The Buccaneers

I absolutely hated this when I started watching it. It felt like a rip-off Bridgerton. And in many ways it is. It was Bridgerton but not as good. I almost stopped watching. But then something odd happened. Partway through episode two, I began to enjoy it a bit more. A storyline of sorts began to develop. Someone's said the acting was bad. It wasn't. In fact, there are some good, well-known actors in the show. What irked, initially, was probably more the fault of the director than the actors - the vacuous cheerleader type vibe, which didn't sit well with 1870s England. It was also a mistake copying Bridgerton and using a modern music score. That jarred. And where it worked in Bridgerton, it didn't here. But even so, as the story and characters (along with their secrets) developed, I found myself pretty hooked on this. Is it historically accurate? Nope. Is it slightly the wrong side of light and frothy? Yes. But it's also quite addictive. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't watching it and wanting to get back to the characters. There's also a darkness (particularly with one character) which helps to take the edge off the fluff. It's not a long series and, by the end, I wished it had been longer. I really hope a second season is on the way.

I haven't read the Edith Warton novel this is based on but I enjoyed the 1995 miniseries much more than this one even with all its flaws. I can see by some of the reviews that people don't realize this based on a historical fiction novel set in the Gilded Age (late Victorian) not set in an alternate universe (à la Bridgerton). Wharton was born in 1861 so she wrote from first hand experience. The original novel was unfinished so it has been open to reworking and finishing since her death. It seems someone decided Wharton's excellent writing needed the "Bridgerton treatment". I've seen some other historical fiction series that were able to incorporate modern music and language in a way that fits with the tone and style of the story but this is definitely not one of those. The music seems like they just picked random pop songs that don't fit with anything. Also insults the viewer's intelligence by hitting you over the head with the feminist theme in modern language as if we can't figure it out on our own.

... one critic's comments... "The Buccaneers, a refreshing take on the period drama genre, exploring the clash of cultures and the pursuit of love and ambition with a modern sensibility, all within the enchanting setting of 1870s London. Its bold and unapologetic approach might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it undeniably adds a unique flavor to the genre."

... an ok show, well done for the most part... you'll know within the first episode if you're going to be sticking with it week to week... it's entertaining to a 6 of 10, really not much more... acting like it's trying to be, yet Bridgerton it's not

... 12.14.23 - quite the S1 ending ... night b4 wedding, hubby-to-be out on some balcony drinking, while fiance's 'bedroom-entertaining'.. and that's only one of the pairings... S2 coming ... (and actually early-episodes new-Bridgerton's-boring)

This show is by no means bad. It had some good things going and some not so good. The characters with different personalities is nice, although some of them bothered me.

The biggest issue for me was the awful choice of music they would consistently put throughout the show. Some songs were so bad that I could just not focus on the scene itself because the music was overpowering or just completely did not fit. I'm against comparing the show to Bridgerton because I feel like they are quite different and there is not enough basis to compare, but one thing Bridgerton does amazingly is the music...they should definitely take notes.

I'm not a big fan of the love triangle, especially a love triangle where both men are friends prior. I've seen plenty of shows that have done this exact trope so I don't find it as interesting.

Some actors had great acting, and they made the show so much better. Especially the mother Patti, Guy, and the duchess.

Another issue in the show is there were too many side stories, the viewer could not really feel invested in each one enough because there wasn't enough time to focus on the stories individually. As a result, the series couldn't cover everything properly, some had plot holes, and some were rushed.

I understand that there's gonna be a second season, but still some plots were unnecessary. Also, I did not like how some stories concluded, especially what happened to Lizzie. She did not get the closure she deserved. Lizzie, the character as a whole had so much potential, but I don't know why they completely set her to the side.

Overall, the show could definitely be better. I don't know If I will watch S2, I'll wait and see if the plot-line is worth it or not.

I'm a huge Regency romance fan and was intrigued by this show. Yet I've found myself rolling my eyes more and more as each episode passes. The character's personalities and are inconsistent and the direction makes the show remain shallow as it grasps at depth. The rah-rah sisterhood theme of the show is quickly bowled over for flashy and increasingly annoying drama. I think this show had potential to be an alternative to Bridgerton but the sets and costumes do the heavy lifting to make the show feel 1800s. I never thought I would come across the manic dream girl in a period drama but alas here we are... men falling over one character because she just happens to not want to swim in a corset or takes her shoes off. I love the sets and costumes are good but not memorable but the show makes me annoyed as a regency romance lover.