Is Bridgerton Kid Friendly? Parents Guide

Wondering if BRIDGERTON on Netflix is ok for kids? This series from Shonda Rimes is essentially a sex-filled period drama. Rated TV-MA for language, nudity, and a lot of sex, I’d skip this one for kids. With a rating like TV-MA, you never know what you’re going to get. Here’s what parents need to know in this Bridgerton Parents Guide.

Bridgerton Parents Guide

Bridgerton is based on novels written by Julia Quinn and comes from Shondaland and Creator Chris Van Dusen. Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. 

But as her older brother begins to rule out her potential suitors and ruin Daphne’s chances for true love, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown casts doubts and criticism on Daphne. Two strikes against Daphne.

This gives the opportunity for other young women in society to swoop in. Lady Whistledown enjoys writing about the gossip and competition, and London pays attention to her words, but who is Lady Whistledown? Cue the drama.

Parents need to know that Bridgerton has a Pride and Prejudice meets Gossip Girl vibe with a lot of sex. The scandals are juicy, and the dialogue witty, with modern touches like the orchestral versions of Ariana Grande and Maroon Five songs playing at the balls. 

In Season 2 of Bridgerton, there was still nudity and some sex, but it was definitely less than Season 1. And some fans were not happy about it. 

In Season 3, Queen Charlotte, A Bridgerton Story is a prequel to the Bridgerton story and talks about Queen Charlottes’s marriage to King George of England. 

Age Rating: Why is Bridgerton Rated TV-MA?

Bridgerton is rated TV-MA for language, nudity, and mature content which means some content is not suitable for kids under 18.

Language

There is some harsh language like fu–, b–ch, damn, and bastard, but they’re not often. Also phrases with deity, like “oh g-d.”

Mature Content

So, the obvious reason for Bridgerton’s TV-MA rating is the sex. You’ll get a taste in the first episode. Scenes like quick intercourse against a tree with a bare behind showing, with moaning, panting, and thrusting.

Another scene in a bedroom with naked bodies, with carefully placed hair or shadows, side boob, and full naked backsides. There is sex between men and women and between men and men. 

Episode 6 in Bridgerton is where the whole episode feels like sex scenes everywhere – outside, inside, on a bed, on a ladder, on the stairs, oral, with some frontal nudity and aggressiveness. There’s also a scene of nonconsensual sex.

A woman dies during childbirth, another woman slaps a young lady. 

There are topics of conversation about how to become pregnant and masturbation.

Many men ogle other women, even those way too young for them.

Women are treated as property. Characters drink and smoke.

There is some violence with boxing scenes and men fighting in the ring with punches thrown. There is also a fight at a party, more punches thrown. There’s also a duel.

Is Bridgerton Appropriate For Kids Under 18?

I would not recommend Bridgerton for teens or kids under 18, but what is appropriate in some homes is different than others. You can decide whether Bridgerton is ok for your kids. Although there is more graphic intercourse than I felt was necessary, at least it’s not a show marketed towards teens like Tiny Pretty Things.

Season 2 of Bridgerton has less sex, so that may be more appropriate for teens.

There is other heavy subject matter and sometimes the storylines are sad and burdened with duty, obligation, and society’s expectations, especially the women. Listen, Shonda Rimes knows drama, and she does it well, but this had so much potential. 

Steamy, raunchy, sexy -however you want to describe Bridgerton, this isn’t Downton Abbey that you’ll watch together as a family. Or maybe it will be, if watching people do it is your thing. 

The acting is wonderful, I appreciate the wit, and it’s easy to get attached to the characters if you’re not familiar with the books.

If you’re expecting Bridgerton to be an accurate portrayal of Julia Quinn’s novels, it’s not. The characters’ personalities are off from the way they are depicted in the books, and some parts felt too trashy tv. It was too much for me to handle, but it also wasn’t made for me. I really wanted to love it, but personal preference is just that, personal.