8 Thoughts I Had While Watching the Bridgerton Pilot

It appears that people have developed an obsession with period pieces. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t blame them–I’m a big fan of them myself. So, naturally, I was intrigued by the buzz about the new historical drama series, Bridgerton, on Netflix. I decided to watch the pilot episode and compiled a list. Now, I present to you, dear reader, eight thoughts I had while watching the first episode.

Eloise is the best Bridgerton sibling. Eloise embodies unconventionality for women in the 1800s–she is openly witty, disquisitive, and takes no prisoners. Why is this so significant? Because in Regency-era England, a woman had to sit quietly as she was given from her family to some man who would receive her dowry. While Eloise is not quite at the age where she is being presented to society for marriage yet, from the very first episode, viewers can see that she is not one to just sit there silently and be given away like a t-shirt at a bat mitzvah.
These outfits (That was all…that was the thought).
When we are first introduced to our cast of characters, they are getting ready to be presented to the queen, and let me just say, wow. I mean, these costumes are amazing. Not that it’s surprising, considering the costume designer is none other than Ellen Mirojnick, the brain behind the fashion in The Greatest Showman and Behind the Candelabra, among other films. Fun fact–according to Mirojnick’s interview with Vogue, Bridgerton required about 5,000 costumes, 104 of which were for Daphne alone. The designer’s inspiration for the costumes’ silhouettes came from examining drawings and paintings from the time period in London. At the same time, the colors and fabrics were drawn from the ‘50s and ‘60s fashion, most notably Christian Dior’s designs.
Lady Whistledown is making things really interesting. For people who have not yet seen the first episode of Bridgerton, she is, in basic terms, the Gossip Girl of the show. Her letters cause much of the drama (which we all know is the best part), much like Gossip Girl’s posts propel the show along. After all, what would we viewers have to latch on to if not the constant histrionics?
Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton?? There’s not much to go off of for these two in the first episode, but Colin saving Penelope from the wrath of Cressida was enough for me.
The string quartet is playing “Thank U, Next” by Ariana Grande. Starting with “Thank U, Next,” in episode 1, the string quartet in Bridgerton played modern pop throughout the series, including “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes, and “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish. According to Variety, Vitamin String Quartet, the group responsible for these songs, has seen a 350% increase in streams thanks to Bridgerton.
Lord Berbrooke is a creep.
If you watched the episode, you know exactly what I mean.
I love the repartee between Daphne and the Duke. Something is a-brewing between Daphne and the Duke, and if this means more badinage between the two of them, then I 100% support it, and you can consider my funny bone tickled.
Anthony needs to get off his high horse. He seems to find it relatively easy to flounce around denying every potential suitor for Daphne because he “knows the necessary qualities of a worthy suitor,” while he himself has barely been able to manage his role as a mature adult.