The social season has begun and the pressure is on. The new trailer for Shonda Rhimes’ first Netflix show, “Bridgerton,” features glimpses of lavish balls, romantic escapades, and marriageable young ladies on a mission: find a husband. It’s a lot. “You have no idea what it is to have one’s entire life reduced to a single moment,” protagonist Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) says, referring to the anxiety she feels about making her debut into society.
Daphne’s season gets even more difficult when pseudonymous gossip writer Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) publishes compromising information about Daphne in her latest column. Daphne’s prospects are diminished, but she finds a possible way out with the help of the much-in-demand Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). She doesn’t care for him — and the feeling is mutual — but they find an unusual way to benefit each other.
“We could pretend to form an attachment,” the Duke proposes. “Every presumptuous mother in town will leave me alone and every suitor will be looking at you.”
Meanwhile, other young women are chafing against the social season for different reasons. “Must our only options be to squawk and settle or to never leave the nest?” one character laments. “What if I want to fly?”
Based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling novels, “Bridgerton” marks the first show Rhimes has produced under her deal with Netflix. The Emmy-nominated mogul’s other upcoming Netflix projects include a series about con artist/phony socialite Anna Delvey. The show is based on Jessica Pressler’s New York Magazine feature.
“Bridgerton” premieres December 25 on Netflix.
