Bridgerton’s second season was recently released on Netflix and the South Asian representation was unmatched. Not seeing South Asian culture reflected so well in the industry growing up, this season really struck a chord for me, along with South Asians all across America. For those of you who haven’t seen the new season, this review will have MAJOR SPOILER ALERTS, so go watch it first! With that being said, here are a few of the components of Bridgerton’s second season that made my second-generation South Asian immigrant heart happy.
- The Sharma Sisters
Bridgerton casted Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran for the Sharma sisters—two dark-skinned British Tamil actresses. In the South Asian movie industry itself, I have seen countless instances of colorism that have made light-skinned actresses the forefront of the industry, while actors of darker skin tone have been ignored by the camera. Bridgerton did more than South Asian movie industries could do for their actors and casted dark-skinned South Indian women as the main characters. Not only did they take on significant roles for the show’s plot, but they also were considered desirable, elegant, and beautiful characters, which is not typical for the little South Asian representation that exists in the movie and television industries.
- Haldi Ceremony
As a part of the pre-wedding rituals for Miss Edwina Sharma’s wedding, the Sharmas have a haldi ceremony. It is clear that the producers of Bridgerton did their research to provide accurate and effective South Asian representation by their inclusion of the haldi ceremony, a ritual where the bride and groom have a holy bath where turmeric is applied on them. The scenes of the turmeric mixture being made while Kate and Mary Sharma put it on Edwina in preparation of her wedding are so intimate and resonate with South Asian audiences who understand the intimacy of the process.
- Coconut Oil Hair Massage
Growing up, coconut oil scalp massages were normal, as the Indian science of Ayurvedic medicine made use of coconut oil for scalp and hair health widespread throughout the country. Though I was embarrassed to have coconut oil in my hair as a child, as I was made fun of for it and I never saw others do the same, it plays such a significant role in Indian culture. It is a significant element that contributes to the South Indian beauty that the Sharma sisters display. Watching Kate put coconut oil in Edwina’s hair as a casual part of their routine showed how Bridgerton demonstrates clear South Asian representation by focusing on the details.
These are only a few of the many well-thought out elements of South Asian representation that Bridgerton seamlessly incorporates throughout their second season. Along with these elements, Bridgerton also showcased South Asian culture through the jewelry, clothing, language, tea, etc. that were a part of the season. It warms my heart to see such great representation finally hit the screen because unlike me, along with several first and second generation South Asians, South Asian Americans growing up today will have people who look like them on TV and will see their culture truly represented in a positive light.