Shonda Rhimes Says Bridgerton Is a Workplace Drama Not a Romance

Shonda Rhimes has never shied away from redefining television. At the Edinburgh TV Festival, she surprised audiences by describing Bridgerton not as a romance, but as a workplace drama. Her words ignited debate among fans and even drew a measured response from author Julia Quinn, whose books inspired the Netflix series.

Shonda Rhimes Explains Her Vision

Rhimes explained that the show’s foundation lies in power rather than passion. “I didn’t see it as a romance. It was more of a workplace drama,” she said. Her reasoning focused on how women in Regency England had little control over their lives. For them, marriage functioned as labor, and the social season became their office.

“The women don’t have power in other areas of their lives, the power is in how they marry, so it becomes a workplace. And that’s where the drama is. More importantly, I could see myself in them. If a Black woman in 21st century America can see herself in Regency England, it’s a good story.” — Shonda Rhimes

Her framing connects Bridgerton to themes familiar in her work. Just as Grey’s Anatomy explored ambition through the hospital and Scandal unraveled political power, Bridgerton in her eyes, dramatizes the business of marriage.

While Rhimes is entitled to her perspective, calling Bridgerton a workplace drama feels out of touch. Most characters don’t actually work, and the series lacks the structural dynamics of shows like Downton Abbey or The Gilded Age, which themselves aren’t even marketed as workplace dramas. Suggesting that Bridgerton is more nuanced than a romance also discredits romance as a legitimate genre. The show could be celebrated for expanding the boundaries of romance, but instead, it is being distanced from the very tradition that built its audience.

Fans Reject the Workplace Label

Reaction online has been swift and sharp. Many dismissed the idea that Bridgerton is anything other than a romance. One viewer wrote, “Bridgerton is NOT a workplace drama. It is a romance drama. Point blank period.” Another remarked that the claim “doesn’t even make sense, it’s a romance, just let it be a romance.”

The criticism often pointed to how the show is marketed. Netflix sells Bridgerton as a sweeping romantic drama with elaborate love stories at its core. Viewers stressed that the central couples are the draw, not the subplots. Some fans accused Rhimes of downplaying romance because the genre is often dismissed in critical spaces.

It is a sad indictment of the current state of affairs. Romance, a genre that has long appealed to women across races and demographics, sustained the publishing industry for decades and still leads it today, generating between $1.4 and $1.5 billion annually in the U.S. Countless women became celebrated authors through its success. While the genre may not command the blockbuster budgets of superhero franchises or sci-fi epics, romance remains a cornerstone of women’s entertainment. Fantasy is indeed on the rise, but the real disruptor is “romantasy,” a fusion of romance and fantasy that earned $610 million in 2024, surpassing traditional fantasy’s $454 million. Even with this shift, the foundation remains clear: romance has always held an enduring place at the heart of publishing.

Critics say Rhimes’s approach explained why later seasons felt different from the books. They argued that Season 1 leaned heavily into Daphne and Simon’s love story, while later seasons shifted toward multiple subplots that disrupted the romantic focus. For many fans, that shift felt like a bait and switch.

Julia Quinn Offers a Diplomatic Take

Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton novels, weighed in on Instagram. Sharing a BBC headline that read “Bridgerton isn’t a romance, it’s a workplace drama – Shonda Rhimes,” she wrote, “Maybe it’s a romance AND a workplace drama? 😊”

Her response tried to bridge the divide. While Quinn acknowledged Rhimes’ perspective, she reaffirmed the centrality of romance. Her novels are marketed as historical romance and focus on love matches and happy endings. Fans see this as the heart of Bridgerton.

Quinn’s comment also reflects the tension between adaptation and original material. While Rhimes broadens the scope to include power and politics, Quinn grounds the series in its romantic roots. For viewers, this split has made clear why the show sometimes feels at odds with its source material.