‘Bridgerton’: Ranking the Franchise’s Couples So Far
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Bridgerton is known for its romances, and between the flagship Shondaland series and its prequel spinoff Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, there have been plenty of swoon-worthy pairings.
Whether you’re a fan of Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate’s (Simone Ashley) enemies-to-lovers dynamic, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) friends-to-lovers bond, or the unyielding devotion of Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) and King George (Corey Mylchreest), there’s a relationship for every viewer to enjoy. But when it comes down to comparing them all, that’s a tougher decision to make.
Below, we’re ranking nine pairs from the franchise but we want to hear from you: Which Bridgerton couple is your favorite? Scroll down to see our picks and sound off in the comments section.
Bridgerton, Season 3, Part 1, Streaming now, Netflix
Bridgerton, Season 3, Part 2 Premiere, Thursday, June 13, 2024, Netflix
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Season 1, Streaming now, Netflix
9. Lord Ledger & Lady Danbury
Queen Charlotte offered a first look at Lady Danbury’s (Arsema Thomas) “romantic” life like never before with her less-than-perfect marriage to the late Lord Danbury (Cyril Nri). Instead, it was her unique bond with Lord Ledger (Keir Charles), Violet’s father, that opened her world to the possibilities that a romantic connection could bring. While we appreciate their brief tryst for the role it played in forming Lady Danbury into who she is today, its fleeting nature lands the relationship on the lower end of the scale — especially because Lady Danbury needs no man to be the full badass that she truly is.
8. Brimsley & Reynolds
Charlotte and George’s footmen, Brimsley (Sam Clemmett) and Reynolds (Freddie Dennis), had such a special bond in the Queen Charlotte series, but their indifference over how to care for their monarchs often got in the way of their sweeter moments. While we’re dying to know why Brimsley’s seen dancing alone without Reynolds in the Bridgerton timeline, their lack of communication lands them on the lower side of this ranking.
7. Edmund & Violet
The picture of perfection in their children’s eyes, Violet (Ruth Gemmell) and the late Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert Evans) are an ideal pair, but with such little screentime, they’re not making it any higher than this in the ranking.
6. Simon & Daphne
Bridgerton‘s first couple, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon (Regé-Jean Page) were fun to watch when the series debuted, but since then, there have been other pairs with a stronger chemistry that edges them out of a lead. We’ll always love them for their friends-to-lovers dynamic and their spark that brought viewers to the Netflix series in the first place.
5. Eloise & Theo
Sure, Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Theo (Calam Lynch) may not be an official couple in the series, but their connection in Season 2 of Bridgerton was hard to deny. While their bond onscreen isn’t something from the pages of Julia Quinn’s books, we can’t help but feel warmness for these two who hail from different backgrounds but harbor similar mindsets.
4. Francesca Bridgerton & John Stirling
We love a couple who can enjoy the silence together as these two clearly do. While not everyone might understand their connection, it’s small gestures and acts of kindness that endear Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John (Victor Alli) to each other as well as to the audience. So far, they’re proving that not everything has to be a major drama in romance.
3. Kate & Anthony
Kate and Anthony were anything but perfect on the road to their relationship, but they were a blast to watch as their strong personalities clashed during the social season in Bridgerton‘s second chapter. The subtext of every encounter was so filled with chemistry that we can’t help but consider rewatching the epic second season as a way of reliving the journey they take onscreen.
2. Colin & Penelope
Penelope and Colin have always had potential, but it took quite a bit of time for viewers to see it as she pined from afar and he remained rather clueless until Season 3 picked up. When Colin learns Penelope overheard his unkind words about her at the end of Season 2, he works to make amends, offering his assistance in her quest to find a husband. It’s an unexpected kiss that finally flips a switch in Colin who then becomes the pining one when Penelope finds an almost-match in Lord Debling (Sam Phillips). Thankfully, Colin smartened up and got honest about his feelings, even getting on his knees to profess them. This duo has certainly risen in the ranks since Season 2, but could they have the potential to go even further? We have a feeling that Penelope’s Lady Whistledown secret could make or break it.
1. George & Charlotte
Charlotte and George may not have had the easiest path in their relationship and marriage, but their commitment to one another is admirable, as we’ve seen them in their youth with Queen Charlotte and their older age during the Bridgerton timeline. Their “thank yous” to each other lying under their bed was so heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, it will be tough to beat this pair.
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