Sorry, Morbius ⏤ your chances of ascending to the top of the streaming charts were always slim, but now they’re just downright impossible. That’s because a certain Netflix queen by the name of Millie Bobby Brown is back at the top of the charts ⏤ or is she?

Brown’s latest project, a neat little flick called The Electric State, is currently sitting comfortably at the top of the Netflix charts, per FlixPatrol. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo of Avengers: Endgame fame, the sci-fi adventure follows a teenager and her robot as they traverse a war-torn humans-vs.-drones landscape in search of the girl’s missing brother. It’s a true Marvel reunion for the Russos, who reunited with Marvel mainstay Chris Pratt as well as Loki’s Ke Huy Quan, Captain America’s Stanley Tucci, and both Anthony Mackie and Giancarlo Esposito from 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World. And yet, despite all this star power, The Electric State boasts a painful 15% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. The Atlantic literally called it “instantly forgettable.” Ouch, Mills.

Now look, being #1 on Netflix is nothing to be ashamed of ⏤ if it were indeed true. No offense to FlixPatrol, but per this author’s own Netflix , The Electric State is no longer in the #1 spot, at least not in the United States. In fact, it’s been dethroned by a film that WGTC’s own Christian Bone described as being “offensively fangless” and guilty of treating its audience like “dumb animals.” (Double ouch, Mills.)

Which movies have already dethroned Millie Bobby Brown’s The Electric State?

You read that correctly. The Electric State has already slid out of Netflix’s first-place slot thanks to not one, but two other films ⏤ and one of them is particularly embarrassing. The movie currently in the #2 spot ahead of Electric? Sony’s swelteringly horrific Kraven the Hunter, starring Marvel alum Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a buff beast-man determined to live his life as violently as possible.

Curiously, Kraven boasts the same RT critics score as Electric ⏤ a grim 15% ⏤ but even more shocking is the fact that it has received an even higher audience score: 73% to Electric’s 72. The film currently beating both on the Netflix charts is The Twister: Caught in the Storm. This means that yes, a documentary about tornadoes is creaming Queen Millie’s outing with warring robots and Chris Pratt’s ‘stache. At least we can all breathe a sigh of relief that Morbius is nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, a Bridgerton star ascends to true streaming royalty

While Millie Bobby Brown comes to with what must be an immense shock following her astronomical Stranger Things success, a Bridgerton star is likely squealing with glee over on Prime. Per Flix, Simone Ashley’s Picture This has quickly risen to the #1 spot following its March 6 release. One look at the trailer will tell you why. Not only does this film star Young Voldemort, but it’s the laugh-out-loud film we all need in a year that so far has been as humorous as New York’s rat infestation. (We’re still waiting on that musical, Gaga.)

Picture This has only been out for two weeks, and yet it’s already saying “buh-bye” to arguably the cinematic event of our lifetime: Barbie. Yep, Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster smash is currently sitting in Prime Video’s #4 spot above such competition as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and that one where Chris Evans engages in fisticuffs with snowmen. Before outranking Netflix queens and Captain America, Ashley appeared in Bridgerton season 2 as Anthony Bridgerton’s love interest, Kate Sharma. Since then, she has appeared in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and an animated movie about cats called 10 Lives ⏤ “because nine just ain’t enough!” (Oi…)

Picture This is currently available to stream on Prime Video, and if you’re in the mood to watch Millie be spectacular even if her film isn’t, you can catch The Electric State only on Netflix. Or, if you really feel like feeling your feels, you can watch this year’s Baby Reindeer, currently in Netflix’s #1 spot for TV shows and unlikely to budge anytime soon.

One of the quieter injustices of the 2023 cinema season was the poor returns of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, seeing just a $208.2 million haul against its $150 million budget. There are worse number out there, but this was a film that deserved better, particularly if its rejection of blockbuster convention proves to be an omen of any future stories set in the Forgotten Realms.

And there could very well be future stories. Paramount Pictures is reportedly open to a sequel on the condition of a smaller production budget, while a planned television spinoff — which has since been abandoned by Paramount Plus and is being creatively retooled by Hasbro Entertainment — will be seeking buyers at some point. For now, though, it’s just Chris Pine’s sword-and-sorcery antics, us viewers, and the Netflix library that’s delivering them to us.

