pitch, I couldn't place her, I'm sure she's been in something else more recently, she looked familiar.

Gave it about 20 minutes and that was enough. If you're not going to be 'historically accurate' in ANYTHING, then don't set it in Georgian England, just set it in a parallel universe or another country or suchlike. Couldn't get past the overwhelming number of things that were 'wrong'.

It was unfeasible, unrealistic and marvellous. Pure escapism. Loved every minute. Would happily watch another three seasons.

The people saying 'goodness, the inaccuracies!' remind me rather of the guy who wrote into a paper to complain about Charles's appalling fishing technique in The Crown. I'm just not sure Bridgerton is trying for the Serious Historical Accuracy award.

Fun fact- the Duke of Hastings (I can't remember his real name) took up riding for stunt work and loved it so much he bought himself a horse which is called Sparkle😂

Amazing. Now I love him all the more.

Managed 15 minutes before we looked at each other and said "Nah".

I enjoyed it for what it is, a frothy drama with beautiful costumes and backdrops. I’m definitely in the minority about the Duke though, can see he’s objectively good looking but doesn’t come across as manly and brooding enough for me.

It’s shite!

But I think my expectations were mismanaged. Bar the sex etc.it reminds me of a teen drama that would be shown on CBBC - that’s where the level of dialogue is pitching I think.

I wish I could suspend my disbelief and enjoy this. I just can't shake the sense that the silliness, the refusal to acknowledge any contemporaneous politics is... disrespectful.

I know, I know, I should probably just bore off. But WERE the matriarchs of Regency society just stuck-up gold-diggers? No, there was a reason why people acted in the way they did, and that reason is deeply rooted in systematic misogyny and sexism. And yet all we're left with is the yawing mannerisms of Mrs Bennett.

When it comes to the colourblind casting, OK perhaps they are portraying an "alternate reality", but I'm not sure it works. It feels like this is riding roughshod over a shameful part of this country's history. It feels so many thousands of miles from authentic, while referencing these bizarre, rudderless historical tropes, that it tells a lie.

Rather than telling the old stories badly, I think we need new stories.

It's bubblegum telly isn't it. Escapism that you don't have to think about too much. I enjoyed it.
I started reading the books after and have now reached Eloise. I can't decide whether the casting was great because I could visualise the characters before I read them or just because the casting was as good as the books depicted. Eloise is especially spot on for me, as is Lady Danbury.

Hmmmm I think this is an interesting point actually @PlanetSlattern.

I couldn’t watch it. It was rubbish It’s like Mills and Boon. But people like it as escapist TV in the same way they’ll watch soaps etc.

I can't get past the way Eloise looks like Benedict Cumberbatch, in his early Sherlock avatar.

Oh I have no problem with escapist TV or literature! What I have taken issue with is that some people seem to think this programme is in some way progressive and I just think, brr.

Soaps don't need colourblind casting because they can actually tell authentic stories. Well, authentic stories that involve people's dads having affairs with their wives and chip shops exploding.

The Duke of Hastings though