On Netflix, when I started watching The Royals, I realised there's an uncanny resemblance with the popular Netflix series Bridgerton. From the very first episode, it feels like The Royals is following a familiar template encompassing a grand estate, a royal family hiding secrets behind charm and glamour, and a social disorder obsessed with image and legacy. It's as if the DNA of Bridgerton has been repackaged with a more contemporary or culturally adapted twist.

One of the most striking similarities is the visual aesthetics. The visual aesthetics also echo Bridgerton. Lavish costumes of the Royal family members, picturesque locations of Rajasthan, setup of masquerade ball, and orchestral scream period romance meets modern sass. Even though The Royals may not be set in the same historical period, it replicates the fantasy-like quality of Bridgerton’s world.

Character tropes feel almost borrowed. The same trope of enemies-to-lovers characteristics feels clichéd for movie buffs like us. The bratty yet honourable male lead, the strong-willed female protagonist pushing back against social norms, mirror characters we've already met in the Bridgerton universe. While the names and settings may be different, the emotional context and conflicts follow a familiar arc.

That said, this resemblance isn't necessarily a bad thing. For fans of Bridgerton craving more royal intrigue, sweeping romance, and escalating drama, The Royals serves as a satisfying follow-up. But for viewers hoping for something entirely fresh, the shadow of Bridgerton is present there, making The Royals feel less like a standalone story. At some point, it’s exhausting when you can predict the next ten scenes just from the first episode.

Sometimes it feels like they’re trying too hard to recreate the Bridgerton magic without realizing we’ve seen it all before and better. But I feel a well-crafted love story never gets old. The problem is not the genre, rather, it’s the laziness in storytelling. When the emotions are real, the chemistry is authentic, and the characters grow in meaningful ways, even the most familiar tropes can feel new again.

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