Per FlixPatrol, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has second-place honors among Netflix’s film charts in the United States at the time of writing. Regrettably, it’s being bested by the decidedly nauseating Venom: The Last Dance in the top spot, but at least it’s being prioritized over Minions (seventh place).

The film stars Pine as Edgin Darvis, a bard, widow, and father to his daughter Kira. Kira winds up under the tutelage of Edgin’s friend Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant) when Edgin and his friend Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) wind up in prison, but the pair eventually break out and go to reunite with Kira, only to realize that Forge, now king of Neverwinter, might not be as great of a friend as they initially thought. Quickly finding themselves as outlaws in a corrupted kingdom, Edgin and Holga round up a ragtag group of adventurers in hopes of rescuing Kira, battling a great evil, and maybe getting paid for their troubles at some point.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ comedic core lies in its love for conversational irony. Whether it’s Holga’s shortsightedness (a trait that’s as hilarious as it is heartwrenching) or the himbo-coded oblivious of the gang’s overpowered ally Xenk Yendar (played by an unfairly perfect Regé-Jean Page of Bridgerton fame), the film has a clear path to comedic victory, which makes it sting all the more whenever they veer off it — Chris Pine, for instance, is burdened with a few lines of dialogue that aren’t just unfunny, but ruin what would otherwise be a great gag.

Elsewhere, Edgin and Holga being best friends instead of lovers is one of the more powerful pivots from the blockbuster formula, but what’s truly refreshing is the way it makes good on the fact that this is a D&D movie — that is, the plot is structured in a way that seasoned D&D players will recognize as similar to that of a tabletop campaign.

Indeed, character backstories are explored as inorganically as they would be at the table (the self-important ing characters attempt to treat their lore with actual pathos, while protagonist Edgin knows better than that), and you can almost hear the Dungeon Master narrate the ins and outs of the encounters that occur from one scene to the next. It’s joyful work from writer-directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley that has since had a steady flow of rightfully-earned streaming flowers blown its way.

Dearest gentle reader, if you’ve recently felt a palpable longing for the ton’s dramas and a general lack of Regency Era charm to spice up your Netflix binging sessions, it’s probably because it’s almost been a year since the third season of Bridgerton premiered on Netflix.

Now, the streaming mogul is here to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the rest of the fandom by giving you the first official sneak peek at season 4. The “Season of Love” event unveiled a new behind-the-scenes look at season 4 episodes, which are currently undergoing principal photography. One was a short video showing your favorite of the titular Bridgerton family getting up to all sorts of shenanigans and having fun on set. Queen Charlotte is her usual sassy self, while Lady Danbury is still making the entire ton dance to the rhythm of her music.

As you can see for yourself down below, the video largely focuses on the “masquerade ball” which, as the book fans will tell you, is an important part of An Offer From A Gentleman. Showrunner Jess Brownell has confirmed that the premiere episode will mainly center around the ball, as well as iconic scenes between the two main stars of this season, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek, portrayed by newcomer Yerin Ha.

While season 4’s focus will be on Benedict — the “bohemian son” who never learned to settle down — and his match Sophia, other characters will also play a significant part, with Anthony and Kate and Colin and Penelope making a comeback, both couples with their newborns dealing with the challenges of turning into parents. As for other dynamics that will shift, we’re interested to see what role Penelope’s Lady Whistledown will play now that the jig is up.

Netflix also released a batch of promotional images, mostly from the first episode, which depicts Benedict and Sophia during the masquerade ball. While the sets are more exquisite than ever, I can’t help but notice that Benedict’s mask and outfit are giving Antonio Banderas as Zorro. Pick any adaptation from any period. Once you make the connection, you can’t unsee it.

Now while both Thompson and Ha look absolutely mesmerizing in their costumes, Baby Bridgerton can’t help but steal the scene, practically looking like a baby version of Penelope herself.

As for our Australian newcomer Ha, folks online are already hailing her as a diva, so it’s safe to say that it won’t be an uphill battle to win the fandom’s affection.

Season 4 is currently filming, so a release date could be a while coming. Principal photography is expected to last until late April, and given a few months in post, Bridgerton season 4 might not premiere until late 2025, or even early 2026.

