Bridging Romance and Representation Through Colour Blind Casting in the Bridgerton Series

Abstract

The research paper examines Bridgerton as a transformative case study in adaptation and inclusive casting. The paper argues that Bridgerton's casting reshapes traditional narratives and challenges dominant representations in historical romance by analysing how the Netflix adaptation departs from Julia Quinn's original novel series. While Quinn's novels reflect the racial homogeneity typical of Regency-era fiction, the series reimagines the aristocratic world by integrating Black and Brown characters into the upper echelons of society. Bridgerton disrupts the Eurocentric frameworks of period drama through this racial reconfiguration and engages with present-day discourses on diversity, power, and visibility. The essay also explores how casting choices function as tools of narrative innovation, enabling new modes of identification and audience engagement. Further, it investigates the series' global cultural impact and reception, situating Bridgerton as a significant media phenomenon that reflects and influences evolving expectations of representation in popular romance and television. This analysis contributes to a broader understanding of adaptation as a site of ideological negotiation, aesthetic reinvention, and socio-political commentary.