As one of the titular "Derry Girls" and a romantic lead on "Bridgerton," Nicola Coughlan has proven time and time again that she's just as good at making us laugh as she is at making us swoon. And she certainly earns plenty of laughs with her starring role in the millennial dramedy "Big Mood," which is returning to Tubi for its second season on Thursday, April 16. (Speaking of Tubi, while other top streaming services continue to crank up their monthly fees — *cough* Netflix *cough* — its extensive streaming library remains blessedly free.)

"Big Mood" stars Coughlan as Maggie, one-half of a lifelong pair of buddies alongside Eddie (Lydia West) as they navigate contrasting life priorities, mental health challenges and the messiness of female friendship in London. The upcoming sophomore season will see the young women reunite after a year apart, with even more relationship strains and new faces (including Rupert Everett and Hannah Onslow) to come.

If you haven't yet tuned into the underrated dark comedy, it's the perfect time to catch up on "Big Mood's" six-episode first season before season 2 premieres in a few weeks. And after all, it's totally free on Tubi — what do you have to lose?!

What is 'Big Mood' about?

Aspiring playwright Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and bar owner Eddie (Lydia West) have been besties for a decade and live together in a flat in Dalston, East London, a close friendship made all the more intense and codependent by their work pressures, Maggie's ongoing struggle with bipolar disorder and the looming threat of their 30s.

When Maggie recklessly decides to go off her meds and her mental health struggles come to the forefront, Eddie will have to decide whether or not that through-thick-and-thin connection is actually sustainable.

Alongside its talented leading ladies, the series — which was written and created by Camilla Whitehill and directed by Rebecca Asher — also features Robert Gilbert, Eamon Farren, Niamh Cusack, Amalia Vitale, Luke Featherston, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Sobal, and Kate Fleetwood.

Why you should you stream 'Big Mood' on Tubi ASAP

Sharing believably excellent chemistry with her onscreen buddy, Lydia West, as well as a hilarious command of both the show's sharp social commentary and bawdy physical comedy, "Big Mood" features a tour de force performance from Nicola Coughlan, who received her first BAFTA TV nomination for playing Maggie.

The Irish actress has always been a scene-stealer in ensemble series like the aforementioned "Bridgerton" and "Derry Girls," but "Big Mood" allows her to deservedly step into the spotlight. For The Guardian, Joel Golby said it best: "[Couglan] plays Maggie with big bombastic take-all-the-energy-in-the-room aplomb, until mental health hits... and then she turns, playing grey and small and slithering with just as much skill."

And speaking of those mental health hits, like "Fleabag" and "I May Destroy You" before it, "Big Mood" isn't scared to have those major lifts swoop down well into the minor key, chronicling Maggie's manic highs and depressive lows with equal parts dark humor and raw emotion.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "Big Mood" season 2, including new trailer clips, character details, plot points and other behind-the-scenes intel.

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We still have a ways to go until "Bridgerton" season 5 comes waltzing its way onto Netflix, but at least we dear gentle readers have a much-appreciated update from the streaming service about what they can expect from the upcoming installment of the Regency-era romance.

On Tuesday, March 24, the streamer not only announced that production was officially underway for the new eps but also revealed which Bridgerton sibling would be acting as our romantic lead for the fifth season (drumroll please) ... Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd.

Adapting the Julia Quinn romance novels of the same name, each season of "Bridgerton" routinely focuses on one member of the Bridgerton clan. But the recently wrapped fourth season — which chronicles the rags-meets-riches relationship between nobleman Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and housemaid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), as told in Julia Quinn's "An Offer from a Gentleman, — also included plot points from the Francesca-focused "When He Was Wicked," the sixth title in the book series.

Viewers got to see Francesca's marriage to her beloved John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin (Victor Alli), which was (spoiler alert!) tragically cut short by John's untimely death. They also got to witness the comfort and chemistry the young widow found in John's cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) following his passing.

That blossoming connection will serve as the basis of season 5. Netflix teased their new romantic leads — the franchise's first same-sex couple — via social media posts on Tuesday, March 24.

The official season 5 logline reads: “Francesca decides to reenter the marriage mart for practical reasons, two years after the death of her beloved husband, Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli). But when John’s cousin Michaela returns to London to tend to the Kilmartin estate, Fran’s complicated feelings will have her questioning whether to stick to her pragmatic intentions or pursue her inner passions.”

We also have fresh character breakdowns for both Francesca and Michaela, per Netflix: The former is normally "reserved and contained" but "as Michaela stirs up new feelings inside her, Fran will make discoveries about herself that could change everything." Michaela is "charming and vivacious," but hiding underneath is "a vulnerable young woman who is quick to run the second she feels discomfort." The new season will find her facing that vulnerability head-on "as she's forced to navigate her relationship to her late cousin's legacy — and to Francesca."

“More than ever, season 5 is going to be about yearning… It feels groundbreaking," showrunner Jess Brownell shared about the series' next edition, via The Hollywood Reporter. "Obviously, there are a lot of great shows that have depicted queer love. We’re not the first by any means. But to make an entire 'Bridgerton' season about a sapphic relationship feels huge.”

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "Bridgerton" season 5, including plot points, character details, teaser trailers and other behind-the-scenes intel.

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Call us greedy, gentle readers, but even though we only just got a brand-new season of Netflix's juggernaut romance "Bridgerton," we're already waiting with bated breath for the next chapter of the Regency-era hit. The fourth installment, which follows the rags-to-riches relationship between rakish nobleman Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and resourceful housemaid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), aired its final episodes on February 26.

Back in May 2025, Netflix announced that it was officially greenlighting the popular series — which is based on the Julia Quinn romance novels of the same name — not only for a fifth season but also a sixth, so there's plenty more Bridgerton family hijinks to come. The biggest question going into season 5, however, is exactly which Bridgerton sibling the next edition will focus on.

It's still early days, but here's everything we know so far about "Bridgerton" season 5.

When is the 'Bridgerton' season 5 release date?

A release date hasn't been set just yet for "Bridgerton" season 5; however, if we are to use the last four installments as a framework and the fact that seasons of "Bridgerton" usually require a two-year production cycle, fans can expect to see new episodes sometime in late 2027 or early 2028.

After the third season dropped in two parts on May 16, 2024 and June 13, 2024, "Bridgerton" season 4 followed suit with its own split-season drop a year and a half later on January 29, 2026 and February 26, 2026. So it's safe to say it will be an 18- to 24-month wait for the fifth installment.

How many episodes will 'Bridgerton' season 5 be?

Again, no major announcements have been made but given that all other previous seasons of "Bridgerton" have consisted of eight episodes each, we're going to assume that season 5 will be no exception.

It's also TBD whether or not the period drama will continue its split-season format (i.e. an initial drop of four episodes followed by the remaining four eps about a month later), which it first introduced in its Penelope and Colin-focused third season, or if it will back to its one-fell-swoop release model from the show's first two seasons.

Who is in the 'Bridgerton' season 5 cast?

A season 5 cast list has not yet been made public, but it's a pretty safe bet that the majority of the Bridgerton siblings will be making their return for the next edition of the long-running Netflix series.

That means our most recent romantic lead Luke Thompson’s Benedict and his new bride, Yerin Ha's Sophie, as well as Claudia Jessie’s Eloise, Hannah Dodd's Francesca, Luke Newton's Colin plus wife Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), and the youngest members of the family, Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Gregory (Will Tilston).

It has not been confirmed yet but seeing as how they made time in their busy schedules to pop back for a few season 4 scenes, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley (as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and wife Kate Sharma, respectively) could potentially also come back for a cameo or two. Overseeing all of the family shenanigans, as always, will undoubtedly be Bridgerton matriarch Violet, played by Ruth Gemmell.

Outside of the Bridgerton clan, fans will likely be seeing more of Francesca's cousin-in-law, Michaela (Masali Baduza), especially in the wake of John Stirling's death. It's also assumed that Golda Rosheuvel will reprise her role as Queen Charlotte, and given that Emma Naomi's Alice Mondrich has now been accepted as a lady-in-waiting, there will surely be more from her and hubby Will (Martins Imhangbe) in season 5.

As for who we won't be seeing in the upcoming eps, it seems all but certain that the show has already said farewell to Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury. Ditto her brother Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), from whom Violet Bridgerton split at the end of season 4.

And acting legend Julie Andrews is expected to return to voice the show's signature narrator Lady Whistledown, though who is actually behind that pen these days remains to be seen.

What will 'Bridgerton' season 5 be about?

If you're a fan of the "Bridgerton" novels, you already know that each sibling gets their own dedicated book focused on their individual love story. However, season 4 of the show played with that framework a bit. Yes, it mostly centered on the romance between Benedict Bridgeton and Sophie Baek, as told in Julia Quinn's "An Offer from a Gentleman," but it also wove in plot points from the Francesca-focused "When He Was Wicked," the sixth title in the "Bridgerton" book series.

It remains to be seen whether "Bridgerton" season 5 will continue Francesca's story, or if it will switch gears to the series' fifth novel, "To Sir Phillip, With Love," which casts elder sister Eloise Bridgerton as the romantic lead.

"Bridgerton" showrunner Jess Brownell has previously revealed that both Eloise and Francesca will get their own dedicated seasons across the planned fifth and sixth installments. At the season 4 premiere in Paris's Palais Brongniart, Brownell told Deadline, "I would say both characters with the initials on my pocket square will get seasons in five and six," referencing her pocket square embroidered with the letters "E" and F." She added," In what order? I can't say."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton" related, including behind-the-scenes intel on the upcoming fifth season, from teaser trailers to character details and more.

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Just under one month after “Bridgerton” season 4, part 1 made its debut on Netflix, the social season has concluded with the release of part 2. Comprising the final four episodes, this installment was packed with major character beats and the kind of shocking twists that keep the Regency-era rumors swirling.

Yet, like the episodes that came before, part 2 took significant liberties with the source material, Julia Quinn’s "An Offer from a Gentleman." While some of these deviations served as brilliant narrative upgrades, others left book purists feeling a bit cold.

From rewritten romances to the resurrection of certain scandals, the changes were seismic. Here are seven major shifts from page to screen and an exploration of how well they actually translated to the Ton. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Benedict and Sophie’s happier ever after

No matter how dire the circumstances seem at the climax of a season, "Bridgerton" follows one cardinal rule: The siblings always find their way to a "Happier Ever After." It requires a hefty suspension of disbelief to imagine all eight siblings securing true love matches, but Benedict and Sophie are no exception.

Despite the hurdles of class, societal rigidness, and Sophie’s necessary deceit, the two were wed in a lush post-credits scene. Interestingly, the show granted them a more public victory than the book. In "An Offer from a Gentleman," the couple lives a quiet, secluded life in the countryside to avoid the scrutiny of their unconventional match.

On screen, however, Queen Charlotte herself — a character who doesn't exist in the books — gives the union her royal seal of approval. This implies that the pair won't have to hide; with the Queen’s blessing, they are free to remain in the heart of society.

A new Lady Whistledown takes up the pen

It was a given that Benedict and Sophie would find their way to the altar, but the reveal of a new Lady Whistledown was a genuine shock. In both the novels and the show, the original quill-wielder is Penelope Featherington, who retires the pseudonym once she becomes a Bridgerton.

In the books, that marks the end of the Whistledown era. The showrunners, however, clearly weren't ready to lose the show's narrative engine. A mystery figure in the Ton has now hijacked the pseudonym, and part 2 offered no clues as to their identity. This twist suggests that the writers realized they had painted themselves into a corner; removing Whistledown so early would strip the show of its heart. Whether fans will embrace a "copycat" Whistledown remains the biggest question for future seasons.

Francesca and John's altered fate

Francesca’s book arc is arguably the most devastating of the series. After marrying the steady John Stirling, she is widowed young and suffers a subsequent miscarriage. While she eventually finds love again with John’s cousin, Michael, the emotional scars are permanent.

The show is following the broad strokes of this tragedy, but with a major shift in identity: Michael is now Michaela. This introduces a queer storyline that adds a new layer of complexity to Francesca’s journey. While some fans have been vocal about the change, the most disappointing shifts are actually the timeline and the dynamic. The show fast-tracked their marriage (which lasted two years in the books) and suggested that Francesca was already struggling with intimacy and harboring feelings for Michaela while John was still alive. It felt like a slight to the "quiet love" that made their book relationship so poignant.

Violet's firm resolve

Fans likely breathed a sigh of relief during the finale when it became clear that Violet Bridgerton would not be walking down the aisle again. For a moment, it seemed the show might marry off the family matriarch, which would have felt like a betrayal of her deep, enduring devotion to Edmund.

Part 1’s flirtation between Violet and Lord Marcus Anderson was a welcome addition; it showed that Violet is still a woman with desires and agency. However, her decision to remain unmarried was the right call. She realized she wanted to live for herself rather than navigate the constraints of a brand-new marriage. It allowed her to honor her past while still embracing her future.

Benedict's coming out

Benedict’s journey has been one of the show’s most consistent departures from the books. While the literary Benedict is strictly heterosexual, the TV version has explored fluid intimacy for several seasons. This culminated in a part 2 scene where Benedict officially comes out to Sophie.

Sophie’s immediate acceptance was a touching moment that laid the groundwork for Francesca’s future journey with Michaela. While some may argue the historical accuracy of such an easy revelation, "Bridgerton" has always prioritized emotional truth over rigid history, and this moment felt earned.

A more humanized Araminta

Every Cinderella story needs a wicked stepmother, and Araminta certainly fits the bill. However, the show opted to give her more shades of gray. Part 2 featured a surprisingly tender moment between Araminta and her daughter Posy, reminding viewers that the villains of the Ton are often just women playing a ruthless game they didn't invent.

By framing her own marriage to Lord Penwood as a love match, the show reframes her cruelty as a desperate, misguided attempt to protect her status. In the books, she is often a one-dimensional caricature of greed; on screen, she is a victim of the same patriarchal system as the heroines.

Cressida Cowper's triumphant return

Perhaps the only twist as jarring as the new Whistledown was the return of Cressida Cowper. In the books, Cressida’s story ends in destitution after marrying an old man who leaves her with nothing. In the show, after being exiled at the end of season 3, she has pulled off the ultimate comeback.

Cressida reappeared in part 2 with a shiny new husband" — the new Lord Penwood. This change transforms her from a cautionary tale into a survivor. It aligns with the show's recurring theme: that the women of the Ton deserve more than to be flat villains; they deserve the chance to fight back against the world that tried to discard them.

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For anyone worried about whether the onscreen chemistry between the "Bridgerton" season 4 leads could compare to the spoon-tonguing tension of season one's Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor or the gazebo-rattling randiness of season 2 stars Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, we've got good news: There's more than enough heat between Luke Thompson's Benedict Bridgerton and Yerin Ha's Sophie Baek to power the season's final four installments.

Season 4 part 2 arrived on Netflix today (Feb. 26) and have enough vigorous tub-splashing to give the horny "Heated Rivalry" a run for its Canadian money. Beyond satisfying the passionate cravings of "Bridgerton" fans — both of the beloved streaming adaptation as well as the popular Julia Quinn novel series upon which the show is based — the rags-to-riches romance between Benedict and Sophia continues to be the drama's most interesting couple yet.

Their issues are knottier and, frankly, more compelling than any of the show's previous pairs, entangled with real-world tensions like "Downton Abbey"-esque class differences, financial hardships, societal expectations and family burdens, while still crackling with that slow-burning yearning that genre fans adore.

Sophie and Benedict's knotty romance deserved a more sophisticated end

Last we caught up with the Bridgerton bachelor and the humble housemaid in the Volume I finale, the former was offering up a less-than-desirable proposal to Sophie — for her hand not in marriage but in mistressdom, an extramarital arrangement popularized by some of the Ton's less moral men and covered scandalously in the Lady Whistledown pages of Penelope Benedict (Nicola Coughlan).

Ha's Sophie Baek is warm, bright and endearing throughout but also, refreshingly, not so quick to swoon at the mere sight of a handsome Bridgerton. She rightly challenges Benedict about the overt power imbalance between their stations and the casual, carefree privilege with which he navigates society as a wealthy nobleman.

"You are asking me to relinquish my virtue, my dignity, my self-respect...I may not be as high as a lady, but I refuse to be that low," she tells him in one memorable confrontation. As the illegitimate daughter of an earl and a lowly maid, she knows all too well the cost of such a sidepiece existence and the dangers of Benedict's impractical desires.

It's a more textured and, at times, uneasy dynamic than we're used to from the dreamy Regency-era romance, one amplified by the well-meaning concerns of Benedict's family, especially Bridgerton matriarch Violet (Ruth Gemmell) and returning older bro Anthony (Jonathan Bailey). That relationship conflict is far more engrossing than the inevitable, Cinderella-lite reveal that Sophie is both the Lady in Silver and of noble blood.

It's a shame, then, that "Bridgerton" does what "Bridgerton" always does and wraps up the couple's realistically messy season-long struggle in a too-tidy bow that has even the Ton's most over-the-top character — gossip-loving monarch Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) — mocking just how easily Benedict and Sophie's predicament rights itself. ("Was that not absurd?!")

"Bridgerton's" relentless requirement of a fairytale ending (speaking of, be sure to stick around for a giddy post-credits scene) also diminishes several of the season's similarly thorny side plots, the most notable being the marital difficulties between Bridgerton sister Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and her husband John Stirling (Victor Alli) and, later, her confused feelings for his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza). Book readers already know the outcome of that sad situation, so we won't be spoiling it here, but do know that it allows Dodd to flex her dramatic skills as the usually cautious and reserved Francesca roils with grief, guilt and uncertainty.

The season also has some interesting things to say about the sacrifices and loneliness of widowhood, seen both in Violet's sweet but pointedly secret courtship with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) and the shady but clearly grief-stricken dealings of Sophie's stepmother Lady Penwood (Katie Leung, a worthy villain).

But those things don't get a whole lot of room to develop because of the show's continued insistence on padding out its already considerable ensemble until it's bursting at its corset seams. Along with several high-profile cameos — including Bailey and Ashley, largely wasted here, plus other surprising arrivals that we won't spoil — the season has to follow Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Hyacinth's (Florence Hunt) sisterly squabbles over finishing lessons; Penelope's growing reluctance to continue her Lady Whistledown reportage; Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) disappointing Queen Charlotte with her wishes to resign from her lady-in-waiting post; and Alice Mondrich's (Emma Naomi) training as Agatha's protégée and potential replacement. And that's only the upstairs crew; the downstairs staff has their own share of screentime-sharing subplots.

After four seasons, some of these appearances read more as fan service than narratively necessary, a problem that's only going to continue as the series continues. If Sophie and Benedict's story proves anything, it's that "Bridgerton' can rely on its romantic leads and dial back some of the more far-fetched fluff and filler without losing any of its swoon.

"Bridgerton" season 4 part 2 is available to stream on Netflix beginning Thursday, February 26 at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT

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Now that “Bridgerton” season 4, part 1 has been out for a while and part 2 (sadly) isn’t here yet, the wait has been a little painful for fans of high society romance, scandal, and swoon‑worthy drama. With the remainder of the season set to return at the end of this month on Netflix, there’s no harm in binge-watching some “Bridgerton”‑esque shows while you tide yourself over.

Whether you’re craving more Regency‑era ballroom drama, lush period costumes, or just juicy love stories with all the feels, there’s plenty out there to scratch that itch. From lavish historical romances to family sagas dripping with tension, these seven shows capture the elegant escapism and emotional highs that made “Bridgerton” such a hit, and will help make the wait for part 2 a little more bearable.

‘The Buccaneers’ (2023)

“The Buccaneers” is best described as a Victoria sponge piled high with strawberries and cream. Rich, indulgent, and undeniably charming, this series might be called guilty pleasure TV, but it’s ultimately much more than that. Apple’s original show features a likable cast, an open-ended storyline the writers can take in any direction in future seasons, and plenty of charm on display especially when it comes to the costumes and glamorous set pieces. Plus, it’s actually based on Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel.