The confirmed cast of season 4 includes Jonathan Bailey (Anthony), Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Julie Andrews as the voice of Whistledown, Nicola Coughlan (Penelope), Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton), Victor Alli (Lord John Stirling), Hannah Dodd (sca Stirling), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), and Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton.

Doctor Who writers: tell us you’re devoted Netflix bingers without telling us. Ncuti Gatwa’s crazy and colorful era of the eternal sci-fi series has been pulling talent and ideas from many of Netflix’s biggest and most popular shows ever since it launched last Christmas, not least in hiring Sex Education veteran Gatwa himself. Then there was last season’s highlight: the Bridgerton-themed episode in which the Doctor fell in love with Jonathan Groff (relatable).

The streak continues in this year’s holiday special, too, as Gatwa’s fifteenth Time Lord will team up with none other than Penelope Featherington herself, Nicola Coughlan. The Irish actress stars as the eponymous Joy in the episode, titled “Joy to the World,” in which her character becomes embroiled in one of the Doctor’s adventures when she stays at a swanky hotel for Christmas and discovers it’s at the center of a timey-wimey mystery. Catch the trailer for the festive thrill ride below:

This isn’t the first time a Bridgerton star has appeared in Doctor Who, of course, as Lady Danbury star Adjoa Andoh was a recurring cast member in season 3. Likewise, a certain Jonathan Bailey appeared opposite Peter Capaldi for an episode of the show in 2015, titled “Time Heist” (an episode that Avengers: Endgame later ripped off, but that’s a whole other story). And speaking of Bailey…

Wicked and Doctor Who‘s Christmas special have one thing in common

In a piece of perfect timing and/or cosmic coincidence, Coughlan’s Doctor Who debut comes hot on the heels of her Bridgerton co-star Jonathan Bailey taking the world by storm in Wicked. The pair just appeared together in the royally popular Regency romantic drama’s third season this past summer, and it seems both are destined to end the year with roles in major franchises that cement them as major international stars.

The difference, though, is that while Bailey will be back as Prince Fiyero for next November’s Wicked: Part Two, this is expected to be Coughlan’s only Doctor Who appearance. The series has a long history of securing big-name guest stars to accompany the Doctor for a Christmas special before he goes on his way and finds a new companion in the next season. Next time we see Gatwa’s time traveler, he’ll reunite with Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday and meet Belinda Chandra, as played by Andor actress Varada Sethu.

Coughlan’s only going on to bigger and brighter, and Bridgerton-ier, things, however. She’s among the star-studded ensemble cast for family film The Magic Faraway Tree, as based on the book by Enid Blyton and adapted by the brains behind the Paddington films. Also attached are Andrew Garfield, Rebecca Ferguson, Claire Foy, and Baby Reindeer‘s Jessica Gunning. Likewise, she will be back for Bridgerton season 4, which shifts the focus to her on-screen brother-in-law, Luke Thompson’s Benedict.

This truly is the Bridgerton cast’s world and we’re just living in it. Don’t miss Doctor Who: “Joy to the World” when it arrives on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and Disney Plus on Dec. 25. More episodes are to follow in spring 2025.

Jonathan Bailey’s journey from Regency England to the Land of Oz is turning out to be as magical as his fans would’ve hoped, thanks to a unique and heart-warming reunion with an old Bridgerton “co-star.” 

As the dashing Brit takes on the role of Fiyero in the Wicked movie adaptation, Bailey has now found himself face-to-face with a familiar and comforting presence on set. This charming surprise has only added to the excitement surrounding Bailey’s involvement in the movie musical.

A wicked reunion with a special co-star

Adding a delightful twist, Bailey recently reunited with an old “co-star” on the Wicked set — his beloved horse, Jack, from Bridgerton. In a recent promotional video, Bailey shared the surprising moment he spotted Jack on the Wicked set. 

“Before we started filming, I said to myself, ‘I think I know who the horse is.’ It looks like it’s Jack, the horse I had ridden in Bridgerton, who I had an amazing relationship with.”

Clearly thrilled, Bailey went on to praise Jack, affectionately calling him “a legend.” The heartfelt reunion struck a chord with Bailey’s fans, many of whom were delighted by the unexpected Bridgerton connection popping up on Wicked. As one commenter put it, “That’s such a cool connection! I love when little Easter eggs like that pop up between projects.”

