In polite society, one must not confuse “Mr. Malcolm’s List” with “Bridgerton,” as the former is a feature film and the latter is a streaming series, and the former has a Julia Thistlewaite and the latter features a Lady Whistledown, and though they are both Regency romances featuring diverse casts and romantic intrigue, “Mr. Malcolm’s List” is a much tamer entry in the genre.
You won’t hear anachronistic string renditions of “Wrecking Ball” and “Material Girl” in “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” and there’s no nudity, just a few chaste kissing scenes — but let’s not kid ourselves. We’re still in the world of upper-crust society in the 1810s, with “The Season” and all sorts of idle-rich activities such as costumed balls and sporting forays in the country and hand-written notes inviting one to a tour of the rose garden and that sort of thing.