This period drama follows five young, wealthy American women — Annabel “Nan” St. George (Kristine Froseth), Conchita Closson (Alisha Boe), Mabel Elmsworth (Josie Totah), Lizzy Elmsworth (Aubri Ibrag), and Jinny St. George (Imogen Waterhouse) — as they arrive in 1870s London seeking advantageous marriages and new opportunities within British high society. Encouraged by their families to secure husbands and titles, the group must work through the intricacies of aristocratic life and the rigid social expectations of the era.

Watch on Apple TV

‘Outlander’ (2014)

Regular TV watchers have probably heard of “Outlander,” and if it’s been recommended to you multiple times, consider this your sign to start watching. This British‑American historical drama premiered on Starz in 2014, developed by Ronald D. Moore and based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novels. Over the years, it has become one of Starz’s longest‑running shows, spanning eight seasons and earning numerous award nominations, as well as a prequel series that expands its universe. With its popularity and critical acclaim, “Outlander” is definitely a series worth binge-watching.

The story begins when Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a former World War II nurse from 1945, is mysteriously transported back in time to 18th‑century Scotland during a visit to the Highlands. Once there, she’s swept into an unfamiliar world and forms a complicated connection with a young Scottish warrior named Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) while navigating life in a tumultuous historical era, the Jacobite period of British history. The show spans multiple continents and decades as Claire and her companions grow accustomed to this world.

Watch on Netflix

‘Downton Abbey’ (2010)

“Downton Abbey” is another historical drama that many viewers are likely familiar with. Created and co‑written by Julian Fellowes, the series aired from 2010 to 2015 and spans six seasons, filmed largely at the real Highclere Castle in Yorkshire, England. Interestingly, the very first episode begins with news of the RMS Titanic sinking in 1912, an event that directly affects the Crawley family’s fortunes and sets the stage for the early episodes, which is an intriguing historical link. The show’s success and style arguably paved the way for later hits like “Bridgerton” and “The Gilded Age.”

Set primarily at a sprawling Yorkshire estate, the show follows the daily lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the household staff who work for them, beginning in 1912. The narrative captures how events and circumstances affect the estate and its inhabitants, including the implications of key historical moments on the family’s future. With an ensemble cast and detailed period production, the series offers a layered look at the interconnected world of the grand country house and those who live and work there.

Watch on Prime Video

‘The Great’ (2020)

A multi‑Emmy nominated, refreshingly original series, “The Great” only seemed to get better with each season. Fans were hoping it would remain a Hulu staple for years to come, but unfortunately, the “anti-historical” comedy-drama was canceled after its third season concluded in spring 2023. The good news is that season 3 delivers a satisfying conclusion, neatly wrapping up the protagonist Catherine’s story. As a satirical black comedy, the show serves up an absurdist mashup of 18th‑century history, outrageous humor, and sharp performances.

“The Great” follows a fictionalized version of Catherine the Great’s rise to power in 18th‑century Russia. The show begins with Catherine (Elle Fanning) arriving in Russia for an arranged marriage to Emperor Peter III (Nicholas Hoult), only to find herself in an unpredictable and extravagant royal court. Over the course of the series, Catherine tries to understand palace life, court politics, and personal relationships as she seeks to change her circumstances and advance her standing in the world.

Watch on Hulu

‘Reign’ (2013)

If you’re looking for a show that’s a bit spicier and darker, you’ll want to stream “Reign.” This drama has plenty of stunning period costume production with sweeping sets and dramatic character portrayals set against a stylized version of 16th‑century European courts. It strikes a perfect balance between taking itself seriously and not taking itself seriously at all. It may not have the grit of “Game of Thrones” or the strict historical accuracy of a documentary, but it delivers plenty of entertainment.

“Reign” follows the early life of Mary Stuart (Adelaide Kane), the young woman destined to become Mary, Queen of Scots. Sent to the French court as a teenager to secure a political alliance through her arranged engagement to Crown Prince Francis (Toby Regbo), Mary arrives in France with four close friends who serve as her ladies‑in‑waiting. At court she must contend with rival nobles, secret plots, and dangerous forces that threaten her standing and safety. Romantic entanglements with Francis and his half‑brother Bash (Torrance Coombs) complicate her experience as she starts to understand the royal world.

Watch on Prime Video

‘The Gilded Age’ (2022)

From “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes, “The Gilded Age” is another lavish period drama packed with powerful families and even more extravagant wardrobes. Set in late-19th-century New York City, it shares a similar social landscape to “The Buccaneers,” but shifts its focus to the rise of America’s new money elite. Like Fellowes’ previous work, it combines glittering high society with a strong upstairs-downstairs dynamic, delving into the lives of the household staff as much as their employers. The HBO series has already been renewed for a fourth, so there’s plenty more drama ahead.

“The Gilded Age” begins when young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) leaves rural Pennsylvania after her father’s death to live with her wealthy aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Across the street, railroad tycoon George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his wife, Bertha (Carrie Coon), move into a lavish mansion with their children. As Marian adjusts to her new life, she crosses paths with her affluent neighbors and members of high society, finding her way through a world of privilege and shifting fortunes in post-Civil War New York.

Watch on HBO Max

‘House of Guinness’ (2025)

“Bridgerton” fans who love affairs, family loyalty, and lush costumery should enjoy “House of Guinness,” a period drama set roughly 50 years after the former series. While it’s a far cry from the pastel-drenched Regency era (this time we’re in Ireland, with characters dressed mostly in black), it delivers plenty of juicy family drama. From Netflix and the creator of “Peaky Blinders” comes a darker historical saga that explores the early days of Guinness’ rise to global dominance. The series ends on a twist, so there’s a chance more seasons are yet to come.

“House of Guinness” is set in 1868 Dublin and New York, the story begins with the death of brewery magnate Sir Benjamin Guinness and the impact of his will on his four adult children: Arthur (Anthony Boyle), Edward (Louis Partridge), Anne (Emily Fairn), and Ben (Fionn O’Shea). As they come to terms with their inheritance and responsibilities, the siblings have to face their own personal ambitions, complex relationships, and the future of the world-famous Guinness brewery.

Watch on Netflix

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When it comes to romantic dramas, "Bridgerton" has been one of the genre's biggest hits of the last decade. Now in its fourth season, which premiered its first four episodes on Jan. 29, with the back-half to arrive on Feb. 26, the Netflix series remains a reliable ratings hit. Those new eps brought in nearly 40 million views in the season's first four days of streaming, reports Variety, as well as a critical darling (season 4 currently has a solid 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes).

Despite the collective success of the "Bridgerton" brand — which is based on the bestselling Julia Quinn novels of the same name — there is one sparkling standout in the franchise's crown. A diamond, if you will: the 2023 prequel miniseries "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."

Years after its debut, the game-changing romance between the titular young queen and King George remains "Bridgerton's" greatest triumph, powered with emotional depth, well-earned character growth and, of course, intense chemistry between its leads. Need more convincing? Here's why you should add "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" to your Netflix watchlist ASAP.

What is 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' about?

"Bridgerton" fans already know Queen Charlotte (played by Golda Rosheuvel in the mainline series) as the sharp-tongued, flamboyantly-haired royal in command of the Ton and her many subjects, but in "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," the future monarch is a mere teenager (India Amarteifio) navigating the discomforts of an arranged marriage to King George III (Corey Mylchreest) as well as her rise to prominence and power in society.

As well as giving an early-days sneak peek into the decades-long romance between Queen Charlotte and her betrothed, the prequel series also lets Netflix viewers in on the origin story of a young Lady Danbury, the queen's lady-in-waiting Agatha (Arsema Thomas), as she grows from a repressed wife in a loveless marriage to an independent and socially-savvy widow.

Why you should watch 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' on Netflix

In a "Bridgerton" universe that includes the like of Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Regé-Jean Page and Nicola Coughlan, it's quite a feat for a romantic duo to stick out from that starry bunch but "Queen Charlotte" leads India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest manage to do just that with their palpable chemistry, which manifests not only as physical passion onscreen but deep emotional vulnerability between their characters.

Even now, years later, the strength of that foundation continues to fuel Charlotte and George's latter connection throughout the flagship romance — when Golda Rosheuvel's queen worries about a future sans her husband in season 4, the tears prompted by the scene are directly linked to the moving onscreen work that Amarteifio and Mylchreest put in to establish the loving pair.

As of press time, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is the highest-rated "Bridgerton" installment, featuring a 94% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. (For comparison, the next-highest entries are seasons one and three, both tied at 87%.) "A resplendent romance between two of the most interesting characters in the Bridgerton saga, 'Queen Charlotte' is a spin-off that arguably perfects the primary series' formula," praises the site's critical consensus.

Tom's Guide will keep you updated on all things "Bridgerton" related, from the rest of the flagship series' fourth season to any spinoff news, teaser trailers, behind-the-scenes intel and more.

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“Bridgerton” is back with the first part of season 4, comprising four episodes, but the show has once again deviated from original author Julia Quinn’s original books. This season is primarily Benedict Bridgerton’s, which means it is based on “An Offer from a Gentleman.”

Yet, many changes have been made to that story, some for the better, and some that don’t quite work. So, here are seven significant differences between “Bridgerton” season 4, part 1, and “An Offer from a Gentleman."

The timeline has changed quite a bit

“Bridgerton” has adjusted the order of the books to make more sense for its eight-episode seasons — all of which have had more than a year between release dates — which meant shuffling the order of some Bridgerton siblings’ marriages. In Season 4, Colin is married to Penelope, and Francesca is married to John Stirling, before Sophie and Benedict ever meet.

This isn’t necessarily the most significant change. However, in the books, Francesca is still living at home, and Penelope is pining for Colin, whereas in the show, Francesca is struggling with marital problems, and Penelope and Colin have welcomed a new baby. The much larger implication tied to this change is that the Ton knows that Penelope is Lady Whistledown.

In “Bridgerton,” Lady Whistledown’s true identity has already been revealed when the mysterious “Lady in Silver” (Sophie, secretly) leaves Benedict breathless at the masquerade ball. Among other changes, Benedict uses Penelope’s work as Lady Whistledown to discover the Lady in Silver’s real name, which is a significant departure from “An Offer from a Gentleman.”

Sophie Beckett is now Sophie Baek

With every new season of “Bridgerton” comes a wave of online backlash about the show changing the all-white characters of the books, despite “Bridgerton” having done so from the beginning. While it shouldn’t be a shock four seasons into the show, the change to Sophie’s character — from the white, blonde Sophie Beckett to Sophie Baek, played by Korean Australian actress Yerin Ha — was met with the same outrage.

In addition to the racism of the backlash, complaints about this change to Sophie’s character (perhaps intentionally) overlook the fact that, clearly, executive producer Shonda Rhimes, showrunner Jess Brownell and author Julia Quinn are all on board with this approach and want to bring a more diverse cast to the show than the books, which have essentially no racial diversity whatsoever, would offer.

As has been proven with previous character changes, Ha’s performance confirmed that the outcry was unnecessary, as she is absolutely brilliant in the role and makes the perfect Sophie.

Sophie’s evil stepmother is much crueler in the book

Along with Sophie, Season 4 introduces Araminta (Lady Penwood) and her daughters, Rosamund and Posy, replicating the family dynamics of “Cinderella.” Like that evil stepmother, Araminta treats Sophie cruelly and forces her to serve the family as a maid rather than seeing her as a daughter. However, Araminta is much worse to Sophie in the book.

In “An Offer from a Gentleman,” Araminta has Sophie locked in a closet while Benedict visits the Penwood home — another callback to “Cinderella” — whereas, in “Bridgerton,” Sophie roams the house and peeks in on Benedict’s conversation with Posy. In the book, Araminta also has Sophie polish all of her shoes, and she slaps Sophie so hard that Sophie falls to the floor. In the show, neither happens; Araminta simply kicks her out.

Season 4 changes one of Sophie’s most important moments

Among the most crucial parts of Sophie’s story in “An Offer from a Gentleman” is Phillip Cavender’s sexual assault and attempted rape of Sophie with his friends, the latter of which is prevented by Benedict. In the show, the premise remains the same, but Sophie’s role changed. Phillip and his friends do attempt to sexually assault a maid, but it’s not Sophie; she actually comes to the maid’s rescue. Benedict still intervenes when Phillip turns on Sophie, but she isn’t assaulted.

This gives Sophie a more heroic role, yet it’s a troubling decision, as it could be interpreted as “Bridgerton” not wanting Sophie to seem ‘tainted’ by an assault. While that’s almost certainly not the intention, this interpretation even being a possibility is problematic. Narratively, this was also disappointing, as, in the book, this had a profound impact on Sophie, who was understandably distressed and became more vulnerable with Benedict as a result.

Benedict’s injury from this incident is also an invention of the show. In the book, Benedict falls ill, and Sophie nurses him back to health. In “Bridgerton,” Benedict falls on broken glass during his fight with Phillip, and his cut becomes infected. This is a relatively minor change, but it makes Sophie feel more responsible for Benedict’s condition, which alters their dynamic somewhat.

The season’s new thief means an altered ending

In “An Offer from a Gentleman,” Sophie steals Araminta’s shoe clips when she is thrown out so that she can sell them for money to survive. Ultimately, this leads to Sophie’s arrest. Season 4 has already changed this theft, which will necessarily mean a different version of this story. In the show, Posy gives the clips to Sophie so that she can sell them. Like the change to Sophie’s assault, this is a bit frustrating.

This version establishes that Posy isn’t like her mother and sister, which sets up the book’s ending, in which Posy leaves the Penwood home to stay with the Bridgertons. Yet, once again, this feels like a way to make Sophie ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’ compared to the book. Sophie’s desperation to steal was a realistic depiction of a woman who was put in a horrible position and had to survive — it didn’t make Sophie a bad person.

The Bridgerton family has major on-screen differences

Throughout “Bridgerton,” countless changes have been made to Violet Bridgerton and her eight alphabetically named children. In Season 4, certain differences are especially notable, including Violet’s arc involving a steamy connection to Lord Marcus Anderson.

Romance was already budding between the two in Season 3, but the new episodes make their relationship much more intimate, which is a major deviation from the books, in which Violet never truly committed to anyone new following the death of her husband, Edmund.

Other “Bridgerton” romances look quite different, too, including Benedict and Francesca’s respective interest in both men and women, as well as the difficulties in Francesca’s marriage.

Queen Charlotte isn’t in the book

Queen Charlotte plays a major role in the “Bridgerton” universe, not only with her recurring role in “Bridgerton,” but also in her spinoff show, “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.” Yet, she wasn’t featured in the books. This represents another deviation, although, in this case, a very good one, as Queen Charlotte is a fan-favorite character. In season 4, part 1, she is particularly involved with Penelope/Lady Whistledown, which, for obvious reasons, wasn’t in the books.

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For three seasons now, "Bridgerton" has traded on sumptuous fantasy — the bodice-ripping romance, the lavish ballroom dances, the progressive rewriting of English colonialism and even the perpetually in-bloom wisteria winding its way along the Bridgerton family residence. It’s altogether a dreamy bit of escapism, where love ultimately wins (after some drama-drumming act two misunderstandings, of course), the monarchy is occupied by nothing more than matchmaking, and all the men look like Jonathan Bailey.

And all of that luxurious aspiration is still certainly at play in the fourth installment of the Regency-era Netflix hit. "Bridgerton" season 4 premieres its first four episodes today (Jan. 29), and then sticks to its split-season model, with the final four eps to arrive on the streaming service nearly a month later on Feb. 26.

But in shifting its rose-tinted lens onto the relationship between the free-spirited nobleman Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) — a maid forced into servitude by her stepmother — “Bridgerton” more deeply delves into the upstairs-downstairs dynamic that has powered similar historical dramas like “Downton Abbey” and “The Gilded Age,” shining a well-earned spotlight on the hard-working (and meagerly paid) staff who make that fantasy a reality for the ritzy residents of the Ton. The beautiful bubble bursts, so to speak, and the series is stronger for it.

'Bridgerton' season 4 gets real about high society — finally

After some source material shuffling, our romantic lead for "Bridgerton" season 4 is the second-eldest Bridgerton brother, Benedict, who’s the most bohemian of the bunch, marked by his agreeable nature to, well, everything: women, men, sex, art and booze. He’s perfectly content to wade in what he calls “shallow waters,” away from the expectations of his nobility — that’s for his older bro Viscount Anthony (Bailey, sadly missing from Volume I), to be concerned about — and the social merry-go-round of the marriage market.

That's all much to the chagrin of his mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell), who is especially taken with marrying off Benedict and his equally modern-minded sibling, Eloise (Claudia Jessie), during the current social season (all while sweetly navigating her own romantic connection with the hunky Lord Marcus Anderson, played by Daniel Francis).

Benedict seems happily committed to his non-committal rakishness — that is, until he catches sight of the Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball, a mysterious woman gazing in awe upon the glittering chandelier that dominates the room. Her identity is largely masked by a lacy headpiece, but the Bridgerton lad is instantly taken by her in a way heretofore unachieved by the other eligible ladies of the Ton (who bear “no true animation, no zest for life, no personality,” Benny bemoans in one scene).

A dance, several laughs and, yes, a stolen smooch are shared between the two before the clock strikes midnight, when the party guests are meant to remove their masks and reveal themselves. Naturally, the Lady in Silver takes off before Benedict can meet her face-to-face, and he’s left consumed by the mystifying memory of her.

Now, this is all sounding very textbook “Bridgerton” thus far, but here’s the cheeky twist: the reason that Lady in Silver charmingly doesn’t quite understand dance-card etiquette or know the proper choreography to the ball’s chamber arrangements of Third Eye Blind’s “Never Let You Go” is because she’s actually a lowly maid named Sophie Baek, the illegitimate daughter of an earl, whose stepmother Araminta (Katie Leung) harshly forced the girl into servitude upon her father’s death. With the affectionate help of two fellow Penwood House staffers (David Moorst’s Alfie and Fiona Marr’s Irma), Sophie was able to get secretly gussied up and sneak out of the residence to play Cinderella for one night and one night only at the Bridgerton ball.

Or so she thought, because now Benedict is desperately searching the whole of the Ton for the silver-masked ingénue who unexpectedly stole his heart. The Bridgerton does eventually come across Sophie again, but this time as her working-class self, unbeknownst to him that she and the Lady in Silver are one and the same. True identity aside, there’s still palpable chemistry there — albeit nowhere near as steamy as with the show’s prior couples, nor as warmly familiar as the connection between last season’s leads Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton, and also hampered by the fact that Thompson's best on-screen repartee remains with Claudia Jessie, who plays his sister — but it’s a spark cruelly snuffed out by the reality of their social rank.

It’s a smart pivot for a show that has heretofore played fantastically fast and loose with everything from racial integration to sexual freedom. We’ve gotten to dip a toe into class tensions over the past three seasons (the Featheringtons’ money issues, the Mondrichs’ rags-to-riches rise), but season 4 fully submerges viewers into that social and financial friction. (In one meta-moment from episode three, Golda Rosheuvel’s Queen Charlotte brushes off the idea that the royal residence keeps a household staff, to which her right-hand man Brimsley excellently quips: “We have 142 maids and manservants, Your Majesty.”)

In expanding into the behind-the-scenes of that aristocratic world, season four not only gives us a closer look at the lives and labor of the show’s many background servants — from the Bridgertons’ head housekeeper Mrs. Wilson (Geraldine Alexander) to Benedict’s flirty valet, Footman John (Oli Higginson) — but also assigns some of its most moving moments thus far to those very maids and manservants, such as a tearful plea from the aforementioned Brimsley (Hugh Sachs) to Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) on behalf of his beloved queen.

