On Christmas Day 2020, the Regency-era romantic drama Bridgerton arrived on Netflix. I binged it in one day; here’s why you should, too.

Produced by Shonda Rhimes, this period drama is based on a book series by romance author Julia Quinn. The books have sold more than 10 million copies in the US alone and been translated into 32 languages worldwide. They’ve been described as Gossip Girl in the 1800s, Scandal with corsets, and Pride & Prejudice with Ariana Grande.

The show revolves around the Bridgerton family, headed by the widowed Lady Bridgerton. She has eight children, all named alphabetically. There’s Anthony, the oldest son and the man of the house, Benedict the easygoing artist, Colin the charming globetrotter, Daphne, the marriage-minded oldest daughter, and Eloise the ambitious, inquisitive writer. The three youngest siblings— Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth— mainly background characters, as they are too young to have a developed subplot.

The series begins with a flurry of preparations as the young ladies enter the marriage market by presenting themselves to the queen. Each season, the queen declares which young lady she thinks will be the most eligible (the Diamond of the First Water!) and has her fun as she watches her predictions come true.

Phoebe Dynevor plays Daphne, who takes her duty to marry well and raise her family’s reputation very seriously. Declared as the season’s Diamond, she receives countless suitors for the first day, but the number drops down to a measly one as Anthony vetoes all potential suitors. On one hand, he’s being a good brother for looking out for Daphne’s future, but his overprotectiveness becomes a burden on her marriage prospects. Here’s where it gets juicy.

Regé-Jean Page plays the marriage-phobic Simon Bassett, a handsome duke who has a mysterious and traumatic past that has something to do with his father. Best friends with Anthony from his time at Oxford, Simon becomes acquainted with Daphne early in the season. Their first impressions of each other are wildly negative, but they soon become friends as they join forces. Simon looks to keep the mothers and daughter off his back about marriage, and Daphne looks to make the other suitors interested in her. The well-loved fake relationship trope begins.

Of course, they fall in love, although circumstances are not as simple as they seem to be. The Duke continues to be averse to marriage, and Daphne still desperately wants a family of her own. Their relationship is equal parts gentle and passionate, as their romance builds on their solid friendship, and they end up getting married, but the road to and after marriage is rocky— they enjoy a wonderful (and steamy) honeymoon but hold onto their secrets.

Through all this, a mysterious gossip columnist relays the drama surrounding the society, naming all the subjects by full name and capturing everyone’s attention. (It’s basically Gossip Girl.) Even the queen, who loves gossip, drama, and being right, becomes invested in the outcome of her predictions through the tell-all scandal sheet.

The vibrant colors, the scandalous stories, and the colorful characters bring this show to life. The chemistry of the cast is undeniable, with Regé-Jean Page and Pheobe Dynevor exchanging charged eye contact and not-so-demurely brushing hands throughout the story. If romance isn’t your thing, there are subplots to keep you interested: Benedict’s identity crisis and exploration of the art world, Colin’s naive first love, and Eloise’s quest to find out who Lady Whistledown really is.

As the hectic events of 2020 overwhelm us all, Bridgerton remains a form of escapism. The fascinating storylines, relationship dynamics, and the mix of historical and modern make Bridgerton the perfect binge-watch.