When I saw the preview of Bridgerton I immediately knew that I was going to binge-watch season 2 immediately. While I enjoyed season 1 it was not of my liking or taste. I am not a romantic in the least but the Bridgerton storyline and aesthetics are remarkable. I would like to place a disclaimer that I am completely biased and I don’t have any constructive criticism because I felt as though season 2 was so brilliantly portrayed and done. I felt as though Bridgerton is the Hallmark channel of guilty pleasures except there is so much more representation.
Witnessing the portrayal of Indian representation on Netflix was refreshing. Growing up I was practically raised on Bollywood movies. I know every single popular Bollywood song in Urdu and Hindi. Often I noticed the Indian and Pakistani representation whether it be in Hollywood or on other streaming services centered around stereotyping Brown people to the point that I would argue that it is harmful.
Seeing Hollywood's portrayal of Indian women in particular centered around the hyper-sexualization of brown women. I don’t find it necessary to list the number of times South East Asian women are either hyper-sexualized or fetishized. On the contrary, southeast Asian women have also been seen as undesirable which is not in the least bit shocking as fetishization centers around a fixation on dehumanizing a person only for perverted desires. It is not a shocking or radical fact as the portrayal of all marginalized people whether they be transwomen or BIPOC are often vulnerable to dehumanization.
I was not immediately hooked when I first watched Bridgerton I found the first episode to move slow and period pieces were not something that I enjoyed. I watched a handful of period romantic pieces and found them rather lacking in storyline or plot. I remember when I first read Pride and Prejudice and watched the movie I just felt like it was lacking in entertainment. I am not the biggest Jane Austen fan, her books and stories have always seemed so far from reality for me. I do believe that although we are no longer living in the 18th century there is still this expectation for long-term commitments and marriage even in today's society.
I think Bridgerton closes that gap and has mastered just about the right amount of what an audience wants. Season 2 depicts the Sharma family and Bridgerton family, as Anthony Bridgerton courts Edwina Sharma. Without giving too much away Anthony ends up falling in love with Edwina’s older sister Kate. Anthony and Kate have insane chemistry but are both equally devoted to their families and duties. I found that the Sharma family did not have to comprise their identities which I found to be a breath of fresh air. What I loved more so than the tension and chemistry between Anthony and Kate, are the outfits and the jewelry which were stunning.
My heart could burst from the portrayal of regalness and witnessing representation that is being portrayed more than ever before than I have ever seen on screen and I am here for it. It was beautiful to continue to see women of color on screen in a period fantasy piece.
Representation reinforces that we can be seen and heard. That our existence whether it may or not be reflected outside can be reflected in different forms whether that be in creative fields or not. In a world that continues to be plagued with telling us our self-worth is equated to nothing. In a society that continues to reaffirm that we are invisible, it's important more than ever to stand in your truth. To tell stories whether they be in fantasy period pieces or real life.
While I can not relate to the royalty trope of high society I could however understand the burden Kate felt towards her family. There is this burden that Kate spoke about with Anthony to step up as both of their fathers passed away. Kate is the oldest although she is the half-sister of Edwina. Kate and Anthony both felt the burdens of being the oldest and carrying on the responsibilities.
Being a first-generation citizen in my family I may be the youngest but I am also my mother's only daughter. Being the only daughter in a Pakistani household includes carrying a lot of responsibility early on and whether that be for better or for worst I am not sure. But I empathized with Kate as she held the burdens of her family with her being financial and generational responsibility.
Without giving the ending of the show away, I will say seeing the Sharma family reinforced and reaffirmed my own belief that we all deserve happy endings.
