Opinion: Still Star Crossed Walked so Queen Charlotte 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.
*
Oh, it was an exquisite time. *
Transported to 16th Century Verona, amidst the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Still Star Crossed unfolded with a number of diverse characters, led by the captivating and resolute Rosaline Capulet. Braving the aftermath of Juliet's death and the loss of her parents, 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 the cast was diverse. May I just run through it for a moment? Crown Prince Escalus was a dark skin Black man. His sister, Princess Isabella, was played by an Iranian American actress. 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 and drama of 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. It was canceled before the first season finished airing. It wrapped pretty quickly, with just 7 episodes and no plans for a second season. It wasn’t picked up by another station and viewers were left without knowing what happens to the characters in doomed Verona - unless - I presume - they picked up the book by Taub.
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 the Black 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 hadn’t seen a real life character who looked like me play the strong headed damsel both desperately in love with a soon-to-be-king and her enemy she’d 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 gave us Kathani Sharma, a beautiful and dark South Asian woman who had Anthony Bridgerton smelling her air and being 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 season one and two of the Bridgerton series, 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.
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 pallet. Like, I’m absolutely ready to marry Farmer George. 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 the 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. Interestingly enough, America has another Black bachelorette (the 4th!) airing this June, starring Charity Lawson as its leading lady. We've since had reality tv shows like The Courtship, that has yet to be canceled or renewed because of low ratings. Being stuck in limbo may be worse than nailing the coffin shut.
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. Enjoy Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story! It’s beautifully told, Black led, and has the potential to make a romantic out of all of us.
PS there may or may not be clips of the angsty and romantic Prince Escalus and Rosaline kiss on YouTube. I linked it below. WATCH IT. It’ll make your heart sing.
Source: Queen Charlotte Earns Big Opening for Netflix
THE KISS: Prince Escalus Confronts Rosaline - Still Star-Crossed 1x01