The video clip featured both on-set moments and touching behind-the-scenes snippets of Bailey and Jack together, making fans swoon even more. The “don’t work with animals” rule definitely doesn’t apply here. Fans on social media expressed how sweet it was to see Bailey reunited with his equine companion. One fan even hoped that Bailey would follow in the footsteps of Viggo Mortensen, who famously adopted his horse after filming The Lord of the Rings. 

Whether or not Bailey ends up bringing Jack home for good, this delightful reunion has added another layer of charm to his Wicked adventure. While fans eagerly await Bailey’s portrayal of Fiyero, the actor has already scored a hit by reuniting with his four-legged friend. With Bailey and Jack together again, fans are sure they’re in for a magical ride when Wicked hits theaters!

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero

Bailey, best known for his role as the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Anthony, has already charmed audiences with his roguish performance. However, his journey to Oz promises a whole new kind of royalty, as he s the star-studded Wicked cast, playing the mischievous and dashing Fiyero. 

As fans of the hit musical know, Fiyero finds himself in the middle of a magical love triangle with Oz’s two iconic witches, Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande). The two-part Wicked film adaptation, directed by Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu, is set to premiere on Nov. 22, 2024, with the second part coming in 2025. The project marks a huge step for Bailey, who, even before Bridgerton, had already gained a solid footing in the theater world, starting at just eight years old when he starred as Gavroche in Les Misérables on London’s West End.

2024 was Nicola Coughlan‘s year as she took the protagonist role in Bridgerton‘s season 3. Her style throughout the year often reflected her role as the floral-loving Penelope. With the press tour over, Coughlan’s style evolved as well as she just killed with a refined elegant classic look.

Coughlan has been a part of Bridgerton since its 2020 premiere, although she had a ing role in the previous seasons. As her love story with Colin had been teased for a long time, their romance took the spotlight this year and the actress got a lot more love and attention than previously, and it was all deserved.

Both Coughlan and Penelope experienced a style change this year — Penelope on the small screen, as she took it upon herself to find a husband, and Coughlan in real life as the tour was over, and now she has continued a red carpet-trend with a classic look.

Nicola Coughlan was museum-worthy with a Dior monochrome look

Nicola Coughlan attended the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year and she didn’t go home empty-handed, as she won the television actress award. For the event, Coughlan was as elegant as it gets.

You can never go wrong with a monochromatic black outfit and the Bridgerton star absolutely killed it. She wore a classic Dior suit which is guaranteed to make an impression but she further elevated the look with a Stephen Jones black veil, and TASAKI jewelry. The look wouldn’t have been complete without sexy footwear and she opted for a pair of Jimmy Choo pumps. She combined the vintage look with a modern twist thanks to the veil and kept it red carpet-perfect thanks to a signature red lip and a long eyeliner that highlighted her blue eyes.

Her lipstick was perfectly matched with the red pin highlighting her political stance regarding Gaza with the Artists4Ceasefire pin she has been wearing for months.

Fans were ecstatic with her elegant look, one of them pointing out, “You deserve to be in a museum,” while others paying her countless compliments.

The overall look was courtesy of fashion stylist Aimée Croysdill. Black has been Coughlan’s signature look for many red carpet looks this year and she often collaborated with Croysdill for them. The duo did step outside the norm at the Grammys, where Coughlan was a mirrorball vision in a custom Prabal Gurung silver gown.

During her speech at the event, which took place on Nov. 5, the actress noted the difficulties of being a woman in the spotlight. “I love being a woman, I love being a female actor, but sometimes, it’s f**king hard.” She itted that she had Googled herself before the ceremony and she was not thrilled with the results, which she noted were “Nicola Coughlan partner, Nicola Coughlan age, and Nicola Coughlan size,” which the actress itted “didn’t make her feel great.”

She also paid tribute to Victoria Beckham, who was there with her daughter Harper. Noting that Victoria is her “favorite singer,” the actress further paid a tribute to the iconic Spice Girl, “[Victoria Beckham] was inherently cool… she was so funny. She was so deeply funny,” before noting the hardships Posh Spice went through herself due to being a woman in the spotlight.