Previous chapters of the Netflix romance suffered from too many undercooked subplots that detracted and distracted from the core couple, but each of this season’s departures to the downstairs world only enhances the growing tensions between Sophie and Benedict. We’ll have to see whether the actors can parlay the intensity of those social pressures into a more believable, visceral passion in the season’s back-half — especially after Benedict’s rather ungentlemanly offer to the housemaid in Volume I’s final moments — but, for now, they’re getting by with a little help from their friends, and faithful staff.

"Bridgerton" season 4 part 1 is available to stream on Netflix beginning Thursday, January 29 at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT

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January is nearly over (and not a moment too soon), and Netflix’s 2026 slate is well underway. The world’s biggest streaming service has already rolled out plenty of excellent original content this year, and the flood of tentpole movies and shows isn’t slowing down as we head into February.

This week will be dominated by one Netflix original, “Bridgerton.” The popular period drama is back, and this latest season will focus on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). Can this dreamy member of the affluent family find love? Here’s hoping. Meanwhile, if you’re not quite so swept up in high society courtships, Netflix also offers a Gerard Butler-fronted action-thriller and a new stand-up special by a very funny British comedian.

So, without further teasing, these are the three new Netflix exclusive movies and shows you should add to your watchlist over the coming days.

‘Bridgerton’ season 4 part 1

Netflix’s popular period drama returns as “Bridgerton” season 4 makes its debut this week. Well, part 1 of the fourth season does at least (the second batch of episodes drops in late February). Set against the backdrop of the Regency era, each season follows a different member of the eponymous Bridgerton clan, a wealthy family within the British aristocracy. It’s been confirmed that season 4 will focus on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson).

Netflix teases that “The character who once looked on dreamily from the corner of the ballroom is now ready for his own love story,” and his match will be the mysterious Lady in Silver, whom he’ll first catch eyes with at his mother’s swanky masquerade ball. This love interest is actually Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), and the two could not be more different. Benedict is a dreamer, Sophie a pragmatist. But you know what they say, opposites attract.

Watch "Bridgerton" season 4 part 1 on Netflix from January 29

‘Copshop’

“Copshop” is a bit of an odd case. This action-thriller has been knocking around since 2021, so it’s not technically a new movie this week. However, it’s branded as a Netflix original in the U.S., so for this roundup, I’m giving it a nod. Netflix subscribers love thrillers — just look at the huge success of “The Rip” already this month — so I’m pretty confident it’s going to drop on the service over the weekend and quickly start climbing the top 10 list.

An intense action flick with a neo noir edge, Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) is a con artist who purposely assaults a rookie cop (Alexi Louder) to get him arrested. His reason? He’s being pursued by a lethal assassin, Robert Viddick (Gerard Butler), and he’s in desperate need of protection. But being behind bars won’t keep Murretto safe for long, as the hitman refuses to give up. What follows is a chaotic confrontation with the young officer caught up in the fray.

Watch "Copshop" on Netflix from February 1

‘Mo Gilligan: In the Moment’

Netflix is one of the premier streaming services for stand-up comedy fans. The big red streamer is always dropping new specials, and the latest comes from British comedian Mo Gilligan. “In the Moment” is Gilligan’s third Netflix special, and was filmed at London’s O2 Arena (which will always be the Millennium Dome to me). The good news for fans is that even more Gilligan is on the way. Netflix will debut a documentary focusing on the performer later this year. So be sure to watch this special to get a taste of his comedic style.

“Mo Gilligan: In the Moment” tackles classic comedy fare from the quirks of fame to the hilarity of family life. Plus, Gilligan covers oddities of being a Brit in America, and while we might speak the same language, there are definitely plenty of differences between the two countries. This latest Mo Gilligan special looks like a must-watch if you need a good laugh this week.

Watch "Mo Gilligan: In the Moment" on Netflix from February 3

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How well do you remember "Bridgerton" season 3? Honestly, I wouldn't blame you if the answer was "not too well." After all, Netflix's beloved period romance has been away from our screens for well over a year at this point. And while it's obviously exciting to be heading back to Mayfair for another of the titular siblings' fairytale romances on January 29, I figured there's a good chance some viewers are wondering whether to squeeze in a rewatch before "Bridgerton" season 4.

With that in mind, I've put together a "Bridgerton" season 3 quiz that should remind you of the major beats from the last love story, which saw Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) in the spotlight. Why not give it a try and see whether you remember all the gossip from the ton?

If you want to pass the time until “Bridgerton” season 4 hits Netflix, take our personality quiz to find out which "Bridgerton" sibling you're most like, read over our detailed release schedule for part 1, or check out the best shows like “Bridgerton” to stream now.

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Getting to be one of 'Bridgerton's lead lovers is a major spotlight for any actor — just ask Jonathan Bailey, Nicola Coughlan and Regé-Jean Page for proof. And it will no doubt be a career-changing moment for the Netflix show's newest star, Yerin Ha, when the fourth installment of the Regency-era romance hits the streaming service on Thursday, January 29. (The season will once again be split into two, with the final four episodes premiering a month later on February 26 . Here's a handy episode schedule so you don't miss a thing.)

Ha, a 28-year-old Australian actress known for roles in series like "Halo," "Bad Behaviour" and "The Survivors," joins the cast as Sophie Baek, a resourceful maid whose masked appearance at the Bridgerton family's annual masquerade ball sparks curiosity among the Ton and a connection with seemingly eternal bachelor, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). What follows is a slow-burning, Cinderella-esque romance between the two characters, but one complicated by their significant class differences, as plays out in the Julia Quinn novel on which the season is based, "An Offer from a Gentleman."

In a January 2026 cover story for InStyle, the actress detailed the audition process for what will arguably be her biggest role yet. After being told about the part of Sophie Baek by her agent, Ha sent over a self-tape to the "Bridgerton" team within 24 hours — “I thought my British accent was terrible,” she told the outlet — and was surprised to get called back for a chemistry read with actor Luke Thompson.

It was over Zoom and the time difference was significant (it was 11 p.m. local time in Korea for Ha, who said she felt "loopy" throughout the call) but Thompson could already feel the chemistry between them.

“I’m not a casting director, so it would feel patronizing to sit back and list her many, many qualities,” Thompson told InStyle. “I just remember feeling, despite the artifice of an audition, the Zoom delay, and shaky internet connection, that we were actually talking to each other.”

Thompson's scene partner, however, was worried that she played things almost too professionally. "I just assumed that [Thompson] probably had a day full of auditions, and he must be tired. So I didn't want to waste his time. I didn't even really have chit-chat. I just got straight into the scene," Ha said of the call.

Clearly, though, Ha's instincts were wrong and she ultimately was given the much-coveted role of Sophie Baek in the mega-successful series. “I was having breakfast with my mom in Gangnam,” she told InStyle about finding out from her team that she landed the part. “I thought, Don't celebrate yet, maybe they're just giving you a different role. Then they said the words, ‘you're going to be the next Bridgerton lead,’ and I just jumped for joy and cried.”

“It was the quickest audition process I’ve ever had”—just under 14 days—Ha revealed, adding that she high-tailed it back from South Korea to her hometown of Sydney to pack up her life and then jet off for England shortly thereafter to begin production.

Sounds like a fairytale experience very much in line with what "Bridgerton" fans can expect from Sophie and Benedict's love story in the upcoming episodes!

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "Bridgerton" season 4, including plot details, new teasers, character descriptions and more behind-the-scenes intel.

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With “Bridgerton” season 4 fast approaching, anticipation is once again building across the ton. This time, the spotlight is on Benedict Bridgerton’s long-awaited love story with Sophie Baek, a captivating woman he meets under mysterious circumstances at a masquerade ball. The season is set to premiere on Netflix in two parts (part 1 on January 29 and part 2 on February 26), so expect plenty of the usual yearning and some ballroom magic.

As fans prepare to return to Regency-era London, now feels like the perfect moment to step back into that world and ask the all-important question: which Bridgerton sibling are you most like? Are you the reliable organizer of your social circle, the romantic at heart, or the one quietly observing the chaos from the sidelines?

To celebrate the countdown to the new season, we’ve put together a fun personality quiz. Answer a few quick questions, trust your instincts, and discover where you’d fit in among one of TV's most beloved families.

If you want to pass the time until “Bridgerton” season 4 hits Netflix, see our detailed release schedule for part 1 or check out the best shows like “Bridgerton” to stream now.

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Netflix is once again inviting viewers back into the world of corsets, courtship and whispered scandal as “Bridgerton” prepares to return for its highly anticipated fourth season.

Following the record-breaking success of season 3, anticipation for the next chapter has been steadily building. This time, the spotlight shifts to the free-spirited second son, whose romance unfolds like a modern Cinderella-esque tale within Regency London.

As with the previous season, Netflix has opted for a split release strategy, meaning fans won’t be able to binge the entire season in one sitting. Instead, season 4 will roll out in two parts. With episode titles revealed and key release dates confirmed, fans now know exactly when to tune in.

Here’s everything you need to know about “Bridgerton” season 4’s episode schedule, including when part 1 drops on Netflix and what to expect from the new season.

‘Bridgerton’ season 4 release schedule

“Bridgerton” season 4 episodes will drop on Netflix simultaneously worldwide at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET, while viewers in the U.K. can start watching from 8 a.m. GMT. Here’s the official schedule for when you can expect season 4 episodes to land on Netflix:

• Episode 1 — Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Episode 2 — Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Episode 3 — Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Episode 4 — Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Episode 5 — Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Episode 6 — Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Episode 7 — Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Episode 8 — Thursday, February 26, 2026

‘Bridgerton’ season 4 episode titles and runtimes revealed

Netflix has revealed the episode titles for the entirety of “Bridgerton” season 4, while runtimes have so far only been confirmed for part 1 (h/t What’s on Netflix). We’ll be sure to update this page once the runtimes for part 2 are officially announced:

• Episode 1 — “The Waltz” (63 minutes)
• Episode 2 — “Time Transfixed” (65 minutes)
• Episode 3 — “The Field Next to the Other Road” (70 minutes)
• Episode 4 — “An Offer from a Gentleman” (63 minutes)
• Episode 5 — “Yes or No” (time TBC)
• Episode 6 — “The Passing Winter” (time TBC)
• Episode 7 — “The Beyond” (time TBC)
• Episode 8 — “Dance in the Country” (time TBC)

“Bridgerton” season 4 shifts the romantic focus to Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), the artistic and reluctant bachelor of the family, as he steps into his own love story. The season (inspired by Julia Quinn’s novel “An Offer From a Gentleman”) follows Benedict’s fateful meeting with a mysterious “Lady in Silver” at Lady Violet’s masquerade ball.

Unbeknownst to him, she is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a resourceful maid with her own secrets, and their blossoming connection challenges Regency-era norms around class, identity, and society. Set within the dazzling social scene of London, the season tells a Cinderella-inspired love story.

According to showrunner Jess Brownell, season 4 will reveal a side of Benedict viewers haven’t seen before: “Benedict is a character who we all have been rooting for. We’re deeply invested in his story, and it’s been really exciting trying to shake him out of his normal routine, and the only way we were able to do that was with a character as dynamic as Sophie. She is someone who has chess moves and is always thinking two, three steps ahead. She’s absolutely going to throw Benedict for a loop.”

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It was a good run: For the past five years, Netflix's "Bridgerton" has reigned as TV's smuttiest romance. The streamer's adaptation of Julia Quinn’s historical romance novels has become equally known for its carriage-shaking, spoon-licking, bodice-ripping bursts of sensuality as well as its heartfelt vulnerability, compelling emotional drama and swoon-worthy declarations of love.

And though "Bridgerton" season 4 will no doubt have more of the steamy same when it premieres on the streaming service later this month (four new episodes arrive on January 29), the series will have to contend with the fact that it's no longer TV's reigning sexy romance — it's been beaten by a hockey show.

Yes, "Heated Rivalry" — a small, Canadian sports romance created by Jacob Tierney ("Shoresy," "Letterkenny") for Crave and airing on HBO Max stateside — has officially claimed that crown, after a stratospherically successful first season that had fans frothing at the mouth over the on-ice animosity and off-ice affair between rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

Like "Bridgerton," the drama is based on a series of best-selling books — in this case, Rachel Reid's "Game Changers" novel series — and manages to balance both heart and horniness, with frequent provocative scenes between the two well-muscled athletes as they navigate their secret relationship against the hyper-competitive and testosterone-heavy backdrop of professional sports.

And all of that rink-melting heat has clearly paid off: Since the series premiered on November 28, it has remained solidly in the number-one spot on HBO Max's most-watched list and has garnered a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics rave: "Jacob Tierney lovingly adapts Rachel Reid's hockey-set romance novels into an all-consuming, steamy, dreamy love fest of true queer intent, making 'Heated Rivalry' a bona fide winner."

But while viewers may have initially tuned in for the, ahem, pucking, it's the unexpected tenderness and thoughtfulness in which "Heated Rivalry" handles Shane and Ilya's relationship that makes it TV's best new love story.

Across six episodes, Jacob Tierney — who wrote and directed every installment — smartly paces the characters' coupling, starting from the high-energy, quick-cut bursts of, yes, mostly sexual activity in the players' early years and later strategically slowing that action down as Ilya and Shane's bond deepens and moves away from the merely physical to the undeniably romantic.

By the finale, we're spending two weeks in one location — the infamous cottage — with our burgeoning couple while they, as Shane prompts, finally get honest with each other about what they think and how they really feel.

What helps push the lads to that place, literally and emotionally, is another couple from Reid's "Game Changers" universe: fellow hockey pro Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and the smoothie-shop barista Christopher "Kip" Grady (Robbie G.K.) whom he falls for in episode three.

Though still closeted publicly and professionally, Scott is privately very open with his feelings and intentions for Kip throughout their relationship, and the eventual grand reveal of their sweet, soulful courtship not only showed Shane and Ilya what could be possible for them but also, via the final moments of episode 5, gifted TV fans with the most romantic moment of television this past year: Scott waving Kip down to the ice in celebration of his first MLH Cup win and declaring both his love and queerness to the world by way of a swoon-worthy smooch. Not since Patrick touchingly serenaded David to the tune of Tina Turner's "The Best" in "Schitt's Creek" has an onscreen declaration of love so wrenched our hearts open.

That deeply felt intimacy, both emotional and carnal, will continue with a second season of "Heated Rivalry," which has already been picked up by Crave and is expected to hit streaming sometime in 2027. Until then, it's time to up your game, "Bridgerton."

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For much of the first three seasons of "Bridgerton" — Netflix's sumptuous streaming adaptation of Julia Quinn's historical novel series — we've been immersed in a world of wealth and status, led, of course, by the old-money Bridgerton family. But the upcoming fourth season of the Regency-era romance, which is set to premiere on the streaming service in two parts (with four episodes out on January 29 and another four to follow on February 26), will give viewers a look into an entirely new side of the Ton.

As you already know, season 4 will focus on the rags-to-riches fairytale romance behind Bridgerton brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) and a new character named Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), whom the former meets at his mother's masquerade ball. What Sophie's attendance masks, however, is the fact that she's actually a housemaid who has been forced into servitude by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters after her father's death. Yes, it's giving "Cinderella" vibes.

And it's through Sophie and Benedict's storyline and the class disparity between their characters that season 4 will bring a "totally new sensibility" to the "Bridgerton" world, showrunner Jess Brownell told Entertainment Weekly in a December 2025 interview. Think the upstairs-downstairs divide that you see in other historical dramas like "Downton Abbey" and "The Gilded Age."

“We talked a lot about going downstairs and how that would affect the overall tone of the show and I think, actually, it seamlessly blends into the themes that we were trying to explore this season,” Brownell told the outlet. “Benedict very much lives in a fantasy world. Sophie very much lives in a harsher reality. The idea is that, for each of them, neither of those stations are where they need to live in order to find true love.”

Brownell also told the publication about how it was important that the romance series didn't "glamorize" Sophie's servant life in the upcoming episodes and instead highlight “beautiful moments and beautiful friendships downstairs, the same way there's beauty upstairs.”

But that doesn't mean that those societal and financial differences won't spell "juicy conflict" for the new lovebirds.

“We start with a character trope that we've seen a million times before, which is a maid who falls for someone above her station,” said Brownell. “But I think a lot of times in these classic Cinderella-like stories, Cinderella is a bit of a damsel in distress. And, in the case of Sophie Baek, she is no such thing. We get to watch a very headstrong young woman try to decide her fate for herself and pick up the courage to believe in and dream for a life greater than the one she currently has.”

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "Bridgerton" season 4, including fresh behind-the-scenes intel, character details, new teaser trailers and more.

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Netflix has finally thrown open the Ton’s gates. After months of speculation, the streaming giant confirmed today (October 13) that “Bridgerton” season 4 will arrive in early 2026 — and not in one fell swoop, but in two parts.

The first four episodes are slated to premiere on January 29, with the remaining four following on February 26. This mirrors the release strategy from season 3, which was also split into two parts to keep fans talking (and theorizing) between drops.

Season 4 pivots to Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and introduces Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) as his love interest, a Cinderella‐style figure with secrets hidden beneath her mask. The official Netflix poster perfectly evokes the romance and mystery that will define their story.

While fans are already dusting off their best Regency garb, Netflix also dropped a teaser that carries a fairytale whisper of what’s to come. The teaser opens with Benedict, dressed in black and masked to match, descending a sweeping staircase as Sophie makes her way up in a shimmering silver gown, her look completed by long white gloves and a glittering mask.

When their paths cross, the two slow their steps, their hands brushing softly before the scene shifts to the grandeur of the ballroom, where they’re later seen mingling among the crowd. The final image lingers on a single white glove left behind on the floor.

Over the moment, Julie Andrews’ Lady Whistledown delivers her signature narration: “With each passing season, one is known to experience plenty of ups and downs. So then we must ask ourselves, do we rise to the occasion? As always, time and this author will tell.”

What will ‘Bridgerton’ season 4 be about?

“Bridgerton” season 4 will shine the spotlight on Benedict, finally stepping into the lead role in the Ton’s latest romantic escapade. Alongside him is Sophie Baek, a young woman with a hidden past.

By birth, Sophie is of noble blood, but after her father’s death, she finds herself working as a maid in her stepmother’s household. Their paths cross at a glittering masquerade ball, where Sophie attends in disguise as the mysterious “Lady in Silver,” instantly catching Benedict’s attention.

The season promises a classic “Cinderella” romance, with Sophie’s social status and secrets creating obstacles for the budding couple. Benedict, initially reluctant to settle down, must navigate the clash between romantic idealism and the rigid expectations of high society, while Sophie strives to maintain her dignity and independence. This tension between fantasy and reality will form the heart of their story.

Season 4 is largely based on Julia Quinn’s novel “An Offer from a Gentleman,” which details Sophie’s secret heritage, her time as a servant, and Benedict’s quest to uncover the identity of the masked beauty. Beyond the romance, the season will also explore the upstairs/downstairs dynamic more deeply, showing how the lives of servants intersect with the high society drama of the Bridgertons.

Showrunner Jess Brownell expressed her excitement for audiences to discover a different side of Benedict in this season (Entertainment Weekly): “Benedict is a character who we all have been rooting for. We’re deeply invested in his story, and it’s been really exciting trying to shake him out of his normal routine, and the only way we were able to do that was with a character as dynamic as Sophie.

She is someone who has chess moves and is always thinking two, three steps ahead. She’s absolutely going to throw Benedict for a loop.”

Stream "Bridgerton" season 4 part 1 on Netflix starting January 29, 2026.

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When "Emily in Paris" season 4 makes its much-awaited return to Netflix on Thursday, August 15 — as with other Netflix shows like "Bridgerton," "Stranger Things" and "You," the fourth will be split into two parts, with the first five episodes in August and the final five installments to follow on Thursday, September 12 — fans of the French-set dramedy will see plenty of familiar faces. 

