🔥 BRIDGERTON WITHDRAWAL ALERT: 7 SPICY Shows to Binge While You Suffer Waiting for Season 4 Part 2 😩💦 (Feb 26 can’t come soon enough!)

You’ve devoured Benedict and Sophie’s masquerade magic in Part 1… but now the wait for the rest is torture. The Ton is restless, hearts racing, and we NEED more Regency heat RIGHT NOW.

Enter these 7 steamy alternatives that deliver the same addictive mix: corsets, forbidden glances, explosive chemistry, and scenes so hot you’ll need a fan (or a cold shower). From time-travel passion that rivals any carriage romp… to wicked court scandals and shirtless miners who make Anthony look tame…

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With Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 already dropping jaws—Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) masquerade encounter with the mysterious Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) delivering plenty of tension and tease—fans are now in full countdown mode for Part 2’s release on February 26, 2026. The Regency-era Netflix hit, produced by Shonda Rhimes, has set a high bar for lush costumes, gossip-fueled drama, and unapologetically spicy romance scenes. But the wait doesn’t have to be agonizing. Several other series offer similar thrills: historical settings, passionate love stories, societal intrigue, and enough heat to keep viewers hooked.

Here are seven standout recommendations, drawn from recent fan discussions, streaming guides, and entertainment outlets like The Tab, Netflix Tudum, People, and Marie Claire. These shows capture elements of Bridgerton‘s appeal—whether through period aesthetics, forbidden attractions, or bold sensuality—while providing fresh stories to binge.

Outlander (Starz/Netflix in some regions) Often cited as the gold standard for steamy historical romance, Outlander follows Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), a World War II nurse who time-travels to 1740s Scotland and falls for Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). The series, based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels, spans decades and continents with epic stakes, clan conflicts, and one of television’s most enduring couples. Its intimate scenes are explicit and emotionally charged, frequently earning praise (and parental warnings) for their intensity. Like Bridgerton, it blends adventure with deep romance, though it leans more into danger and historical grit than ballroom scandal.
Poldark (PBS/BBC/Prime Video) Aidan Turner’s Ross Poldark returns from the American Revolutionary War to a crumbling Cornish estate, sparking a fiery relationship with servant Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson). The show thrives on class tension, political intrigue, and passionate encounters amid dramatic landscapes. Ross’s brooding charisma and shirtless mining scenes have become legendary, delivering the kind of smoldering chemistry that echoes Anthony Bridgerton’s intensity. Spanning five seasons, it offers sweeping romance without shying away from sensuality.
Sanditon (PBS/Prime Video) Based on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel and completed by Andrew Davies, Sanditon follows Charlotte Heywood’s arrival in a developing seaside resort, where she navigates love, ambition, and scandal. The series embraces modern sensibilities with diverse casting, contemporary music cues, and steamy romantic developments—much like Bridgerton‘s anachronistic flair. Multiple love triangles and charged moments keep the heat high, making it a natural companion for Regency fans.
The Buccaneers (Apple TV+) Adapted from Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, this 1870s-set drama tracks five American heiresses invading London’s high society to snag titles and husbands. With lavish balls, cultural clashes, and plenty of illicit hookups, it mirrors Bridgerton‘s focus on marriage markets and rebellion against norms. The show’s use of modern pop in period settings and bold romantic entanglements provide a fresh, spicy twist on Gilded Age drama.
The Empress (Netflix) This German-language series chronicles the early marriage of Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”) of Austria (Devrim Lingnau) to Emperor Franz Joseph (Philip Froissant). Set in the mid-19th century, it features court intrigue, youthful passion, and steamy royal encounters amid rigid expectations. The longing glances and intimate moments capture the fairy-tale-meets-reality vibe of Bridgerton‘s central romances, with added political tension.
The Great (Hulu) A satirical take on Catherine the Great’s rise (Elle Fanning) and her tumultuous marriage to Peter III (Nicholas Hoult), The Great mixes dark humor with explicit sensuality. The couple’s volatile chemistry—full of arguments, make-ups, and bedroom power plays—delivers some of the most unpredictable spicy scenes on TV. While more comedic than Bridgerton, its opulent Russian court and themes of ambition and desire make it a compelling watch.
Harlots (Hulu) Set in 18th-century London, this gritty drama explores rival brothels run by Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) and Lydia Quilter (Lesley Manville). Packed with sex work, female empowerment, scandal, and numerous explicit encounters, it offers a rawer, downstairs perspective on the era just before Regency. The show’s focus on women’s agency and erotic intrigue provides a bolder, less polished counterpart to Bridgerton‘s polished Ton.

These selections span platforms and tones—from sweeping epics to satirical romps—but all share Bridgerton‘s core draw: romance that sizzles against a backdrop of societal rules begging to be broken. Some, like Outlander and Poldark, match the explicitness; others, like Sanditon, nail the period romance aesthetic.

As Part 2 approaches, with Benedict and Sophie’s story promising more masquerade magic and emotional payoff, these shows offer the perfect distraction. Whether you’re craving Highland passion or courtly scandal, the options keep the fire burning until Lady Whistledown delivers her next dispatch.