Bridgerton

This version of Regency-era London visibly casts characters of color into a racially integrated society, where royalty, nobility, and the working class are equally diverse. The Bridgertons are White, but their love interests include Black and Indian characters in main roles. That said, the story avoids any deeper discussions around race or British imperialism. True to the period, class hierarchies and gender roles are strictly enforced, but the characters are complex and independent in spite of this. But aside from key character Penelope, there's almost no body diversity: Nearly all women are thin and men are muscular. A gay character plays a very small role in Season 1 and bisexuality is explored in Season 3. A minor character has what's implied to be Alzheimer's disease.

Characters occasionally hit each other in the face—such as when a man aggressively tries to grab a woman (perhaps intending rape), and when an older woman hits a younger woman when it's discovered that the latter is pregnant. One character practices boxing; we see bare-knuckled matches frequently in the first season. Characters shoot at each other with dueling pistols but miss their targets. Characters hunt deer and birds with rifles. A character dies on-screen from an allergic reaction. A character falls off a horse and is found bleeding from her head. A woman is coerced into an unwanted arranged marriage.

Sex scenes are frequent, frank, and long in the first season. Subsequent seasons are tame by comparison, with less frequent sex and nudity. Characters have sex standing up against a tree or on couches or beds with suggestive movements and noises; male and female buttocks are visible (if often obscured by distance or drapery). Bodies are shown nude, with many bare breasts seen (but genitals covered). Both men and women are eager for sex, and time is spent on pleasure for both; male and female bodies are displayed equally. Masturbation and oral sex are implied. Threesomes. Heavy focus on romance, marriage, children, as well as storylines revolving around unexpected pregnancy. Male and female characters alike talk about women being "ruined," having "light skirts," or being "loose" if they're even suspected of being with men without a chaperone.

Language includes "bitches," "f--k," "f--king." Insults are used to shame women sexually ("loose," "ruined"), while men who are sexually active are called a "rake." Infrequent exclamations of "God" and "bloody hell."

Several characters smoke cigarettes (an anachronism), as well as cigars; one character showily uses snuff. Characters drink at parties and gatherings and sometimes drink to the point of sloppiness and aggression. One character drinks covertly from a flask but doesn't act drunk. An unnamed "tea" with euphoric effects alludes to marijuana or psychedelic drugs.