Books are always better. Everyone will tell you that but your counter point is likely to be that you like visual mediums or that watching a movie or a TV show is simply faster. A book can take a long time to finish after all.
Yes, it can be tempting to watch a movie adaptation rather than read a book, but guess what?
If you truly want to enjoy a story and actually get to know your characters, then read the book. Most times, the best parts of the book are cut out for a variety of reasons, most of them being budget constraints.
To be honest, I had not heard of Julia Quinn’s book series until the show came out on Netflix. I watched the first season only because it was hyped. In my opinion, it was forgettable. I wasn’t wowed by it and didn’t understand the fuss over this historical romance.
Then news came out on the second seasons and every one was going on about how this would be the best season of all since it was based on the best book in the series: THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME.
After that I just had to find out just what the big deal about the books was.
I was pleasantly surprised when I skipped the first book and straight away read The Viscount Who Loved Me. Being not much of a romance reader, I actually enjoyed the book.
The characters had depth, the humor wasn’t forced and I enjoyed the family dynamics of the Bridgertons. There was no unnecessary drama. The focus was on romance and the characters and after a long time, I found myself enjoying a romance book.
As soon as I was finished with that, I read all the other seven books in the Bridgerton series. While not all of them were as good as the second one, they were still enjoyable.
And so, just like the other fans of the books, I too couldn’t wait to watch the second season of the show. I binged the entire season in one day.
Was I disappointed?
Of course!
The second season cut out all the enjoyable parts of the books and instead focused on the side characters. This is understandable because if you actually pay attention to the acting skills of the protagonists, you would understand why their screen time was cut short.
But coming back to the point, there is a lot of things wrong with the show than just the acting skills, or the over-dramatized plot.
So here it is. These are the Top 10 reasons why the Bridgerton Books are better than the show.
1) Family bonding was better
For a change, there is a romance novel series out there that doesn’t have characters stabbing family members in the back. The Bridgertons are actually a decent lot and quite loyal to each other.
You will find at least one scene in every book in the series that gives evidence of that. The Bridgertons, stand up for each other even though they are prone to pranking each other.
It’s fun to see a large family that loves each other so dearly and actually stand by each other.
But do you get to see this bonding in the TV show? Nope.
You may probably think that the siblings hate each other the way they argue and make faces at each other.
2) Lady Whistledown reveal was better
Throughout the series, there is a gossip columnist called Lady Whistledown who writes about the ton. Although her wit is praised, she is also criticized for being a gossipmonger.
Her identity is hidden and revealed only in the fourth book of the series.
But in the TV show, her identity is revealed in the finale of the show.
It is none other than Penelope Featherington, a wallflower, someone no one suspects could be intelligent and witty.
The drama behind the reveal is much better in the books. Most of the fourth book ROMANCING MR BRIDGERTON is about the ton trying to figure out who Lady Whistledown could be. Lady Danbury even sets a reward for anyone who is able to solve that mystery.
Penelope is asked who it could be and Colin suspects it is his sister Eloise who is often writing something in her room. Turns out she is writing letters to Phillip, the man she marries in To Sir Phillip, With Love.
Eventually, Colin catches Penelope right in the act of delivering her latest column for printing. The whole drama surrounding that was a lot more interesting than what was depicted in the show.
3) Anthony was a responsible and protective brother
Yes, Anthony Bridgerton was known as a rake and although his exploits were never detailed in the book, it is done so in the series.
In the TV show, Anthony comes off as bossy and arrogant. He doesn’t seem to be the kind of person you know would have your back and protect you.
Read the books and you will find what a wonderful big brother Anthony was. He was kind, responsible, and deeply cared for his family, going as far as to let his whole family live in a mansion that he owned, and living in quarters elsewhere.
He is especially protective of his sisters and that is seen in Eloise and Daphne’s stories.
4) Colin had a sense of humor
Colin may be the third eldest in the family but he makes sure to always prank all his siblings equally. In fact, he was the one who introduces Anthony and Kate in the books. His scenes with his siblings’ love interests may be minimal but they always provided a dose of humor.
In the TV show, Colin couldn’t be more boring. He lacks the personality and charm that book Colin had so much of. In the TV show, he seems to always be moping about.
5) Simplicity at its best
The books are based on the early 1800 period and so it captures the simplicity of that time beautifully. There is no talk of fashions or extravagant displays at the balls. The tone of the books may just make you yearn for a bygone era where everything seemed to simple and sweet.
In the TV series, there is just way too much drama stuffed in. Perhaps the most cringe-worthy story line was in Season 2 with the Featherington family. Not Penelope, of course. Her scenes were still decent although again, book Penelope is much more entertaining to read about.
In the TV series we also get to hear covers of modern songs, given the instrumental treatment. While some tracks gel with the scene, others tend to be out of place.
6) Focus more on the main characters
Each of the books in the Bridgerton family series, focuses on the brother or sister. We get to learn more about the characters in the books, more about their hopes and dreams and likes and dislikes.
There is no unnecessary drama created by someone who had no need to be in the novel.
In the TV series, the couple barely gets enough screen time. Take Season Two for example. Anthony and Kate barely get any screen time. Season Two may very well be about the Featheringtons.
7) The Pall Mall game was written better
The best part of the THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME was the Pall Mall game. The book perfectly shows the bonding between siblings while also their competitiveness. Kate cements her place in the family because of the game.
That’s how important that scene was.
The TV show obviously does not do justice and gives us a very brief scene of Pall Mall which ends with both protagonists slipping in mud and laughing about getting dirty.
It does nothing to help Kate make a place for her in the Bridgerton family by having her interact with the other siblings more.
8) Kate had a better relationship with Edwina and her mother
Season 2 ruined the relationship between two sisters. In fact, Kate’s relationship with her stepmother was also not as warm as it is in the books. The season played as a cliched Bollywood movie and used tropes even bollywood does not apply any more.
There was too much drama that resulted in the sisters feuding with each other. In the books, Edwina does not take to Anthony and finds him too polite and distracted. When she learns that Kate is engaged to Anthony, she is elated and fully supports their relationship.
In the TV show, Edwina has fallen for Anthonhy too. They almost end up getting married which means that book Anthony can no longer be like a brother to her.
Way to go ruining sweet relationships.
9) The Smythe-Smiths musicals
This may be a minuscule part of the books and there is apparently a whole series on that family, but these musicals was what brought the ton together sometimes over their collective dislike for the earsplitting concerts.
But it was written in a fun way and provided amusement.
Of course the TV show did away with that too.
10) You don’t have to suffer through the over-dramatic acting
The best thing about reading a book is to leave everything to your imagination. Your imagination can conjure up the perfect actors to play the parts in the book and it is always better.
While all the actors in the TV show play their part well, it is their acting which is largely lacking. None of them stand out because of their acting skills.
Season Two showed just how terribly hammy actors can be when performing emotional scenes. It gets uncomfortable to watch these actors perform such an important scene in the story.
Some things are better left alone and some stories should never be adapted.
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