TV Shows Like Bridgerton To Watch While We Await Season 5
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27 minutes ago
Benedict and Sophie’s story has drawn to a close – so what do we watch now?
Sophie Baek’s (Yerin Ha) rags to riches story is complete: she tracked down the will of her father, the late Lord Penwood, and married the notoriously unpindownable gentleman of the Ton, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). (In case you missed it, the ceremony was snuck into a post-credits scene.)
Naturally our minds are flitting to which Bridgerton sibling’s love story might be next: is it Eloise (Claudia Jessie), who finally seemed open to the idea of nuptials at the end of season 4? Or will it be the sadly widowed Francesca (Hannah Dodd), who fans of the book know has another love story on the cards?
No matter: seasons of Bridgerton take a notoriously long time to make. So while we patiently await season 5 – here’s everything we know so far on that front – we will be turning to our back-up romantic dramas that remind us of the Ton.
Here are five TV series to watch if you loved Bridgerton, featuring more silk dresses, scandalous gossip and slow-burn romances.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
If you are yet to dabble, make haste: this six-part limited series delves into the origin story of Golda Rosheuvel’s Queen Charlotte, who rules the Ton in Bridgerton in the stead of her unwell husband King George III. Created by Shonda Rhimes with some help from Julia Quinn, India Amarteifio takes on the role of young Charlotte here, a young German princess who arrives in London betrothed to the reclusive King George III (Corey Mylchreest). If Bridgerton pulls on your heart strings, just wait until you’ve watched this…
Six episodes streaming on Netflix.
Sanditon
Bridgerton is far more glamorous than Jane Austen’s more down-to-earth universe, though fans often crossover due to the shared Regency setting; think pillar dresses, organised balls and dances and courtship within strictly controlled limits. Adapting one of Austen’s unfinished novels, Sanditon champions all of the above, centring on Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) who moves to the up-and-coming seaside resort of Sanditon and is shocked by the scheming and ambitious inhabitants she meets. Theo James and Leo Suter also star.
Three seasons streaming on ITVX.
The Buccaneers
Another series based on an unfinished novel, this time Edith Wharton’s, The Buccaneers takes its lead from Bridgerton, modernising a period drama with contemporary music, vibrant costumes, glamorous makeup and radical views. It helps that The Buccaneers centres on a group of wealthy American girls who travel to London in the 1870s on a mission to marry into the British aristocracy. But once there, they realise high society is rife with stringent rules, and titles, wealth and familial reputations come with serious constraints. Starring Kristine Frøseth, Alisha Boe, Matthew Broome, Christina Hendricks and more, it’s the perfect watch if you want to see rebellious female friendships alongside breathtaking romance.
Two seasons streaming on Apple TV.
The Gilded Age
Sticking with the US, The Gilded Age is another 19th century period drama centring on the old money-new money clash American high society grappled with at this time. Think society politics, lavish parties and ruthless reputation games. Created by Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellowes, the series opens in 1880s New York, and centres on Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) who arrives in the city and quickly becomes entangled in the social war between the traditional elite and ambitious newcomers. Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski also star.
Three seasons streaming on Now TV.
Belgravia
Another juicy drama from Julian Fellowes (and based on his novel), Belgravia commences just after the Georgian period, at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s lengthy reign. Capturing the same essence of scheming, secrets and social climbing as Bridgerton, Belgravia achieves exactly what we come to period dramas for: shocking scandal that simmers beneath strict social rules and impeccable manners. Set in the newly built London neighbourhood of Belgravia, it centres on Anne Trenchard (Tamsin Greig), a determined matriarch trying to protect her family as long-buried secrets about her late daughter Sophia explode to the surface of society. Ella Purnell and Harriet Walter also star.
Six episodes available to purchase on Prime Video.
All four seasons of Bridgerton are streaming now on Netflix. netflix.com
