Those who are anticipating the release of Bridgerton season 4 should consider watching The Royals, a new romantic drama now available for streaming on Netflix. Adapted from the successful novels by Julia Quinn, the Netflix series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings as they each search for love, happiness, and security in Regency London. Each season followed a different sibling, and the first three seasons saw how Daphne, Anthony, and Colin Bridgerton each found their happy ending. Their progress in finding success in society is chronicled throughout the series by Lady Whistledown, the society’s gossip columnist.
Bridgerton was released to worldwide critical acclaim and has since become one of Netflix’s flagship shows, even launching equally successful spinoff series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, in 2023, which chronicled the early rule of the ton’s formidable queen. Bridgerton season 4 is set to follow the second-oldest sibling, Benedict, and it’s already been proven that it will be very different from the first season. While we wait for the announcement of Bridgerton season 4’s release date, viewers can watch another series that offers a modern twist on Julia Quinn’s famous stories.
Netflix’s New Show The Royals Feels Like A Modern Bridgerton
The Royals Is Directed By Priyanka Ghose & Nupur Asthana
Created and written by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, Netflix’s The Royals is set in Morpur, India. Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter) is a member of the Morpur royal family that is secretly on the verge of bankruptcy.
Their fortunes appear to take a turn for the better when they agree to partner with a successful hospitality company, run by a self-made CEO and commoner, Sophia Kenmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar), who wants to establish their property as a B&B. Sophia and Aviraaj frequently clash over their ideals, but as the series progresses, their feelings for each other begin to change, leading to secrets being revealed that could impact the future of both Sophia’s business and Aviraaj’s home.
Since its release on Netflix, The Royals has been compared to Bridgerton and is considered a modern adaptation of the popular series. While set in modern times, The Royals uses grand estates and elaborate backdrops similar to Bridgerton’s Regency settings, while also incorporating traditional and modern Indian elements.
Similar to Bridgerton’s large character ensemble, The Royals has a large cast, including Sakshi Tanwar, Dino Morea, and Nora Fatehi, who are involved in different subplots throughout the series that help balance the main narrative. The Royals also has a modernized soundtrack of classical Indian music, much like Bridgerton’s soundtracks of orchestral pop covers. Another similarity between The Royals and Bridgerton is their depictions of romance and drama between two different societies. Throughout The Royals, Sophia and Aviraaj’s headstrong personalities and determination to get what they want out of their business deal mean that they frequently argue with each other, before they ultimately discover their true feelings for one another.
Sophia and Aviraaj’s conflicting relationship holds eerie similarities with the main relationships in the first two seasons of Bridgerton between Daphne and Simon, and Anthony and Kate, respectively. The romantic drama played a large part in Bridgerton’s success, so those who watch The Royals will enjoy the relationship between Sophia and Aviraaj.
The Royals’ Show Creator Has Already Hinted At A Potential Season 2
The Royals Was Released To Warm Reviews
The Royals co-creator, Rangita Pritish Nandy, has stated that they intend to create a second season, saying that The Royals has helped “put India front and center in the content that [they] make” and allows insight into “Indian royalty that technically doesn’t exist” (via Variety). While The Royals season 2 has yet to be officially confirmed, viewers can enjoy the eight episodes on Netflix while waiting for the next season of Bridgerton.
