Rating the characters of Netflix’s Bridgerton from the highest on Lady Whistledown’s hit list to the true diamond of the season
**This article contains spoilers for the first season of “Bridgerton.” Read at your own risk.**
Dearest readers,
One of the last, few good things to come out of 2020 was the Netflix original series “Bridgerton.” Based on the novels by Julia Quinn, the series follows the prominent Bridgerton family as they try to maintain their reputation in scandalous Romantic-era London.
The show quickly became one of Netflix’s biggest hits, with people all over the world falling in love with the aesthetic, the classical covers of pop songs and, of course, the gorgeous Duke of Hastings.
Those who are familiar with the show know Daphne was dubbed the “diamond of the season.” But who was the real diamond of the first season of the breakout show? Here’s a list of “Bridgerton”’s characters, from worst to best:
10. Anthony
I’ll say it: Anthony was beautiful, even with his God-awful sideburns. However, he was a horrid character. He was controlling and manipulative and felt like a 19th-century f*ckboy. What’s worse is, in the first few episodes of the season, I was convinced he was lusting after his sister. “Game of Thrones” did not normalize incest; it’s still very disturbing. As the season went on, it became clear Anthony was probably not actually in love with his sister but he remained unlikable. He was still selfish and he still treated Siena (the “lower class” opera singer he was sleeping with) with little to no respect.
9. Benedict
I suppose it’s not Benedict’s fault he was a useless character. Poor writing is to blame. Though Benedict got his own storyline, I didn’t feel it contributed anything to the story. I was hoping his plot was going to be one of exploring queer sexuality, but I was deeply disappointed. After talking to my friends, I’ve learned they felt the same. All in all, it felt like queerbaiting. I was really, really hoping for a Dorian Gray/Lord Henry love affair. Hopefully, we’ll get what we want in a later season.
8. Daphne
While many in London found Daphne to be the gem of eligible women, I found her to be a cubic zirconia. Initially, I really enjoyed Daphne, with her determined mission to marry for love and her hard right hook when she punched the creepy Nigel Berbrooke. I actually even enjoyed her and Simon together, despite my love for the duke. But then she found out how babies were made. As soon as she found out what it took to actually get pregnant, she slept with Simon and forced him to finish inside her. Yes, he lied to her about how he couldn’t have children but it was painful to watch a man who had been so considerate about consent get his own taken away. It was an upsetting scene and one that turned me away from Daphne entirely.
7. Penelope
Much like Daphne, Penelope was off to a great start. She was kind, she was best friends with Eloise (my favorite character, who we’ll get to later) and she loved to sit in a corner and read. However, when her crush on Daphne and Eloise’s brother, Colin, conflicted with her friendship with her cousin Marina, her darker side came out. Penelope repeatedly betrayed Marina and did everything she could to stop Marina from marrying Colin. Although Marina’s intentions were not the purest, it was still very anti-feminist of Penelope to sabotage Marina and insult Eloise along the way.
6. Marina
Poor Marina. Lady Featherington hated her, Lord Featherington lusted after her and almost no one in London truly liked her. And of course, the cherry on top was her unplanned, very public, very scandalous pregnancy and her missing love. Though Marina’s manipulation of Colin was not her finest moment, Marina certainly did not deserve all the misfortune she went through. Hopefully, her engagement to her deceased love’s brother will bring her some much-deserved joy in later seasons.
5. Queen Charlotte
One of the best things about “Bridgerton” is its colorblind casting. Having a Black Queen of England is something I wish was actually part of history. Queen Charlotte was the perfect regal overseer, letting things play out when they needed to and interfering when drama needed a little push. All the while, her husband is slowly slipping away into his illness and she’s left to rule the British Empire by herself. And she does a damn good job doing so.
4. Simon
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s in love with the Duke. He is easily one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen. While I found his vow to never have children to be a bit too petty, I still thought he was exceedingly endearing. He was clearly sexually active before he got married but he knew Daphne hadn’t been and was very conscious of getting her consent with every sexual experience. He was loyal and supportive of his boxing friend, Will, and often turned to him for advice. He liked to pretend to be a tough guy but he was charming and thoughtful when it came to Daphne. To me, it’s easy to see why so many people burn for Simon Bassett.
3. Lady Violet Bridgerton
As seen with Lady Featherington, mothers did not always have their childrens’ best interest at heart in the show. That cannot be said for Lady Violet. Though she desperately wants Eloise to follow in Daphne’s footsteps, Lady Violet is deeply caring for her children and went to extreme lengths to ensure their happiness. Lady Violet supported Daphne’s feelings when she wanted to marry a duke over a prince. She helped Daphne avoid marrying Nigel Berbrooke and supported her when she was having marital issues. Okay, maybe Daphne is just her favorite child. But throughout the season, Lady Violet showed her heart and her brain on an equal level. Men may have held much of the power of the time but Lady Violet and Lady Danbury were often the ones pulling the strings and staying informed.
2. Eloise
Eloise is without a doubt the best Bridgerton sibling. She was fiercely self-sufficient, witty, intelligent and longed for a life separate from marital drama. She felt like a genuine Jane Austen character, with her fierce individuality and staunch distaste for the society she was in. Her exploration of Lady Whistledown’s identity helped satiate the audience’s own curiosity about the mysterious woman, though Eloise never truly figured out her identity. I also think she was very queer coded and I can’t wait for her and Penelope to finally be together, as they should be.
1. Lady Danbury
Lady Danbury is the most underrated character of the series. She is classy, she is clever, she is confident, she doesn’t take shit from anyone. When Simon’s mother passed away, she was the only person by her side. When Simon’s abusive father refused to offer him the love he desperately needed, she was there to encourage him and give him the support he wanted and needed. She raised him to be the duke we love. Without her, I doubt Simon and Daphne ever would’ve ended up together. Lady Danbury and Lady Violet nurtured their relationship along its rocky path and Lady Danbury was one of the only people who could talk some sense into Simon. She is the true diamond of the first season.
Feature Image designed by Kara Fields