The Netflix series Bridgerton and the STARZ romance Outlander are both period dramas masquerading as love stories. Bridgerton takes fans into the heart of a British ‘ton’ where neighboring aristocratic families are vying for the attention of the season’s most eligible bachelors to marry off their daughters.
Outlander, on the other hand, tells the story of a young woman who accidentally travels into the 18th century and falls in love with a dashing warrior. Both shows are adapted from novels and have developed a devoted fan-base. Here are some things Bridgerton gets right while it misses the mark in some other respects allowing Outlander to walk away with the credit.
Got It Right: The Racially Diverse Cast
Bridgerton has made a statement with its racially and ethnically diverse cast. British period dramas in general, although a fan-favorite genre, are not known for their diversity, often, unfortunately with history to back them up.
But Shonda Rhimes is known for always leveling the playing field and so she does in this 19th-century costume drama with the leading man, and several of the main characters, being ethnically diverse. Outlander too has some diversity as the central characters go gallivanting around the world, but it remains largely confined to the periphery.
Missed The Mark: The Superfluous Writing
The STARZ period romance Outlander can one-up Bridgerton any day with much better writing, and a well-researched, thoughtful script. The former focuses on giving fans a taste of the Highlander way of life, and delves deep into the characters’ psyche, unlike Bridgerton which barely scratches the surface of its characters.
Despite the popularity the latter has attained in recent months, it lacks depth. It also feels at times as if the show tries too hard to become an Austen classic such as Pride & Prejudice with which it would inevitably be compared, but falls desperately short.
Got It Right: Body Positive
One of Bridgerton’s main characters, Penelope Featherington, is plus-sized, but that is not all that defines her.
She is feisty, way more intelligent than her stereotypically idiotic sisters, and was revealed to be Lady Whistledown in the season finale. The show elevates her to someone who exists beyond her size and weight, unlike Outlander where the central characters all have exceptional figures and are conventionally beautiful.
Missed The Mark: Lacks Raw, Gritty Performances
The level of performance in the STARZ drama is quite outstanding as each actor takes his or her role seriously and delivers a punch.
From Caitriona Balfe as the central protagonist Claire to Sam Heughan playing the dashing Jamie, Duncan Lacroix who plays the grumpy but adorable Murtagh, and Tobias Menzies who is absolutely chilling as the sadistic Jack Randall, the performances are raw, realistic, and gritty. Bridgerton, despite huge names such as Dame Julie Andrews being associated with it, needs to up the ante in the acting department.
Got It Right: Queer Representation
The Shondaland show doesn’t dither when it comes to sexual diversity either, while Outlander has no qualms about practically skirting past the issue of sexual diversity, except in Lord John Grey, and Black Jack Randall.
The first season didn’t focus on much more than the leading couple, and that too only superficially. But there were clear hints at LGBTQ characters who might be crucial to the narrative at a later stage. For instance, Daphne’s brother Benedict might experiment with his sexuality soon enough while his mentor Henry Granville appears to be bisexual.
Missed The Mark: The Costumes & Prosthetics
Outlander is celebrated for its painstakingly crafted costumes that are made to look as authentic as possible. The costume department goes out of its way to give the characters realistic period costumes.
In terms of makeup and prosthetics too, the series surpasses its Netflix counterpart. From prosthetic heads to Jamie Fraser’s scarred back which is actually two silicon molds plastered together and the hairstyles of the central protagonists, the makeup excels in every way. While the sets and costumes in Bridgerton are lavish as well, they don't quite ring as much with authenticity.
Got It Right: The Social Satire
Bridgerton prides itself on being something of a social satire of the time it depicts. Some of the characters appear nigh caricaturish, and it successfully delivers the commentary on the general background of that particular society wherein young women were brought up with the single ambition of marrying well.
Outlander doesn't go out of its way to offer a satire on social and cultural ethics of the time, although the heroine Claire Fraser often ends up fighting social prejudices and injustices, which is in itself a social commentary.
Missed The Mark: The Tacky Eroticism
Outlander’s sex scenes are elaborate, sophisticated, and well, aplenty. The series makes an effort so that the lovemaking doesn’t seem tacky, or incorporated to purely titillate fans. Since the lovemaking is an important part of Claire and Jamie’s story, it is, of course, extremely sensuous. But not for a moment does it feel amateurish.
Now, the steamy scenes in Bridgerton are possibly the exact opposite of that in Outlander. True, the lead heroine’s perspective of sex is meant to be somewhat immature as she is after all only just opening herself up to the raw sensualities. But even then there is no reason why the picturization should lack in the aesthetic department, despite such gorgeous actors. The wild Lord Bridgerton’s shenanigans with his mistress are a tad more appealing but still border on being tacky.
Got It Right: The Light Humor
Outlander is by no means light entertainment. The series deals with loss, death, love, and longing, and handles dark, often problematic issues such as sadism and sexual violence. Humor and wit, also not absent, are not its strong suit.
In this, the British period drama takes the cake at any rate. Bridgerton is a fun watch, with oodles of comedy, and is binge-worthy without getting too involved with the characters' fates, something fans would love during the difficult times of the current global crisis.
Missed The Mark: Far From An Epic Romance
Outlander is at its heart an epic love story between a brilliant 20th-century woman and a handsome, swashbuckling Scottish Highlander. As the characters go gallivanting around the world, fans become drawn into their exploits, getting a peek into various different cultures and people.
The sheer scale of the show can hardly be matched by Bridgerton which has only just aired its first season with a limited number of episodes. The latter still has a long way to go before it can come close to the ambitious romantic fantasy that straddles the boundaries of a historical drama.