“You are my favorite, you’ll always be my favorite. I ired you for all those things, but I ire you for your tenacity, because I watched a documentary as an adult of the Spice Girls and it horrified me,” Coughlan noted. “I thought if I watch it, it’d be fun, ‘oh wow these women who I was inspired by’ and the amount of bulls**t you dealt with. The amount of misogyny in the media… the things they asked you on live television, the scrutiny about your life, about everything.”

Coughlan concluded, “I just don’t know how you have done it because I have a tiny, tiny amount and it’s f**king hard.” Unfortunately, it’s bound to get harder for women everywhere, not just in the film industry, and many other female artists spoke up against it following Kamala Harris’ disheartening election loss.

That’s right, folks; Andrew Garfield is officially quitting acting and has assembled a ragtag posse of fellow British thespians (and Nicola Coughlan) to break into the budding occult arborist industry. And if you believe that, I have a Spider-Man 4 rumor to sell you.

Indeed, folks, what’s actually happening is that Garfield will be headlining an all-star cast with one Claire Foy in The Magic Faraway Tree, an film based on Enid Blyton’s children’s novels of the same name. Alongside Garfield and Foy, the Ben Gregor-directed fantasy flick will star Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth), Rebecca Ferguson, and Michael Palin. Between big-screen stars, Netflix hotshots, and living legends, it’s an extraordinary gathering indeed.

Written by Simon Farnaby (whose collaborative scripts with Paul King have brought us the likes of Paddington 2 and Wonka), The Magic Faraway Tree follows a family who are struggling to connect with one another after being forced to relocate to the British countryside. They come to discover a magical tree in their new home, and when they climb it, they’re transported to worlds beyond their wildest imagination.

Blyton’s novels were published from 1939 to 1951, while other authors have written titles in the series as late as 2023. The books center on three children, Jo, Bessie, and Fanny, who climb the Faraway Tree to see which land is currently occupying the top of the tree. Each land moves away to make space for the incoming land, and so if they don’t leave by the time the lands finish moving, they’ll be trapped until the land they’re on swings back around to the Faraway Tree.

The other twist is that sometimes the lands are good, and sometimes they aren’t. The Land of Goodies — where everything is made of chocolate and candy and other such scrumptious indulgences — would be an example of the good, whereas the Land of Dame Slap — which houses a schoolteacher named Dame Slap who slaps you — would be an example of the bad (unless that’s what you’re into; I’m not judging).

Garfield and Claire will be portraying leading characters named Polly and Tim Thompson, who are either husband-and-wife or brother-and-sister. What’s curious, however, is that The Magic Faraway Tree is, by all appearances, a live-action movie, and yet the only child among the cast seems to be one Billie Gadson (Cruella, Here). Could this be a Harold and the Purple Crayon situation where the main characters in a film based on a children’s book with children protagonists, are adults?

Mind you, the level of tried-and-true talent involved with this production suggests that even if it is, it won’t be done in a way that manifests as a creative faceplant, especially given Gregor’s words to The Hollywood Reporter about the approach to this film: “What you gotta do is just treat young people as sensible adults.”

In any case, we won’t be able to see the fruits of these artists’ labors for ourselves for quite a bit yet, as the film only finished confirming its cast back in August. But with all those names piled into your cast, plus the fact that this movie is for families, those tickets are as good as sold.

Nicola Coughlan’s wardrobe for Bridgerton season 3 saw her character experience a much-needed style evolution, and the outfit choices celebrated the actress’ femininity and sensuality. Even when she’s not filming our favorite Netflix series, Coughlan knows how to wow with her style — and the custom-made Dior gown she wore earlier this month was one of her most iconic looks to date!

The actress took to Instagram to post pictures of herself in the most gorgeous figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder dress, complete with a cinched waist and a full skirt. She wore the outfit to the Time100 Next gala earlier this month and undeniably made a style statement. We loved how Coughlan complimented her look by wearing her hair loose and tousled and keeping her makeup simple.

She also used the moment to make a controversial political statement by pinning a red Artists4Ceasefire (to advocate against the war in Gaza) to her gown.

Did Luke Newton take this stunning photo of Nicola Coughlan?

Fans praised Coughlan for her elegant dress and the reaction to her social media post has been overwhelmingly positive. “My jaw DROPPED,” one fan shared. “You looked absolutely stunning Nic!!,” another wrote. The actress later followed up with a second photo, taken from an angle that showed the photographer hard at work.

