Season 2 of Bridgerton will famously go down in history as it allowed exposure and opened doors for south Asian women in Hollywood. This will bring upon changes in Bollywood as well (or at least, I’m hoping). This season is truly a masterpiece, tackling a multitude of themes: cultural importance, sisterhood, intimacy, familial expectations as well as bringing into light some south Asian toxicity.
Before I get into the nitty gritty of the themes throughout the show, I wish to express the roller coaster of emotions this season took me on. My imposter syndrome was through the roof the entirety of S2. Let me explain —my use of imposter syndrome doesn’t necessary align with the literal meaning, ‘doubting your abilities/feeling like a fraud’; it definitely could but I use it in terms of dissociative imposter syndrome which I do not yet have a concise definition for but I will demonstrate with an example:
Never in my life have I watched anything (show/movies/even anime) that I’m able to directly connect to. This is not to say I’m not able to empathize because of course I will always cry/laugh/be mind blown at tv entertainment. When executed well, tv entertainment will bring out the human emotions I carry naturally but I am always aware of the screen. I’m aware that I’m an audience, a spectator. Even in Bollywood, though culture may be the same, I’ve never looked like any of the actresses. For the first time, I didn’t sense the screen. I felt seen- for the first time, I was able to see myself, my friends, my parents and grandparents through the Sharmas. And most importantly, I was able to fantasize and idealize; I was able to say, ‘oh I would want that’ and not be dragged out of the fantasy, ‘this can never apply to me’. This lack of disassociation led me to my imposter because this has never happened before. I felt like a fraud to be able to say that my mom possesses qualities of Lady Mary or that my mom oils my hair. I felt like a fraud to be able to relate.
Bridgerton S2 not only opened the doors to South Asian culture through jewelry, embroidery, and traditions but it also redefined intimacy. Currently with social media and dating apps, we’ve become a hyper-sexualized culture where intimacy and closeness are derived through physicality. Kate and Anthony shows us that sex doesn’t equate to intimacy. Sex is just an act – it can be both personal and impersonal. Sex only become intimate when there’s meaning. There’s meaning in holding hands, there’s closeness in sitting together and sharing meals/tea, there’s affection in the way we look at your loved ones. Sex is just one out of hundreds of ways to show our love and understanding.
As much as we’d want to live the fantasy that love is unconditional, Bridgerton beautifully and infuriatingly accurately shows us the dark side of our culture. The Sheffields depict a sadden reality where love becomes conditional. Even after 25 years, the Sheffields ridicule disrespect and guilt-trip Lady Mary. Lady Mary was forced to pick between her family and her heart. This is the sad truth for many south Asian women. Lady Mary felt like she had to earn her love and she did not let Kate feel the same. I can continue to praise this season but above all, I am thankful that we finally have this.
Image credit: Netflix