You know that moment, after binge-watching an entire series, when you realize the very thing you’ve filled your days with is now gone? Well, if you don’t know what to watch after finishing the Netflix Original series Bridgerton, I’m here to help.
I’m uniquely qualified for the task because I arrived at Bridgerton fandom after spending weeks watching The Crown, a Netflix historical drama about the British royal family, and let’s just say the transition wasn’t seamless. Why? Both shows are about British aristocracy, but Bridgerton didn’t initially satisfy whatever kept me watching The Crown. Both are equally entertaining, but Bridgerton is a more light-hearted watch than The Crown. Still, I got hooked by episode three. And now—well, I’m in between shows once again.
If you’ve clicked on this post, then maybe you’ve just finished watching hours and hours of Bridgerton and you need something new. There’s no perfect match (though there will be a season 2), but I might have some recommendations depending on what drew you in. Whether you were in it for the costume design, the diverse casting, the steamy sex, or the gossipy narrator, you’ll find a few shows that might meet your needs below.
1. Harlots
Harlots is a drama set in 18th-century London, and it follows brothel owner Margaret Wells (played by Samantha Morton) and her two daughters, Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) and Lucy (Eloise Smyth). Watch it if you’re looking for sex, drama, and rivalry between two enterprising brothel owners.
Where to watch: Hulu
2. Gossip Girl
Who doesn’t love this classic teen drama from the early aughts? Though set in a completely different time than Bridgerton, the show stars an omniscient narrator (voiced by Kristen Bell) as she chronicles the lives of wealthy Upper Eastsiders. The mysterious narrator is basically Lady Whistledown in modern-day New York City. Watch if you kept wondering why everyone in Bridgerton was comfortable being written about by an anonymous person.
Where to watch: HBO Max
3. Desperate Housewives
Another oldie-but-goodie, Desperate Housewives also features an omniscient narrator (voiced by Brenda Strong), a splash of mystery, and decent sex scenes for a network TV show. Instead of British high society, you’ll get the mysterious ongoings of the ladies who live on Wisteria Lane. Watch if attractive people and big-budget melodrama were your favorite things about Bridgerton.
Where to watch: Hulu
4. Downton Abbey
Starting in 1912, Downton Abbey chronicles the quietly tense lives of the Crowley family and the people who serve them. This isn’t a campy show, but you can lose yourself in the various lives and losses the characters face. Plus, if you miss Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel’s) withering looks, you’ll find solace in Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith).
Where to watch: HBO Max
5. Scandal
Scandal centers on Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a crisis-management consultant who helps high-profile clients while managing to keep up a love affair with U.S. President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn). If you want high-stakes drama, forbidden love, and steamy sex scenes, Scandal is an option.
Where to watch: Hulu
6. Normal People
Normal People follows two Irish teenagers—Marianne and Connell (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, respectively)—who try to figure out what it means to be in love even though they come from different backgrounds. The sex scenes in Normal People got a lot of attention when it first hit the streaming platform. So watch if you’re in the mood for sex and angst in equal measure.
Where to watch: Hulu
7. Dickinson
The world gets to meet a young Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) as she comes of age during the 19th century. The show highlights all of the things real-life Dickinson fans might enjoy about her now—but we watch her struggle as she pines for her best friend, Susan Gilbert (played by Ella Hunt), and figures out what it means to find her voice. Watch if you were intrigued by Francesca Bridgerton’s (Ruby Stokes’s) desire to experience freedom.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
8. Jane the Virgin
Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) is a 23-year-old woman who has decided to wait until marriage to have sex. But a series of mishaps that are “straight out of a telenovela” find her pregnant by her boss. This one is a wildcard—it’s pretty different from Bridgerton. But the obvious respect for telenovela tropes makes Jane the Virgin a satisfying replacement. Watch for major drama, a charismatic narrator, colorful backdrops, hunky characters, and a good “will they, won’t they” story arc.
Where to watch: Netflix
9. Gentleman Jack
Gentleman Jack is a historical drama about Anne Lister (Suranne Jones), a real Yorkshire landlord in 1832. The show follows Lister’s journey to save her ancestral home. It also draws on the diaries she left behind that chronicle a lifetime of romantic relationships with women. Watch if you felt Bridgerton’s inclusivity was missing queer characters.
Where to watch: HBO Max
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