Bridgerton is big business for Netflix. According to Netflix, it is one of the most-watched dramas in the service’s history. It sparked a boom in Regency romance novels, there was a spin-off prequel, and there was even a Bridgerton experience. Of course, other streamers are eager to replicate the show’s success, and Apple TV Plus has entered the race with one of the most visually similar shows, The Buccaneers.
The bright pops of color that have made Bridgerton a trademark can be seen in the first trailer for The Buccaneers. But this show is based not on a torrid series of romance novels, but on the unfinished final novel of Edith Wharton, one of the giants of American literature. And while the books on which Bridgerton was based were clearly romance novels, Wharton’s book combines romance with satire and a sharp criticism of American wealth and British pride. It’s about a group of wealthy American girls who travel to England to make their debut and hopefully attract husbands from very old and very distinguished British families. Romance is an inconvenience in the world of the Buccaneers.
So it will be very interesting to see how closely The Buccaneers sticks to its source material rather than the show it is a follower of. Will it be its own show and develop its own style and rhythm or bask in the shadow of Shonda’s empire? More importantly, will it be good?
The show comes from the very funny Katherine Jakeways, features a large cast including Christina Hendricks, Kristine Frøseth and Alisha Boe, and will air on Apple TV Plus from November 8th.