Bridgerton vs. The Buccaneers Comparison: 4 Fascinating Similarities & 4 Notable Contrasts

Streaming platforms often draw inspiration from each other's successes. After all, a hit can create a wave of viewer interest that makes the entire genre a hot spot for new projects. The shining example is Netflix's Bridgerton.

Before Bridgerton, there were popular costume dramas (The Gilded Age) and romantic shows (Virgin River), but the story developed by Shondaland took the public's love of the bodice-ripping genre to a whole new level.

After its wild success, many streaming platforms set their sights on the books that could make great material for their own Bridgerton. Last November, Apple TV+ unveiled its take on the genre, a series called The Buccaneers.

It is impossible not to compare The Buccaneers to Bridgerton. But are these two series really cut from the same cloth? Let's try to find out by diving into their major similarities and differences as both shows prepare to premiere their new chapters this year.

Similarity 1: Genre

Both shows are based on period fiction (Julia Quinn's for Bridgerton and Edith Wharton's for The Buccaneers) and transport viewers to historical settings, allowing them to delve into timeless themes of love, friendship, and personal growth amidst lavish upper-class society.

Difference 1: Eras

While both shows are set in the 19th century, they inhabit different decades, reflected in their distinct costumes and visual styles. Bridgerton exudes Regency elegance with its high-waisted, flowing gowns. The Buccaneers embraces the opulence of the Gilded Age (the Victorian era in Britain) with oversized sleeves and flared skirts.

Similarity 2: Leads

Both shows center around high-society young adults in search of love and marriage. Bridgerton focuses on the eight siblings of a Viscount family. The Buccaneers follows the transatlantic romantic pursuits of five young American women from three different new money families.

Difference 2: Format

Bridgerton is an anthology of sorts, as it devotes each season to exploring the love story of one Bridgerton sibling, with two leads shining in each chapter. The Buccaneers weaves multiple storylines together, with a stronger emphasis on its ensemble cast and female-driven narrative.

Similarity 3: Alternate Universe

Both shows deviate from their source material, making the stories modernized and more inspired by real historical periods than based on them. The Buccaneers is very feminist and deals with the issues of female independence in a man's world. The Bridgerverse is an alternate society where love between a white king and a black queen has overcome racism.

Difference 3: Culture Clash

Thanks to its original concept, Bridgerton shows different races mixing in the high society of London. Titles, wealth, and gender are more important than cultural background. In The Buccaneers, the entire plot is driven by the stark differences between the energetic, free-spirited Americans who chase titles and the snobbish, conservative Brits who chase money.

Similarity 4: Themes

With the same genre and analogous protagonists, the two shows send somewhat similar messages to viewers. Themes of friendship, family, and romance permeate both series, intertwined with narratives of self-discovery and fitting into society and one's peer group.

Difference 4: Focus

While the themes of the shows are similar, what makes them completely different is the focus. Romance takes center stage in Bridgerton, often ignoring the family aspect. The Buccaneers prioritizes themes of family and friendship over love arcs, placing more emphasis on the dynamics between its core group of female friends.