Letters
Knit to This: Bridgerton
Dear Kay,
It’s what happens when you cross Gossip Girl with Jane Austen. At the moment, the new Netflix series Bridgerton is all I need.
Shonda Rhimes, who created Gray’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, and Scandal, knows all about dishy storytelling. Now, she brings us a fabulous world of 1815 London, where the annual debut of the year’s most eligible young ladies is the talk of the town. Mothers are nervous. Daughters are buffed and cinched.
And, in a nod to Gossip Girl, a mysterious publication called Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers plays a major role in stirring up trouble. The voiceover for Lady Whistledown, by Julie Andrews, is perfectly plummy.
I hit rewind to get a closer look at the costumes, which start at a sort of period Regency vibe but don’t stop until they’re psychedelic confections with impossible layers of sparkle and shine. And the sets—nobody sits down to tea unless there are towers of sweets at hand.
The cast is diverse, with the royalty mostly Black. The actors are all clearly having a huge time with all this—what could be more fun than playing the snuff-dipping queen? And Regé-Jean Page is such a doll as the inscrutable Duke of Hastings that he’s being held up as an obvious choice for the first Black James Bond. (I’m still #TeamIdris, but I get it.)
Read about the actors of Bridgerton in this post from Essence. Many of the players have long and distinguished careers. This show has to be such a joyride for them.
The series is streaming on Netflix. Enjoy! It’s as fluffy as a meringue.
Love,
Ann
Grab your knitting because this series is one to binge watch. Characters, costumes and the expectations of society will keep interested.
I love Jane Austen.
Make sure it’s easy peasey knitting, because you won’t want to take your eyes off the screen!
I had to change what I was knitting because it had to be by feel—my eyes were glued to the screen!
Binge-watched this on Christmas Day. It was fun watching the female lead NOT being the shrinking violet type. And Rege’-Jean Page? Two thumbs up!
LOVED the show. It’s a must watch..
It’s a saucy show that needs easier knitting because you’ll be sucked in! I think my knitting sat on my lap through most of it. Hehe. And historical costumers be forewarned – lots of inaccuracies that can be chalked up to “artistic vision” and trying to capture a modern audience. I for one think that if the plot is good enough you don’t need neon poly brocade, lack of spiral lacing or chemises, or cheesy wigs to make things zesty. I was able to live through it – so can you – and besides Mr. Page is so worth it all. BE well.
I haven’t watched it, but from what I’ve read it sounds like the inaccuracies are a fresher, not a big and are meant to poke some fun at the genre, sly winks to the audience.
The books by Julia Quinn are also not entirely historically accurate but a good entertaining read. I’ve enjoyed watching the series and then going back to the books with the idea of what it all looks like in my head.
I too am #TeamIdris, but with this review of yours I will try watching this
I watched the series and I can’t wait for more!
Love this show. All the actors are great. A wonderful romance.
The leading couple – I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
If only our world were truly this color blind…
When you think about it, colorblindness is a defect in vision that prevents people from seeing the world in all its glory. I think we want to be color sighted so we can appreciate humanity in all it’s colorful glory.
The costumes and grand decor is worth watching twice because so much color to take in-especially those lavender wisteria hanging on the Bridgerton home.
It’s cotton candy, including the hysterical costumes. A diversion from the news.
p.s. – Frock Flicks did the best write up about the costumes.
Carrington calls it Bridgerporn.
Loved it. I binge watched and didn’t want it to end. And now, even at my age, I have a crush on Mr Page. I was so enthralled I don’t even remember if I was knitting although I’m sure I was attempting to do so.
I especially loved the gorgeous jewelry, lots of beautiful large gem stones in the necklaces. Each one was a work of art.
A good, mindless knitting project for Zoom meetings and TV shows like this is the The Hitchhiker shawl/scarf by Martina Behm. Lots of garter stitch and simple increases and it goes along very smoothly.
I read that over 7500 costumes were created for season 1. The wigs, hair and body jewelry, dresses, coats, etc., is eye-popping and amazing!
A really excellent sure I’ve just started watching is Lupin. It’s based on the Arsène Lupin stories written beginning in 1905 by Maurice Leblanc. Arsène Lupin if a gentleman thief and master if disguise, who operates a bit like Robin Hood. I think it does a good job of keeping the flavor of the original translated into modern day.The new series is set in present day Paris. It’s a French show but has apparently been dubbed in English for the U.S. audience, but it is seamless. I didn’t realize it was dubbed until I looked it up. The lead, Omar Sy, gives Idris Elba a run for his money, and I say that as a firm member of Team Idris. The production values are excellent. It’s all around a great show.