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The Bridgertons are coming to Netflix courtesy of Shonda Rhimes

By Georgia Makitalo

BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 09: Participants in the annual Jane Austen Regency Costumed Parade dance on the lawn of the historic Georgian Royal Crescent before they walk through the city centre on September 9, 2017 in Bath, England. This year, the annual event coincided with the 200th anniversary of 19th century author's death and saw hundreds of people parade through city centre streets dressed in regency costume. The event marks the start of a 10-day Jane Austen festival that celebrates the 19th century author who lived in the city from 1801 to 1806 and set two of her six published novels, 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion', in Bath. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 09: Participants in the annual Jane Austen Regency Costumed Parade dance on the lawn of the historic Georgian Royal Crescent before they walk through the city centre on September 9, 2017 in Bath, England. This year, the annual event coincided with the 200th anniversary of 19th century author's death and saw hundreds of people parade through city centre streets dressed in regency costume. The event marks the start of a 10-day Jane Austen festival that celebrates the 19th century author who lived in the city from 1801 to 1806 and set two of her six published novels, 'Northanger Abbey' and 'Persuasion', in Bath. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) /
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What happens when Jane Austin meets Shonda Rhimes? We will soon find out when The Bridgertons arrive on Netflix.

The Bridgerton series was created by New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn and now Shondaland is going to adapt the series for the popular streaming service. The Regency-era books are romances with a feminist twist. Quinn has been described as a modern-day Jane Austen, so Imagine Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennett amped up 150 percent.

At the core of each Bridgerton novel, there is a steamy romance, but getting there includes a lot of laughter and the intrusion of the ever-rambunctious Bridgerton siblings. Those who are unfamiliar with the books will soon get to meet the attractive and witty Bridgertons: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise,  Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth. Yes their names are alphabetical by age, although the order of the series is not alphabetical.

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Every loyal Julia Quinn reader has a favorite Bridgerton hero and for many, it is the affable Colin, who seems remarkably like Prince Harry. His story is book four, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. The matriarch of the family is the delightful matchmaker Violet, but tragically, their father Edmund is absent as he died from a (spoiler) bee sting prior to the series start, before Hyacinth was born.

In this delightful view of Regency London, the Bridgertons are the most popular family in the ton. The men are dashing, and roguish just enough to be a bit dangerous, yet always redeemable by love. As for the Bridgerton women, they are funny, talented, brilliant and competitive. The Bridgertons love to win and they can play a mean game of croquet! Afterward, they can scarf down a plate of sandwiches in seconds flat.

There are dances and soirees and musical recitals. No book is complete without the annual Smyth-Smith musical concerts. Although lacking in any musical talent, this tone-deaf family subjects the rest of the ton to their painful concerts.

The Bridgertons are the talk of the ton and In the first four books, there is a great mystery gossip columnist named  Lady Whistledown. In her Society Papers, this unknown gossip delights in focusing her dishy column primarily on the Bridgerton bunch and seems to know way more than any outsider ever should. Eventually, she is revealed, and if included in the Netflix show, viewers should find the mystery quite entertaining.

One of the reasons Quinn’s books are so beloved is that she has reimagined some classic stories such as Cinderella and the Taming of the Shrew. Most of all, she has created characters who show growth. Her universal truths beyond marriage and make her historical romances very modern and relatable.

shonda rhimes
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 23: Actor Shonda Rhimes at Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on February 23, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Essence) /

On her website, Julia Quinn has explained her philosophy of writing romances that are about a healthy relationship by stating that “In some ways, portraying a healthy relationship in literature is the most revolutionary thing you can do.” At the core of her books are some bigger issues that the characters have to deal with. Some of the books deal with such serious issues as stuttering, spanking, and infertility.

Fans of shows like Outlander, Victoria, Poldark, The Crown and any production of Jane Austen’s many works will surely gravitate towards this series. The opportunity to showcase historic Britain with beautiful costumes, exchange witty and intelligent dialogue by entertaining and dashing characters will certainly attract a huge audience to this new Netflix show.

It was sensational news when Shonda Rhimes moved Shondaland from ABC to Netflix with the promise of producing eight different shows. Her choices of Isobel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns and Kate Andersen Brower’s The Residence are more predictable to the Shondaland brand. But for her to take such this beloved romance series and put it on the streaming service is quite a surprise to fans as well as to those who have never heard of Julia Quinn nor the Bridgertons.

According to the official Shondaland statement, the series promises to unveil “the glittering, wealthy, sexual, painful, funny and sometimes lonely lives of the women and men in London’s high society marriage mart as told through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family.”

Shondaland writer Chris Van Duesen, who previously wrote for Scandal will be writing the currently untitled show. They have yet to announce a cast or premiere date, nor given any indication on how long each episode will last. For example, will they focus a season on each book or an episode?

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In addition, Shondaland productions are typically very diverse, and the Bridgertons are in very white Regency England. It should be interesting to see if Shondaland makes some changes here as well.

Are you a fan of Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons? What are your hopes for seeing this series on Netflix? Who do you want to see star as each of the Bridgertons? Please share your comments and predictions below.

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