Yes, I’ve been stalking every interview, teaser and article written about Netflix’s fifth most-watched show, Bridgerton, for months. And no I didn’t have time to finish it (thanks UCLA quarter system) until last night. Wow — what a journey!
As much as I love a good historical romance, this one was especially personal to me due to the plethora of South Asian representation, from the main cast to references made throughout the episodes. Here are a few of the moments that stood out to me personally:
- equal Rivals from the Start
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Kate and Anthony’s first meeting from Giphy Ah…a good rivals to lovers story is always a fan favorite. I absolutely love how Simone Ashley portrays Kate’s character as not only a badass Indian woman who can also ride a horse but also someone who can genuinely act as an equal to any man she fancies.
- Indian culture in the most dazzling scenes
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Pre-wedding dance scene from Giphy What’s interesting to me about this scene is not just the mesmerizing performances by the actors, but also the soaring instrumental soundtrack covering an old Bollywood song. I absolutely love how the director and editors intentionally made subtle references to the Sharma family’s culture at home, from Kate’s younger sister referring to her endearingly as “Didi” to iconic Indian songs playing in the background of some of the most important scenes. I do wish they’d make the references a bit more substantial than fleeting instances though, as I’m sure lots of people must’ve missed them as they happened.
- a second lead worthy of her role
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Anthony and Edwina Sharma (Netflix Trailer) from Giphy I love Kate and the amazing portrayal of her character, but I would say that Edwina Sharma’s growth and development throughout her arc has got to be what touched my heart at the end of the day. Growing up as an elder sister my whole life, I often find it hard to relate to younger sibling characters on a personal level. Yet watching Edwina Sharma turn from an innocent prospect in the series to one that’s willing to stand up for herself was not only refreshing but also wonderfully empowering.
There are a lot of opinions out there on the quality of representation of people of color in mainstream media and television. Though hiring actors in relatively diverse roles is a good foray into an otherwise underserved area, I think Bridgerton is only on the cusp of expanding the diverse network of talent we can enjoy on our screens. I really hope to see more stories centered around the lives of women of color in a historical context gain as much popularity as Bridgerton in the near future, and really think it has the power to bridge the gap in diverse talent throughout the industry.