Whether you’re all about dubious historical accuracy or just there to tune in to Lady Whistledown’s latest and most scandalous society newsletters, there’s something for almost everyone to enjoy in Netflix’s Bridgerton. While the book and TV series whisk the reader off to Regency England to experience social seasons chock-filled with romance and melodrama, what would our favorite characters be like if they were the ones time traveling to the present? Moreover: how would they act if they set foot on UNH Manchester’s historic campus, not as students, but as professors?
Photo by Nerdfightergirl via Daphne Basset (Netflix)
Daphne Bridgerton
The original leading lady of both the book and TV series, Daphne would be a prime candidate for a position as a psychology professor. Throughout the series, Daphne is shown to be thoughtful, tenacious and kindhearted—she artfully diffuses a duel between Anthony and Simon, demonstrates a deep awareness of societal expectations and the thoughts of those around her and almost immediately understands Simon’s past trauma and thought patterns and works to help him overcome them. In later seasons she is also shown advising her siblings (even nudging Anthony and Kate together) and doing her utmost to ensure their comfort (as she offers the library to dance-shy Eloise). Daphne would undoubtedly be a supportive, nurturing and committed professor, always available during office hours and ready to dispense life advice (along with a little psychoanalysis)!
Simon Basset
Bridgerton’s breakout dreamboat is charming, charismatic and mysterious, the quintessential creative writing professor. Many of the series’ iconic lines (“To meet a beautiful woman is one thing, but to meet your best friend in the most beautiful of women is something entirely apart,” and the classic “I burn for you”) can be attributed to him; his quick wit and sharp humor are defining character traits as well. All of the aforementioned qualities would make Simon an excellent writing professor, always pushing his students to be passionate about their material and never settling for half-hearted efforts. Having struggled with a stutter during childhood, Simon would also be sympathetic to student anxiety and academic difficulties, and encouraging to students trying to reach their full potential. The Duke of Hastings may be in need of a career change!
Photo by Nerdfightergirl via Kate Bridgerton (Netflix)
Kate Sharma
Stubborn, confident and competitive, Kate Sharma is one of the most memorable characters to be introduced within the series. Kate is the sole person who can not only match Anthony’s quips but often outwit him, and she never hesitates to put him in his place, whether it’s by beating him in a horse race or besting him at his own game of family croquet. These qualities, along with her fierce protectiveness over her younger sister Edwina and no-nonsense communication style, slot Kate as an ideal business professor. She would relish running competitive clubs like Enactus and FBLA, and her newly demonstrated prowess for planning Bridgerton family events would imbue her with the organizational skills to run a successful business program.
Anthony Bridgerton
Anthony is the oldest Bridgerton sibling and unofficial head of the family. Headstrong, dutiful and just the tiniest bit opinionated, Anthony’s arc revolves around the responsibility he feels as the eldest boy and his perpetual struggle to express his emotions and embrace his more vulnerable side. He would most definitely want to be involved in some sort of accounting program—his experience with running the family, as well as general savviness about numbers (despite literally betting on a losing horse), would ensure that he’d fit right into a professor role in an accounting program. Accounting is also business adjacent—more time to nurture the rivalry with Kate? Maybe so!
Penelope Featherington
I mean, come on. Is there anyone who’d be better suited to teach undergrads the ins and outs of journalism than Bridgerton’s own resident red-hot columnist, Lady Whistedlown/Penelope Featherington? Lady Whistledown’s writings are at the center of the Bridgerton universe, propelling plot points and educating the public on all of the social season’s must-know happenings, and it’s all thanks to Penelope’s prolific pen that they’re published at all. In addition to being entrepreneurial, Penelope is thoughtful, creative and observant—traits that one would definitely want in a master journalist. She also demonstrates significant journalistic integrity by coming clean to her friends and family in the second half of season three and moving forward to write under her own name. All she’s missing is the Ph.D.!
Image by Ally0234 via Colin Bridgerton (Netflix)
Colin Bridgerton
Despite being a little oblivious to Penelope’s affections, Colin is charming, spontaneous and enthusiastic, and he is utterly devoted to her once he realizes his own feelings. Much like his season three love interest, Colin derives great enjoyment from writing, especially when he is traveling—a perfect blend of qualities for an International Affairs professor. The discipline’s blend of political science, history, economics, geography, sociology and anthropology would not only play to his strengths but be exciting and multifaceted enough to keep him interested. His experience with the subject matter and sensitivity to the emotions of others are both traits that would enhance any college classroom.
Eloise Bridgerton
Even though the fifth Bridgerton sibling has yet to receive her own season of the show, Eloise has cemented herself as a unique and memorable character within the narrative’s canon. One of her defining characteristics is her rebelliousness: she consistently expresses wanting more than to be pigeonholed by propriety, resents the pressure to be engaged after her sister Daphne and ardently searches for clues to Lady Whisteldown’s identity after being discouraged in doing so. As someone well aware of the constraints of society and the limited roles offered to women in it, Eloise’s insights would be invaluable in the role of a gender studies professor—she would relish spirited debates about civil rights issues and encourage her students to think critically about assumptions and stereotypes. If only Regency-era England would get on the same page!
Francesca Bridgerton
She hasn’t had as much screen time as some of her more famous siblings, but it’s impossible to think about Francesca Bridgerton without music coming to mind. Though she often fumbles through the social interactions required throughout the seasons (a relatable queen), the one thing Francesca always feels comfortable discussing is music: whether she’s regaling tales of her pianoforte adventures to other debutantes or letting John Stirling know that his violin is out of tune, music is a subject that she demonstrates a clear passion for. Francesca would feel right at home sharing her enthusiasm with like-minded students, and, having struggled with social anxiety herself, likely be empathetic to the plights of others in similar situations. We can’t wait for season four’s story with her and Michaela to unfold!
Image by Jeminali via Newton (Netflix)
Newton
There is only one job for an individual as important as Newton, and that would be the dean or president of a college. He’s a take-charge kind of corgi: he trips Anthony into the lake during one of his infamous arguments with Kate, snatches a croquet ball to get them more time alone and is Kate’s steadfast party-planning companion in season three. He is of the utmost importance to the Bridgerton universe; long may he reign.