From Regency To Edwardian

Hello, I’m Theron and I’m a hopeless romantic. I always have been and probably always will be. There’s something about a good love story that makes me outright giddy and I just go crazy for it. From books to movies and tv shows, I seriously cannot get enough.

Now if you’re anything like I am, the minute you heard about Bridgerton on Netflix, you probably got excited or started counting the days until you could get your hands on such a delightfully steamy piece of work. Created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton is a Regency era drama about the lives of the upper-class and nobility, following Daphne Bridgerton as she is presented to the court, society, and the marriage market. Based on the novels by Julia Quinn, the Netflix adaptation, Bridgerton has been viewed by 82 million households and has been called Netflix’s biggest series.

The week Bridgerton came out I got all cozy with my favorite snacks, and my fuzzy blanket, binge watching it in its entirety. As I sat there, entranced by the beauty of the show, and the characters, certain elements of it started to remind me of one of my favorite period dramas.

Although airing in 1998, the British mini series, Berkeley Square is still a staple in my personal collection today, not only for a love story, but also the sense of friendship and sisterhood it contains. The show, set in 1902, centers around three women employed as nursemaids in Edwardian era London and the families with which they reside. Each of the nursemaids has their own unique stories that connect just by working and living in Berkeley Square. The nannies cross paths a few times on afternoon walks and inevitably become best friends and confidants, connecting with each other over being new to their positions and around the same age.

Berkeley Square, created by Suzanne van de Velde, begins with showing each of the three nannies starting the job in different ways and from vastly different backgrounds. Matilda Wickham is fierce and educated, trying to mend bridges that were burnt prior to her arriving in the household. Lydia Weston is a drastic contrast to Nanny Wickham, coming from a small farm in a village outside of London. Under-educated, mousy, and trying to do anything she can to support her family, Lydia gets a position helping head Nanny Collins. Hannah Randall, a feisty Irish immigrant, having just lost the father of her illegitimate baby, and love of her life, is left with no choice but to lie her way into getting a nursemaid position. Dealing with personal and external issues, the young women form a sort of sisterhood.

There are many more differences than similarities between the two series, when looking at the shows side by side, however they both have the staples of great fiction and storytelling. A paramount similarity being the power of one’s reputation. Where Daphne Bridgerton’s ability to make a good match is anchored on her reputation; the Nannies' livelihoods are staked upon their own, and their employer’s reputation. One wrong move and the main characters in either series could be ruined. Berkeley Square is much tamer than Bridgerton, lacking explicit sex scenes but it has its moments of sexual tension. The relationship between Matilda Wickham and Ned Jones is one of my personal favorites. Being very historically accurate, Berkeley Square gives you a very realistic look at Edwardian London and both shows depict how stature was highly regarded.

Some episodes of Berkeley Square perhaps need a trigger warning due to child abuse/death in the Hannah Randall storyline, and a few very creep inducing scenes and attempted assault of Lydia Weston by her employer’s adult son. However, despite these warnings, Berkeley Square is still very much worth the watch. The great acting, unforgettable backgrounds for all the characters, and settings create a sense of realism that truly invests you into the lives of Berkeley Square.