We’re tokenised or trussed up as inspirational fodder for non-disabled audiences to pity or to admit, “I’d kill myself if I were like that”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those exact words to my face. So, it’s not exactly surprising that we’re rarely cast as romantic leads or even side interests when many can’t even see the point in living a disabled life, let alone finding love with a disability. But within the vibrant world of Bridgerton, I feel a glimmer of hope for disabled representation on screen.
Throughout its three-and-a-half seasons, Bridgerton has sprinkled disabled characters into the background, and in Season 3, the producers made a concerted effort to increase representation. Lord Remington, a charming and intelligent gentleman, piqued Penelope Featherington’s interest during her search for a husband. While Remington disappeared as quickly as he appeared, his inclusion as a wheelchair user whose disability is simply part of him, rather than his only character trait, was a huge win for disabled representation. As was his framing as a viable romantic interest for Penelope!
Though his appearance was fleeting, any positive depictions of disability on screen are a welcome departure from oft-overused stereotypes that treat disabled people as fascinating oddities or inspirational warnings. We also had our first glimpse of British Sign Language (BSL) with the introduction of a hard-of-hearing/Deaf debutante during season 3. These moments are almost blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scenes, yet they feel like a friendly wink from writers to disabled audience members to say, “Hey, we see you, and we want to represent you.”
Netflix
The first drop of season 4 has expanded its inclusion of disabled characters by casting Gracie McGonigal, an actress with a limb difference, as a maid named Hazel, and by including another moment with two people using BSL. This time, it felt more significant because the BSL was positioned at the forefront of a scene in a satisfyingly gossipy moment. When Lady Araminta Gun, or Lady Penwood, enters a party after instigating “maid-gate,” which causes chaos in the ton, the signers openly mock her as she strides past them. That small aside demonstrates how easy it is to include disabled people in every fictional universe.
However, I still have one more desire that this saucy show hasn’t yet fulfilled. I want a sexy, charismatic romantic lead who also happens to have a disability. I want to see them breathy with desire, falling head over heels and being loved wholly for who they are, including their disability. Bridgerton has broken down so many barriers, largely thanks to the almighty Shonda Rhimes steering the ship. It’s time the show turns its attention to another underrepresented group: the diverse disability community. With one casting choice outside the box, Bridgerton could cast out stereotypes of disabled people as unattractive, non-sexual beings, and prove just how sexy and desirable we all are.