10 Subtle Details About Bridgerton That Only True Fans Will Notice
Bridgerton has been one of Netflix’s biggest shows since its debut in 2020, with all three seasons ranking among Netflix’s most-watched TV shows of all time, and the show’s massive fanbase has only grown since its inception. Bridgerton has broken many Netflix records and continues to break its own streaming records. All three seasons feature compelling love stories with strong supporting characters to fill in the gaps.
Because Bridgerton has such a large fanbase, many of the show’s fans are casual viewers who don’t have a deep interest in the show. On the other hand, a significant portion of fans have also read the Bridgerton books, and other fans are simply passionate about the show. All three seasons of Bridgerton feature many Easter details that casual viewers won’t notice. However, true Bridgerton fans will notice the subtle details the show has implemented, whether it’s from the books, a prominent motif, or just a simple callback to a previous episode.
Each season of Bridgerton has featured the debut of a different Bridgerton sister. In season 1, Daphne debuted, and this season was also her love story. Eloise debuted in Bridgerton season 2, much to her chagrin. By the time Bridgerton entered its third season, the show had largely ignored Daphne, choosing instead to focus on her younger sister, Francesca, making Francesca Daphne’s replacement. As a tribute to Daphne Bridgerton, the show had Francesca wear Daphne’s debut dress in her own debut. This was a great gift for Daphne fans and a great way to reintroduce Francesca as a more central character.
In Bridgerton season 1, episode 7, “Oceans Apart,” Benedict confronts Henry Granville about his secret affair with Lord Wetherby, even though Henry is married to a woman named Lucy, with whom Benedict had an affair before he knew who her husband was. Henry responds with a poetic and heartfelt speech, explaining his situation as a gay man. Casual viewers won’t recognize anything more than this incredibly meaningful moment, but true Bridgerton fans will understand the allusions to this scene. Henry Granville’s epic speech foreshadows both Benedict and Francesca’s story. Benedict links Henry’s speech to his pansexuality and his romance with Sophie Beckett. The relationship between Henry Granville and Lord Wetherby must remain a secret because society won’t accept it—something Benedict will have to endure due to the class difference between him and Sophie. Sophie is part of the working class, so her romance with Benedict will be forbidden. Henry Granville’s speech also foreshadows Francesca and Michaela’s story. They will face many obstacles to be together while grieving over John. However, their story will have a happy ending, suggesting that their love will break down barriers to same-sex relationships in the upper class.
Bridgerton has a beautiful opening credits that include subtle details that describe the season. The credits begin with the main Bridgerton names on a tree – Daphne for season 1, Anthony for season 2, and Colin for season 3. The tree will be named Benedict for Bridgerton season 4. The rest of the credits are largely the same, with two exceptions. A branch sprouts a candle in the Bridgerton season 1 opening credits, a reference to Simon and Daphne’s “I burn for you” line. Season 2 features Pall Mall for Anthony and Kate, while season 3 features Lady Whistledown’s quill and paper for Penelope.
The final branch also varies from season to season. This branch represents hidden themes rather than direct references. The opening credits of season 1 of Bridgerton feature a dance track, which correlates to the importance of dance in Simon and Daphne’s courtship. The opening credits of season 2 feature a clock, symbolizing the passage of time before Anthony decides to follow his heart or his head. Finally, the opening credits of season 3 feature a butterfly branch, representing the presence of butterflies throughout the season, symbolizing Penelope’s development from caterpillar to butterfly.