There will, of course, be Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), her hunky love interests Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), and her Agence Grateau teammates Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) and Julien (Samuel Arnold). But along with those returning characters, there will be a few fresh faces thrown in the mix. 

Among the newcomers introduced this season is Eugenio Franceschini as Marcello, rumored to be a new romantic interest for Ms. Cooper. "Originally from Rome, Marcello is direct, confident, and values simplicity," reads the official character description, per Netflix. "He’s substantive but never flashy — true to the roots of his family’s company."

And we'll get some insights into Marcello's family as we meet his mother, Antonia Muratori, played by Italian actress Anna Galiena. As the matriarch of the Muratori family and the head of the family business, "Antonia presides over their small village by building up the community and taking care of the people who live and work there," reads her character description. 

"Emily in Paris" fans can also say "Enchanté!" to Thalia Besson as Genevieve, Laurent’s twentysomething daughter from a past relationship who’s moved from New York City to Paris to start her career. "Her bright and eager demeanor immediately endears her to Emily, who’s thrilled to have an American expat to mentor," reads Genevieve's character breakdown. "But their similarities may end up complicating Emily’s life both professionally and personally." That spells drama!

Golden Globe-nominated British actor Rupert Everett ("An Ideal Husband," "My Best Friend's Wedding") also joins the cast as Giorgio Barbieri, the owner of a global interior design firm based in Rome. "Giorgio makes it his business to know everyone else’s business, and to be the life of every party," reports Netflix. And he also has a longstanding friendship with Sylvie.

Sylvie also has history with another new character: Giancarlo (played by Raoul Bova), a "charming, self-assured, and successful Roman commercial director who used to be Sylvie’s film professor."

As for what fans can expect from the upcoming fourth season, the streamer also released a plot synopsis for the new episodes: "After the tumultuous events of Camille and Gabriel’s ill-fated wedding, Emily finds herself at a crossroads, grappling with her feelings for both Gabriel and Alfie. The revelation of Gabriel expecting a baby with his ex complicates matters further, while Alfie’s worst fears about Emily and Gabriel seem to be coming true."

"At work, Sylvie faces a dilemma from her past that threatens her marriage, and the Agence Grateau team must navigate significant personnel changes," the summary continues. "Meanwhile, Mindy and her band are preparing for Eurovision but must find creative solutions when their funds run low. Emily and Gabriel’s professional collaboration towards achieving a Michelin star is fraught with undeniable chemistry and looming secrets that could shatter their dreams."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Emily in Paris" ahead of the fourth season, including behind-the-scenes tidbits, actor insights, character descriptions and on-set photos. In the meantime, you can catch up with Emily, Gabriel, Alfie and the rest of the Paris crew by rewatching the show's first three seasons with a Netflix subscription.

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Yes, "Bridgerton" season 3 only just ended last month on Netflix, but our focus has already shifted to all of the Regency-era romantic drama to come in "Bridgerton" season 4. And after weeks of wondering which member of the Bridgerton brood will hit the marriage mart as our romantic hero next season, we finally have an answer: Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson.

On Tuesday, July 23, the streamer announced its new lead for season 4 across its social media pages. "Welcome to the marriage mart Mr. Bridgerton," Netflix captioned the post. "Benedict’s story is coming next season." Alongside clips of the artsy Bridgerton lad, the video also includes a cheeky cameo by Luke Thompson, during which he receives a suit for an upcoming masquerade ball. 

Dear readers of the Julia Quinn-penned novel series on which "Bridgerton" is based may remember that a masquerade ball is where Benedict first meets his main love interest, Sophie Beckett. 

The love story between Benedict and Sophie plays out on the pages of the third "Bridgerton" novel, "An Offer from a Gentleman." However, though the Netflix series kept to the novel order for its first two installments — with season 1 centering on eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), and season 2 following the illicit romance between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended's sister, Kate (Simone Ashley) — showrunner Jess Brownell and the rest of the production team decided to change up the story order for season 3. 

The third season skipped over Benedict's storyline to tell the friends-to-lovers relationship between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) from book 4, which was moved up to accelerate that whole Lady Whistledown reveal.

But the fourth season will finally give the second eldest Bridgerton sibling his time in the spotlight. Last we saw the perpetual bachelor in season 3, he had turned down Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her offer of monogamy after engaging in a passionate threesome with the lady and her friend Paul (Lucas Aurelio). And now we know he needed to be single so that he could be free and available for Sophie Beckett in season 4. 

“The fourth season of ‘Bridgerton’ turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson),” per the Netflix announcement. “Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.”

Brownell had previously hinted that "Bridgerton" viewers would see clues about which Bridgerton sibling would be taking the main character role for season 4 in the show's third season. She revealed to TV Insider: "I won’t give you anything, but I do think that there are some clues at the end of season 3 of where we’re headed. So yeah, I leave that to fans to pick apart, but I think we’re tipping our hand just a little bit."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton" season 4, including intel about storylines, new characters, behind-the-scenes tidbits and more.  In the meantime, you can revisit the romantic journeys of Benedict's siblings Daphne, Anthony and Colin by rewatching the first three seasons of "Bridgerton" on Netflix.

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It's been over a year since "Bridgerton" season 3 and all of its carriage-rattling, Lady Whistledown-revealing fun came to an end — don't worry, you can revisit the romantic adventures of Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) whenever you want with a Netflix subscription — which means it's also been over a year since we've been waiting to see what's next for the Bridgerton brood. Thankfully, "Bridgerton" season 4 is officially on its way, but exactly how much longer must we wait?

Yes, a fourth installment of the Regency era hit was announced by the streaming service all the way back in April 2021, and our list of burning questions about the upcoming episodes has steadily grown in the years since. We officially know which Bridgerton sibling will serve as this season's romantic lead (more on that in a minute!), but just how faithful will the new episodes be to that character's book?

Regardless of how closely production sticks to the source material, the fourth season of "Bridgerton" will surely have all of the opulent costumes, sumptuous ballrooms and romantic steaminess we've come to expect from the Netflix period drama. Here's everything you need to know about "Bridgerton" season 4.

When is the 'Bridgerton' season 4 release date?

After months of guessing, the streaming service revealed on October 13 that season 4 will debut in early 2026 — and, as has become custom now for the franchise, it won’t drop all at once. The first half, consisting of four episodes, will arrive on January 29, with the remaining four episodes set to follow on February 26. This mirrors the release strategy from season 3, which was also split into two parts to keep fans talking (and theorizing) between drops.

That 2026 drop date doubles down on what "Bridgerton" showrunner Jess Brownell once said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language. And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace. We’re trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range.”

A two-year wait isn't unprecedented for the series: The first season premiered in December 2020, season 2 followed in March 2022 and season 3 dropped in May 2024.

At least the powers that be are planning to make the wait worth your while:
“I’m really excited about what we’re writing. We’re toward the end with the writers' room season, with the scripts. And I feel like it’s some of my best work and my writers' room’s best work," Brownell told THR. "We’ve just really gelled our collaboration, and we’re firing on all cylinders, so I can’t wait for fans to see what we have.

In April 2021, Netflix announced its renewal of season 3 and season 4. At the time, Netflix VP of Global TV Bela Bajaria said, “Bridgerton swept us off our feet. The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members. They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come."

Filming on season 4 has wrapped up as of spring 2025, with Netflix sharing a cute behind-the-scenes video to its social-media accounts on June 20 showing various cast members heading into their respective trailers in their period costumes and stepping back out in their modern-day plainclothes. "Do join us in bidding our dear Ton a farewell as they conclude the production of the forthcoming season!" read the video's caption. "Indeed, there is much to look forward to…"

How many episodes will 'Bridgerton' season 4 be?

"Bridgerton" season 4 will consist of eight episodes, which is the same amount as the first three editions of the show. The first four episodes hit January 29, with the rest following on February 26, 2026.

This follows the same approach as season 3, which was also divided into two halves to keep viewers buzzing (and speculating) in between releases.

Who is in the 'Bridgerton' season 4 cast?

Though “Bridgerton” season 3 mainly focused on the coupling of Colin and Penelope (who — spoiler alert! — got their happily-ever-after, including a sweet giggling baby, by the season's end), it featured plenty of romantic hijinks for the rest of the Bridgerton clan, from Benedict further exploring his sexuality to Eloise leaving the Ton for a sojourn to Scotland with Francesca, her new hubby John Stirling (Victor Alli) and his beguiling cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza).

According to Tudum, Luke Thompson’s Benedict and Claudia Jessie’s Eloise will both be back for the new episodes, as well as Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope and Luke Newton’s Colin. "I love my role in the show, so I can't see myself going anywhere. I just want to finish the stories off, Newton told Teen Vogue. "I would say there's still stuff to get sorted in season 4, so yeah, that's why I'm there.” And yes, another previous "Bridgerton" main couple will join Coughlan and Newton in returning to the Ton for season 4: Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and pregnant wife Kate (Simone Ashley).

Hannah Dodd's Francesca, as well as younger Bridgerton siblings Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Gregory (Will Tilston) are also expected to return for season 4. And given that Bridgerton matriarch Violet, played by Ruth Gemmell, had her own fair share of romantic tension in season 3 opposite Lady Danbury's brother, Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), we expect to see both mama and her love interest next season.

Tudum also lists the return of Penelope's mother, Philipa Featherington (Polly Walker), as well as Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich and Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich.

Julie Andrews, who recently took home an Emmy Award for her excellent voiceover work on the series, is also expected to return as the show's narrator, the now-unveiled Lady Whistledown .“While she is, in many ways, the voice of Penelope when she was trying to hide herself, I also think she’s just become so iconic as the voice of Lady Whistledown,” Jess Brownell told The Wrap. “So we’re playing with different ideas in Season 4, and people have to wait and see where we go with that.”

As for new faces, there will be several, the most notable being Yerin Ha as Benedict's love interest, "the determined and captivating Sophie Baek, a victim of tragic circumstances" that the Bridgerton gent meets at Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball.

Joining season 4 will also be Katie Leung as Araminta Gun, a twice-married and twice-widowed woman with two daughters debuting on the marriage mart this season. "Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything — or anyone — threatens her standing in society," per Netflix. There's also Araminta's beautiful and vain eldest daughter Rosamund Li played by Michelle Mao, who has her sights sets on Benedict this social season, as well as her younger, kinder sister Posy Li (Isabella Wei).

Is there an official 'Bridgerton' season 4 trailer?

There isn't an official trailer for "Bridgerton" season 4 just yet, but Netflix has released some teasers over the past few months.

In July 2024, the streamer released a 30-second clip announcing that Luke Thompson's Benedict Bridgerton would be serving as this season's romantic lead: "Welcome to the marriage mart, Benedict!"

And as a little Valentine's Day treat, Netflix also published a behind-the-scenes teaser on February 14, 2025, spotlighting Thompson and his new onscreen leading lady Yerin Ha, with cheery cameos from the larger Bridgerton family:

And most recently, on March 14, the streamer gave fans a closer look at one of the book's most memorable moments: when Benedict Bridgerton encounters his future love Sophie Baek (changed from the novel's Beckett) at the masquerade ball:

On October 13, Netflix released a date announcement teaser that hints at a story straight out of a fairytale. It begins with Benedict, clad in black and wearing a matching mask, descending a grand staircase, while Sophie ascends in a glittering silver gown, accessorized with long white gloves and a sparkling mask. When their paths meet, they pause, hands lightly brushing, before the scene shifts to the lavish ballroom, where they mingle amidst the guests. The teaser closes on a single white glove left behind on the floor.

Throughout the moment, Julie Andrews’ Lady Whistledown provides her classic narration: “With each passing season, one is known to experience plenty of ups and downs. So then we must ask ourselves, do we rise to the occasion? As always, time and this author will tell.”

What will 'Bridgerton' season 4 be about?

Spoiler warning: The following contains detailed information about Julia Quinn's novels "An Offer From a Gentleman" and "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton."

While "Bridgerton" the series hasn't entirely followed Quinn's novels to the letter, seasons 1 and 2 did closely track the plot of her first two "Bridgerton" books, "The Duke and I" and "The Viscount Who Loved Me." Some storylines were shifted from later books, like the revelation of Lady Whistledown's identity.

However, season 3 diverged from the books. It did not take story cues from book 3, "An Offer From a Gentleman"; instead, the third season skipped over that Benedict-focused story and drew from the fourth book, "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," which focuses on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.

But season 4 will get things back on track and focus on the Bridgertons' bohemian brother, the artsy Benedict, and his Cinderella-like romance with a new character named Sophie Beckett. Julia Quinn’s novel “An Offer from a Gentleman" details Sophie’s secret heritage, her time as a servant, and Benedict’s quest to uncover the identity of the masked beauty, so viewers can expect all of that to play out onscreen. Beyond the romance, the season will also explore the upstairs/downstairs dynamic more deeply, showing how the lives of servants intersect with the high society drama of the Bridgertons.

The last we saw of Benedict in the season 3 finale, he had just rejected Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her proposal of a monogamous relationship, sans their recent paramour Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio), in favor of staying single. However, Benedict's plans are thrown for a loop when he encounters the mysterious Sophie Bae at his mother's masquerade ball, which will reportedly take place in the very first episode of the new season.

Thompson told Tulum about bringing the star-crossed lovers’ story to life. “The scripts that [showrunner] Jess [Brownell] and her team have come up with are dynamite. They’re really, really, really exciting,” he said. “The storyline is a bit of a twist on ‘Cinderella.’ You remember being told those stories as a child — the magic and the romance of them. It’s really exciting to have that weaved into the world that we know of Bridgerton … It’s such a great story, but it’s also, I hope, really relatable.”

“What’s striking about Season 4,” Thompson added, “is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale — the romance of it — and the actual reality of the world.” Through Benedict and Sophia's relationship, season 4 will delve more deeply into both the powerful houses of the Ton and the people who keep those aristocratic lifestyles going behind the scenes. “Both are true,” Thompson continued. “You have to hold both of them — the romance and the reality — in your hand. In its best version, ‘true love’ happens in the middle of that.”

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton" season 4, including character details, new clips and trailer, and plot points. In the meantime, you can rewatch the drama's first three seasons on Netflix.

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The second batch of "Bridgerton" season 3 episodes landed last week (June 13), bringing our latest visit to the ton to a close. While the dust has barely settled on Colin and Penelope's love story, talk has already turned to the show's next chapter. 

We've got a big progress update on season 4... but it sounds like we'll have to wait a while before the hit Netflix period drama returns. Speaking to THR at the recent U.K. premiere for "Bridgerton" season 3 part 2, showrunner Jess Brownell teased that she thinks the scripts for next season feature some of their 'best work'. Sadly, she also confirmed the two-year wait between seasons isn't going away anytime soon.

"I'm really excited about what we're writing", Brownell said. "We're towards the end with the writers room season, with the scripts. And I feel like it's some of my best work and my writers room's best work. We've just really gelled our collaboration, and we're firing on all cylinders, so I can't wait for fans to see what we have.

"We are working to try and put the season out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language. And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we're kind of on a two-year pace, we're trying to speed up, but somewhere in that range", Brownell added.

What do we know about 'Bridgerton' season 4 so far?

Unfortunately, we're still fairly in the dark on season 4. Netflix's "Bridgerton" adaptation does not follow the exact order of Julia Quinn's books (season 3 was based on the fourth novel, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton"), so we can't necessarily assume which sibling will be in the spotlight next. 

Ahead of the third season's arrival, Jess Brownell teased "there are some clues at the end of season 3 of where we're headed". Now that the season 3 finale has aired, we can take a look at those clues and guess what's to come next. There are some major season 3 spoilers ahead, and mention of what happens in the yet-to-be-adapted books, so if you want to go into "Bridgerton" season 4 fully blind, don't read on. 

Eloise dropped a big hint in the season 3 finale that Benedict could be next in the limelight. She heads to Scotland with her sister, Francesca, but promises she won't be gone too long. That's because she knows their mother Violet wouldn't let Eloise miss "her Masquerade Ball". 

Now, anyone who has read the series will know that Benedict meets his match, Sophie Beckett for the first time at the Masquerade Ball in book four, "An Offer From a Gentleman". After their chance encounter, Sophie disappears into the night, and Benedict spends two years avoiding marriage as he tries to track her down. Given it's an important moment for the second-oldest Bridgerton brother, there's no way they'd drop a hint like that in the season 3 finale without intent, right?

There's also every chance that Francesca could be the protagonist next time, as her love story's not been wrapped up yet, either. In the season 3 finale, she was introduced to her new husband's cousin, Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), and was rendered speechless. 

In Francesca's original story, "When He Was Wicked", she eventually ended up with Michael Stirling, after the death of Lord Kilmartin. So it's also likely that the series may have gender-flipped Francesca's would-be partner and intends to continue telling her story soon. 

Without official confirmation, we can't say with absolute certainty which of the siblings' stories will be next, but these seem the most likely candidates. And with such exciting things teed up in the finale, that two-year wait for more episodes is going to be all the more painful. 

All three seasons of "Bridgerton" and "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" are now available to stream on Netflix. Need more shows to watch while you wait for "Bridgerton" to return? Check out our picks of the best shows like "Bridgerton" that you can watch right now. 

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From stirring declarations of love to tragic familial losses, the "Bridgerton" universe has tugged at the old heartstrings throughout two seasons of the Netflix original as well as its prequel spinoff "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story." And it seems like the emotional second half of "Bridgerton" season 3 — the final four episodes are now streaming on Netflix — will have fans of the Regency-era romantic drama reaching for their tissues, teased executive producer Shonda Rhimes. 

Rhimes, who recently confirmed that she's "committed" to adapting all eight "Bridgerton" novels for Netflix, discussed the back half of season 3 with The Hollywood Reporter.  As for what fans can expect from the last episodes of the season, especially the friends-to-lovers romance between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), Rhimes didn't offer specifics but did dub the eps both "sexy" and "moving." 

“We’re very secretive about it but I will say it is sexy and surprising in many ways,” Rhimes told the outlet. “And also, I cried at the end. I found it very moving — and I don’t always cry. So I really got into it. I think it’s a beautiful story.”

"Bridgerton" fans can surely expect some angst to come up in the season's back half, what with the long-awaited reveal of Lady Whistledown bound to drum up drama between Colin and Pen. In a major difference from their respective "Bridgerton" book, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" by author Julia Quinn, at this point in the story onscreen, the Bridgerton gent doesn't yet know that his betrothed is actually the Ton's most notorious gossipmonger. Rhimes previously shared that the Lady Whistledown reveal actually sped up the "Bridgerton" timeline, causing the producers to skip over Benedict Bridgerton's story from book four and move up the "Polin" relationship to season 3. 

But despite the emotional nature of the season's end, star Nicola Coughlan also recently teased that there are plenty of "giddy" times ahead for Colin and Penelope in the highly anticipated final episodes. She told The Hollywood Reporter last month: “I love episodes five and six when they’re in that giddy, giddy time, and they’re so in love because that’s the thing. Some of the best things in this show are when you see people truly in love with one another, so blissfully happy.” 

Such "blissfully happy" moments between the couple will reportedly include that infamous steamy mirror scene adapted from "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" (if you know, you know!), as well as a love scene so passionate, Coughlan revealed that she and Newton actually broke a piece of furniture while filming it. 

Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all intel about the back half of "Bridgerton" season 3, including any new clips, behind-the-scenes tidbits and emotional moments. (Speaking of, it would be very prudent of you to purchase some extra boxes of Kleenex in preparation for the new eps.) In the meantime, you can rewatch the first two seasons of the show, as well as the first half of season 3, with a Netflix subscription.

After weeks of waiting, "Bridgerton" season 3 returns this Thursday, June 13 on Netflix with its much-anticipated part 2 and "Polin" fans have been counting down the days until they'll be reunited with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Last we saw of the friends-turned-lovers, the Bridgerton lad had — spoiler alert! — proposed to his longtime pal. And a brand-new clip shows Colin celebrating his last night of singledom before the couple's next-day nuptials. 

