How Bridgerton's Sharma Sisters Personify Limitless Love

Netflix’s Bridgerton has captivated audiences with its alternate universe approach to a historical romance series. The show comprises a variety of families and characters of distinct ethnic/racial backgrounds, which has laid the groundwork for the series to explore cultural traditions and societal standards of varying subcultures of the time. 

Set in Regency Era England, the show presents an alternate reality that plays into the theory around real-life Queen Charlotte’s supposed mixed-race heritage. Thus, the scandalous world of the Bridgerton couples is rich in the diversity of race/ethnicity and culture of BIPOC, particularly Black and Indian people in addition to White characters. The show’s progressive casting has garnered attention and discussions of if the show should be categorized as true fantasy or a lack thereof. Additionally, the show’s representations have been questioned on if BIPOC characters are shown on a spectrum or if they fit into a mold of stereotypical and one-dimensional characters centered around whiteness. 

This particular era in history placed social marriages as prime opportunities for moving up a rung on the class ladder, with property, wealth, and social recognition as major perks to these courting events, weddings, and similar functions. Aside from the primary storyline of the Bridgerton siblings and their saucy courtships/relationships, another dynamic duo, Kate and Edwina Sharma stand out for their familial pragma and storge!

 Season Two is set to revolve around eldest Sharma daughter Kate Sharma(Simone Ashely) and her love interest/rival Anthony Bridgerton(Jonathan Bailey), younger sister Edwina Sharma(Charithra Chandran), and the sisters’ matriarch, Mary Sharma(Shelley Conn). As Kate falls into the role of an endearing and overprotective older sister, Edwina maintains kindness and compassion toward the notion of a perfect love and ultimate social union. This is something Edwina hopes to find in Anthony, who holds adverse intentions. 

The Sharma trio are no strangers to struggle as their family name has endured public scrutiny prior to Edwina’s debut in high society. In India, Mary’s will to love was tested by loving the girls’ lower-class father, against the wishes and demands of her high-ranking aristocratic family lineage. Mary’s question of whether there’s power in choosing love over status and conservative traditions is worthy is continued and explored through the courtship and debuts of Kate and Edwina. 

Edwina, more so than Kate, strives to conceptualize romantic love that the series continues to fall into and out of with each couple and courting. Unlike her sister who approaches real love with reservations, Edwina desires to manifest a true love experience in all of its’ beauty and endearment. During this trial of experiencing new raw human emotions in addition to upkeeping their own sisterly relations, the Sharma siblings are forced to grasp the realities of their own love identities. 

Going back to some foundational understandings of love and loving, the ancient Greeks hit the nail on the head by categorizing 8 different love types. For Kate and Edwina, they embody pragma and storge, familial love and longstanding love, respectively. This concept will hopefully expand more in the coming season as Kate attempts to find a balance between upholding strong femininity while also breaking down her sensual walls, and she hopes the same for Edwina. Although Edwina’s relationship with Anthony Bridgerton is sure to be riddled with controversy and potential strife, she may have to open up new spaces in her storge love style, making way for a better fit. 

There’s much elegance and grit to the Sharma women’s encounters with recesses of the heart. Yet, it’s their hearts that will ultimately guide them to their personalized paths of content. Stay tuned for more on this charismatic and bold family! 

Amped up for more Bridgerton?! Peep the Series 2 trailer here!