Apple TV+ has finally dropped the first episodes of its flagship period drama, The Buccaneers. The brand-new series debuted on Apple’s streaming platform on Wednesday (November 8) and is set to rival Netflix’s Bridgerton.
The Buccaneers follows five wealthy and fun-loving American girls who travel to London in the 1870s to snare themselves an aristocrat from the upper echelons of the capital’s social scene. This kicks off an Anglo-American culture clash as the land of the stiff upper lip is infiltrated by a refreshing disregard for centuries of tradition.
The eight-part drama is inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel of the same name, is written by series creator Katherine Jakeways and boasts an all-female creative team. Its cast is led by American-Norwegian actress Kristine Frøseth, best-known from crime drama The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair and Netflix’s The Society.
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She stars alongside 13 Reasons Why’s Alisha Boe, Saved By the Bell’s Josie Totah, The Outpost’s Imogen Waterhouse and newcomer Aubri Ibrag. Rounding off the cast is Mia Threapleton, who viewers may recognise from Channel 4 drama I Am Ruth – in which she starred alongside her mother, Kate Winslet – and SAG Award-winning Mad Men star Christina Hendricks.
Bank of Dave self-made millionaire giving away money to 'keep kids working hard'The music-driven series blends 1870s English aristocracy with a modern soundtrack produced by Stella Mozgawa – of US band Warpaint – and packed with songs from today’s top female artists including Taylor Swift, Maggie Rogers, Bikini Kill, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The series has been met with favourable reviews upon its launch and currently holds a 93 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Guardian gave The Buccaneers four stars in its review, citing it as “enormous fun for Bridgerton fans” while the BBC argued it “deserves to be as successful” as its Netflix predecessor. So if you’re keen to dive into the Bridgerton-esque series, here’s how you can watch The Buccaneers for free.
The Buccaneers premiered with a three-episode drop on Wednesday. New episodes will drop every Wednesday until December 13. Viewers can stream the series with a subscription to Apple TV+, which usually costs £8.99 a month and includes access to hit shows like the upcoming Godzilla spin-off Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and season three of Slow Horses.
But throughout November there are several ways to bag a free trial to Apple’s streaming platform. Apple TV+ gives subscribers a seven-day free trial when they sign up, meaning members can binge the debut episodes of the series without paying a penny.
But savvy shoppers can get an even longer trial period with some awesome Black Friday deals. Currys are currently giving customers five months of Apple TV+ for free with any purchase, which includes a new Hisense 55" Smart 4K UHD TV with Amazon Alexa which is currently reduced by £250 – a huge 43 percent discount.
Sky is also giving away Apple TV+ with its packages, which include an amazing entertainment bundle with Sky Stream, Sky TV, Netflix and six months of free Apple TV+ for its “lowest price” of £19 a month. This Black Friday deal means bargain hunters can pocket a £126 saving over the 18-month term and have access to premium Sky channels such as Sky Atlantic, Sky Max and Sky Documentaries, plus all the most-talked-about new shows on Netflix and Apple TV+.
Other drama shows – including Bridgerton and its spin-off Queen Charlotte – are available on Netflix.