Comfort, escapism, relatability and dystopia.

These terms could all be used to describe the enduring appeal of the period piece. Whether it’s meticulously historical or deliciously dramatic, the genre has woven itself into modern culture so deeply that it’s almost impossible not to have encountered at least a clip or two.

But what is it about these glimpses into eras we never lived through that keep our generation so captivated? 

Recently, the regency romance series Bridgerton has just treated fans to a sneak peek of what’s yet to come with the new trailer for season four, which releases in two parts: the first half on January 29th and the second on February 26th.

It’s filled with glimpses of mystery, lust and drama. Fans are counting down the days until they can be curled up on their sofa, under a blanket and with a warm drink, ready to tune in to what might be the most anticipated release of next year.

Dedicated fans will be happy to hear that the series has been renewed for a fifth and sixth season, so the beloved characters won’t be leaving our screens anytime soon! 

Some people believe there is a certain simplicity to the characters who are featured in these period pieces.

The idea of having everything planned out for you for the rest of your life, dancing around in ballgowns at parties and grand weddings is highly appealing to some.

Whereas for others, it is the traditional love stories in these films and TV shows that hold the biggest influence on how closely people hold this genre to their hearts. 

Even after twenty years, the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie is still raved about and plays mass inspiration on the media that is created and watched in the present day.

This is exhibited in the hit Amazon Prime TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty, where the director nods towards key scenes that are held in high regard by viewers from the film, creating a crossover in viewership and influencing younger viewers to go and watch the highly praised 2005 film for the first time. 

With our current political and social climate, many viewers use period dramas as an escape.

They feel there is enough negativity in this world that it is nice to zone out for an hour or two and take their mind away to a world that feels much simpler and easier than our own, whilst also gaining a tight-knit community of fans and making everyone feel less alone with their feelings.

Upon reflection, is this an imagined unity, or are we just indulging in selective memory?

At first glance, when watching these pieces, the authentic costumes, set designs and even language that is being used seemingly make it easier for us as viewers to not only connect to these situations but to imagine ourselves in a time like this.

This is especially true for those of us who definitely weren’t born into aristocratic privilege.

We like to imagine that, in another life, we could step into those grand estates, attend glittering balls, and live in worlds where dresses cost more than our rent — even if it’s purely fantasy.

Period pieces make us feel like that could have been us, but of course, those stories rarely show the realities or inequalities of the time.

The dynamic between the Bennet and Bingley families in Pride and Prejudice highlights the rigid class system of Regency-era England, where status often mattered more than genuine connection.

Across every adaptation, the two families sit at different points in the social ladder, and Austen uses that contrast to explore relationships while quietly pushing against the rules of her time.

But the expectations of that world — the idea that a woman’s success depended on marriage, or that love only “counts” if the man initiates everything — can feel unrealistic to modern audiences. These norms may create beautiful drama on screen, but they don’t always line up with how relationships actually work today.

Whilst there are clearly obvious critiques that can be made to the representation of women, sexuality and race when it comes to period pieces and the portrayal of the Regency era in the media, it is still one of the most popular genres.

This is greatly due to the escapism that it provides us from an otherwise bleak and, some may say, hopeless world.

At the end of the day, all we want to do after a long day of lectures and coursework is chill out and transport ourselves to another world.

Image Credit: Izzy Hollyhead