How Historical Romance Shows Shape the Way We Think About Love
If you have ever watched Bridgerton, you probably know the feeling. The music starts, the ballroom lights glow, and suddenly love looks dramatic, passionate, and almost perfect. A lot of shows set in the 17th to 19th centuries create this kind of atmosphere where relationships seem slower, more meaningful, and filled with grand gestures.
These kinds of shows can make the past look more romantic than the present. The elaborate dresses, handwritten letters, and dramatic love confessions make relationships seem like something out of a dream. However, these shows often leave out the realities of what relationships were actually like during those centuries, and while they might be entertaining, they can also influence how people today think about love and relationships.
Many historical romance movies and shows focus heavily on emotion and dramatic love stories. A good example of this is “Pride and Prejudice”. This story is known for its slow-burn romance between the main characters. Scenes like long walks through the fields, formal dances, and meaningful conversations make relationships look thoughtful and deeply emotional. Moments like these make romance in the past seem almost ideal.
The reality of relationships back then were often far more complicated. Marriage was frequently connected to financial stability or social status rather than love alone. Families could strongly influence who someone married, and personal choice was limited, especially for women.
In many cases, marriages were arranged or heavily encouraged by families to strengthen social or economic ties. For example, during the Regency era in England, which is the time period many historical romance stories are based on, marriages were often seen as a way to secure wealth or maintain a family’s social standing. Because of these expectations, relationships were shaped by social pressure and economic survival more than love.
Another reality that historical romance stories often leave out is how limited women’s freedom was during these centuries. In many parts of Europe and North America during the 17-19th centuries, women had very few legal rights and were expected to rely on marriage for financial security.
Women often could not own property independently, control family finances, or easily leave unhappy marriages. Because of these restrictions, marriage was not always about romance but about stability and survival.
This difference makes it easy for viewers to overlook the social pressures and restrictions that shaped relationships at the time. Instead, the audience sees the dances, the longing glances, and the emotional love confessions. The stricter realities of the period are pushed aside, leaving viewers with a polished version of the past that highlights romance while leaving the more difficult parts out of the story.
Even though most viewers know these shows and movies are fictional, they can still influence how people think about relationships today. Watching characters exchange grand romantic gestures can make modern dating seem less exciting by comparison.
Texts, casual hangouts, and everyday conversations often feel far less meaningful next to moments of intense emotion shown on screen. The difference can make people imagine that love in the past was somehow deeper, more intentional, or more emotional than it actually was.
“I think that watching romance shows definitely changes people’s views on relationships, especially in the sense that they’re more romantic,” said sophomore Charlette Wait. “Real relationships are about compromise and caring about your significant other enough to sacrifice things for them, but most of the time nowadays it’s not really like that.”
Despite these historical realities, audiences are still strongly drawn to stories set in these time periods. One reason may be that the relationships in these shows feel slower and more intentional than modern dating.
In today’s world, communication often happens quickly through texts, social media, and dating apps, which can make relationships feel rushed or less personal. Historical romance stories instead focus on anticipation, emotional tension, and gradual connection between characters. Because of this, the type of love shown in these stories can feel more meaningful or exciting to viewers.
Social media has even amplified this effect. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of edits and clips from historical romance shows and movies. Some videos talk about longing for the romance in these shows, focusing more on the aesthetic rather than the reality. Over time, repeated exposure to these moments can change the way people feel about romance nowadays, making them undervalue it or feel as if it isn’t enough.
Melanie Valdez, a sophomore, says entertainment is a big reason people are drawn to these shows. “Many viewers, including me, like seeing what life might have been like back then, like the balls, and outfits, and like the way people talked. Those things make shows interesting and help people imagine what things were like back then.”
Even though these shows are fictional, they remain popular because they offer a type of romance that feels rare in everyday life. They focus on emotions, patience, and storytelling that builds over time, which is very different from modern dating where things often happen quickly and over text. While these stories can be enjoyable, they also show how easily entertainment can reshape the way people imagine the past and the way they think about love in the present.
