The triumphant renaissance of period dramas

The Sharma sisters, Kate played by Simone Ashley (front left), and Edwina played by Charithra Chandran (front right) from the second season of Bridgerton.

Source: Netflix

Corsets, candelabrum and courting: we do not need a town crier with fanciful poems to inform us that period dramas are seeing a triumphant renaissance. Once scoffed off by viewers as boring history lessons, they have now risen to the top of everyone's watchlists. There is no need to look further than Bridgerton, Netflix's very own Regency-era period drama that became the streaming service’s third-most-popular English-language television series in just 17 days following its’ second season's premiere.

Concurrently with the return of Bridgerton, ITV's Sanditon and the second cinematic revival of Downton Abbey premiered, which was then followed by the film adaptation of Mr Malcolm's List. These are merely a handful of the latest period dramas to have garnered a cult following, with devoted fans going to great lengths to immerse themselves in the genre by creating dedicated social media fan accounts and even adorning themselves in attires from the era. There are, however, more contenders with respectable followings.

Which begs the question: why are period pieces seeing such a resurgence? And what is it that makes them so immensely popular today, when they were formerly dismissed as dull historical reenactments?

The alluring charms of Regency Era romance

Colin Firth (left) and Jennifer Ehle (right) from Pride and Prejudice (1991)

Source: IMDb

With their forbidden love and grand vistas, historical drama romances may appear out of place in today's world. However, upon closer look, it becomes evident that this is precisely why they remain so endearing today.

Sissi, a 17-year-old Slovakian who runs the Instagram fan account @bridgerton.diariess, believes that the fascination with period dramas stems from a desire for the "sort of slow, yet satisfying romance" that can only be found in period dramas.

“In period dramas, a lot of things are conversed with just exchanges of looks and smiles, which actually puts you in their narrative and allows you to sense the evolution of their love story, and I find it to be pretty addicting,” she added.

According to Sissi, the manner in which period dramas portray desire is another appealing aspect of the genre.

This can be seen in everything from the stolen glances to the tingling sensation of palms touching as the protagonists move across the ballroom in harmony and to the endless pages of letters penned with hope and promise; they all allude to a love that is at a distance.

Period dramas illustrate how mystery and distance are the keys to yearning, in contrast to the modern view of love, which emphasises the need for honesty and intimacy.

It would be a folly to not acknowledge Jane Austen when discussing the romantic elements of historical dramas, as the renowned author's influence on this genre is apparent.

"Austen's works are mostly built on pinning two contrasting characters in a slow-paced love story and teasing the readers with subtle yet defining events in their relationship,” claimed Amira Atiqah, who holds a master's degree in English Literature from the University of Malaya.

“The lead characters in period dramas somehow find themselves yearning for love despite the adversaries surrounding them.”

“I can understand why this appeals to young viewers, as they have never or rarely seen this kind of romance on the big screen,” she added.

“Besides, no one is irresistible to Austen's brand of timid yet charming romantic storytelling, which is why her craft is being remade again and again.”

The grandeur appeal

Queen Charlotte of Bridgerton, portrayed by Golda Rosheuvel.

Source: Netflix

Along with romance, period pieces' extravagant and grandeur representation of British high society also seems to be what draws viewers from across the world.

"I'm obsessed with European high-class culture; I just love everything about it, from their beautiful costumes, and hairstyles to even the type of tableware they use," enthuses Divya Ramachandran, who has been an admirer of period dramas since she was a teenager.

Divya isn't the only one who's been enamoured with the period series' apparel, in fact, since its premiere in December 2020, Bridgerton has had such a profound effect on contemporary fashion that it has spawned a whole new fashion phenomenon known as regencycore.

The splendour of period dramas is not confined to the garments alone; the visual delights of scenery, such as the French chateau-inspired interiors of the Russells' Gilded Age mansion, or the wisteria-covered city palaces in Bridgerton, all contribute to their appeal.

Shivani Reddy, a social media influencer and wedding photographer based in the United States, claimed that period dramas' idyllic settings serve as the perfect backdrop for wedding pictures.

Shivani Reddy’s Bridgeton-themed wedding photographs

Source: Instagram

"I simply adore Regency-era dramas, especially Bridgerton," Reddy said before adding, "so I wondered how would it look if I integrated the classic elegance of Regency-era romance in my wedding photoshoots and even to my surprise, it came out really well."

Period pieces like Bridgerton deliberately centre on wealthy families in order to provide their viewers with the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Regency era without actually having to witness the not-so-glamorous, dreary realities of the nineteenth century.

“If they truly incorporated the unpleasant aspects of England, such as colonialism and class structures, then they would not be as popular as they are today,” Amira noted.

Diversity and Representation

When Hollywood tells the tales of the past, people of colour are typically written out of the narrative or relegated to supporting parts in which they’re often shown in subordinate roles to the starring white characters.

That is until dramas like Bridgerton and Mr Malcolm's List began casting actors of colour in the roles of queens and lords.

“When I first saw the Sharma sisters, I just couldn't stop gushing over about how gorgeous they looked, and it was very special to me since it was the first time I have seen someone who looks like me in period dramas wearing such beautiful, elegant clothes,” claimed Divya.

“Representation truly matters, and this was indeed a huge cultural win for many brown girls who rarely see someone like them in the setting of high-class British society,” Reddy added.

"Seeing two beautiful, dark-skinned Tamil women in Bridgerton felt like a much-needed progress."

Simone Ashley (left) in Bridgerton and Frieda Pinto (right) in Mr Malcom's List.

Source: IMDb

Bridgerton presents a framework for historical dramas in which people of colour could flourish amid the melodramatic plots, extravagant costumes, and bucolic beauty that make such series so appealing. This was deemed unachievable by its predecessors, like Downtown Abbey.

“Yet, Bridgerton does not whitewash its characters of colour and erase their identities and voices, as most shows do,” Divya continued.

The Sharmas' cultural heritage is ever-present, as seen by the hues of their attire, Kate's disdain at Britain's "pitiful excuse for tea," passing mentions to India, and especially, the show's depiction of the traditional prewedding Nalangu ceremony that occurs later in the season.

The Sharma women put on a traditional prewedding Nalangu ceremony.

Source: Netflix

“The fact that these characters never seem to forget their heritage, but rather embrace it as one of the many dimensions of their personality, is appealing to viewers since it gives these characters their own stories, as opposed to merely portraying them as their white counterparts,” Divya added.

Sense of elegant escapism

Kirsten Durst in Marie Antoinette (2006)

Source: IMDb

Fans have made it clear that one of the great contradictions of historical dramas is the manner in which viewers may be taken to a foreign world yet still feel at home due to the presence of familiar themes, characters, and storylines.

Amira attributes people's desire to return to the past to the pandemic.

“The reason Bridgerton and many period dramas are so popular is because watching beautiful people partake in lavish parties and ballroom dances offered a much-needed escape for many while the world was locked down,” she said.

"We like them because they have the ability to whisk us away from the difficult moments in our own lives," Amira added.

In a world where there is ample room for nuanced portrayals of gritty reality, it seems that many of us crave entertainment that equates to delight, escape, and solace.

After all, we've gone through with the pandemic, who can actually blame us?