Sex, nudity, smoking in sumptuous, diverse period drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Sex scenes are frequent, frank, and long in the first season. Subsequent seasons are tame by comparison, with less frequent sex and nudity. Characters have sex standing up against a tree or on couches or beds with suggestive movements and noises; male and female buttocks are visible (if often obscured by distance or drapery). Bodies are shown nude, with many bare breasts seen (but genitals covered). Both men and women are eager for sex, and time is spent on pleasure for both; male and female bodies are displayed equally. Masturbation and oral sex are implied. Threesomes. Heavy focus on romance, marriage, children, as well as storylines revolving around unexpected pregnancy. Male and female characters alike talk about women being "ruined," having "light skirts," or being "loose" if they're even suspected of being with men without a chaperone.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Language includes "bitches," "f--k," "f--king." Insults are used to shame women sexually ("loose," "ruined"), while men who are sexually active are called a "rake." Infrequent exclamations of "God" and "bloody hell."
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Several characters smoke cigarettes (an anachronism), as well as cigars; one character showily uses snuff. Characters drink at parties and gatherings and sometimes drink to the point of sloppiness and aggression. One character drinks covertly from a flask but doesn't act drunk. An unnamed "tea" with euphoric effects alludes to marijuana or psychedelic drugs.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Characters occasionally hit each other in the face—such as when a man aggressively tries to grab a woman (perhaps intending rape), and when an older woman hits a younger woman when it's discovered that the latter is pregnant. One character practices boxing; we see bare-knuckled matches frequently in the first season. Characters shoot at each other with dueling pistols but miss their targets. Characters hunt deer and birds with rifles. A character dies on-screen from an allergic reaction. A character falls off a horse and is found bleeding from her head. A woman is coerced into an unwanted arranged marriage.
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La cámara se detiene en las galas: lujosos vestidos de satén, seda y terciopelo; los personajes hablan de joyas de rubíes o diamantes; las fincas se extienden, los caballos y los sirvientes son numerosos. Un personaje es insultado por tener una "dote de apenas cuatro cifras". Los personajes con un título nobiliario como "duque" o "conde" se consideran automáticamente más importantes que los que no tienen títulos.
Positive Messages
some
Positive themes include respect for obligations and duties (particularly to one's family), the concept of honor, and making choices for yourself, even if they go against the standards set by society. Lots of talk about characters' "place" and what's expected of them. The show lightly criticizes the era's regressive standards, such as pinning a woman's value on how rich or well-titled a husband she can attract, by showing the harm that comes to women's mental health when faced with such injustices.
Diverse Representations
some
This version of Regency-era London visibly casts characters of color into a racially integrated society, where royalty, nobility, and the working class are equally diverse. The Bridgertons are White, but their love interests include Black and Indian characters in main roles. That said, the story avoids any deeper discussions around race or British imperialism. True to the period, class hierarchies and gender roles are strictly enforced, but the characters are complex and independent in spite of this. But aside from key character Penelope, there's almost no body diversity: Nearly all women are thin and men are muscular. A gay character plays a very small role in Season 1 and bisexuality is explored in Season 3. A minor character has what's implied to be Alzheimer's disease.
These characters are complex. Their society forces them to make decisions that modern audiences might chafe against. But the show does a good job of giving them modern sensibilities within their strict roles. Daphne may be traditional, but she's not submissive. She reveals her wit and asserts herself. Kate, Eloise, and Penelope are all intelligent, progressive women who want more than the narrow roles society has assigned them. Male characters like Simon and Anthony are also complicated, balancing their privileged positions with the responsibilities that come from being head of their families. Men defend women's rights and autonomy, even when it means defying societal standards. Even when characters make bad choices, they're still relatable.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Bridgerton is a soapy series set in Regency-era England based on the novels by Julia Quinn. It follows a cast of upper-crust characters involved in society dramas and dilemmas. The cast is diverse in terms of race and ethnicity, with people of color represented in every strata of society, sidestepping issues around the racial inequities of the real world. Expect plenty of explicit sex scenes, especially in the first season, including partial nudity (breasts, bottoms), implied masturbation and oral sex, multiple partners, suggestive movements/noises, and passionate kissing. Sexual politics is also a complicating factor in the drama: Upper-class women are shamed for being alone with men and called "loose" or "ruined" as a result. Meanwhile, men have sexual affairs and mistresses and are called nothing worse than "rake." One storyline involves an unplanned pregnancy. Several characters smoke cigarettes and one uses snuff; characters also drink, sometimes to excess, including an unnamed psychedelic "tea." Characters use language such as "bitches" and multiple uses of "f--k." Violence extends to very physical boxing matches, and characters hit each other violently during disagreements, and duel (with guns). There's very little body diversity across the series outside of Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), who does have a key role. Characters talk about marrying for love, but they also automatically consider anyone who's rich or who has a noble title to be more important.