"Bridgerton" viewers already got an early look at what to expect from the final four episodes of season 3 via the official part 2 trailer, and now we get another sneak peek at the season's back-half courtesy of this exclusive clip from IGN. In the minute-long clip, we see Colin Bridgerton at a gentlemen's club joined by his older brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) as well as bar owner Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin (Victor Alli), a new "Bridgerton" character who popped up in the first half of season 3 as a love interest for Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd). 

And it looks like some good-natured ribbing has developed between the Bridgerton brothers and their sister's new courter, as Benedict teases Lord Kilmartin about being "not much of a drinker." The earl admits as such but declares that he's only hitting the sauce because he's worried that Violet Bridgerton doesn't like him and won't approve of his match with Francesca. "Our mother adores you," Benedict assures him, "but our mother also has an obsession with great love stories." (Sounds like some "Bridgerton" fans!)

When Will suggests that the bros give Kilmartin some "practical advice" in the hopes of winning their mother's favor, Benedict proclaims: "Frankly, you might consider doing something foolish, something bold. Declare yourself! Throw rocks at Francesca's window tonight!" (Colin comically disagrees with this suggestion.) "Your problem is that you're trying much too hard to be respectful," advises the elder Bridgerton. Alas, much to the men's disappointment, John declares that if he is "to be bold," he needs some time to think about it.

We'll see exactly how things progress between the Earl of Kilmartin and the young Bridgerton woman when part two of the Regency drama's third season debuts later this week. And we'll also get those promised steamy scenes between Colin and Penelope, though it looks like the reveal of Lady Whistledown's identity will throw a bit of a wrench into their newfound romance. 

Showrunner Jess Bronwell recently teased to Yahoo Entertainment: “If the front half is rom-com and lightness, playfulness and awkward banter, the back half is a steadily rising arrow of tension. That little bit of chaos that you saw at the back of Episode 4, it keeps on ramping up in the back half."

Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all intel about the back half of "Bridgerton" season 3, including any new clips and behind-the-scenes tidbits. In the meantime, you can rewatch the first two seasons of the show, as well as the first half of season 3 if you're feeling so inclined, on the streaming platform. 

After that shocking cliffhanger (not to mention that steamy carriage ride) at the end of part one of "Bridgerton" season 3 back in May, fans have been not-so-patiently waiting to see how the rest of the third season of the Regency-era romance drama will play out, especially between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). 

And now, dear readers, we have an official peek into those final four installments — which will hit Netflix on Thursday, June 13 — as the part 2 trailer has just dropped. (Warning: spoilers are very much ahead!)

On June 3, Netflix released a two-minute teaser touting all of the drama that's still to come in season three. The clip picks up directly after Colin's proposal to Penelope outside the Bridgerton estate, as we see the lad announcing his betrothed to his family, much to the confusion of his sister and Pen's former BFF Eloise (Claudia Jesse). You see, in a change from the book "Romancing Mister Bridgerton," Eloise knows that Penelope is actually the secret scribe known as Lady Whistledown, a fact that she threatens to reveal to Colin before the wedding if Pen doesn't herself.

 As for what fans can expect from the final episodes of season 3, it's "really an upside-down world of the front half,” showrunner Jess Bronwell recently teased to Yahoo Entertainment, adding that there’s “plenty of plot” still to cover in the third season. 

“If the front half is rom-com and lightness, playfulness and awkward banter, the back half is a steadily rising arrow of tension. That little bit of chaos that you saw at the back of Episode 4, it keeps on ramping up in the back half."

It's clear that the Whistledown scandal will cause a significant amount of tension in the Bridgerton household ("Colin cannot discover my secret. Whistledown is power," Penelope worries in the trailer) and all throughout the Ton, a reveal so major that executive producer Shonda Rhimes said that it actually sped up the 'Bridgerton' story timeline. 

But that doesn't mean that there isn't any room for the sultry hijinks that viewers have come to expect from "Bridgerton." The trailer offers yet another titillating look at that steamy mirror scene from the book and we already know that Coughlan and Newton had a furniture-breaking moment during one of their characters' love scenes, so we know there's plenty of passion ahead in the season's back-half. 

The third season of "Bridgerton" is the first in the show's history to be split into two parts à la other top Netflix shows like "Stranger Things," "You," "Ozark" and "The Witcher," which just cranks up the anticipation for those final four episodes. Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all intel about the back half of "Bridgerton" season 3, including any new clips and behind-the-scenes tidbits. In the meantime, you can rewatch the first two seasons of the show, as well as the first half of season 3 if you're feeling so inclined, on the streaming platform. 

Fans already knew going into "Bridgerton" season 3 that the show's first romantic heroes Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her hubby Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page), wouldn't be making their return to the Ton in the new episodes. (Though Dynevor popped up in the Bridgerton household last season, Page hasn't been back since the first season ended.) But those two weren't the only familiar faces we're missing from this season. 

Yes, while viewers got to catch up with one of the Sharma sisters this time around —that would be Kate, played by Simone Ashley, who is settling into her role as Viscountess Bridgerton opposite Jonathan Bailey's Anthony Bridgerton — Kate's little sis Edwina is nowhere to be found in the first four episodes, which dropped on Netflix on May 16. 

During a scene between Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, it was revealed that Edwina had made a charming "match abroad," though we don't know the identity or location of said gentleman. (Is it the queen's nephew Prince Friedrich or someone else entirely? We'll have to wait to find out!)

And you won't be seeing the young Sharma in the last four installments either when they arrive on the streamer on June 13, as actress Charithra Chandran previously explained her absence from the period drama's third season. 

During an interview with the Indian Express back in August 2022, Chandran revealed: "I'm not on set for season 3. I'm doing another film. It hasn't been announced yet. It's really exciting!" The 27-year-old Scottish star didn't specify which film she was working on in place of "Bridgerton" season 3, but it was likely the 2024 Amazon Prime Video comedy "How to Date Billy Walsh," in which she starred as Amelia. 

Chandran only had good things to say about her experience acting in the Regency-era romance series, telling the publication: "I'm so grateful for it. It was such a wonderful experience and I have great things to say about it." However, the actress did acknowledge that that "Bridgerton" success could be a double-edged sword, telling The Guardian this past March: "I'm not saying I'll never do anything grander than 'Bridgerton'. I hope that's not the case — and I have big ambitions. It's just rather bizarre that it was the beginning of my career. I think it has really warped my sense of achievement."

It's unclear whether Charithra Chandran will be back to reprise the role of Edwina Sharma in future editions of "Bridgerton," but given that executive producer Shonda Rhimes has announced that she's "committed" to adapting all eight of Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" novels into individuals seasons of the show, there's plenty of time for Edwina to make her much-anticipated comeback to the Ton. 

Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all intel about the back half of "Bridgerton" season 3 and beyond. In the meantime, you can see Chandran as Edwina in the second season of the show (and rewatch the first season, too, if you're feeling so inclined) with a Netflix subscription. 

If you were one of the 45.1 million viewers who tuned into "Bridgerton" season 3 in its opening weekend on Netflix (the new season hit the streamer on May 16), then you already know that the first four episodes end on a bit of a cliffhanger. (No spoilers but, frankly, we'll never look at carriage rides quite the same way.) 

Alas, we'll have to wait nearly a month to see exactly how things transpire between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), as the final four eps of the season won't premiere on Netflix until June 13. Even readers of Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" novels, on which the romantic drama series is based, will likely be surprised by the season's back-half, seeing as how there's already been several big differences between "Bridgerton" season 3 and the book "Romancing Mister Bridgerton." 

But while we have a few weeks before we'll get to visit the Ton again, "Bridgerton" showrunner Jess Brownell gave us gentle viewers some teasing insights into what we can expect from the second half of season 3. “The back half is really an upside-down world of the front half,” Bronwell teased to Yahoo Entertainment, adding that there’s “plenty of plot” for them to still cover.

“If the front half is rom-com and lightness, playfulness and awkward banter, the back half is a steadily rising arrow of tension. That little bit of chaos that you saw at the back of Episode 4, it keeps on ramping up in the back half,” she said.

Though leaving things on a cliffhanger might be frustrating to some viewers, Bronwell said that splitting the season's episode order in two batches was "a nice way for people to be able to have some time to regroup after the first four episodes and also to savor the season. There’s definitely a little bit of organized chaos at the end of Episode 4, so people might need a little break after that.”

The split also helped things "narratively," Bronwell added, especially when it comes to that big Lady Whistledown reveal. "It was really useful for us because it is this giant secret that’s hanging over this new romantic pairing, but what that allows us to do in the back half — as viewers will see — is spend more time in the love bubble between Colin and Penelope,” Brownell said. 

"In past seasons, we’ve had to create direct conflict between the couple, but we didn’t have to do that as much this season, because as soon as that secret lands, it’s going to upend everything.”

The third season of "Bridgerton" is the show's first to be split into two parts à la other top Netflix shows like "Stranger Things," "You," "Ozark" and "The Witcher."  Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all intel about the back half of "Bridgerton" season 3 (especially that still-to-come furniture-breaking love scene). In the meantime, you can rewatch the first two seasons of the show, as well as the first half of season 3 if you're feeling so inclined, on the streaming platform. 

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The Netflix top 10 is a good guide to follow if you’re curious about what’s currently popular, but it doesn’t always have the best movies and shows to stream this week. In my personal experience, this list often holds low-rated and even boring content that I just won’t gravitate towards. However, that’s not to say there aren’t shows worth watching, because I’ve found quite a few valuable options.  

While shows like “Baby Reindeer” and “Bodkin” remain in the top 10, they’ve had their time to shine. Other extremely successful shows have completely crashed Netflix, and that includes an outstanding romance drama series based in the Regency era, as well as the much loved "The Big Bang Theory" spin-off.

So, if you find yourself scrolling through the Netflix top 10 but don’t know what show to watch first, we’ve got you covered. Check out the best shows to stream right now below.

‘Bridgerton’

Of course, we have to start with the most popular show on Netflix right now, and perhaps one of my favorite shows ever. “Bridgerton” focuses on a family of eight siblings who attempt to find love during the Regency era in England. These siblings include Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin (Luke Newton), Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Francesca (Ruby Stokes/Hannah Dodd), Gregory (Will Tilston), and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt). 

Each season centers around one sibling and their romance story. So, season 1 focuses on Daphne’s romance with a Duke, season 2 is about Anthony’s search for a wife, and the recently released season 3 follows Colin’s blossoming love with his best friend, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). “Bridgerton” combines passionate romance, friendship, history, and drama perfectly, with each season generating more anticipation. 

Stream on Netflix 

‘Young Sheldon’

Are you a fan of the “Big Bang Theory” or just enjoy sitcoms in general? Then “Young Sheldon” should be your next watch on Netflix. This show explores the childhood of Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) and his life growing up as a socially impaired but highly intelligent child in Texas. He can solve advanced mathematical problems and scientific equations that no other kid his age is capable of. But being smart and vulnerable isn’t easy in a harsh world, and so Sheldon has to find his purpose. 

“Young Sheldon” is the perfect show to stream whenever you need to relax. It has several comedic moments and nods to the original series “The Big Bang Theory”. Although this series has come to an end after seven successful seasons, it’s still worth a watch. And even more bonus points for the fact that Jim Parsons (who played the adult version of Sheldon) narrates throughout the entire show. 

Stream on Netflix

‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’

Yes, we’re back to the world of “Bridgerton”, but this time we have a prequel spin-off. “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” focuses on young Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) and how she came to marry King George of England (Corey Mylchreest), despite the unwanted wedding arrangement. After meeting one another, the romance blossoms in the typical slow burn fashion, but it wouldn’t be a true love story if there weren’t obstacles being thrown at them as well. 

This epic love story represents the transformation of high society, but it also deals with themes such as isolation, grief, difficult relationships, and discrimination during a societal shift. It’s definitely a deeper and darker “Bridgerton” story that doesn’t just focus on passionate romance. Like me, you can watch this spin-off while waiting for the rest of “Bridgerton” season 3 to come out. 

Stream on Netflix

NETFLIX TOP 10 SHOWS RIGHT NOW

• 1. Bridgerton (2020)
• 2. Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal (2024)
• 3. Kevin Hart: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2024)
• 4. Baby Reindeer (2024)
• 5. The Roast of Tom Brady (2024)
• 6. A Man in Full (2024)
• 7. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023)
• 8. Bodkin (2024)
• 9. Young Sheldon (2017)
• 10. Katt Williams: Woke Foke (2024)

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Dear gentle readers: After two years' worth of anticipation, "Bridgerton" season 3 finally arrived with even more heart-pounding, carriage-shaking romantic drama. During the wait between seasons, however, superfans could "visit" the Ton by rereading the Julia Quinn novel series on which the Netflix series is based, with the latest edition of the show adapting the story from the fourth "Bridgerton" book, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton." (And yes, per Shonda Rhimes, the powers that be are "committed" to adapting all eight novels.)

That’s a change from previous installments of the show, which have heretofore hewed closely to their corresponding novel. However, the third season skipped over Benedict Bridgerton and his story from book three, "An Offer from a Gentleman," to instead focus on younger bro Colin (Luke Newton) and his friends-to-lovers relationship with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). And that's not the only page-to-screen change that occurred this season — here are seven key differences between "Bridgerton" season 3 and book three. 

Naturally, spoilers are very much ahead!

7 differences between 'Bridgerton' season 3 and the book

1. The book is set a decade later than the TV show

The novel "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" takes place in 1824, a full decade after Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma tied the knot. Season 3, however, picks up just a few months after that couple's nuptials. That means that book Penelope and Colin are much older than their TV counterparts: she is a 28-year-old "spinster" and he is a 33-year-old world traveler. (In the Netflix show, the youngest Featherington daughter is around 19 and the Bridgerton son is 24.) 

It also means that Pen has been pining for her BFF Colin for way longer on page than on screen — in the book, she details how she first fell in love with Colin in 1812, two days shy of her 16th birthday — though for TV fans, the wait for these two to finally get together after three seasons has likely felt just as long. 

2. Colin doesn’t give Penelope flirting lessons

In season 3, a mini-scandal breaks out when it's revealed to the rest of the Ton that Colin Bridgerton has been giving Penelope Featherington charm lessons to help her secure a love match. (You see, now in her third season out on the marriage mart, young Pen is getting a bit desperate to move out of her mom's house and have a husband and household of her own.) 

However, on page, those charm lessons never happen — in fact, Penelope's other main suitor of season 3, Lord Debling (played by Sam Phillips), doesn't even exist in the books. Instead, that new "Bridgerton" character was seemingly created as a device to induce some feelings of jealousy in Colin and keep our two romantic heroes apart for a few episodes. 

3. Nobody knows who Lady Whistledown is

One of the main sources of tension in the third season is the friendship breakup between former BFFs Penelope Featherington and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), after the latter discovered that her friend was actually the mysterious gossipmonger known as Lady Whistledown. And per the previews for the season's second half — which hits Netflix on June 13 — the reveal of Whistledown's real identity will cause some drama between our newly-betrothed Pen and Colin. 

However, in the novel, Eloise doesn't yet know that Penelope is the scribe behind the Ton's salacious newsletter. In fact, not even the reader knows that Pen is Lady Whistledown until halfway through book four, a bombshell that the show dropped back in that shocking season one finale. In the book, Colin actually believes his sister Eloise is the tattler until he catches Penelope himself — however, he couldn't have been too mad about the reveal, because he proposes to her shortly thereafter. 

4. Eloise and Cressida Cowper aren't friends 

Speaking of that fall-out between Eloise and Penelope, the Bridgerton daughter moves on from that friendship split by buddying up to a surprising subject in season three: Cressida Cowper (played by Jessica Madsen). Up until now in the show, Cressida has been a competitive and often cruel debutante who seemingly goes out of her way to put down Pen, which makes her sudden companionship with Eloise that much more surprising. 

However, this odd-couple pairing doesn't actually happen in "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton" and instead seems drummed up by the "Bridgerton" producers to add even more tension to the Lady Whistledown subplot. In contrast, Eloise and Penelope don't even have a falling out in the books. 

5. The Featheringtons don't have money problems

One side plot of the third season is the latest financial scheme from Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker). After accumulating a good deal of money due to her and Cousin Jack's mined-jewels grift last season, Portia hides the source of the family's new wealth by saying that it came via an inheritance from a dying aunt. To further secure that the Featherington estate remains within the immediate family, Portia spends much of season 3 trying to get her daughters Prudence (Bessie Carter) and Philippa (Harriet Cains) to produce heirs. 

However, while Portia is definitely involved with her daughters and their marriages, the Featherington women don't have money troubles or major debts in the books. The on-page Featherington family actually has several more members than their televised counterparts: Lord Featherington is still very much alive in the book and there's even a fourth sibling, a younger sister named Felicity.

6. Francesca is already married — and widowed

Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) makes her debut in society in season 3, with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) dazzled by the young, shy Bridgerton girl and sending her suitors like Marquis Samadani (David Mumeni). However, Francesca is more taken with the similarly reserved John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin (Victor Alli).

TV fans will be excited to learn that Francesca Bridgerton does eventually become Francesca Stirling. However, by the time of the fourth "Bridgerton" book, the character is already a widow, having lost her husband two years into their marriage. In the novel, there certainly isn't any courtship detailed between Francesca and John, and there isn't even a Queen Charlotte character to meddle in the Bridgerton daughter's love life. (For those keeping track of the "Bridgerton" novels, we won't get to Francesca's story until book 6, "When He Was Wicked," which actually chronicles her finding her second true love.)

7. That whole steamy carriage ride situation

Given that star Nicola Coughlan teased that she and Luke Newton actually broke furniture while filming one of season 3's love scenes, "Bridgerton" fans knew that a lot of steaminess was ahead in the new episodes. Case in point: that internet-breaking carriage scene at the end of episode four, which features the first official hook-up between Colin and Pen. It's after that heated smoochfest that the Bridgerton lad decides once and for all to make Penelope Featherington his wife. 

And while the carriage scene definitely happens in "Romancing Mister Bridgerton," there are some notable alterations. For one, it's actually the Bridgertons' coach; they're in town and not parked outside a ball. And at this point in the book, Colin knows about Lady Whistledown's real identity. That means there are no secrets left between the friends-turned-lovers and they can go into their marriage with a clean slate. However, it seems like their onscreen engagement will be a bit more drama-filled when part two hits Netflix. 

You'll be able to see how Colin and Penelope's relationship plays out when the final four episodes of "Bridgerton" season 3 premiere on Netflix on June 13. 

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Devoted "Bridgerton" fans already know that season 3 has sped up the storyline they've come to know from the Julia Quinn-penned novel series on which the popular Netflix drama is based. The soon-to-come "Bridgerton" season 3 is shaking up the book order by jumping over Benedict Bridgerton's story and instead focusing on the friends-to-lovers relationship between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan and Colin (Luke Newton), which actually plays out in the fourth book, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton."

And the reason for that change-up wasn't just because of the fan buzz surrounding the much-anticipated Polin romance, but also due to the storyline centered on Lady Whistledown, the mysterious figure behind those social pamphlets detailing the gossip of the Ton. That writer turned out, of course, to be Penelope Featherington herself in the season one finale, a character reveal that executive producer Shonda Rhimes prompted the powers that be to fast-track Pen's story.

“It was very clear that if we were going to reveal that Penelope was Lady Whistledown at the end of Season 1, we really only had a season when that could work as a secret that she carried — and then we got to see Eloise discover it,” said Rhimes during an interview for Variety. The producer is referencing that dramatic moment when Eloise Bridgerton, Penelope's BFF and Colin's sister, discovers her closest confidant's betrayal in the second season’s finale.

