To anyone who's seen this, and Downton Abby

Yes, I’ve seen both. They are similar in that they are both essentially high-end, beautifully produced soap operas. Downton focuses on the dual experiences of the upstairs upper class and downstairs working class. The Bridgerton plot mainly centers on the upper class social circle of titled gentlemen courting debutantes with their families lurking and plotting around them. Bridgerton is less historically accurate than Downton and engages in more fantasy fiction. It is getting a lot of press for creating a post-era racially mixed and equitable society. Both series use lots of dramatic plot devices to pump up the drama and create conflict, and plug in comic moments to balance out the tension.

Bridgerton is a period drama fantasy. Light and silly it's just eye candy really.

Downton Abbey is also eye candy but it has a few decent story lines and is a proper drama.

Upstairs, Downstairs from 1971-75 looks like crap compared to the other two because of the production methods back in those days. But it has story lines with substance and bite and is much more interesting.

Belgravia (2020) is a top notch six episode period drama made by the same people who produced Downton Abbey but as it is a specific story it has a definite beginning, middle and end. I liked it much better than Downton Abbey.

I've heard there is a lot more R rated sexual content than the likes of Downton Abbey so maybe not something to recommend for your grandmother who loved that show.

They're both good in their own ways.

I absolutely loved Downton Abbey and while it took me a minute or two to get into Bridgerton, I thought it was really worth watching!

This show is centered around romance and fantasy. It also is beautiful to watch with good-looking people in beautiful clothes living in beautiful homes with beautiful gardens listening to beautiful music. Pure eye candy feast. The stories have a tawdry romance novel feel because that's what it basically is.

I've watched the Downton Abby movies instead of the series because I found the series visually boring. This is more realistic and a drama. It's not as much fun as Bridgerton which also centers around fancy balls.