This show had an amazing plot with twists and turns of romance and drama during the era. But almost immediately there was a somewhat detailed scene of two characters having sex against a tree. No full nudity so I wrote it off because my husband said he read reviews. The more we watched, the more sex scenes were involved mostly in second half and growing more graphic up until the end: male and female naked butts, breasts, fully naked women in art scene where women are fully shown other than the bottom front area, full sex scenes detailed, including display of orgasm & entire intercourse once a couple is married in last episodes, detailed directions from a male character to female on masturbation, implied masturbation scenes, various men kissing men, and women & men making out scenes. The only things that were not directly shown were any characters actual frontal lower areas. Need I say no more? Do not watch this, and more particularly with children of any age. Most of all of the sexual content that was more graphic was in the last few episodes, which was a huge bummer and ruined the good plot and drama of the rest of the show. Some of the other episodes could be looked over for an audience 18+, but the end episodes were in my opinion good for no one to watch in my opinion. I turned to my husband after fast forwarding through too many scenes as the show came to an end, and we both agreed that was basically a porno.
This series shows you what it's about in the first five minutes of episode one. I'm someone who maintains wholesome viewership, yet I know R-Rated when I see it and this is the problem I have with this series. I'm 31 years of age 15 minutes into episode and it's ALREADY AN R-RATED SERIES!
I'm so frustrated because the reviews say it gets worse later in the season!
??? IT'S MARKETED TOWARDS TEENAGERS! This is outrageous and concerning! This is irresponsible on Shonda Rhimes and Netflix's part. I would not watch this for anyone who is trying to maintain sexual purity, or for anyone who is under 18 (really for ANYONE- Fast forward the sex scenes) or go watch something else y'all.
What's the Story?
Based on Julia Quinn's series of romance novels, BRIDGERTON is set in England in the 1810s, where reigning Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) is a dark-skinned woman whose multiracial heritage paved the way for other people of color in the "ton" (think of it as the Regency-era's one-percenters). Viewers meet Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of a powerful, rich, and connected clan set to make her society debut. After a series of missteps cause her popularity to plummet, she formulates a secret plan with a notorious rake, the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) that will solve both of their problems. Daphne's older brother Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) pursues his social season's "diamond," Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), but he's blocked by her protective older sister Kate (Simone Ashley), who'd overheard his vow to marry for status, not love. And it's all chronicled by Lady Whistledown (the voice of Julie Andrews), the all-seeing, all-knowing Gossip Girl of Bridgerton's world.
Sumptuous costuming and sets, swoon-worthy sex scenes, and an admirable decision to simply ignore the blinding Whiteness of Regency-era society make this series a potent treat for romantics. The pleasures of Bridgerton are many, and fans of Downton Abbey and Jane Austen will be in heaven soaking it all up. There's the usual: handsome footmen, trotting horses, sprawling estates, family drama that plays out in rooms with brocaded walls and extensive silver tea sets. But although period dramas like Downton pretended that its lords and ladies were too genteel for steamy sex, Bridgerton does no such thing, with a commendable focus on both male and female pleasure.
It is disappointing, however, that Bridgerton skims so lightly over the gender, socioeconomic, and racial politics of the era. Granted, there's an in-universe reason why its society is multiracial, but we never hear much about how Queen Charlotte's biracial background contributes to her struggle to lead her kingdom, or how the formidable Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) became a society maven. The servants are universally loyal and devoted to their rich employees, and though Bridgerton'sfemale characters sometimes chafe under the notion that their value is connected to marriage and children, the amount of time we spend examining that notion versus the screen time granted to scenes of romance displays where Bridgerton'sheart really lies. It all adds up to a drama that's delicious and enjoyable, but a bit empty for all its beauty.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Bridgerton's multiracial universe, which is very different from the all-White cast that populates most period dramas. In Bridgerton's world, diversity seems to be accepted and not remarked upon much. Do you prefer this approach, or would you rather dig into the racial and ethnic politics of this world? Do the characters of color have as much screen time as White characters? Are their storylines as complicated and central? How does race and ethnicity play into their character, if it does?
Compare the number of servants in this film to the number of nobles. How many people had to labor for noble/royal characters to live lives of ease? What things did the upper-crust characters have done for them that average people do for themselves? Are the servants given storylines of their own in Bridgerton? What about non-noble characters? Why do you think this choice was made?
Bridgerton is produced by Shonda Rhimes' production company Shondaland, which also helmed shows likeGrey's Anatomyand How to Get Away with Murder. How are Shondaland's shows similar to or different from one another? Is there a distinctive stamp on her shows?
Does the amount of sex, drinking, and smoking in this series seem realistic for its time period? Why, or why not? Do period dramas frequently contain sex scenes and nudity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