Fellow "Bridgerton" executive producer Betsy Beers told the outlet that that connection between Penelope and Eloise was also appealing to the team for the upcoming season: “Obviously, all the characters are great, but I’ve loved that character [of Penelope]. And I am always into the relationship between Penelope and Eloise. There are lots of layers to this season with characters I think you haven’t really gotten to dig into before.”

However, if Rhimes had her way, they would be fast-tracking all of the "Bridgerton" stories — though the producer previously announced that she is "committed" to adapting all eight editions of the "Bridgerton" books and allowing each Bridgerton sibling to have their moment in the spotlight, she does wish that things moved more quickly where filming is concerned. “It takes so long, and that’s frustrating to me," Rhimes told Variety. "To me, we should be able to write and produce shows at the same time, and that’s not necessarily possible at this moment. It should be, but it’s not.”

However, she's already got the ball rolling on future installments of the show. (Netflix has already officially picked up "Bridgerton" season 4.) “I do have a very specific plan of where we go each season — which one is which,” Rhimes said. “Because you really have to start seeding in the other siblings, and what’s going on with them, to push them to the next season. We’ve really talked about it through, I think, Season 6 or maybe 7.”

In the meantime, the first four episodes of "Bridgerton" season 3 will drop on Netflix on May 16, with four more to follow on June 13. And Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all future editions of the series. 

Checking the Netflix top 10 becomes a habit when you need something new to watch, but the list doesn’t always hold the best options. Take “A Man in Full” for example, a drama series that has been rated rotten on the review aggregation site, Rotten Tomatoes. Yet somehow, it sits right in the middle of the list. The same goes for the top 10 movie section, with low-rated flicks like “Madame Web” and “Mother of the Bride” at the very top. 

Although the trending shows give you a general idea of what people are currently watching, it’s not always reliable. That’s why we’ve picked out the best series on the list, from a historical romance drama set in the Regency era to a tense thriller about mysterious disappearances, the options are vast. Let's get into the three shows worth watching right now in the Netflix top 10.

'Bridgerton'

One of the most popular shows on Netflix, it’s no surprise that “Bridgerton” has crashed the top 10, and it will probably make its way to No.1 with season 3 now available on the platform. “Bridgerton”, based on the novels written by Julia Quinn, follows eight siblings in a powerful family who plan on finding love. But as proven throughout the show, it’s quite difficult to meet someone you truly connect with in the Regency era. 

Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin (Luke Newton), Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Francesca (Ruby Stokes), Gregory (Will Tilston), and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) are the eight siblings, and they’ll each have a season dedicated to their love story. Season 1 focused on Daphne, season 2 on Anthony, and the newly released season 3 on Colin. 

Watch season 3 on Netflix now 

'Blood of Zeus'

“Blood of Zeus” was quick to crash the Netflix top 10 as a fantasy action show, and its perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes proves it’s worth watching. Season 2 has recently been added to the platform as well. 

This animated series focuses on the son of Zeus, Heron (voiced by Derek Phillips), who must save heaven and Earth despite earning unwanted attention from a vengeful goddess. Set in mythical ancient Greece, “Blood of Zeus” offers a refreshing take on Greek mythology while including gory action sequences and scenes with powerful gods, demons, and mythical titans. 

Watch on Netflix  

'Bodkin'

“Bodkin” is a mystery thriller that involves a group of podcasters who investigate some mysterious disappearances in an Irish town called Bodkin. Gilbert Power (Will Forte) travels to the town specifically to learn more about the cold case of three missing people. Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen), a journalist who is also interested, joins Gilbert after the death of one of her sources. Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara) is also part of the team as Gilbert's podcaster assistant. Now, they must work together to uncover some of the darkest secrets lurking in Bodkin.

Watch on Netflix 

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Fans of "Polin" — the "Bridgerton" ship name for the friends-to-lovers relationship between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) — were no doubt concerned after watching the Featherington Ball in season 2, during which Colin brutally friend-zoned his Pen. 

“Are you mad? I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest dreams,” he told his fellow Lords, which Penelope sadly had to overhear.

So it's quite clear that Colin has some apologizing to do when "Bridgerton" season 3 hits Netflix with its first four episodes on May 16. (The final four installments will be added to the streamer nearly a month later on June 13.) And "Bridgerton" fans can get a sneak peek at the long-overdue apology via an exclusive new clip from IMDb.

The last we saw our season 3 romantic heroes — the Regency-era romantic drama will be fast-tracking to the "Polin" romance this season and skipping over Benedict Bridgerton's story from book 3 as a result — Penelope was left heartbroken over Colin, who set off to gallivant around Europe. In the new clip, Colin has returned home from his Euro trip and is ready to make amends with his "very good friend."

"I am not the man I was last season," Colin can be seen proclaiming to Pen in the recently released video. "And I'm certainly not ashamed of you, Penelope. The opposite is true, in fact. I seek you out at every social assembly because I know you will lift my spirits and make me see the world in ways I could not have imagined."

However, if it's a love proclamation you "Polin" diehards were hoping for, you're going to have to wait a bit longer: "You are clever and warm and I am proud to call you my very good friend," Colin adds to the end of his speech.

Penelope, though, isn't entirely quick to forgive the Bridgerton gentleman. "It has been vexing, watching you walk back into society with such ease," she tells Colin. "When every year, I pray I might finally feel that way amidst the marriage mart, and that comfort never materializes." 

Instead of reading between the lines and realizing that Colin is exactly the comfort that Penelope is looking for in the marriage mart, the young Bridgerton lad takes it upon himself to offer coaching to his friend to help her find a love match. "Well, if a husband is what you seek, then let me help you," Colin propositions. "I was in 17 cities this summer, and what I have learned is that charm can be taught...we will have lessons, and you will quickly master them, I am certain." This won't result in romantic mishaps at all!

You'll be able to see how Colin and Penelope's relationship plays out, mishaps and otherwise, when "Bridgerton" season 3 premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 16. (There will allegedly be some saucy furniture-breaking involved, FYI.) In the meantime, you can revisit all of those memorable" Polin" moments by rewatching the first two seasons of the show on the streaming platform. 

The sounds of "Bridgerton" are nearly as famous as the sights: for every sumptuous, ballgown-swinging dance scene, there's one of the show's signature pop covers playing, violin-heavy instrumentals that transform familiar tunes from contemporary hitmakers into something fit for the Regency era. And it seems like "Bridgerton" season 3 — which will debut with its first four episodes on Netflix on May 16, with four more to follow on June 13 — will be no exception, with big-name singers like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift appearing on the tracklist. 

Per Netflix's Tudum website, the season's orchestral covers kick off with Gayle's hit “abcdefu," which plays in the premiere episode as Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) begins her "glow up" transformation from timid wallflower to talk of the Ton. 

Joining Gayle's song on the season 3 soundtrack are covers of BTS's "Dynamite," Nick Jonas's "Jealous," Sia's "Cheap Thrills," Eilish's "Happier Than Ever," Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," and "Snow on the Beach" by Taylor Swift and Lana del Rey. The third season will also feature the first-ever original song for the series, "All I Want," sung by Tori Kelly, though fans won't get to hear that one until the second batch of episodes is released. (Hint: it'll be playing during a very pivotal scene in the season's back half.) 

“It’s a much more lighthearted feeling, I think, overall,” "Bridgerton" composer Kris Bowers told Tudum about season 3's sound. “There’s obviously the ups and downs that we always have in this show. But with Colin and Pen being friends, with a lot of their interactions having a bit of awkwardness to them — and within this season there are so many stories that we dip into — there’s a lot of fun and lightness that we experience with the music and comedic moments.”

Bowers detailed how the characters' musical themes, both separately and together, mimic the movements of Penelope and Colin's ever-changing relationship and infuse "a new feeling into the sound and score for this season." He added: “My thinking behind Colin and Pen was how much of it was this timidity and this two-steps-forward, one-step-back kind of thing. The theme that I wrote melodically has this shape to it that’s meant to evoke this feeling.”

Marrying music to scenes

Music supervisor Justin Kamps also gave insight into how they select and place the songs and character themes throughout each episode. “Sometimes initially it’s about what matches the choreography, and then later it’s about what matches the scene and the emotion,” Kamps said to Tudum. “We have a lot of covers that aren’t necessarily part of ball sequences this year, and it’s because we found some cute places to insert something that can play as a fun cover [but] doesn’t necessarily have to be attached to a dance sequence."

You'll be able to hear all of the new songs when "Bridgerton" season 3 premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 16. In the meantime, you can revisit all of the great tracks that have soundtracked "Bridgerton" thus far by rewatching the first two seasons of the show on Netflix. 

Wallflower no more! Though Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) may have been hiding behind that old Lady Whistledown pen name for the past two seasons, the upcoming "Bridgerton" season 3 will see the formerly shy and unassuming young lady confidently step into the spotlight as this year's romantic leading lady, navigating a will-they-won't-they slow-burn romance with her longtime friend Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).  

“She is a butterfly emerging from her chrysalis this season,” showrunner Jess Brownell proclaimed in a new featurette about Penelope's big transformation, which "Bridgerton" fans will get to see when the first four episodes drop on Netflix on May 16. (The final four installments will follow on June 13.) 

"Some of the characters this season have evolved into new looks, one being Penelope," costume designer John Glaser details in the three-and-a-half-minute video, which hit Netflix's social media channels on Saturday. At the beginning of the new season, you'll see the Featherington daughter clothes from the previous two seasons, in varying shades of what actress Adjoa Andoh — who plays Lady Agatha Danbury — jokingly calls "eye-burning yellow." (We see Pen herself declare "I do not wish to see a citrus color ever again!")  "We could have done it slowly, but we quickly change her silhouette, change her color palette," adds Glaser, with Penelope started to don more flattering gowns in hues of blue and green. 

Overseen by hair and makeup designer Erika Ökvist, Penelope's beauty look was also given an upgrade, trading the makeup of earlier seasons (i.e. "very strong colors that doesn't necessarily work with her skin tone, but definitely works with the character") for freshness and rosy cheekbones lifted "up to God." "It really helped the character...it helped me grow in confidence, you know, to feel good in the costumes," added Coughlan. 

Coughlan's fellow season 3 lead Luke Newton also had a transformation for the new season: "I think the internet has dubbed Colin's new look 'Sexy Pirate'," Brownell joked. "It's not too off from what we were intending." Gone are the boyish, dandyish ensembles of yore; now the Bridgerton lad "looks like a man," added Glaser. Newton himself could feel the confidence change in his character: "He's got like this element of swagger to him now."

There are also glow-ups for many characters not used to being in the center of things, including Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi), whose fashions change after "they get into a little bit of money this season," said Ökvist.

And a mini-makeover arrived for other returning "Bridgerton" characters like season 2's leading lady Simone Ashley, who plays Kate Sharma on the Regency-era series: "With Kate, this season, we've softened her colors, brought them into what we call the Bridgerton Blues. We've also brought in a little bit of Indian influences," Glaser revealed.

You'll be able to see all of the above transformations when "Bridgerton" season 3 premieres on May 16. In the meantime, Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton," including the fashion and beauty intel. And you can revisit those old looks yourself by rewatching seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix. 

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When "Bridgerton" season 3 makes its much-awaited return to Netflix on May 16, fans of the Regency-era series will see plenty of familiar faces, including this season's romantic leads Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). But along with all of the returning characters to the Ton — like Colin's many siblings, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and the like — there will be a few fresh faces thrown in the mix. 

Among the newcomers introduced this season is Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson, “a charismatic presence who lights up any room he enters, attracting the notice of certain matriarchs in the town — and the ire of others,” per Deadline. In preview clips and official stills from the upcoming episodes, we see Mr. Anderson interacting with both Andoh's Lady Danbury as well as her good friend Violet Bridgerton (played by Ruth Gemmell). Does this spell jealousy between the besties?

As Francis told Shondaland, love is definitely on the gentleman's mind. "He hasn’t been in the ton, in London; he’s been in the countryside. Sadly, his wife passed away, and now he’s in his second chapter, as it were. He’s come back to … well, it’s lonely in the countryside," the actor said. "In all honesty, he’s come back to the ton to find love. His first marriage wasn’t a love match, and now he’s doing it for himself.”

And it seems like Lord Debling will also be rustling some feathers this season: played by Sam Phillips, the "a genial lord with unusual interests" who, with the help of considerable wealth and a noble title, will have "no shortage of interest from young ladies this season." Those young ladies seemingly include our very own Penelope Featherington — it looks like Colin Bridgerton has some romantic competition!

However, this is no regular Regency lord. He doesn’t want to live the kind of mundane, normal life. He loves wildlife, he’s a conservationist and he is a vegetarian, so he’s someone that is maybe more comfortable learning about and reading about things that maybe the other men of the ton aren’t thinking about," Phillips told Shondaland. "Having a wife hasn’t been something that he’s necessarily put first because of all his travels, because of his work. He’s just not your run-of-the-mill lord.”

Though no longer an eligible bachelor — the character married Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter) in between seasons — Harry Dankworth (played by James Phoon) will also be making his Ton debut season. Though lacking "in wit and intelligence," Prudence's new hubby "more than makes up for [that] with serious good looks." 

"He’s someone who really doesn’t fit into the gender stereotype of being a man in 19th century Britain," Phoon told Shondaland about playing Dankworth. "But what I really love about that is that he doesn’t have a problem with that; he’s totally fine being in this matriarchal family, and he doesn’t mind not being the decision-maker. In fact, he loves just supporting his wife and supporting the family, cheering Penelope on and trying to make Prudence happy at all costs."

And though playing a returning character, you will see a new face as Francesca Bridgerton, with actress Hannah Dodd replacing the character's original performer Ruby Stokes, who left the show for another Netflix series, "Lockwood & Co."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton," including casting scoop. In the meantime, you can catch up with all of your favorite characters by rewatching the first two seasons on Netflix. 

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After two seasons of playing the younger-brother sidekick to his elder siblings Daphne and Anthony, Colin Bridgerton — and actor Luke Newton — is officially stepping into the spotlight as the romantic hero of "Bridgerton" season 3, which hits Netflix with its first four episodes on May 16. (The final four installments will follow nearly a month later on June 13.) 

And to fully prepare for all of the attention that will come as the show follows Colin's friends-to-lovers relationship with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) in the new episodes, Newton sought the counsel of some familiar faces: Regé-Jean Page, who portrayed Simon Basset, aka the Duke of Hastings, in the first "Bridgerton" season, and Jonathan Bailey, who led season 2 as the eldest Bridgerton son, Anthony. 

In a recent interview with InStyle, Newton shared the advice that both Page and Bailey offered him ahead of the season 3 premiere, saying that Page instructed the 31-year-old Brit to take a “big holiday before all the madness starts.”

“[Regé] sort of grabbed me, gave me a big hug and was like, ‘Are you ready for this, bro?’" Newton told the outlet, adding of Bailey: "Johnny's been there kind of the whole way for me."

"We talk all the time, and it was really nice in season 2 seeing how he conducted himself on set knowing that I'd be next," Newton said of his onscreen sibling. “It's been four years in this role. I'd never led a show before, and it feels like I sort of grew up on this show now. It was nice to see someone do it so well.”

Like previous editions of the Regency-era period drama, the third season follows a sibling of the eponymous Bridgerton family as they navigate love and heartbreak in the London Ton. However, this season will differ from its predecessors, in that it won't follow the order of author Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" novel series, on which the Netflix series is based. Instead of focusing on book 3's romantic hero Benedict Bridgerton, season 3 will tell the story from book 4 — the "slow burn" romance between BFFs Colin and Penelope after years of friendship and unrequited love. 

Newton clearly feels close to his "Bridgerton" castmates like Page and Bailey, a real-life connection that was very beneficial when it came to portraying the burgeoning spark between Colin and Penelope. He details how his "fast friends" comradery with frequent scene partner Nicola Coughlan greatly aided their "POLIN" performances, especially those furniture-breaking intimate scenes. 

“As soon as we met on season 1, we just hit it off straight away," he shared with InStyle, adding: "She knew a lot more about the rest of the books than I did...She was like, ‘You know, I'm Whistledown.’ And I was like, ‘What? I haven't got to that yet!’”

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all POLIN-related intel on the upcoming third season of "Bridgerton." In the meantime, you can revisit Regé-Jean Page and Jonathan Bailey's turns as romantic hero by rewatching the first two seasons of the series on Netflix.

"Bridgerton" season 3 is soon to come — the first four episodes of the new season will drop on Netflix on May 16, with four more to follow on June 13, so mark your calendars — and a fourth edition of the show is already in the works. But what about the future of the beloved franchise? Will we get eight seasons of the period drama, to coincide with the eight books of Julia Quinn's novel series on which the show is based? If everything goes to plan, yes, says producing juggernaut Shonda Rhimes. 

Rhimes — who already cemented her TV greatness as showrunner of the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," its spin-off "Private Practice" and the political thriller "Scandal" — is an executive producer on both "Bridgerton" and its prequel "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" as part of an overall deal between Netflix and her production company Shondaland. So it's safe to say that the woman has some sway when it comes to whether we'll be seeing more from the Bridgerton family in future installments of the romance series.

And in a recent interview with Variety, Rhimes assures "Bridgerton" diehards that she and her producing partner Betsy Beers are committed to bringing all eight of Julia Quinn’s novels to the screen. “I’ll be a granny gumming my food,” Beers joked of how long each season takes to make. "But we want to make sure that there’s ‘Bridgerton’ for all of us who love it.”

Each season of "Bridgerton" has followed a given sibling from the close-knit Bridgerton family as they try to find love in Regency-era England. The first season centered on eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), while the second followed the illicit romance between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended's sister, Kate (Simone Ashley). 

While its predecessors closely followed what author Julia Quinn wrote on the page in the first and second "Bridgerton" books, the show's upcoming third season skews from the novel order by jumping over Benedict Bridgerton's story from book three and instead focusing on the friends-to-lovers relationship between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), which actually plays out in the fourth book, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton."

However, Benedict and the rest of the Bridgerton siblings will have their time in the spotlight if Rhimes's plans for the series materialize. And given how popular "Bridgerton" has been for Netflix — Variety reported back in 2022 that season 2 had knocked out season 1 for the top spot of the streamer's most popular English-language TV series of all time — we'd be surprised if the streaming platform doesn't greenlight future seasons of the series. 

As for the future of that "Queen Charlotte" prequel, Rhimes also gave an update on that show as well to the outlet: "I’m trying to figure it out still. I don’t want to tell a story that doesn’t need to be told — do you know what I mean? I don’t want to make a second season of 'Queen Charlotte,' and you’re going to be, like, 'Well, that was not that great.'"

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all future editions of both "Bridgerton" and "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story." In the meantime, you can revisit the romantic franchise by rewatching the first two seasons of "Bridgerton" as well as the prequel series on Netflix.

There has been much fan-murmuring over whether the Netflix hit "Bridgerton" will lean into the more progressive sensibilities of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and give the character the LGBTQ+ treatment on the show. But with the series choosing to skip over Benedict's story for the friends-to-lovers relationship between his younger brother Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) in "Bridgerton" season 3, it's understandable for viewers to be wondering if we'll ever get a queer love story in the Ton. 

The "Bridgerton" universe did feature a queer romance in its spinoff series, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," between Reynolds and Brimsley. And there is, of course, some LGBT representation amongst the cast, most notably with its season 2 lead Jonathan Bailey, who identifies as a gay man in real life. But the original "Bridgerton" series has been lacking in onscreen queer love for the past two seasons, a deficiency that new showrunner Jess Brownell — who has taken the reins this season from creator Chris Van Dusen — hopes to rectify in episodes to come.

In a recent interview with Pride.com, Brownell assured that queer inclusion is very much a top priority for the creative now that she has taken over the showrunner role. “This is a show about love in its many forms and I think that it's only right for us to foreground queer love and to tell queer stories,” she told the outlet. “I want to see more queer joy on my screens and that was definitely a priority for me when I stepped into the showrunner role.”

