Premiered: December 25, 2020

On: Netflix

Starring: Adoja Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jonathan Bailey, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Nicola Coughlan, Phoebe Dynevor, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Claudia Jessie, Ben Miller, Luke Newton, Regé-Jean Page, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Thompson, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, Ruby Stokes, Molly McGlynn, Joanna Bobin, Jessica Madsen, Jason Barnett, Hugh Sachs, Martins Imhangbe, Geraldine Alexander, Kathryn Drysdale, Simon Ludders, Julian Ovenden, Jamie Beamish, Freddie Stroma, Amy Beth Hayes, James Fleet, Céline Buckens & Julie Andrews

In her first Netflix endeavor, Shonda Rhimes brilliantly adapts the first of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series with lavish costumes and sets, a tantalizing storyline and sharp narration by the legendary Julie Andrews.

Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is introduced to society and starts a ruse with Simon (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings, in order to make herself more enticing to eligible bachelors. High society of London is taken by their supposed romance and are at the whim of a gossip publication written by Lady Whistledown (Andrews).

As others have said, the appeal of this series comes from the mixture of Downton Abbey and Gossip Girl.

While you’ll be enamored by the main romance, supporting characters like the wonderfully written and acted Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) have their time to shine.

Final say: Dear readers…please indulge. ★★★★★