- Feb 5, 2002
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No one presses play on Netflix’s newest season of Bridgerton expecting a theologically sound lesson in the nature of the human heart. But when a television show claiming to be about love captures as many eyes as this one has — with 68.7 million views since its full debut on June 13 — it reveals a truth about how people are spending their time, which in turn exposes a truth about what they are worshipping.
In addition to the clearly objectionable pornographic elements in “Bridgerton,” there are also revealing flaws in the series’ storytelling and confused messages about female empowerment.
Far from a heroic lead himself, love interest Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) comes into his own as a man by frolicking across foreign countries having casual sex with strangers. After failed attempts to stifle romantic feelings for Penelope by having more casual sex (this time with paid prostitutes), he begins their courtship by admitting his affection and initiating — can you guess? — a casual sexual encounter with her. An abrupt marriage proposal follows: the epic romantic conclusion to the first half of the show.
Continued below.
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In addition to the clearly objectionable pornographic elements in “Bridgerton,” there are also revealing flaws in the series’ storytelling and confused messages about female empowerment.
Love story of Penelope Featherington
This season tells the love story of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), a wallflower who discovered her independence by writing an anonymous gossip column. Her writing, described as her “life’s work,” is her great, brave undertaking as a woman with precious few ways to make her place in society. For all her writing talent, the most this feminist heroine can show for herself is pages picking apart people’s lives and berating them for their worst moments. This newest season concludes with Penelope finally signing her name to the column, after years of using it for her own personal advantage. This act proudly declares ownership of something that is, in the end, as ordinarily petty as speaking poorly about someone to a crowd of eager listeners.Far from a heroic lead himself, love interest Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) comes into his own as a man by frolicking across foreign countries having casual sex with strangers. After failed attempts to stifle romantic feelings for Penelope by having more casual sex (this time with paid prostitutes), he begins their courtship by admitting his affection and initiating — can you guess? — a casual sexual encounter with her. An abrupt marriage proposal follows: the epic romantic conclusion to the first half of the show.
Real-world parallels to Colin’s behavior
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'Bridgerton' offers confused messages on morals and female empowerment
Bridgerton, in its fantastical escapism, cannot decide if its female lead will form her identity by demanding a greater standard from society or endearing herself to the worst parts of it.
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