Where to watch: Netflix
Reactions: Obsessed, Romantic, Swoon

I watched Queen Charlotte without having ever seen Bridgerton or knowing a thing about it. I had assumed it was similar to Downton Abbey, which I was never very captivated by. But then my mom saw my review of Queen Charlotte, and told me I had to give Bridgerton a try. And I’m so glad I did! It only took one episode and I was hooked!

Now, before I get too far I have to acknowledge that Bridgerton is a sappy romance drama. I’ve never read or even seen the books, but I have to imaging they’d sit alongside the other romance novels at the supermarket and appeal to the same audience.

But. The show is adorable. It’s sexy. It’s surprisingly feminist. And it’s addictive.

Each season focuses on one of the seven Bridgerton’s finding their betrothed. Although, I supposed two Bridgetron siblings find their love match in the third season. In the first season we see Daphne, the eldest daughter, scheme with a Duke so that they may both avoid suitors, only to find a true love match in each other. Let me just say, the Duke, is hot af. Simon Basset is so handsome and smoldering in his brooding. And, his perfectly round butt plays a supporting role in the much of the season.

The second season follows the eldest son and Viscount, Anthony Bridgerton as he pursues the wrong match only to finally end up with his true love Kate. And in the third season, awkward and reclusive Francesca meets an equally introverted lord to marry, while Colin and Penelope finally realize they’ve shared true love since they first met as children. Notice a theme? Yep. True love matters most, over title and fortune.

What I appreciate about the shows feminism is that it goes deeper than ambition. There are specific characters who strive to be more than what society deems appropriate for women. Eloise wishes to go to college and be a great thinker. Penelope has her activities. Kate rides horses and shoots guns. These characters and the themes of women being more than a wife and baby carrier are persistent and appreciated. But then we get the more enjoyable twist on feminism as well: It’s always the men who lose their god damn minds over love. The Duke melts down and avoids his love for Daphne because he can’t handle it. Anthony denies himself his true love because he thinks he doesn’t deserve it. And Colin becomes love sick and churlish over his love for Penelope.

That’s not to say that the women don’t also fall in love and feel love deeply. But it’s the men of the show who act irrationally and can’t think clearly when they’re in love. I absolutely love that the show writers flip the script on the familiar trope of the lovesick, irrational woman.

Furthermore, the male body is objectified constantly. It’s always male butts we see during the sex scenes. It’s the male body and male chest we see as couples disrobe. And, I may be out of line here, but I think Shonda Rhimes and I share a love for the male butt. There’s so much naked man butt in this series that it’s clearly written by women for women (and gay men!).

There are some lovely heartfelt moments in each season too. In the third season that I just finished, when Colin finally expresses his love for Penelope, it’s so romantic and genuine that I teared up. And then, interestingly enough, when Francesca’s husband, the Earl of Kilmartin, toasts the dowager Lady Bridgerton and honors the way she’s raised her family… I bawled. Such an unexpected beautiful moment. I know, I know, I’m a sucker for sweet, authentically spoken words.

Finally, I’ll just say that Colin is my favorite Bridgetron brother, followed closely by Benedict. I loved Colin in his baby-faced first season, his grown up second season, and his dashing third season. I hope we don’t lose his and Penelope’s characters in Season 4, the same way we’ve lost Daphne and Antony. And I know I should love Antony more as a character because he’s played by the hunky gay actor Jonathan Bailey. And while I LOVE Jonathan Bailey, Antony just doesn’t float my boat the way his two younger brothers do.

And here’s Colin across all three seasons. Swoon.