If the photographer is onscreen, then who took the photo? This question has been on many people’s minds, and our favorite theory is that Coughlan’s Bridgerton co-star (and onscreen love interest) Luke Newton was somehow involved.

There is nothing to suggest that Newton was behind the scenes, but it’s no secret that fans are desperate to see the actor and Coughlan get together in real life, and the comments on the post reflect this. “Whoever took this pic is MAD TALENTED,” a fan shared. “Who’s taking a picture of a photographer taking a picture I hope it’s Luke in his invisible man mode,” another wrote.

Those holding out for the co-stars to become lovers may have to wait a little longer because Coughlan is rumored to be in a new relationship with Jake Dunn, and the couple does not have everyone’s approval! There is a 13-year age difference between them (Dunn is 24 and Coughlan is 37), which has sparked criticism.

“I hope you and Jake are okay please don’t listen to the haters,” a fan commented on Coughlan’s post as a show of . “Please ignore any negative comments you are currently getting, the majority of people are happy for you and Jake,” another shared.

OK, not everyone is shipping her relationship with Mr. Dunn, but can we circle back to Coughlan’s amazing style? She has been open about not always loving clothing, but that has changed. “I think I used to be quite intimidated by [the industry], it sort of robbed me of confidence,” she told Vogue. “I thought, I really enjoy this, so why am I not bringing it into my real life?”

In the same interview, the star credited her stylist Aimée Croysdill for helping her have fun, and she noted the change in the way she approaches fashion. “If I feel good, then everything else is irrelevant,” she said. “Other people don’t have to like the looks – that’s totally fine.” Yes, Nicola! We are definitely ing you as you enter your new fashion-loving era!

Nicola Coughlan‘s post-Derry Girls career went stratospheric when her character Penelope Featherington took center stage as the romantic interest in Bridgerton season 3.

Her star rising has led to more opportunities and a reevaluation of the typical love stories seen in the likes of the aesthetics-based Netflix show. However, one particular question has riled her up. Coughlan was repeatedly asked about her body while promoting the show.

She told Time she was called “brave” for taking on the role because her body didn’t conform to the usual thin standard. “Don’t call me brave. I have a cracking pair of boobs. There’s nothing brave about that, that’s actually just me showing them off.”

While Coughlan understands Hollywood favors specific body types, she expressed concern for the narrative the word “brave” implies. “I’m a few sizes below the average size of a woman in the U.K. and I’m seen as a ‘plus-size heroine.’” She added, “I worked my arse off for that show. I barely saw my family and friends, and people were just going, ‘But your body.’”

The actor knows it’s coming from a place of trying to further body positivity, but said “I don’t take it as nice. Making it about how I look is reductive and boring. What if I was suddenly going to play a ballerina and lose a sh*t ton of weight, are you not going to like me anymore? That’s insane and so insulting.”

Body diversity has improved across Hollywood in the past decade, but it’s a tricky subject to navigate without being condescending to those who represent that change. If we’re still pointing out someone’s differences, they have not yet been fully accepted.

Just as we have to be careful not to use tokenizing language when discussing other forms of diversity, such as LGBTQ+ representation, the conversation requires nuance and the media must listen to stars like Coughlan when they say some of the headlines are hurtful rather than helpful.

While some elements of the months-long press tour were grating, Coughlan very much enjoyed other parts of the chatter surrounding Penelope and Colin Bridgerton’s steamy relationship. In a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, she said, “It’s so important for her to see herself as desirable. She cannot fathom herself through Debling’s eyes. When he first speaks to her and he’s like, ‘You could make one wither,’ she’s like, Me? This is crazy.”

Talking about the beloved carriage scene, where Colin confesses his feelings, she recalled, “That scene encapsulates everything that’s wonderful about Bridgerton. It’s got the suspense, it’s got the miscommunication, the heartfelt longing for one another, the profession of love, and then it’s got the sexiness. It’s got this brilliant pace.”

Colin is not the only one head over heels if Coughlan’s social media around the time of season 3 is anything to go by. And while there were some negative Nancys, the outpour of love for her character and performance in the show speaks for itself.

She reportedly requested that her season 3 scenes be spicier, so we can all feel free to take a step back from telling her she’s brave — she’s got plenty of confidence as it is.