However, Brownell did not specify whether those impending queer stories will center on already existing characters like Benedict or instead on not-yet-introduced personalities. “How exactly that plays out over this season and the next couple seasons, I can't say specifically, but I will say I'm excited for fans to see that,” she added.

And the stars of "Bridgerton" are similarly excited about the prospect of more LGBTQ+ representation in the period drama, which has already been anachronistically progressive when it comes to issues like race and feminism. Nicola Coughlan, who steps into the spotlight this season as lead character Penelope Featherington, told the outlet that she's "desperate" for more queer inclusion on the show. 

"I cannot wait. I think it will be so beautiful,” the actress told Pride. “The wonderful thing about Bridgerton is it's an invented world that has never existed. It's a Regency London in which we wear all these mad bright colors, it's really diverse, there's glitter eyeshadow. So I think there's so much space there for queer love stories and I think all love stories deserve to be celebrated.”

The third season of "Bridgerton" will drop in two parts: the first four episodes on Thursday, May 16, with the final four installments to follow on Thursday, June 13. Brownell has previously teased that it will be clear to those who watch season 3 which Bridgerton sibling will be the focus of the show's already-greenlit fourth season, so whether that's Benedict Bridgerton — and whether the season will see a queer relationship — remains to be seen. 

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all upcoming episodes, but in the meantime, you can revisit the first two seasons of "Bridgerton" on Netflix.

Sure, "Bridgerton" season 3 hasn't even aired yet — that will happen with the first four episodes on Thursday, May 16, with the final four installments to follow on Thursday, June 13 — but we're already thinking about "Bridgerton" season 4 and, specifically, exactly which sibling from the Bridgerton family will serve as our romantic hero for that future edition. 

A fourth "Bridgerton" season is already in the cards: Netflix officially ordered both seasons 3 and 4 of the hit period drama back in 2021 while its second season was still in production. But after all of the character-shuffling that happened in the series in the lead-up to its soon-to-come third installment, it's understandable that "Bridgerton" fans are curious about whether the TV program will resume following the order of Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" novels, on which the show is based. 

As Ton diehards already know, seasons 1 and 2 closely followed what author Julia Quinn wrote on the page in the first and second "Bridgerton" books: the first centered on eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), while the second followed the illicit romance between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended's sister, Kate (Simone Ashley). 

But with season 3 instead adapting the story of the fourth "Bridgerton" book—the friends-to-lovers relationship between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) — will season 4 finally tell the overlooked story of Benedict Bridgerton's search for love from book 3 "An Offer from a Gentleman"?

Jess Brownell, the new showrunner for the show's third season, didn't outright specify which Bridgerton sibling would be getting the TV treatment for season 4, but she did hint that viewers should keep a close eye on season 3 for clues. She revealed to TV Insider: "I won’t give you anything, but I do think that there are some clues at the end of season 3 of where we’re headed. So yeah, I leave that to fans to pick apart, but I think we’re tipping our hand just a little bit."

Though Benedict is the most likely option as the protagonist of "Bridgerton" season 4, there are also other siblings to consider: most notably, younger sister Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and her connection to Sir Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), and her one-year-junior sis Francesca (now played by actress Hannah Dodd, taking over the role this season from Ruby Stokes), the latter of whom will rise in prominence in season 3 as she is officially entering society. The youngest Bridgerton siblings, Gregory (Will Tilston) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), are still preteen-aged, so we highly doubt that the show will focus on their marital hunts anytime soon. 

We'll get more answers about who future editions of the show will focus on once the third season of "Bridgerton" premieres on Thursday, May 16. And Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all upcoming episodes, whether they're focused on Benedict, Eloise, Francesca or otherwise. In the meantime, you can revisit the romantic journeys of Daphne and Anthony by rewatching the first two seasons of "Bridgerton" on Netflix.

Like previous editions of the Netflix hit, "Bridgerton" season 3 follows a sibling of the eponymous Bridgerton family as they navigate love and heartbreak in the high-class London Ton. But unlike seasons 1 and 2, which closely follow what author Julia Quinn wrote on the page in the first and second "Bridgerton" books, the upcoming third season is willfully following the wrong Bridgerton. 

The first season focused on the rollercoaster relationship between eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), while the second followed the illicit romance between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended's sister, Kate (Simone Ashley). However, instead of focusing on the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, artsy Benedict (Luke Thompson), season 3 will focus on Benedict's younger bro Colin (Luke Newton) and his friends-to-lovers relationship with Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

So why did the powers that be skip over Benedict's story from the third novel, "An Offer from a Gentleman," in favor of Colin and Penelope's relationship in book four, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton"? Jess Brownell, the new showrunner for the show's third season, recently revealed to Vanity Fair that it was a joint decision made by her and "Bridgerton" producer Shonda Rhimes. 

"First, she asked me to be showrunner, and then I went off and reread all the books and came back to her. Season 2 hadn’t wrapped yet, so there was still time to influence the ending of season two to set it up properly for season 3," Brownell told the outlet. "And we both just felt strongly that Colin and Penelope, we know these characters really well. We’ve watched this dynamic where Colin doesn’t quite get it that Penelope likes him, and we felt like we didn’t want that to grow stale, so it felt like it was time to go in another direction with them."

Brownell also shared that she felt a personal connection to the "POLIN" storyline and the banter between the two characters, which was inspired by everything from John Hughes movies to classic rom-coms like "Roman Holiday." 

"Their story really speaks to me — the unrequited crush, the wallflower-underdog coming off the wall. That speaks to high school Jess," the showrunner told Vanity Fair. "I liked that the Penelope and Colin story lends itself so well to rom-com tropes because it’s a friends-to-lovers story. There’s more playfulness and familiarity to the story and that allows us to lean into awkward banter and play up the humor a little bit more."

"Bridgerton" fans got a peak at the connection between Penelope and Colin in a recently released clip that teased a steamy mirror scene from "Romancing Mister Bridgerton." And you can see even more "POLIN" moments in the season 3 trailer, which dropped last week. 

"Bridgerton" season 3 will premiere on Netflix in two batches: the first four eps will debut on Thursday, May 16 and the final four installments will follow on Thursday, June 13. Tom's Guide will keep you posted on everything "POLIN"-related in the upcoming episodes, but in the meantime, you can rewatch the first two seasons of "Bridgerton" on Netflix.

After weeks of saucy sneak peek clips, "Bridgerton" fans finally are getting their first elongated look at the upcoming third season of the Netflix mega-hit. 

“We have been apart for far too long,” says Lady Whistledown (voiced by the legendary Julie Andrews) in the new clip, which the streaming juggernaut dropped on Thursday, April 11. “At last, London’s fashionable set has made its return, and it seems that our Bon Ton is moving with the changing tide. So, too, is this author.”

Of course — spoiler alert! — Lady Whistledown's real identity is Penelope Featherington (portrayed by Nicola Coughlan), and we see the youngest Featherington daughter dealing with problems at home, in her friendships (former BFF Eloise Bridgerton is busy buddying up to Cressida Cowper after that season 2 betrayal), and in her pursuit for romance. She wants a husband and who better to help her find one than her old friend Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) — who she just so happens to love.

Check out the two-minute, 30-second trailer below:

Along with Penelope's clearly heated connection with Colin, we also see other suitor options in the season teaser, including Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), whose courtship of the lady stirs up some feelings of jealousy in the Bridgerton brother. “Mother, do you believe the best foundation for love is friendship?” Colin is seeing asking his mother, Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell). She responds: “It is rare, but you must follow your heart.”

However, readers of the Julia Quinn-penned book series on which "Bridgerton" is based already know that that slow burn between Penelope and Colin eventually does ignite into a fiery romance. And we can expect that passion to play out onscreen: fans already saw a clip of that steamy mirror scene from the book and Coughlan recently teased a furniture-breaking moment between the will-they-won't-they couple to come in the new episodes, which will be released in two batches (the first four eps will debut on Thursday, May 16 and the final four installments will follow on Thursday, June 13).

Each "Bridgerton" season spotlights a different couple from Quinn's novels: the first followed the romance between eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), and the second followed the relationship between Colin's older brother Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his new bride Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Though we won't be seeing Daphne in the new episodes, that season 3 trailer did give a tantalizing peek at how marriage is going for Kate and Anthony. 

However, the third season of the show is shaking up the order of the novels, skipping over the Benedict Bridgerton-focused third story of the series right to Penelope and Colin's coupling from the fourth "Bridgerton" book, "Romancing Mister Bridgerton." 

As you wait to see what happens between Colin and Penelope (affectionately known as POLIN by "Bridgerton" fans), you can revisit the show's first two seasons with a Netflix subscription. And, as usual, Tom's Guide will keep you up to date with any and all "Bridgerton"-related intel.

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Given how hot-under-the-collar the previous two installments of "Bridgerton" made fans, it's understandable that Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton wanted to up the ante when it came to those "POLIN" love scenes. We're talking, of course, about Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, our romantic heroes of the upcoming "Bridgerton" season 3. And per Coughlan, the actors weren't scared to give it all they had for those intimate moments. 

"Bridgerton" fans got a sneak peek at one such scene last week, when the Netflix gods gifted us with a clip featuring Coughlan's Penelope and Newton's Colin gazing steamily into a mirror at each other, harking back to an infamous sequence from the Julia Quinn book "Romancing Mister Bridgerton," on which the third season is based. (The 30-second teaser also reminded fans of the new season's release dates, with episodes dropping on Netflix in two batches: the first four eps will debut on Thursday, May 16 and the final four installments will follow on Thursday, June 13.)

And during a discussion with Entertainment Weekly, Coughlan revealed that things got heightened while filming the love scenes: "We did break a piece of furniture while doing one of those scenes. I didn't know what it was gonna be like, but it's a little bit like a stunt in which they're like, 'Okay, we're gonna do this, this, and this."

"But then they gave us freedom to like, we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do," the actress added. "And that makes you feel quite empowered and you're like, 'Oh yeah, we're gonna do this, this, and this.' So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn't think they would be. They were great. It was fun."

But while those "POLIN" romantic moments were successful, Coughlan would rather her Irish Catholic family not watch them. During an April 4 appearance on SiriusXM Hits 1, the "Bridgerton" star revealed that she actually requested from Netflix a PG-rated cut of the new season to show her parents, without all of the bodice-ripping, bustle-rustling and bottom-revealing content that "Bridgerton" has become known for. 

"It's literally written into my contract. People think I'm saying it as a joke," she said, via The Independent. "I just don’t want to. We grew up Irish Catholic. That's just not how we vibe."

While on the radio show, Coughlan also jokingly shared her mom's reaction to the first few "Bridgerton" seasons: “When she first saw Bridgerton, she didn’t know it was gonna be so saucy ... and then you get a bottom, Jonathan Bailey’s lovely bottom, about two minutes into the first episode ever. And she was like, ‘What is this?’ But then, now she thinks it’s fantastic and really funny, and she keeps talking about bottoms.”

All that sauciness might not be allowed in the Coughlan household but clearly, it is how most "Bridgerton" viewers vibe. As you wait on those steamy new season 3 episodes, including any furniture-breaking details and "POLIN" teasers to come, Tom's Guide will keep you up to date with all 'Bridgerton'-related intel.

Dear readers, the “Polin” chapter has officially come to a close. “Bridgerton” season 3 consisted of eight episodes — which were released in two parts on Netflix — that delved into the friends-to-lovers relationship between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan),  the youngest Featherington daughter who is secretly Lady Whistledown. (You know, the iconic chronicler of all the tittle-tattle of the high-class London Ton, voiced by the one and only Julie Andrews). It all culminated in a 'Bridgerton' season 3 finale that moved Shonda Rhimes to tears. 

Along with being the only “Bridgerton” edition so far to be split into two parts, season 3 also differed from previous installments of the show in that it diverged from the story order of Julia Quinn’s popular novel series, on which the Netflix hit is based. As on page, each season spotlights a given member of the eponymous Bridgerton family as they navigate the marriage market: the first season focused on the rollercoaster relationship between eldest Bridgerton daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), while the second followed the illicit romance between Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended's sister, Kate (Simone Ashley). 

Though the third of Quinn’s books puts the second son, Benedict, in the spotlight, “Bridgerton” season 3 skipped what’s on the page and went right to Colin and Penelope’s relationship from the fourth book. Packed with plenty of steaminess, here’s everything you need to know about "Bridgerton" season 3. 

'Bridgerton' season 3 release date

For the first time, "Bridgerton" season 3 was split into two parts à la other top Netflix shows like "Stranger Things," "You," "Ozark" and "The Witcher." The first four episodes dropped on Thursday, May 16, with the final four installments arriving a little less than one month later on Thursday, June 13. That makes for eight episodes total, the same as its first and second seasons, though all eight eps dropped in one fell swoop for the show's previous editions. 

In April 2021, Netflix announced its renewal of season 3 and season 4. At the time, Netflix VP of Global TV Bela Bajaria said, “Bridgerton swept us off our feet. The creative team, led by Shonda, knew the material and delivered a beautiful, emotional, romantic drama for our members. They have some exciting plans for the future, and we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come."

'Bridgerton' season 3 trailers and clips

Netflix released an official trailer for each part of “Bridgerton” season 3. The first trailer hit YouTube and social media on April 11, 2024, and saw Penelope dealing with problems at home (the Featheringtons were driving her nuts), in her friendships (former BFF Eloise Bridgerton is busy buddying up to Cressida Cowper after that season 2 betrayal), and in her pursuit for romance. After she reveals that she’s looking for a husband, she gets help from her old friend Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) — who she just so happens to love. Along with Penelope's clearly heated connection with Colin, the season teaser also showed other suitor options, including Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), whose courtship of Pen stirred up feelings of jealousy in the Bridgerton brother.

The trailer for part two was posted to YouTube on June 3, 2024 and focused on how Penelope’s secret identity as Lady Whistledown caused a significant amount of tension in both the Bridgerton household ("Colin cannot discover my secret. Whistledown is power," Penelope worries in the trailer) and all throughout the Ton. However, all of that drama clearly didn’t mean there wasn’t any room for sultry hijinks, as the trailer offered a titillating look at that steamy mirror scene from the book. 

'Bridgerton' season 3 cast

• Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
• Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton
• Simone Ashley as Viscountess Kate Sharma
• Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton, the Dowager Viscountess
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton
• Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
• Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte
• Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington
• Harriet Cains as Philipa Featherington
• Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
• Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper
• Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich
• Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown
• Daniel Francis as Marcus Anderson
• Sam Phillips as Lord Debling

'Bridgerton' season 3 plot synopsis

Spoiler warning: The following contains detailed information about “Bridgerton” season 3 as well as Julia Quinn's novels "An Offer From a Gentleman" and "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton."

While "Bridgerton" the series hasn't entirely followed Quinn's novels to the letter, seasons 1 and 2 did closely track the plot of her first two "Bridgerton" books, "The Duke and I" and "The Viscount Who Loved Me." Some storylines were shifted from later books, like the revelation of Lady Whistledown's identity. However, season 3 diverged from the books, drawing from the fourth book, "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," which focuses on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. 

The end of season 2 left things looking very uncertain between Colin and Penelope, as the latter heard her longtime crush mock the idea of courting her, and things are still a little icy between them when Colin returns from his travels. However, that tension melts after Penelope decides that she wants to find a husband — her mother Portia (Polly Walker) is very much on her and her sisters (Harriet Cains and Bessie Carter) to produce a Featherington heir — and Colin offers to help her. Their secret matchmaking sessions, boosted by Penelope’s no-citrus-colors-allowed makeover, are going successfully, with Pen catching the eye of Lord Debling and even receiving a marriage proposal from the gentleman.

All the while, though, Colin’s own feelings for Pen are growing, until the Bridgerton son finally reveals his love to his old friend after Queen Charlotte’s ball, leading to a very steamy encounter in a carriage and a happily accepted marriage proposal. As they plan their nuptials, things get complicated by the fact that Penelope is hiding her identity as Lady Whistledown from not only her betrothed — a fact that is fueling that still-simmering animosity with her BFF and Colin’s sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie) — but also the queen herself. After the royal puts forward a public reward to anyone with details about the identity of the gossipmonger, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) takes credit for Pen’s work. 

In episode seven, Colin heartbreakingly discovers the Whistledown secret and though he is devastated, he agrees to go forward with his marriage to Penelope. Their beginnings as newlyweds is tested when Cressida Cowper blackmails Pen for £10,000, threatening to reveal her identity as Lady Whistledown. However, Penelope publicly confesses that she herself is Whistledown at the Featherington ball in the season finale, with Queen Charlotte and the rest of the Ton forgiving the scribe. The season concludes with a flash-forward reveal of Penelope and Colin as new parents and each with a successful writing career, with Pen officially retiring the Lady Whistledown moniker to write from her new name, Penelope Bridgerton. 

As for the other Bridgertons, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley) announce their first pregnancy and leave for India by the season’s end to have their baby and connect to Kate’s heritage. Benedict (Luke Thompson) becomes embroiled in a passionate three-way affair with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) and her friend Paul, but breaks off a monogamous arrangement with the lady because he wants to further explore his sexuality. 

Bridgerton matriarch Violet (Ruth Gemmell) meets and navigates a potential romance with Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), Lady Danbury's brother. Francesca (Hannah Dodd) also falls for a new gentleman — John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin (played by Victor Alli) — though it seems their marriage and subsequent move to John's family estate in the Highlands, Scotland at the season’s end will seemingly be complicated by Francesca’s feelings for John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). Luckily, Francesca will have her older sister Eloise with her in Scotland, as the elder Bridgerton wishes to have more adventures and see the world outside of “their tiny bubble” of the London Ton. 

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "Bridgerton,” but in the meantime, you can rewatch the Regency-era romantic drama on Netflix. 

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Bridgerton has delighted fans the world over with its mix of steamy romance, historical ties, appealing cast, extravagant costumes, and sumptuous production design. 

Based on Julia Quinn’s novels and produced by Shonda Rhimes, the Regency-era show follows the love lives of the noble Bridgerton family. In the first season, eldest daughter Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) makes her debut and attracts the notice of the highly desirable Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). In the second season, eldest son Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) embarks on a quest to find his viscountess. Bridgerton season 3 is currently in the works.

Since it premiered in December 2020, Bridgerton has been one of the biggest and best Netflix shows. It has set viewership records, according to Netflix and Nielsen, which spurred the addition of the prequel Queen Charlotte. 

Since the spinoff just dropped, and season 3 is still some months away, anyone in the mood for romance and scandal will need to get their fix elsewhere. Here are our recommendations for shows like Bridgerton to watch.

Pride and Prejudice

When Bridgerton premiered, it was often described as “Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl.” So, naturally, the first two shows on this list cover both. This adaptation of Austen’s Regency-era novel stars Jennifer Ehle and a very dreamy Colin Firth as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, literature’s ultimate hate-becomes-love relationship. 

Elizabeth is one of five daughters of a modest country gentleman. With no dowry or connections to speak of, she is far from the glittering ton and royal court. Yet, in Mr. Darcy’s eyes, she’s a diamond of the first water. The only problem? Elizabeth believes they loathe each other! He insulted her at their first meeting, he meddle in her sister’s promising courtship with Mr. Bingley and he behaved dishonorably toward an old friend. But as they both learn, first impressions don’t always last.

Watch on Hulu or Britbox via Prime Video

Gossip Girl

Dearest reader, the Upper East Side rivals the London ton as a den of deliciously sordid goings-on. From fledgling romances to tawdry affairs to fiery breakups, Gossip Girl chronicles the Manhattan elite with as vicious a pen as Lady Whistledown. The vehicle is different — a blog rather than a pamphlet – but the contents are just as wicked and titillating. 

The original Gossip Girl series follows wealthy, privileged teens and their families, including Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) and Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick). When middle-class student Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) gets involved with Serena, the mysterious yet all-knowing Gossip Girl is on the scene to tell all. 

