Starting the series off with an electric guitar scored wedding, The Buccaneers seems, at first, a vapid cousin to the hit period series Bridgerton. The modern-day scoring, period-inaccurate hairstyles, and the sorority dynamic of the five female protagonists might feel too jarring for viewers looking for a more classical feel. There are certain moments at the start that needed more emotional resonance, like after Nan’s shoe fell into the cake. However, these jarring contrasts smooth over as the series progresses, as the show reveals its melancholy at society’s hypocritical, rigid expectations, but also its care and endearment for these girls’ friendships.

With the success of Bridgerton, it’s no wonder other streaming sites would like to capitalize on period romance series. Apple TV+ is not new to the genre. After all, they’ve brought shows like Dickinson to life, but the unfinished novel of Edith Wharton is a great choice to adapt. It’s able to lean closer to Bridgerton with its debutante season and potential duke love interest. That being said, it does also play with style choices that seem jarring at first, as the playful American protagonists sport today’s accents, college sorority-esque dynamics, and sad Taylor Swift songs, while London sticks with classical instrumentals and posh tones. But these contrasts ease up as the girls start to integrate in London society, and it becomes fairly entertaining, even with its whimsically anachronistic approach.