Finding the Extraordinary in Normalcy
Days before the release of season two, a friend asked me if I was going to watch the Bridgerton premiere during our spring break, to which I promptly responded, “No.”
My speedy retaliation to my friend’s innocent question was then followed by the same sentiments that others shared throughout the past year. Sentiments such as, “I’m upset it won’t center around the main cast from season one” or “I don’t really care for Anthony’s story — I want to see more of the Duke.”
But when I got home, I sank into my couch, stared blankly into my TV screen, and ruminated on my response. My repetition of others’ sentiments was not the real reason for my disinclination to delve into another binge watch. What was really keeping me from watching this new season? With all the fanfare around the main actress being a Tamil woman, why was I not elated to view this moment on my screen? As I fidgeted with my remote while staring at the play button for Capital R Rake, it hit me.
I’ve been burned before.
Burned by the disappointment of watching South Asian characters that carry nothing but shame for that very identity. Burned by every chance of South Asian representation I had gotten ending in making me feel like I was too much not like everyone else. I was scared that this representation was going to be more of the same heartbreak that shows like Never Have I Ever or Master of None have given me.
Before I knew it, I pressed play. And to my delight, the next eight hours proved me wrong.
When we are introduced to Kate and Edwina Sharma, their origination from India is not the crux of their identity, it is a mere addition to their stories. We get to know Kate as the eldest sister who is willingly tasked with the responsibility to take care of the family she loves. A strong, self-directed, educated woman who believes in standing up for herself and doing what is right. A woman who does not take nonsense from anyone. These personality traits have no connection to her Indian identity, but they neither negate nor enhance that identity. They simply… coexist.
Kate and Edwina’s identities as Indian women, however, were not entirely overlooked either. The beauty behind the show’s incorporation of Indian culture is that none of it rested upon explanations. The elaichi in Kate’s tea, the oiling of Edwina’s hair, the haldi ceremony — these small details were not burdened with explanations of their existence. The pride in their identity shined through its normalcy. These actions that are so ordinary for an Indian girl to do were not followed by obnoxious attempts at making “subtle” remarks to highlight them. Normalcy requires no explanation.
Perhaps, Bridgerton was the platform to do it. Shonda Rhimes has proven to be a writer who understands that divides in society don’t have to be emphasized superficially for them to be understood. Through Bridgerton, she illustrates the extraordinary quality in creating media that intentionally ignores the superficial differences between individuals and forces us to dig deeper. Writers like her show us that we can use art to explore the intricacies of personality and find that maybe we are not so different after all.
I used to think that my issue with a writer like Mindy Kaling was that none of the significant others in her shows were of South Asian descent. I realize now that it was not the actual casting, but the symbolism of such a choice which penetrated each episode that bothered me. You can sense the disregard for cultural identity. This disregard is disguised as a search for belonging and coming of age, but it does damage. There are people of non-South Asian descent who look at such a struggle, only seeing pain and distaste for an Indian person’s identity, and use that to further their beliefs that many Indian people are uncomfortable in their own skin and hope to be accepted by those they are told to be the gold standard.
Bridgerton allowed us to see the similarities in personhood between Anthony and Kate without any negative infiltration of a culture barrier. It showed us two people whose love for their families is the reason for their instincts and actions. We were able to see a Tamil woman be desired and loved by a white man without any part of her cultural identity being minimized, fetishized, or discouraged by either Kate or Anthony. Significantly, we see an equality in the human experience that transcends race and culture.
I feel encouraged after watching this season. For the first time, I feel like I can rewatch a show because I really feel like I’m in it. We still have a long way to go for normalcy in representation, but this season of Bridgerton has given me new hope. A hope that I can be seen as a Tamil woman who is also so much more than just that.
