Apple TV’s 2-Part Period Drama Is Officially Netflix's Best 'Bridgerton' Replacement

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Benedict and Sophie at the queen's ball in 'Bridgerton' Season 4, Episode 8.

Published Mar 12, 2026, 7:21 AM EDT

Giovana Gelhoren is a High-Trending Topics Writer at Collider, covering the most-talked-about stars, movies, and TV shows. Before joining Collider, she was a Digital News Writer at People Magazine and served as Associate Editor at SheKnows, where she honed her expertise in celebrity coverage and entertainment journalism.

A proud Latina from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Giovana graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Journalism and International Studies. She has interviewed countless celebrities, including Anne Hathaway, Halle Berry, Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Brenda Song, and is known for her encyclopedic knowledge of film, TV, and pop culture.

In every season of Bridgerton, the world awaits at the edge of their seats for the premiere and swoon as the main couple's love story unfolds. In Season 4, which was released in two parts starting on January 29, 2026, the pattern certainly continued. Following the story of the Bridgertons' second-oldest son, Benedict (Luke Thompson), the season was filled with the opulent glamour of the time, and a steamy, undeniable romance at its heart.

But while Season 4 of Bridgerton certainly delivered, fans of the Netflix hit might already be in search of a replacement. Luckily, Apple TV has a two-season period drama filled with romance, opulence, and, unlike Bridgerton, independent, modern women. The series is The Buccaneers, and its third season is right around the corner.

'The Buccaneers' Has a Rebellious Edge Compared to 'Bridgerton'

While The Buccaneers and Bridgerton certainly have some surface-level similarities, like the fact they both take place in 19th-century England and feature glamorous parties, arranged marriages, and the social pressure placed on young women, The Buccaneers has a different focus. While Bridgerton is all about seeing one couple's journey as they meet, fall in love and end up married, The Buccaneers follows a group of American women as they move across the pond and shake up British society. As such, the show not only focuses more on the female friendships between the protagonists, aka Nan (Kristine Froseth), Conchita (Alisha Boe), Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag), Mabel (Josie Totah) and Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse), but also brings a sense of novelty and rebellious energy that's certainly refreshing for the genre.

As the seasons go on, and some of the women struggle to fit into society more than others, they develop their own connections, like Conchita's head-over-heels marriage with Richard (Josh Dylan) and Nan's steamy love triangle with Guy (Matthew Broome) and Theo (Guy Remmers). As each of them bloom and adapt to their new life, the friendships between them get tested, but only strengthen over time. After all, while 19th-century society undermined women and stopped them from having any say or power, these five friends are determined to be there for one another and see each other thrive.

Eloise (Claudia Jessie) looks at Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) with surprise in Bridgerton

The cast of 'The Buccaneers' in Season 2 key art.

While a release date has yet to be announced, fans of The Buccaneers should rest assured that the third season of the series is already in the works. The third season is currently filming, with the projected premiere for late 2026 or early 2027. In the meantime, fans of The Buccaneers rejoiced on February 26 when a new cast member was announced. Joining the series for the upcoming season is "The Vampire Diaries" star Paul Wesley. "Formally inviting him in," the announcement on Instagram read. "Welcome Paul Wesley to The Buccaneers Season 3."

With all that said, if you've watched the latest season of Bridgerton and are already looking for another period TV show to escape into, look no further than The Buccaneers. With just as steamy romances, and a focus on female friendships and their independent, self-discovering journeys, the series is a period piece with a rebellious, unexpected twist. Plus, unlike Bridgerton where each story starts and ends in one season, The Buccaneers has major revelations and end-of-season cliffhangers that will have viewers bingeing season after season.