Netflix's new show "Bridgerton" has been receiving praise for its captivating storyline set in the early 19th century. However, it has also been criticized for repeating the toxic male love interest mistake seen in "Twilight." The male leads, Simon Basset from "Bridgerton" and Edward Cullen from "Twilight," exhibit emotionally unavailable and manipulative behavior, which some viewers may mistakenly perceive as romantic.

In "Bridgerton," based on Julia Quinn's bestselling series, the show revolves around the upper-class Bridgerton and Featherington families. The first season focuses on Daphne Bridgerton and her tumultuous relationship with the reluctant bachelor, Simon.

Living in a society where marriage and motherhood are crucial, Daphne finds Simon's refusal to settle down upsetting. However, the show also introduces various obstacles and conflicting desires, highlighting the dilemma between societal expectations and personal freedom. Unfortunately, the show occasionally promotes dangerous tropes.

Both Simon and Edward display borderline cruel behavior towards their partners. Edward is torn between his attraction to Bella and his natural inclination to feed on her.

His indecisiveness and overprotectiveness continually disrupt their relationship. At one point, Edward even breaks up with Bella abruptly and leaves her alone in the woods to protect her.

Similarly, Simon's commitment issues stem from his troubled relationship with his neglectful and abusive father. Despite being attracted to Daphne, he adamantly believes the Basset line should end with him. This leads him to emotionally shut down, abandoning his friendship with Daphne and making plans to leave London. Devastated, Daphne accuses him of indecisiveness and a lack of faith in her decision-making abilities.

Ultimately, Simon is forced to marry her to protect her honor.

It's not just Simon and Edward who exhibit toxicity. Daphne's eldest brother, Anthony, struggles with his duty as the head of the Bridgerton household and his passion for a lower-class opera singer named Siena. He repeatedly breaks promises to her, causing constant turmoil in their relationship. Daphne, like Bella, tends to forgive and take back her love interest even when they continually let her down.

In a controversial scene, Daphne even assaults Simon after their marriage due to a miscommunication regarding their ability to have children.

This incident highlights Daphne's toxic behavior and her willful ignorance of Simon's conviction.

While "Bridgerton" is considered a better-written love story compared to "Twilight," it still shares problematic characters and complex relationships. The hope is that the show's creators will recognize this toxicity and focus on establishing healthy communication between characters in future seasons.