As we eagerly await the release of Bridgerton Season 4, Shondaland gave us something to look forward to: we get to see the dynamics between the new season leads, Luke Thompson (who stars as Benedict Bridgerton) and newcomer Yerin Ha (who will star as Sophie Baek, Benedict’s love interest).

In an interview shared on YouTube, the pair were asked several questions about what fans can expect from the new season, specifically how their characters will interact with each other. Thompson referred to their onscreen connection as a “fairytale love story” but added that it also had the “Bridgerton element of trying to sort of tether it to some sort of reality as well, and see how that pans out.” Ha also discussed the relationship, and she speaks beautifully on how the couple has to navigate between “what their heart desires and I guess what Society kind of desires.”

Their chat has many standout moments, including Ha revealing her reaction to being cast as Sophie. “So, when I got the role, I was having breakfast with my mom at a cafe in Korea, and I stepped outside, and it was so funny ‘cause she kind of knew immediately when I was jumping on the streets of Gangnam [in Seoul, South Korea] that I got the role,” she said.

Her mother was emotional about the big step in her daughter’s career, and Ha reflected on her reaction. “After the phone call, she was like, ‘We gotta go home. I think I have indigestion,’ and so we left,” she said of her mom.

Ha continued, “It was really beautiful to kind of, I guess share that moment with her.” She also has the love and of other people who are rooting for her in Season 4. In addition, fans are also excited about the casting.

Fans react to the chemistry between new ‘Bridgerton’ couple Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha

The YouTube video has been filled with comments from fans who are already shipping the new couple. They have also applauded Luke Thompson for the way he interacts with Yerin Ha (and it makes us excited to see more of them as onscreen lovers). “It’s so sweet how you can tell she’s nervous but he’s making sure to keep her laughing and relaxed,” a fan wrote. “He also just looks so happy for her when she speaks, i know they are going to do amazing together.”

Another person shared similar thoughts, writing, “im sorry but i could feel the chemistry bursting out of my laptop screen … RAAHHHH they’re so cute … like, that’s our sophie!! and benedict!!” The chemistry is undeniable, and this has been a recurring comment from fans who are 100 percent on board with the casting.

Some fans have also pulled quotes from their interview and highlighted how cute Thompson and Ha are together. This includes the part where Thompson complements Ha for her explanation of their character’s love story. He has proven to be the ultimate hype man! Excuse us now, while we continue to binge-watch this interview!

Dear gentle readers, I hope you’re sitting down because those ladies and gentlemen of the ton with the most delicate of dispositions — and perhaps some Netflix executives and lawyers out there — may need to reach for their paper fans and smelling salts upon discovering the heinous affront to the Bridgerton brand that just took place over in the States.

While the rest of the world saw this past February’s Willy Wonka Experience debacle as a cautionary tale about being careful of unofficial events, apparently other enterprising individuals viewed it as a viable business model. This September, Netflix-loving Detroit citizens got themselves dressed in their finest Regency-era gowns and suits to attend a “Bridgerton Ball,” an immersive event that promised fans their very own classy soiree to rival Lady Danbury. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the kind of ball Temu would throw if they decided to venture into event planning.

The writing was already on the wall when the event, originally scheduled for August, was ultimately pushed back to Sep. 22. This was apparently because the initial venue was deemed too small, but it’s since come out that this was a total fib and the organizers actually failed to provide the rent money.

X Rachel Eaton ultimately wasn’t able to attend, which might’ve been a blessing in disguise, but she’s still a whopping $300 out of pocket thanks to the exorbitant ticket prices — Rachel reached out requesting a refund, but she and everyone else who’ve inquired have been ignored. Others, though, had the misfortune to find out how much of a scam it was first-hand, like TikTok @moreofnita.

Nita revealed in her video that she spent $150 on a ticket, and was excited to attend, but when she showed up to the venue she found three floors full of virtually nothing. The promised activities were absent, the supposedly lavish decorations appeared to be bought from Party City, and those poor people dressed in all their finery were reduced to sitting around doing nothing on their phones. The real kicker? There wasn’t even anyone checking tickets at the door, so customers could’ve just walked in off the street without paying.

“We’re not watching the same Bridgerton show,” Nita accused. “There’s no way y’all are watching the same Colin, Anthony, and everybody else as me. There’s no possible way.”

