Bridgerton:: why in Shondaland ethnics can be

OP

It is so stupid to cast black people as English aristocrats during -- well, anytime really -- the Regency period.

For R2.

For R2.

I am generally opposed to diversity for diversity sake. But, I didn't hate this.

While, of course, minorities would not have had such high social status in Regency England, I thought of it more like part of the alternative history genre of fiction. It actually does what I've always advocated by creating characters, rather than simply deciding that race doesn't matter. MICE Quotient - Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event - the Milieu in this case just happens to be a world with similar social and economic pressures as Regency England, but where race doesn't matter. At the same time, gender pressures on women (and men) remain the same.

And, you gotta admit, Hastings was pretty damn sexy.

R5 Here's an inconvenient truth: Much of the obscene upper class wealth in England was due to slavery on the distant plantations of the aristocracy. But why confront that ugly reality about how black people were treated during the Regency when we can pretend they were enjoying the fruits of their own labor (somehow)? The casting is whitewashing on a grand scale and it feels utterly fake, but no more fake than the white characters. The whole thing is an exercise in artificiality. There is not one moment that one can lose the sense that everyone is acting in elaborate costumes.

[quote][R5] Here's an inconvenient truth: Much of the obscene upper class wealth in England was due to slavery on the distant plantations of the aristocracy. But why confront that ugly reality about how black people were treated during the Regency when we can pretend they were enjoying the fruits of their own labor (somehow)?

Your simplistic interpretation of sources of wealth during that period does not impact the story.

You sound exhausting.

black lords n ladys? o dear rhonda shonda, get ur facts str8...what a ridic piece of zzzzzz

What a bozo mess, La Shonda needs to go back to producing doctor shows.

The extent which this show goes to exclaim politcal correctness makes me reach for my Correctol.

I'd much rather see a drama with POC in contemporary times, dealing with life on life's terms. Or if in a historical film or TV project, REALISTICALLY. This is revisionist BS, just like filmmakers did in the old days when everything and everyone was whitewashed. It's foolish. To do something like this is an insult to the memory of black people who lived in England and elsewhere during this time.

Between Ryan Murphy and Shondra, Netflix should change it’s name to The History Reimagined Channel.

There were about 5,000 country house estates at the height, mid 19th century. Today about three thousand remain.

Well less than 100 have been linked to slavery.

Links to slavery as high as 10%.

Her attempt at woke merely highlights her own warped views....

P.O.S. should be the subtitle to this travesty.

[quote]This is revisionist BS

Honey, if you think this dreck is revisionist bull shit, let me show you some real revisionist bull shit, done by a real artiste

But but but ... was it entertaining?

Mary, Tarantino was not making a racial revisionist movie, just a fanciful happi end to a shitty incident.

i thought it was marvy.

I'm black, I'm not a fan of colorblind casting or changing the race of established characters and especially not changing the race of historical figures, but I'm fine with this because it's explained and based in some type of historical theory.

[quote]The only time race is even hinted at is in Episode 4, when Daphne's fake suitor (and her older brother's best friend), Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), is reminded by his surrogate mother that there were once two separate societies divided by color until the king fell in love with Queen Charlotte, a Black woman. (Notably, Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King George III, whose marriage was arranged, didn't meet until their official wedding day, and it wasn't until the early 20th century that speculation about Charlotte's racial heritage began, let alone became seen as somewhat canonical.)

[quote]This moment gives viewers some context of how race — albeit a modern understanding of race — could have played out, but it's not at the forefront of this fictional setting. Like the rest of the signature shows coming from Shondaland, the series's draw is the deliciously soapy drama at the center. And without an emphasis on race, historical accuracy or the backdrop of slavery, fans can focus on the scandals, costumes, gossip and intrigue at the heart of the series.

R15, you are so off on this inept comparison. Seriously, you're just pulling shut out of your ass.

Sharon would never have complained about an alternate ending that gave her and her baby life.

As long as they keep showing John Bailey's ass who really cares?

Shonda is a racist and homophobic cunt who believes in black supremacy.

woke!

[quote]Mary, Tarantino was not making a racial revisionist movie, just a fanciful happi end to a shitty incident.i thought it was marvy.

not surprised you would have no problem with revisionist bullshit, as long as blacks don't get to have a fantasy happy ending

...hmmmm....wonder why that might be

R21 needs help.

I forgot about Ryan Murphy's reimagined BS. It's wrong. Speak the truth, even when it's not pretty, please. Pretty please?

