Bridgerton: Netflix Series Does Not Know What To Do With Lead Couples After Their Season Is Done

In December 2020, Netflix launched one of its biggest romance series, Bridgerton, over the Christmas holiday. With 113.3 million views, Season 1 became one of the streamer’s most-watched shows and was

quickly renewed for more instalments. Based on the novels of Julia Quinn, Bridgerton follows the love lives of the eight siblings from eldest Anthony to youngest Hyacinth. The first part of Season 4 premiered on January 29, and Bridgerton is set to return for Seasons 5 and 6 as well. So why is it that after their seasons are done, the Bridgerton siblings are basically sidelined with no meaningful stories? Did the makers forget the title of the show?

Bridgerton love stories so far

Produced by Shondaland, the series began with the romance between the eldest daughter, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings. The two pretend to court to get other suitors off their backs and fall in love anyway. Despite a forced marriage, the couple manages to confess their true feelings to one another by the end of the season.

It was a big shock after Season 1 as Page announced he would not be returning to Bridgerton. The actor had endured a lot of online harassment from book fans who stated that Page was not right for the part. Bridgerton is one of many period shows that have gone with colour-blind casting for key parts like Kate (Simone Ashley) and Sophie (Yerin Ha). For the role of Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), Francesca’s love interest, the role has been gender bent as well. For Season 2, which followed the love story between the eldest brother, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), the Viscount Bridgerton, and Kate, Daphne was a key part of his story. From Season 3 onwards, the Duchess, one of the highest-ranking titles of the ton, has simply disappeared, and the family are not bothered.

In Season 3, which focused on third brother Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), aka gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, Anthony and Kate appeared briefly in the background, before being whisked away to India, despite Kate being pregnant with the heir. Now, in the first part of Season 4, the heads of the family are nowhere to be found. However, showrunner Jess Brownell promises the couple is set to return in Part 2.

Bridgerton is an ensemble, not an anthology

The Bridgerton universe is populated with many ton families, and then there is, of course, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), but the makers should realise by now that this romance show is not an anthology about a new family every season. Its members are of the same family, said to be a close-knit family of nine, including mother Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), and every time a family member is absent for occasions like weddings and births, it’s jarring.

Furthermore, it’s odd because stars Dynevor, Bailey and Ashley, who are all booked and busy, have repeatedly stated their willingness to come back to show and be supporting players after their seasons. Bailey has even stated that he is ready to be there until Season 8 to walk Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) down the aisle. So why can’t the writers accommodate the Bridgerton family into the show instead of adding characters or focusing on the Featherington family that do little to do the plot.

This season, the show explores the conflict between Queen Charlotte and her confidante Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) which is a touching arc. But this belonged on Season 2 of the spinoff series launched in 2023 and not Bridgerton. The production house has been hinting about other spinoff since a few years, and I wish they would just go ahead and do it. Because these side-plots are taking the story away from the Bridgertons, which is the main reason most of the audience tunes in.

Audiences want more escapist romance and happy couples

With the state of the world being what it is, viewers are hoping to lose themselves in a swoonworthy romance that hits all the cliches and still makes you believe in love. Bridgerton largely does that, but it is frustratingly obtuse to pretend the other siblings and their partners don’t exist. What will happen by the Gregory’s (Will Tilston) season rolls around? Will he forget that he had three brothers?The reason fans are praising the new season focused on Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie is that it has remained faithful to the books. In Season 2, they botched Anthony and Kate’s story by adding an unnecessary love triangle with her sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran). For Season 3, which was supposed to be Benedict’s season, the makers pushed up Colin and Penelope’s season and unmasked Lady Whistledown in front of society. Now, the girl boss writer is reduced to a mere gossip.

The show’s biggest problem is that it doesn’t know how to write happy couples anymore. Conflict can crop up in so many ways with eight siblings of different temperaments. The cast seems ready and willing, so why not give them an opportunity? If they continue to disappear more family members in future seasons, it’s just going to become more glaring. Bring back the Bridgertons, married or not! Trust us, the fans will be tuned in.