Watch on Max

Downton Abbey

The lifestyles of the rich and scandalous are observed in Downton Abbey as closely as they are in Bridgerton, though the former also spends as much time with the downstairs staff as their aristocratic overlords. Set in 1912 and the years after, the hit drama follows the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), his family and their servants at the eponymous estate. 

Like Bridgerton, it features a parade of beautiful clothes, dashing hats, elegant furnishings and shocking scandals, like when Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) goes to bed with a man who ends up dead. Plus, the characters deal with various marriage dilemmas — will Mary wed the heir, Matthew, or the slimy newspaper magnate? And the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) delivers zingers that would set down Queen Charlotte.

Watch on Prime Video or Peacock

Sanditon

This Jane Austen adaptation is based on the author’s final, unfinished novel. The heroine is Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams), who navigates life and love in the eponymous seaside town.A chance accident first brings her to the nascent resort, which seems to be a world apart from her bucolic country upbringing. 

At first, Charlotte is shocked but diverted by the antics of the quirky residents. She soon begins to form close bonds with heiress Georgiana Lambe (Crystal Clarke), as well as enthusiastic entrepreneur Tom Parker (Kris Marshall) and his wife Mary (Kate Ashfield). But she also clashes with their brother, the handsome, seemingly hostile Sidney Parker (Theo James). 

Watch on PBS Masterpiece via Prime Video

Dickinson

The anachronistic use of current pop songs is one of the many similarities Dickinson shares with Bridgerton. Another is the centering of strong, audacious female characters. In this imaginative rendering of the famed poet’s life, Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) is the misunderstood middle child with a gift for penning verses that cut right to the bone (and heart). 

Apart from the hip-hop needle drops, the show weaves in modern language, casting and sensibilities. The characters binge-read Dickens’ Bleak House like viewers binge-watch Stranger Things. These flourishes are never jarring; instead they tie beautifully to the still-relevant difficulties faced by young, ambitious, talented women. 

Watch on Apple TV Plus

The Great

The “occasionally true” comedy about Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, bears a strong resemblance to Bridgerton in the way it depicts marriage, sex and aristocrats with humor, verve and gorgeous costumes. Young, idealistic Catherine (Elle Fanning) marries a total stranger and ruler of his country, much like Queen Charlotte in the Bridgerton prequel. Like George III, Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) is handsome but mercurial. 

Catherine is determined to see Russia evolve and prosper. But she’ll have to get Peter out of the way to fulfill her plans. After all, what’s a little coup and attempted murder between two spouses? While historical accuracy is thrown out the window, The Great is an entertaining, visually arresting romp.

Watch on Hulu

Harlots

Set about half a century before Bridgerton, Harlots focuses on the seedier side of London — its brothels. In the 1760s, women have two choices for economic advancement: marriage or sex work. Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) opted for the latter, but is determined to keep rising in order to provide a better life for her daughters. 

That means moving her brothel to a posh part of town so that she can attract wealthier clients. However, it thrusts her into a rivalry with another madam catering to the rich, Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville). Both must also contend with religious fanatics, antagonistic politicians and the police as they operate their businesses. 

Watch on Hulu

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All hail Queen Charlotte! The first Bridgerton spinoff about the young royal makes its bow (or curtsy) on Netflix this week. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story follows the teen who is plucked from obscurity to marry King George III. 

Later, she becomes the formidable, gossip-loving queen who is a breakout character in Bridgerton, one of the best shows on Netflix.

Golda Rosheuvel plays the older Queen Charlotte in the OG series as well as the spinoff, which flashes back and forward in time to show her at the beginning and near the end of her marriage. 

India Amarteifio stars as teen Charlotte, who is chosen to marry the young King George III (Corey Mylchreest). Theirs is a great love story, but one filled with obstacles, heartache and tragedy. In the world of Bridgerton, Charlotte is also the first royal of color, which means her coronation breaks ground and ushers in a new era of inclusivity and diversity in the aristocracy.

Here's what you need to know to watch Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix. Plus, scroll down for the trailer and more info about the cast. 

When does Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story come out on Netflix?

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story premieres Thursday, May 4 at 3 a.m. ET on Netflix, one of the best streaming services.

All six episodes will drop at the same time.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story trailer

The trailer for Queen Charlotte kicks off with the bride-to-be not exactly happy about her upcoming nuptials. And no wonder — heavy expectations are placed on her from the jump. As the elder Charlotte reflects, "My life as queen was difficult." 

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story cast

The cast of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is led by the two actors playing the titular royal: Golda Rosheuvel as the elder version and India Amarteifio as the younger one.

Corey Mylchreest plays young King George III, while Michelle Fairley is his mother Princess Augusta. 

Rosheuvel is joined by other cast members seen from Bridgerton, including Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury; Ruth Gemmell as Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton; Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, the queen's secretary.

They have younger counterparts, too: Arsema Thomas as young Lady Danbury; Connie Jenkins-Greig as young Violet Ledger; and Sam Clemmett as young Brimsley.

Other Queen Charlotte cast members include: Freddie Dennis as Reynolds, the king's valet; Tunji Kasim as Adolphus, Charlotte's brother; Cyril Nri as Lord Danbury; Keir Charles as Lord Ledger, Violet's father; Katie Brayben as Vivian Ledger, Violet's mother; Richard Cunningham as Lord Bute, the prime minister; and Rob Maloney as the Royal Doctor. 

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If you haven’t caught up on Bridgerton season 2 yet, where have you been? Forget the Duke, Antony Bridgerton is the hero of the series, as we watch the Viscount attempt to find a bride (and untangle that love triangle with the Sharma sisters). If you have watched it, then you'll have seen Jonathan Bailey emerge from the lake in that white shirt, and you might be wondering what he did to build those abs. 

To find out more, I took a deep dive into Bailey’s fitness routine (just call me Lady Whistledown). Read on to find out exactly what the actor did to get in shape for the role. Looking for more workout inspiration? Here’s how Alan Ritchson packed on 30 pounds to play Reacher, the best ab workouts on YouTube, and how Taron Egerton built his impressive physique.  

What we can learn from Jonathan Bailey’s Bridgerton workout routine 

Of course, celebrities are no different than us mere mortals, and a good workout routine involves a mix of exercising and eating well. Yet if you’re wondering how Bailey got in shape to play the Viscount, here’s what we know:

He got in shape to feel confident on camera 

“When you’re getting your kit off, you just want to feel confident”, Bailey told Glamour Magazine. “I also think getting into the discipline of exercise really helps when you have a long grueling schedule so exercising and getting ready for a role is more of a mental thing as well as a literal physical thing.”

There are a number of different studiesthat have proven exercise to have a positive effect on confidence and self-esteem in the short term, but regular movement can also help improve mental health in the long term. Exercise has been found to boost self-esteem and cognitive function, and there’s no doubt about it — Bailey would have needed to feel comfortable and confident going into those semi-clothed scenes in Bridgerton.

He focused on recovery and good nutrition 

In an interview with new! Magazine, Bailey said: “This season required a lot of staying calm and steady and ready. It's kept me on my toes. I got really fit, I made sure to eat well and get loads of sleep, and everything else just seemed to fall into place."

As we’ve already mentioned, long term fitness results come from an overall healthy lifestyle, and this includes nutrition, and getting enough sleep at night. Studies have found that sleep not only boosts your immune system and increases your exercise performance, but it can help prevent weight gain. Want to feel better? Make sure you’re getting enough shut eye. 

He trained with a personal trainer in Mayfair 

Of course, that physique did involve some hard work, and while getting in shape for Bridgerton, Bailey shared photos of his training on Instagram. Bailey trained with Jeff Dobos, a personal trainer at Ultimate Performance — a gym in Mayfair, London.  

In one photo, Bailey can be seen doing lateral pull downs using a pulley attachment in the gym. Lat pulldowns are one of the best exercises out there for targeting your back muscles, but they also hit your lower traps, biceps, and forearms for a killer arm workout too. Here’s how to do lat pulldowns with the correct form. 

He was already pretty fit before stepping on set 

A quick dive down Bailey’s Instagram account proves he was already incredibly fit before stepping back in time to play Lord Bridgerton. Bailey hiked to Everest Base Camp in 2018, has completed a 100 mile bike ride for a homeless charity, Shelter, and taken part in triathlons. Inspired? Here are the best running shoes to get you moving and the best exercise bikes for those brick sessions. 

He’s also posted a number of thirst trap worthy shots carrying a paddleboard and previously told Entertainment Tonight, "I'm actually doing a lot of paddle boarding at the moment and swimming in the sea because I live on the coast," adding that in regards to Bridgerton, "Part of the excitement for all of us [is] to really get fit and be able to enjoy the scenes." Stand-up paddle boarding is a brilliant core workout, as it forces you to engage your abs to balance as you row. 

Bailey proves that staying fit and building a Hollywood body doesn’t have to be boring. Rather than spending hours slogging on the treadmill, or lifting weights in the gym, find exercise you enjoy, eat well, and sleep well and you’ll undoubtedly feel better. 

The ladies of Bridgerton season 2 should watch out — a sexy viscount is hunting a bride!

Bridgerton returns to Netflix with a new tale of romance, sex and intrigue, chronicled as usual by the snarky Lady Whistledown in her gossip column. One of the best Netflix shows, the Regency-era drama turns its focus to Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his quest to find a viscountess. 

Season 1 of Bridgerton followed his sister, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), and her rollercoaster romance with the Hot Duke, Simon (Regé-Jean Page). Alas, Page is not reprising his role. But there's still plenty of love and lust in store for fans as Anthony woos the newly arrived debutante Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran). 

He runs into just one little hitch, though — her older sister Kate (Simone Ashley). Kate wants to protect Edwina from the notorious rake, but ends up fighting a burning attraction to him herself! 

Meanwhile, we now know that Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) is the true author behind Lady Whistledown, but can her identity remain a secret to her close friend Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and her crush Colin (Luke Newton)? Or to Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who is hell-bent on discovering her identity?

When does Bridgerton season 2 come out on Netflix?

Bridgerton season 2 is streaming now on Netflix. 

It was released at 3 a.m. ET on Friday, March 25, 2022.

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Bridgerton season 2 trailers

The full-length Bridgerton trailer for season 2 kicks off with Anthony embarking on his quest to find a viscountess (as announced by his mother, LOL). He seems to zero in on the younger of the Sharma sisters, Edwina. But soon, his interest is captured by the spirited elder sister, Kate. 

Lady Whistledown has spent the off-season sharpening her knives. High society had better watch out! And then there's the Bridgerton season 2 teaser trailer:

Bridgerton season 2 cast

Bridgerton's season 2 cast will bring back most of the key players from season 1. But the focus will shift to Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, the rakish young viscount. 

However, one of the leads of season 1, Regé-Jean Page as Simon, Duke of Hastings, is not returning according to Lady Whistledown's note: "We'll miss Simon's presence onscreen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family."

Back in a limited capacity is Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne, who remains "a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother navigate the upcoming social season."

We'll also see the rest of the large Bridgerton clan:

• Ruth Gemmell as Violet, the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton and mother to the siblings
• Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, the second Bridgerton sibling
• Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton sibling
• Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth Bridgerton sibling
• Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton, the sixth Bridgerton sibling
• Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton, the seventh Bridgerton sibling
• Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, the eighth and youngest Bridgerton sibling

Bridgerton season 2 brings back Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington daughter who is secretly Lady Whistledown. Her identity is revealed in the season 1 finale. 

(And we'll also continue to hear Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown's voice).

Penelope's family is still in the mix: Polly Walker as Portia, Baroness Featherington; Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington, the eldest Featherington daughter; and Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington, the middle Featherington daughter. 

Season 2 will also feature Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury, Kathryn Drysdale as modiste Genevieve Delacroix and Martins Imhangbe as boxer Will Mondrich.

As for new faces, Bridgerton season 2 has already cast several crucial roles: Simone Ashley is Kate Sharma, who is Anthony's love interest. Charithra Chandran is Edwina Sharma, Kate's younger sister and a debutante who becomes the next Incomparable. Shelley Conn plays Mary Sharma, Kate's mother

Rupert Young has been cast as Jack, in a major role that's not in the books. His character has connection to one of London's most notable families and a Bridgerton mystery. And Calam Lynch will play Theo Sharpe described as "a hardworking printer's assistant. But he's not just a working class man, he's also an intellectual who fights for the rights for all."

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Dearest gentle readers, the Bridgerton season 2 teaser trailer has dropped and I am fanning myself in excitement. In preparation for the reopening of London's marriage mart, Lady Whistledown has been "sharpening [her] knives." As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword. In the hands of the lady, it can cut right to the bone.

Netflix released the minute-long teaser, which starts with Lady Whistledown's newsletter being distributed among the ton. Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) looks especially gleeful when she gets her copy. 

"Did you miss me?" the lady (voiced by Julie Andrews) asks. A thousand times yes!

The teaser then provides into quick glimpses of various characters, from Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) getting dressed and the arrival of the elegant Sharma sisters to a shirtless Anthony Bridgerton taking a bath — which helps make up for the absence of the hot duke (Regé-Jean Page). 

Will Bridgerton season 2 reveal more about our favorite gossip?

The best part of the teaser comes at the very end, as Lady Whistledown's voice segues into that of the true author, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). She has a devilish smile on her face, so it looks like we can expect even juicier gossip and more cutting commentary on one of the best Netflix shows.

I hope the preview's focus on Penelope as Lady Whistledown indicates we'll see how she sources her scandalous scoops while staying under the radar of her family and friends. Since last season kept her identity a secret until the very end, we didn't get any behind-the-scenes action of Penelope working. I'm excited by possibly seeing how she finds out about sordid tidbits. Is she eavesdropping? Does she pay maids and footmen for info? 

While people (namely me) will miss the hot duke very much, it's good to see Bridgerton season 2 won't let up on the sex factor. Several characters look hot and bothered, notably Anthony and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). They share a charged glance at each other at a horse race — and sparks are definitely flying.

Anthony is the Bridgerton who is at the center of the marriage plot this season. To uphold the family name, the viscount has decided to take a bride. He begins courting Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), a debutante newly arrived from India. But her sister Kate is suspicious of his motives and does everything in her power to prevent the union. Her verbal sparring with Anthony leads to attraction on both sides, complicating matters. 

It's all very shades of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, which is about the highest compliment I can pay to a romantic pairing. 

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While we’re all waiting patiently in our foot-tall wigs and cap-sleeved gowns for Bridgerton season 2 (no, just me?), a new period era drama might have enough complicated romances and power-hungry socialites to hold me over. 

From Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, HBO Max’s The Gilded Age (one of TG's top new shows to watch for January 2022) is set in New York City during the late 19th century. As the name suggests, the show oozes the economic successes of the super-rich who preferred city mansions to country estates. 

With the profitable railroad, steel and coal-mining industries growing quickly, the social scene is infiltrated by “new money.” No surprise, the “old money” families don’t look kindly upon the folks who earned (instead of inherited) their wealth moving in across the street. 

I’m a sucker for historical fiction, especially when it’s well-rooted in fact. The Russells, new money railroad tycoons, are inspired by the Vanderbilts, while the old money Van Rhijns supposedly descended from the Livingston family, who brought wealth to New York from Scotland and the Dutch Republic in the 17th century.

Meanwhile the Astors, an actual clan that amassed enormous power during the The Gilded Age, have final word in deciding social status and favor old money. Despite her many frenemies around town, the Russell matriarch attempts to win the Astors’ favor. Lavish charity balls, gossiping house staff, endless corsets and unlikely romances add color to the incessant social climbing.

The Gilded Age brings the Bridgerton vibes home

All the families featured in The Gilded Age are filthy rich. As we peek inside their Upper East Side abodes filled with furniture scalped from European royalty, I thought there’s no way these orante mansions existed in the same New York I live in now. 

But that’s why I love The Gilded Age so far — it’s a taste of Bridgerton’s elitism, but in a place I call home. Frequent nods to distinct neighborhood qualities or landmark namesakes capture what’s different (or not) in the same city 130-ish years later.

The show was originally birthed as a spin-off to Downton Abbey, but as Bridgerton is one the best shows on Netflix right now, I’m glad HBO’s response ended up being independent of Fellowes past period drama. 

From what I’ve seen so far, The Gilded Age isn’t a smidge as sexy or salacious as Bridgerton, but the sinister side of status-seeking seeps into every scene. Rich people are ruthless when it comes to getting what they want, and in this era, passing on a party invitation is considered the most vicious snub.

Why you should give the The Gilded Age a go

It’s these subtleties masked behind beautiful costumes and my love of Christine Baranski that almost fill the Lady Whistledown-sized gap that Bridgerton left when I finished season 1 over a year ago. Again, The Gilded Age isn’t nearly as seductive, and I spent a considerable sum of the show’s runtime Googling the era’s history knowing I wouldn’t miss a makeout session if my eyes drifted to my phone. Maybe that’s not a good thing, but it’ll definitely tide me over until we get to see more of the Bridgerton family’s rollercoaster relationships.

The Gilded Age’s 10 episodes arrive every Monday on HBO Max through March 28, 2022. It's perfect timing, as Bridgerton season 2 arrives on March 25.

Read next: Netflix's The Empress is proving to be a hit, and should satiate your need for period dramas until Bridgerton returns

Good news hot off the presses, dear readers — Bridgerton season 3 and season 4 have been renewed by Netflix. Lady Whistledown is sharpening her pen at this very moment.

Bridgerton season 2 is already in production. We're still mourning the fact that Regé-Jean Page won't be back as the hot duke, but there's plenty of romance in store for fans as they follow Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) on his quest to find a bride. And Bridgerton season 3 and season 4 will continue to chronicle the love lives of the eponymous family of siblings. 

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In a statement, executive producer Shonda Rhimes said, "From the first time I read Julia Quinn’s delicious Bridgerton series, I knew these were stories that would captivate a viewing audience. But the evolution of this adaptation would not be a success without the many significant contributions of the entire Shondaland team.

"This two-season pickup is a strong vote of confidence in our work and I feel incredibly grateful to have partners as collaborative and creative as Netflix. Betsy [Beers] and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue bringing the world of Bridgerton to a worldwide audience.”

So, what will Bridgerton season 3 and 4 cover? Season 1 was based on Julia Quinn's book, The Duke and I, and season 2 is based on her second novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me. So, we're guessing the show moves on to adapt her third and fourth books. However, Bridgerton the series has departed from the books in a few ways and will likely continue to do so.

Bridgerton season 3 story

Bridgerton season 3 will probably be based on Quinn's third novel, An Offer From a Gentleman, which focuses on Benedict Bridgerton. He's the second eldest Bridgerton sibling and is played by Luke Thompson on the show.

The novel is essentially a Cinderella tale, featuring Sophie Beckett, an earl's daughter consigned to servant work by her evil stepmother. She meets Benedict at a masquerade ball and they fall in love. But later, while he searches for the mystery woman, he also develops feelings for a maid — not knowing they're the same person!

It's unclear if Bridgerton season 3 will definitely continue with the Sophie storyline. In the show, Benedict got involved with modiste Genevieve Delacroix. And there was a lot of emphasis on his introduction to a more edgy, open-minded community of artists. We could totally see Benedict Bridgerton discovering that he's more into a Cinderfella.

Bridgerton season 4

Bridgerton season 4 may adapt its story from Quinn's fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which centers on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Colin is the third eldest Bridgerton sibling and played by Luke Newton on the show.

In the novel, Colin returns from a trip abroad — which aligns nicely with the show, since the finale saw him head off for an international adventure. When he returns, he's surprised by his reaction to longtime friend/neighbor Penelope (Nicola Coughlan). Colin is unaware that Penelope has been in love with him for years. But Pen's got a pen name secret — she is Lady Whistledown — which could ruin their relationship forever.

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