Bridgerton: Bingeworthy or Bust?

I tend to trust Shonda Rhimes to hook it up with quality drama that also brings the sexy. Grey's Anatomy may be flailing a bit now, but when the world was introduced to the doctors of Seattle Grace, it was beloved by fans and critically acclaimed. Then How To Get Away With Murder showed up and gave us Viola Davis in the role of a lifetime and some of the juiciest story lines in network television history.

So when the announcement was made that Rhimes had signed an exclusive deal with Netflix, the assumption was her shows were only going to get better, as there's more freedom on Netflix with language and sex scenes (apparently that's what I think makes shows better). So here comes Bridgerton. IMDb describes it: Wealth, lust, and betrayal set against the backdrop of Regency-era England, seen through the eyes of the powerful Bridgerton family. Intriguing, right?

Wrong! The main story revolves around a well to-do young woman and a duke entangled in a will they/won't they situation complicated by the stupidest reason I've ever heard. I won't spoil it, but know that the reason they can't be together can be so easily remedied, it's hard to take the show seriously. The ingenue is beyond unlikable and the saving grace is the chemistry between the protagonists that leads to some steamy sex scenes. Surrounding characters have minimally interesting plot lines, but are enjoyable enough. Overall, I can't believe Shonda put her name on this show because it's not the caliber I expect from her.

So should you binge it anyway? Absolutely. It's a melodramatic soapy guilty pleasure and when you're not enjoying the story, you're enjoying making fun of its absurdity. So grab the snacks and get to watching!