Bridgerton's Black Sheep: A Character That Fans Just Can't Stomach
With its scandalous romances and intriguing storylines set in the Regency era, Bridgerton has become one of the most talked-about series of recent years.
And while fans are certainly captivated by the show's fascinating characters, there's one that stands out as the black sheep - Edwina Sharma, the younger sister of Kate Bridgerton.
Edwina was born in India, and her upbringing was far from conventional. Her parents' love story was considered scandalous as her mother defied societal norms and fled England to marry a lower-class shop owner who happened to have a daughter of his own.
Edwina grew up alongside her half-sister Kate, who was also raised by their mother. But when Edwina's father passed away, Kate turned to their grandparents for help. They agreed to offer a dowry, but with one condition - Edwina must marry a proper Lord.
During the season, Lady Danbury extended her hospitality to the Sharmas, inviting them as her esteemed guests. Upon their arrival, Kate expressed that she had no interest in courting and was determined to find a suitable match for her sister instead.
Although Edwina aspired to marry someone with a noble title, Kate hoped for her sister to find real love rather than just a status symbol.
And then, the drama started unfolding when Edwina set her sights on Anthony Bridgerton, who developed feelings for Kate and whom Kate deemed as an ill-suited candidate for her sister’s hand in marriage.
As a character, Edwina became one of the more polarizing ones in the entire show, and let's just say she's not exactly getting a lot of praises. So, what is it about her that so many fans can't stomach?
She Comes off as Selfish
One of the main problems viewers have with Edwina is that her character comes off as the epitome of self-centeredness, lacking empathy toward her sister.
It wasn't until Kate was on the brink of death that Edwina began to display a hint of humility and consideration for Kate’s needs, which fans found irredeemable.
She Is Ungrateful
Despite Kate constantly sacrificing her own happiness for Edwina's sake, Edwina never properly thanked her sister for everything she had done for her. And on top of that, she even went as far as to correct Kate and diminish their relationship by making it clear that they were "half-sisters."
She Lacks Personality
Fans have expressed disappointment in the way the character was portrayed, finding that she lacked depth and was reduced to a one-dimensional socialite.
Dubbing her "insipid," fans have suggested that the writers could’ve made her resemble the first season's Daphne, who was aware of societal expectations and excited about marriage, yet still had a prominent personality.
Edwina Sharma may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there's no denying that she's an essential part of the Bridgerton story and has left an impression on the viewers. And who knows? Perhaps in future seasons, the showrunners will take note of the feedback and give Edwina the development that fans feel she deserves.