The actor playin the Duke is one of the most beautiful men I’ve seen in years. Oozes sex appeal.

Casting Mother Jefferson as queen to George III was inspired.

[quote]Tarantino was not making a racial revisionist movie, just a fanciful happi end to a shitty incident

The recent uptick in use of "racial" here on DL in this rednecky rightwing way has made it pretty obvious just WHO is coming here to post lately.

The kind of person who will flat-out say "this fanciful imagining is ethically wrong because it has blacks in it, while this other fanciful imagining is super happy and awesome because it's all about whites, plus one Asian that's made fun of," basically.

It does look weird to see blacks posing as aristocrats bak in the old timey england days. she in the wrong genre...that phat miss shonda lou. netflixx paid good $ for this crap?

Why is everyone's pantaloons in a snit about the colorblind casting? "The Great" has already done this with Catherine the Great's court.

The Great sucks bad.

Next.

photoshopped b.s.

It would have been better with Joyce Dewitt as the lead.

Is shonda gay?

[quote]R19 You are so off on this inept comparison, r15. Sharon would never have complained about an alternate ending that gave her and her baby life.

And who’s to complain about people of color being treated as equals in a fictional drama?

White people don't want to want watch stories about the actual lives of black people.

They want to see them masquerading as whites.

This is not really about casting black people in normally white roles. Shonda is imagining a society where race doesn’t matter just like Ryan Murphy likes to portray one where sexuality is not an issue.

You’re completely missing the point if you’re all stressed about race in this show

I don’t care about the cast. I just can’t watch an entire season of what will be a sappy romance show

Funny to see that DLers are suddenly so concerned about historical accuracy.

DL doesn’t care about height, weight, how muscular the men are, how modern the women the look—but everyone is fixated on race!

[quote]This is not really about casting black people in normally white roles.

Of course it is.

[quote] You’re completely missing the point if you’re all stressed about race in this show

Stressed out about race in the show? It makes no difference to me one way or the other. But as I said and just so you know: for the most part, white people don't want to want watch stories about the actual lives of black people. They want to see them masquerading as whites.

funny bad/sarcastic review of it and her in this weeks new yorker mag...

Well, you people are going to hate the upcoming Mr. Malcolm's List, even if it's with DL fav Oliver Cohen Jackson.

Shonda flops !

Beautiful series, loved every moment of it

The series is based on a series of ROMANCE NOVELS. It was not created for Datalounge’s 60 yr old idiotic white supremacists. You don’t like it; don’t fucking watch it. You have options. No one gives a fuck. Again it wasn’t created for you.

All of the excessive dialogue about a fictional series based on a romance novel all boils down to the same white supremacist resentment expressed in every other thread. We get you hate black people. Spending day and night attempting to both disguise and justify your hatred must be exhausting.

Who is in the pic at r5?

did blacks dress as aristocrats and have high titles or is this shondaland fairytale?

im all 4 woke but this is a bit.....reaching.

Dear god the storylines in this are so boring....may as well have kangaroos prancing around in tall white wigs and possums in waistcoats.

R3/ R4 thanks, that was really interesting (and well researched).

I did not know that

I find it a total comedy....like the cartoons of dogs and cats dressed like fancy pants folks on some paintings...

Is there an actual plot????? man its a gagger....

Not watching. But it IS why the 3-named actor won't be James Bond.

The Bridgerton men are hot!

Yes..plumb woke hot.

[quote] You don’t like it; don’t fucking watch it. You have options. No one gives a fuck. Again it wasn’t created for you.

We equally have the option to criticize it, Li'l Miss Hissy Fit.

Don't like that reality? Well, as you say: no one gives a fuck.

Its a fictional TV show on Netflix with men and women fornicating. It is supposed to appeal to the common masses and romantic frustrated housewives. Everyone relax and have a cup of tea and shortbread

Lookalike

Well, it’s a massive hit. So it got something right.

[quote] Well, it’s a massive hit. So it got something right.

Never underestimate the sappiness of the lowbrow common viewer. If you slap a Regency costume on a POC you will find an additional wellspring of lowbrow viewing WOC to hook. The possibilities are endless.

[quote] Well, it’s a massive hit. So it got something right.

So is "This is Us," so obviously that means nothing.

I finally watched an episode. I can't believe how tacky it is in every way.

I can see the low brow in the US lapping it up. Is it popular in England?