Julia Quinn attends the Bridgerton Season 3 premiere.Photo credit: IMAGO/Ron Adair
interview
Michelle Nunn/watson.de
In December 2020, “Bridgerton” debuted on Netflix. Since then, the series has become a global hit. Season 4 is currently in production. This romantic story, centered on the Bridgerton family and their social milieu, has its origins in literature.
Julia Quinn is the author of this best-selling book series. It is also a true bestseller today and has brought countless successes to American women.
Watson spoke with the creator of the “Bridgerton” universe. This interview is about the series' huge success, its continuation, and the recent criticism it's faced.
Watson: We're slowly getting closer to Bridgerton Season 4. Did you expect the series to be such a success?
Julia Quinn: Shonda Rhimes always told me in the beginning that she wanted to do eight seasons — so I was optimistic. After all, she has a proven track record; she's been very successful in just about everything she does. So I'm sure it won't be a failure. A lot of people have never seen a show like this before and I know there's a huge demand for it. However, I had no idea this series would become the global phenomenon it has become. This is very surprising.
“I had no idea this series would become the global phenomenon it has become.”
Image: Netflix
Has global success changed your life in any way?
Not right away, because like everyone else, I'm stuck at home during the pandemic. There’s no way I’m going to suddenly go out and do something new and exciting. I just watched it happen. I always joke that I’m finally the “cool mom” to my kids. Success makes my life better, happier, and more interesting. However, I still drive the same car from 2017.
Julia Quinn is the pen name of American writer Julie Pottinger. The 54-year-old author writes historical romance novels set in Regency England. In addition to the “Bridgerton” series, Quinn has authored the following book series, including: “The Splendor” trilogy, “Lyndon Cesters,” “Kingdom,” “Beverstow Gram” series and “Smith-Smith” series.
How involved were you in the development of the series?
Not at all. I really don't get involved in anything and let them have creative control. I'm just a consultant and I get asked a lot – and I see the script in advance. I was able to read the first two scripts for Season 4, although they are not all written yet. This gave me a rough idea of what was going to happen.
Is there anything you can reveal about Season 4?
Even if I knew everything, it would still be a secret. If I said something that wasn't already known, I'd be in a lot of trouble. All I can say is the first two scripts were great and I loved them. I’m sure fans of the books will enjoy Season 4.
“I'm sure fans of the books will enjoy Season 4.”
Are there any changes that are non-negotiable for you?
When I'm passionate about something, the production usually feels the same way. I especially want to see Pall Mall's scenes in season two. This is them playing croquet. So I said she was important to me and they told me not to worry. It all clarified. Very important things in the book, such as legendary scenes, often already appear on the screen.
Image: Netflix
There are some changes to the series. One is the gender swap in season three. Do you think the criticism of it is justified?
I can understand the commotion. I knew it was happening a year before anyone else. However, this change still fits the original story in many ways. A lot of people think certain things shouldn't happen, and I just thought, “Well, you can do this.”
You’ve been criticized yourself…
The people who are upset about something are always the loudest. I received a lot of comments on my statement on social media. But there are more likes. People who like it usually don't comment. So I think most people like it. Even if it is not the original version, it can still bring a story with a happy ending to more people.
In the show, Michael becomes Michaela (right).Photo credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix
So does this series do everything right?
I've always thought it would be disrespectful, as a writer of historical fiction, not to acknowledge the very real trauma and some terrible things that happened in the past. We never claim that we reflect historical facts.
Therefore, these changes are very important.
People of color seeing themselves in beautiful clothes…I'm not sure I fully realized how important that was until some of my friends came to me. A friend from India almost cried when she saw Kate played by Simone Ashley, who is not only Indian but also a person of color.
What would you say to people who are unhappy with the show?
To all of you who are distraught and miss Michael, I want to say that this book will always be there. I'm not going to rewrite it. It will live on forever as originally written. Now there are two stories that complement each other.
For the Netflix series, the original order of books three and four was changed. Why?
It's the show's producers' decision. I initially questioned the whole thing because I thought people who loved Benedict would be upset. But then the background was explained to me and it made me feel okay. We already know Penelope and Colin well, so we get to see Benedict continue to try.
“The longer you wait for someone to be the protagonist, the more you end up getting out of them.”
So does this step make sense?
This makes sense for the overall suspense of the series. After all, we still get Benedict, just later. So we didn't lose him. One thing I always tell Benedict fans is that the longer you wait for someone to be the main character, the more you end up getting from them.
Are there any other romantic series on Netflix that you watch?
I haven’t seen “Nobody Wants This” yet, but it’s on my list. I watched the German TV series “Kleo” a while ago. I only discovered it because Stephen King had recommended it on Twitter before. I really enjoyed “Kleo,” even though it was thematically far removed from “Bridgerton.”
You portray confident and independent women in your stories, so would you consider yourself a feminist?
Absolutely. I have always considered myself a feminist. Even if the term isn’t popular yet. Still, I didn’t specifically sit down and resolve to write a feminist novel with feminist characters. These are the people I want to write about. On the other hand, part of the author's worldview is incorporated into the work—and not always intentionally.
Do you have any advice for young (female) writers?
My biggest advice is to understand that there is no one right way to write a book. When many people start writing, they listen to podcasts or read books where other writers talk about their process. This often leads them to believe they have done something wrong. The truth is: just because I do it doesn't mean it will work for you. So you have to find something that works for you.
