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Who can resist being swept up in the romance and opulence of Netflix’s popular drama
Bridgerton – and in the gorgeous costumes that take centre stage in the Shondaland production of author Julia Quinn’s historical romance novels?
Beautiful ballroom scenes of Regency-era London, ablaze with society swans dressed in embellished empire-line silk and elaborate hairstyles dotted with fairy tale jewels sparkling in the candlelight, have left us yearning for some of that fashion magic. A scene from Bridgerton . Courtesy Netflix
Set in 1813, the series – which has been renewed for a second season – follows the ups and downs of the romance between Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family and “incomparable” debutante of the season, and the dashing Duke of Hastings. It is joyful candyfloss escapism, breaking the mould of stereotypical costume dramas with diverse casting and not a bonnet in sight.
Laverne Cox: ‘I can be so hard on myself’ Eva Wiseman
Laverne Cox knew she was different because everybody told her so. She was eight when a teacher called to warn her mother, “If you don’t get your son into therapy right away, he’s going to end up in New Orleans wearing a dress.” This was Alabama, 1980, and Cox was escaping bullies every day. At 11 she attempted suicide. The bullying continued when she moved to New York in her late teens – by day she’d get harassed in the street, but by night, on stage at Lucky Cheng’s drag bar, she was celebrated, a queen. It was here that she began her transition, and it was only after wrapping season one of
The Crown, it is the Regency-era drama
Bridgerton. The series has already been binged by millions of Netflix subscribers since it debuted in December. The series comes from Shonda Rhimes Shondaland. The series was born out of that $100 million-plus partnership between the streaming service and the creator of
Grey s Anatomy and
In its first 28 days of streaming the Bridgerton series, Netflix estimates that 82 million member households streamed it. The series reached number one in 83 countries and has reached the top 10 in every country but Japan.
The success of the Netflix series propelled the books upon which it is based into the New York Times bestsellers list. A remarkable feat especially when you consider that the books were published some 18 years ago.
This race debate over âBridgertonâ is Much Ado About Nothing
By Buhle Mbonambi
It took me just over five days to watch Netflix s latest original,
Bridgerton. Itâs a binge-able soapie drama that has some good moments and other moments that make you cringe. Itâs not the finest TV ever made, but itâs watchable.
Bridgerton is the first production from Shonda Rhimes s Shondaland Studios and is part of her groundbreaking deal with Netflix which is worth $150-million (about R2.2 -billion).
Bridgerton is one of the most talked-about TV shows and that s mainly due to the diversity of the cast.