Colin and Penelope from Bridgerton. Netflix’s period drama, The Empress, is the perfect show for fans of Bridgerton to watch before its fourth season is released. When Bridgerton season 1 premiered, it was an instant success with both audiences and critics. According to Netflix, 82 million households watched Bridgerton season 1 in the first 28 days after it was added to its library. Bridgerton was also in the top 10 of 83 countries (via Netflix). This extraordinary popularity proves that there is a serious appetite for Bridgerton‘s style of period drama – something that The Empress emulates.

Briderton‘s success paved the way for period dramas with a focus on romance, with the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton seeing Benedict and Sophie fall in love. The show’s popularity proved that there was an audience that craved the kind of escapism and romance that Bridgerton provided and The Empress continued. Like Bridgerton, the series’ first season had an impressive viewership number that prompted Netflix to greenlight The Empress for a second season, which is set to be released on November 22, 2024. This ongoing story makes it perfect for Bridgerton fans looking for more of the same.

Netflix’s The Empress Season 2 Is Great To Watch Before Bridgerton Season 4

The Empress And Bridgerton Both Have Romantic Stories At The Center Of Their Plot

Devrim Lingnau in her wedding gown in The Empress Elisabeth and the Emperor get close at the lake in The Empress Franz looks on with a slight smile in The Empress Melika Foroutan looks on sternly in The Empress Devrim Lingnau in her wedding gown in The Empress Elisabeth and the Emperor get close at the lake in The Empress Franz looks on with a slight smile in The Empress Melika Foroutan looks on sternly in The Empress

The Empress is a great show for anyone waiting for Bridgerton to return for its fourth season. The show sees Elisabeth, a young woman who is swept up in a fairytale-like romance and marries Franz Joseph I, the emperor of Austria. Even though Franz and Elisabeth’s love story is at the center of The Empress, the series also delves into other themes including political instability, a love triangle, and internal conflict.

While The Empress and Bridgerton have different tones and are set in a different time and place, they have a lot in common. Both shows focus on an aristocratic family and the main characters’ resolve to marry for love instead of convenience. The Empress also features passionate scenes that Bridgerton fans can appreciate. The combination of history, romance, and palace drama utilized in The Empress is something that those who love Bridgerton’s style of storytelling can enjoy.

The Empress Has A Major Difference From Bridgerton’s Period Drama Story

The Empress Is Based On A True Story

Devrim Lingnau looks behind while at the garden in The Empress

Despite having several similarities, there is one significant difference between The Empress and Bridgerton. The Empress is a fictionalized portrayal of a true story. The Empress‘ primary protagonist, Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, was based on the actual Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who was assassinated in 1898. On the other hand, Bridgerton has no basis in real life (except for real figures like Queen Charlotte and King George) but was simply created by Julia Quinn. The fact that The Empress has its basis in reality makes it an even more intriguing series because it has a level of awe and believability that Bridgerton lacks.