Opinion: Still Star-Crossed Walked so Queen Charlotte (and Bridgerton) Could Run
Picture this: May 2017, two of the most whitewashed genres get a makeover: The Bachelorette and televised historical romance. Breaking barriers, Rachel Lindsay emerged as the first Black leading lady on The Bachelorette, while Lashana Lynch captivated as Rosaline Capulet in Still Star-Crossed, an extraordinary ShondaLand production based on Melinda Taub's novel.
Oh, it was an exquisite time. ✦
Transported to 16th Century Verona, amidst the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Still Star-Crossed unfolded with several diverse characters, led by the captivating and resolute Rosaline Capulet. Braving the aftermath of losing her parents and Juliet's death, Rosaline found herself entangled in the complexities of her love for Prince Escalus and the blooming love for her “enemy” and fiancé, Benvolio Montague. I did mention that the cast was diverse. May I just run through it for a moment? Crown Prince Escalus was a dark skin Black man. An Iranian-American actress played his sister, Princess Isabella. Rosaline’s sister, Livia Capulet, was a doe-eyed, dark skin Black woman. It even had the handsome Lucien Laviscount as Romeo - and I was living for it. He made such a handsome Romeo.
Despite the beauty of the costumes and setting, the angst, the drama, the romance, and the brilliant casting, Still Star-Crossed was canceled.
As much as I loved the show, and watched it faithfully, I knew it was coming. The network canceled the show before the first season finished airing. It wrapped pretty quickly, with just 7 episodes and no plans for a second season. No other station picked it up, leaving viewers without knowing the characters' fates in doomed Verona, unless, I presume, they purchased Taub's book.
Why did Still Star-Crossed fail? It did have a terrible slot on ABC, but it’s also very possible that America wasn't ready for a dark-skinned woman-led show
Black folk in 16th-century Europe and falling in love on the Bachelorette overwhelmed ABC’s Monday night lineup. Like Rachel Lindsay, Rosaline Capulet was the object of the leading men’s desires. Until Still Star-Crossed, I had not seen a real-life character who looked like me play the strong-headed damsel, who was desperately in love with both a soon-to-be-king and her enemy whom she had been forced to marry. I’d even argue, Still Star-Crossed was revolutionary for TV in 2017. Can you name another show like it with a Black and/or dark skin leading woman? I’ll wait.
No, really, because I want to know!
I don’t think Shonda Rhimes ever forgot about the failure of Still Star-Crossed.
Cut to Christmas 2020. In the first season of the Bridgerton Netflix series, Shondaland took the creative liberty to change the race of critical characters like the Duke and Lady Danbury from White to Black. In March 2022, Shondaland introduced us to Kathani Sharma, a beautiful, dark-skinned South Asian woman who had Anthony Bridgerton smelling her presence and declaring her the “bane of his existence and the object of all his desires.”
Finally, in May 2023, we got our Black leading lady in a Regency setting. Sure, she has light skin, but her hair is kinky and defies gravity. She has a round nose, Black-African features, and her identity played a vital role in the development of her character and the plot. Like Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2, Queen Charlotte was a smash hit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, “drew 148.28 million hours of viewing worldwide in the four days after its May 4 premiere, according to Netflix’s internal measurement. It reached the top 10 in 91 countries and ranked No. 1 in 76 of those.”
Still Star-Crossed didn’t reach these numbers - ever.
Skip to 2026 and we see ShondaLand stacking the Bridgerton cast with Black characters! In fact, Season 5 will add 3 more Black characters to the Ton while spotlighting the gender-bent and sapphic romance between Francesca and Michaela. Some might argue that 3 Black characters left the cast (the Duke, John, and Lady Danbury) and I'd argue that they were replaced with strategic intention. Wait, they even added Lady Danbury's brother, Marcus Anderson. This cast is dark, lovely, and stacked! I can't wait to see how things unfold and who'll be the next star of the series!
Despite my excitement, I still mourn the cancellation of Still Star-Crossed. But it had to happen. We had to see the death of what could have been such a beautiful show to appreciate ShondaLand circling back and giving us the diverse and steamy hit Netflix series. Bridgerton has done a great job at filling my palate. But I can’t help but think how the world could have equally fallen in love with Rosaline, Livia, Isabella, Escalus, and our Black Romeo.
Could the failure of Still Star-Crossed simply be a case of the right show, wrong time?
Or is it that the world is coming around to Black leading ladies in romantic roles? Scandal was a hit show for ShondaLand that lasted 7 seasons. Here's another take: Colorism played a part in all of this, but that’s a post for another time.
So, why did Still Star-Crossed fail? I guess the world will never know. Let's stay tuned to see how ShondaLand continues to diversify the Bridgerton series. Enjoy Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (again and again, like I have). It’s beautifully told, Black-led, and has the potential to make a romantic out of all of us.
PS: I definitely linked the angsty and romantic Prince Escalus and Rosaline kiss from the show. WATCH IT. It’ll make your heart sing. ❤︎
