--- title: "Bridgerton: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/bridgerton/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/bridgerton" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bridgerton (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 13 reviews: 12 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics welcome Bridgerton as a pleasurable, knowingly modern Regency romance, with twelve of the thirteen reviews positive. Praise centres on the costumes, lavish settings and inclusive casting, alongside the frank treatment of sex and female desire. The reviews also find substance beneath the gloss: several praise the feminist attention to marriage and women’s choices, while others emphasise the romantic chemistry, emotional depth and brisk storytelling. Escapism is the clearest point of agreement. Reservations concern how much polish and exaggeration the romance can sustain. The Guardian finds the dialogue excessive and the plotting crowded with clichés, yet still finds the series addictive. The Times is the lone negative voice, objecting to a Regency England scrubbed too clean and finding the result insufficiently sexy or grounded. The spread is therefore wide, but the disagreement is concentrated: most critics enjoy the glossy fantasy that the strongest dissenter finds unconvincing. ## Radio Times — Eleanor Bley Griffiths Rating 5/5. 22 December 2020. The critic calls the series an utter joy and a fun cross between Gossip Girl and Jane Austen set in a fantasy Regency London. She singles out the frank handling of sex and self-pleasure as well as the sumptuous visuals and costumes for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/bridgerton-review-netflix/) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2020. The critic describes the show as a confectionary treat that mixes Regency romance tropes with Shondaland sensibilities for a swoony, modern take. She singles out the inclusive casting and the explicit, insightful exploration of sex and desire as standout elements. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/bridgerton-review-netflix-shonda-rhimes-1234865136/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2020. The critic praises the series as a heady, inviting fantasy of pleasure and true love that expands the romance genre with inclusive casting while delivering sparkling momentum and escapism. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/bridgerton-review-netflix-series-shondaland.html) ## IndieWire — Ann Donahue Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2020. The critic calls the series a fizzy, ebullient period romance that's easy to love and arrives at just the right time after a difficult year. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/bridgerton-review-netflix-1234605510/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2020. The review calls it a glossy Downton Abbey replacement and pleasingly OTT exercise in escapism with a diverse cast and enlightened heroines. It singles out the lavish production and modern spin on Regency romance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/bridgerton-netflix-review-b357506.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Inkoo Kang Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2020. The critic calls it a delectably smart confection that weaves feminist critique through the marriage plot. She singles out the observations on patriarchal traditions and their effects on female characters, along with the believable obstacles in the central romance. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/bridgerton-tv-review-4108181/) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. 24 December 2020. The review praises the sumptuous costumes, glorious backdrops and modern take on Regency romance as fun, frivolous and frothy escapism perfect for Christmas. It singles out the diverse casting and fully imagined world for praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2020/12/24/bridgerton-review-fizzing-glass-champagne-need-christmas-day/) ## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2020. The critic finds the series preposterous and cliché-ridden yet moreish and addictive, leaving viewers wanting more despite its flaws. They single out the over-the-top dialogue and Downton Abbey influences for complaint while noting its escapist appeal. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/25/bridgerton-review-netflix) ## The Times — Hugo Rifkind Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2020. The critic describes a vision of Regency England that is excessively clean and polished, falling between stools as neither stolid like Downton Abbey nor sexy enough like Harlots. They single out the American-influenced glossy adaptation and lack of grit for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/bridgerton-review-this-regency-england-is-so-clean-you-could-eat-your-dinner-off-it-pn06hj8zh) ## Collider — Liz Shannon Miller Rating A-. 25 December 2020. The critic praises the series as a delightfully horny and addictive Regency romance that knows exactly what it is and delivers on it with modern twists, beautiful costumes, and strong performances. She singles out the show's frank treatment of sexuality and its blend of escapism with emotional depth for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/bridgerton-review-netflix-shonda-rhimes/) ## Den of Geek — Amanda-Rae Prescott Rating 4.5/5. 22 December 2020. The critic finds that the series redefines period romance on TV with concise storytelling, strong character development, big-budget aesthetics, and standout diversity that sets a new standard. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/bridgerton-review-netflix-spoiler-free/) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Rating 9.0. 21 December 2020. The critic calls the series pure swoony joy and a delightful bit of escapism that feels like exactly the right show for the moment, with wonderful chemistry, a feminist thread, and a female-centered approach to sex and romance. She singles out the vibrant costumes, anachronistic pop score, and diverse casting for praise. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/bridgerton/bridgerton-review-netflix) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2020. The critic calls Bridgerton an escapist delight that mixes Regency-era melodrama with modern explicitness. She praises its bingeable quality and the escapist fantasy of the close-knit family amid a difficult year. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/12/23/tv/bridgerton-review-netflix-series-shonda-rhimes) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/bridgerton.md