Bridgerton Season 1 premiered on Netflix on December 25, 2020. The period show is set in 1800s Regency London where each year, a new flock of debutante ladies enter the marriage market to hunt for husbands. The late Viscount Edmund (Rupert Evans) and his wife Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) decided to name their children in alphabetical order from eldest to youngest. Shonda Rhimes brought the television series to life, adapting it from Julia Quinn’s eight books — each telling the story of one Bridgerton sibling as they grow up and look for love.

Other than the Bridgerton family, staple characters in the series include the Featherington family, particularly Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), who writes an anonymous gossip column under the name Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews). Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) also shape society to the best of their abilities. The sensational show is known for its intricate costumes and hairstyles, elaborate set designs and particularly its orchestral covers of popular hit songs by the likes of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande and more.

The first season stars Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in the main character roles of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings. Daphne’s story comes first in the books — The Duke and I — though she is the fourth child in the lineup of siblings. Daphne’s story adopts the trope of fake dating as she makes a deal with Page’s rakish Duke of Hastings to try and snag her a suitor using a pretend courtship. Daphne does almost marry a prince, but she develops feelings for the Duke which are challenged when her brother Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) finds out that they have been alone together. Daphne interrupts what could have been a deadly duel to say she will marry Simon.

Season 2 of Bridgerton tells Anthony’s love story, based on the second book in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. Simone Ashley starred as Kate Sharma, older sister to Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), who Anthony initially seeks out because of Queen Charlotte’s declaration that Edwina is the season’s incomparable, or “diamond.” Kate’s and Anthony’s story is one of enemies to lovers.

Bridgerton Season 3, which was split into two 4-episode parts released in May and then June 2024, follows Colin (Luke Newton) and Peneleope Featherington’s romance, which centers around a friendship to lovers arc. Romancing Mister Bridgerton serves largely as the source material for Season 3. Francesca, who was first portrayed by Ruby Stokes in Seasons 1 and 2 before Hannah Dodd was recast in the role, also makes her debut in Season 3. Francesca’s book, When He Was Wicked, comes sixth in the series.