Bridgerton/Netflix, Katsumi Murouchi/Getty Images, Abanti Chowdhury/BI"Bridgerton" season three premieres on May 16.But it's actually the fourth season in the "Bridgerton" universe if you count "Queen Charlotte."The ideal watching order is counterintuitive — you should intersperse the main show with the spinoff."Bridgerton" is returning with its third season, but viewers watching the franchise in release order are missing a beat.The series, which premiered in 2020, quickly became one of the most-watched on Netflix as viewers were captivated by the bright, escapist drama set in 19th-century London.The success of the first season prompted a whole franchise with more seasons plus a spin-off show, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."Most fans have been watching the show in release order, but we think there is a better way.Season 1 is still the perfect introduction to the "Bridgerton" world.Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé Jean-Page) in "Bridgerton" season one.Liam Daniel/BridgertonThough "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" is a prequel to the main "Bridgerton" series, it's not a great place to start.