Bridgerton. We have all heard of it. It has taken Netflix by storm as the most watched television programme ever. Surely yet another lockdown isn't to blame, is it? No, I don't believe that's why. Following a pretty dismally received latest season of The Crown (mainly because of the lengthy debate over what is true or false) I feel the need for something that people can't tear to shred for accuracy has emerged like a hatched chick. Bridgerton does have its historical truths. Of course it does. Because we wouldn't be able to recognise it as history or the regency period. But what it does so well is it delivers not only that, but the ludicrously and soapy drama that Jane Austen films always bring without meaning to but this time on purpose. It is simple, but subtly genius.
Themes such as female empowerment, being able to choose who you marry is an idealistic perspective. Bridgerton almost acts as the past we wish had happened. We want the characters to speak how they feel, and get the justice they deserve but we still want the frigidness of society there. And oh does it have it. As silly as it makes it, we all still heavily believe in the story. Nothing reflects this better than the colour-blind casting. Queen Charlotte is dripping in jewels, beautiful but historically inaccurate fabrics, and here's the kicker- lots, and lots of power. We know it is not true of the early 1800s that a queen would have been black. Slavery wasn't even fully abolished by this time. Far from it. But the fantasy of this is really effective on the viewer. In a world full of pandemics, riots at The Capitol and Black Lives Matter marches; we just need a break and to imagine otherwise. This isn't harmful and distracting; it's just doing a good deed to all of our doom-scrolling eyeballs, you know?
The same goes for Dickinson. I watched this for the first time last week and just like Bridgerton there is a heavy use of modern songs layered throughout the episodes. Strangely, it doesn't take you out of the time period because it makes us think more deeply about the characters and the kind of music they would like in a different era. Emily Dickinson definitely classes herself as someone that would like the music. It doesn't seem completely wrong. The fakeness of that kind of makes it more digestible for teenagers who aren't into the whole period drama thing. Sometimes not everyone can relate to people of the past, and this is like a step-ladder to doing so and I like that.
The language and phrases used in Dickinson is full of "sups" and modern lingo and it does it in a really self-aware way. The show isn't lying to you. It's just presenting the humour of seeing that transcend centuries that highlights the hilarity and attitudes of the time. It can be grating at first but the comedy grows on you. It's just all dynamic, and smart in a way that isn't praised by critics and I think that it is a great shame to label Dickinson as rubbish because it is geared towards teenagers and doesn't have the most strong ties to fact. Yet, there are characters that are very much real and documented. Just what the show does with them is speculative but that is what is so fantastic. It is an extremely loyalty to the character of Emily Dickinson and the unlimited bounds you can give to telling someone's story. A quote from the Dickinson creator Alena Smith summarises their vision well:
But I think the key is less to do with “this happened and this didn’t,” and it’s actually more of a question about the techniques we used in telling Emily’s story. In other words, we are really pushing the boundaries of surrealism in season two. I wanted to set that introduction up so the audience themselves can be open to perhaps blurring the lines or losing the distinction between what is real and what is a dream state of a great artist."
Also I would just like to shout out how incredibly fabulous the treatment of Emily Dickinson's suspected sexuality was represented in the show? If I could compel you to watch it just because of that I really would say you should. I think we all need to watch this space on how many shows may follow the lead of Dickinson and Bridgerton. We are all thirsty for the surreal and when it comes to history there is a playground of material to do this too. Both of these shows are very camp and theatrical. Who doesn't crave that? Anyone remember The Favourite? That film definitely was ahead of its time. In any case I am just living for this kind of thing and fingers crossed this trend lasts!
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