Bridgerton Becomes Fifth-Biggest Season Release Of A Netflix Original Series

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Bridgerton Becomes Fifth-Biggest Season Release Of A Netflix Original Series

Bridgerton, the first Shondaland original series for Netflix, had a huge launch in December, becoming the streamer's fifth-biggest launch ever.

Bridgerton, which premiered on December 25, is Netflix's fifth-biggest original series launch to date for its first season. Following the titular Bridgerton clan's lives, the series is set in Regency-era London and follows an inclusive cast as they search for their perfect match during the show's inaugural debutante season. The first batch of episodes primarily follows Daphne Bridgerton's (Phoebe Dynevor) attempts at finding love. Eventually, she falls for the mysterious Duke of Hastings, Simon (Regé-Jean Page), after plotting with him to help her find a mate.

Daphne and Simon's toxic romance became a trending topic upon the series' premiere as fans pored over the proceedings. Following along is Lady Whistledown, a Gossip Girl-esque character who publishes a gossipy report about the Bridgerton's goings-on. Her reporting helps drive the season's narrative as much as the love story at its center, as members of Grosvenor Square devour every word she publishes. Now, it looks like the residents of Grosvenor Square aren't the only ones following the show's events.

According to Netflix, it is projected that over 63 million households will have watched Bridgerton in its first four weeks on the platform. Along with Netflix's original We Can Be Heroes, Bridgerton helped Netflix score its highest-rated week between Christmas Day and New Year yet. The numbers also make Bridgerton Netflix's fifth-biggest original series launch ever. This puts it just behind The Witcher season 1, Stranger Things season 3, Money Heist part 4, and Tiger King.

This big of a launch is good news for fans clamoring for a second season of the show. Reports indicate that, even without an official renewal, Bridgerton season 2 could start filming as early as March, setting it up for a year-end premiere date similar to its first season. Julia Quinn's romance novels on which the series is based have provided ample source material for the series to follow, with each one focusing on a member of the Bridgerton family. Next up, at least in Quinn's novels, is Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey).

Anthony had a tumultuous first season - he disapproved of practically every suitor that tried courting Daphne, all the while battling his love for Opera singer Siena against societal pressures to marry someone of stature. While each of Quinn's novels focuses heavily on one person, the first season did quite well at spreading out the story amongst its core cast, meaning it's unlikely the second season would eschew its ensemble nature for a more focused story. It's doubtful, too, that Lady Whistledown would let anyone skirt by if she had a good scoop on them. While Netflix has yet to officially renew Bridgerton, if these stellar numbers are any indication, an announcement could be imminent.