If the second season perpetuates the central idea that people of color would have been allowed to occupy positions of power at a time in history when they were actively colonized, it cannot back down under the weight of the responsibilities mounted so precariously. than Queen Charlotte’s gravity-defying hairstyles. Tanya Vasunia, a psychologist and ardent fan of the original Julia Quinn works on which the series is based, agrees. “Just placing a person of color in a prominent position in society will not change history or erase the centuries of work it took to make this happen. Instead of trying to score waking points today with retrospective activism, it’s okay for history to remain history,” she muses. When looking to unpack the symbolism behind casting decisions, it’s essential to question the intent: “Is this being done to create awareness and not to understand?” The first step forward, of course, is to create spaces where we see a great diversity of faces, but that cannot be claimed as inclusive,” she believes.

Elsewhere, from the far end of the spectrum, comes a plaintive mumble that perhaps we shouldn’t expect historical accuracy from a period drama in which Billie Eilish is played by a string quartet. After all, wouldn’t it be much easier to accept Bridgerton as a sugary exercise in escape instead of holding him accountable to a higher truth? Vasunia thinks the answer may not be one-sided. “It’s also up to viewers to choose what they consume. If something can’t do an accurate job of representing your salient identity, it’s okay to avoid those shows until they approach things the way they do. should. But if you’re okay with accepting it as a brilliant artistic take on history, instead of hard facts, it’s just as well to enjoy the show for the frothy game that it is,” she says.

At the end of the day, there should perhaps be no guilt in participating in the fantasy of delightful couture swaying through Regency ballrooms swollen with the notes of “Thank U Next.” Just like there should be no compulsion to immerse yourself in the ‘What if…?’ of diverse characters by not only taking up space in places that have historically been closed to them, but also having the difficult conversations that come with that inclusion. After all, it’s the ‘What if…?’s that breathe real magic into any fantasy.

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