One TikTok comment quipped, “This looks like the meeting to discuss the set up for the Bridgerton ball.” Another is seriously thankful they didn’t bug their boyfriend more: “And to think I was trying to convince by boyfriend to take me. Omg he wouldn’t have never let me live this down.” Some weren’t so fortunate, however. “Not a single lie was told!” said another guest. “We were in literal hell.”

Somehow, the list of crimes doesn’t end there. Live music was also promised, but what this ended up being was a lone violin player playing in a corner.

What’s more, the catering turned out to be less fine dining and more of a food poisoning starter kit. Apart from not having enough of it to go around, many guests complained that it wasn’t cooked properly, with one forced to munch on cold chicken. Leftovers piled up without anyone clearing them away, and servers decided not to get into the spirit of things and appeared in casual everyday clothing. Not that there was much ambiance to spoil, all things considered.

It’s apparently a rule of these erroneous experiences that they have to put something back into the lore that they are so shamelessly plagiarizing for profit. The Willy Wonka Experience memorably had The Unknown, a creepy horror movie character who definitely never appeared in the works of Roald Dahl. The Bridgerton Ball, meanwhile, somehow went even more off-the-wall with its own innovation. For some unfathomable reason, the dancing that had been promised to guests turned out to be a solitary pole dancer.

Maybe the brains behind Detroit’s Bridgerton Ball have advanced access to the scripts for season 4, and it turns out the ton is hit by a recession and the balls suddenly aren’t so spectacular. Not to mention there’s a scene where the boys take Benedict to an anachronistic strip club for his bachelor party. Maybe, but somehow, gentle readers, I doubt it.

Bridgerton premiered in 2020, based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn following the titular family. It instantly became a hit for Netflix, and the interest in the series continued well into 2024, as the show premiered its third season.

Adapted by Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton follows an anthology-like format for the series, changing its leading couple every season to put other characters in the spotlight. After falling deeply in love with Daphne and Simon in season 1, the audience followed Anthony’s quest to find a suitable Viscountess and falling in love with Kate in the process. The latest season was the first to bring a major change, adapting Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth book, instead of the third, An Offer From a Gentleman, thus shifting the protagonist from Benedict to Colin.

Even so, the interest in the series was as high as ever, because Colin’s romance with Penelope had been hinted at since season 1, and they finally got their happy ending in season 3. With Benedict confirmed as the lead for the next season, there are four more Bridgerton siblings to go, and their future is closer to becoming a reality.

Bridgerton is officially Netflix’s biggest series

Netflix just released its third data report which clarifies what we already knew about Bridgerton. The franchise has been bringing in strong numbers for the platform, which also includes the critically acclaimed spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

The new engagement report called What We Watched gives a thorough explanation of all of Netflix’s titles that subscribers watched between January to June 2024. Divided between TV and Film, Bridgerton season 3 positioned itself in the second spot in the TV list with 91.9 million views, just after the limited series Fool Me Once. However, that means little, because, as mentioned, the streaming giant stopped the clock at the end of June, just half a month after Bridgerton premiered its second half, which means more people could’ve watched the new season in its entirety after the release of the second half on June 13.

The other two seasons were in 11th and 12th place, with 38.4 million views for season 1, and 34.2 million views for season 2. In total, just this year, Bridgerton brought Netflix 164.5 million views between January and June, the ultimate Netflix winner. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story added 24.4 million views to the franchise. Netflix notes that when looking at the report following July-December 2023, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story‘s views doubled, and the first two seasons of Bridgerton increased their views five times.

This could mean nothing but good news for Bridgerton‘s future. Shonda Rhimes, who adapted Bridgerton alongside longtime producing partner Betsy Beers, said in April 2024 that they are committed to adapting all eight Julia Quinn novels if Netflix allows it, which means eight seasons of Bridgerton.

So far, the streaming platform only confirmed Bridgerton season 4, which has already started production, but there are four more siblings to go — sca, whose story has already been teased in season 3, Eloise, Hyacinth, and Gregory. Given Bridgerton‘s popularity, a season for all of them seems like a given already, the only problem being that production seems to take longer than expected, as Bridgerton season 4 is expected to premiere sometime in 2026. At least, we’ll get all of them eventually.