**TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains mentions of suicide**
In the past few weeks, there has been a steady flow of new releases on every streaming platform. The second season of Netflix’s number one show “Bridgerton” was released on March 25, Disney just released the first episode of the newest Marvel TV show “Moon Knight” on Disney+ and Hulu dropped a new crime-drama mini-series called “The Girl from Plainville.” Trying to decide if these new shows are worth a watch? Here’s a bit of information on each of them.
After the airing of its first season, “Bridgerton” quickly broke many streaming records and became Netflix’s most watched show of all time. Based on the nine-book series, “Bridgerton” has been a success from its first book release in 2000. Each book follows the love story of one of the eight Bridgerton children, and the Netflix series is expected to do the same (1).
The first season followed the first novel’s story of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), and the second season follows the second novel about Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) on his journey to find his Viscountess. While there are mixed opinions on whether the second season lives up to the first, the majority of fans find the newest season even better than the original. It broke yet another record in the U.K. as most viewed title in a week on English TV (2).
Besides following the lead of this season, Anthony Bridgerton, other storylines are also developed along the way. Viewers are introduced to two new characters, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), who both play major roles in not only Anthony’s story but their own. Also, after the jaw-dropping reveal of Lady Whistledown at the end of last season, we follow Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) as she balances her own personal difficulties with her anonymity as the gossip-column writer.
Netflix announced that “Bridgerton” will be renewed for a third and fourth season; the third will follow Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), and the fourth will follow Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
On March 30, the first episode of “Moon Knight” aired on Disney+, and the second the following Wednesday. This is the latest publication from the Marvel Cinematic Universe since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” hit theaters in December of last year. However, it seems “Moon Knight” will not answer any questions left from the previous movie because it is completely detached from any pre-existing Marvel storylines entirely.
The show follows Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), an employee at an Egyptian Museum in London. It seems to follow the darker turn that the MCU has been taking as of late. Since “Avengers: End Game,” Marvel has been delving into deeper and deeper topics, from the grief from Wanda in “WandaVision” to racism in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” to survivor’s guilt in “Hawkeye” (3). This latest addition is no different. Steven Grant seems to go into deep dissociative episodes similar to those experienced by people with dissociative identity disorder.
Egyptian mythology is also woven into the show. Besides the obvious of working at an Egyptian Museum, Steven also stumbles upon a ritualistic cult that bows to the Egyptian goddess Ammit. Marvel fans are excited to see what will come in the following four episodes over the coming weeks.
Hulu just dropped a new true-crime miniseries called “The Girl from Plainville,” based on the true story about the death of Conrad Roy of Mattapoisett, Mass. Conrad Roy passed away on July 13, 2014, due to carbon monoxide poisoning. It was ruled a suicide, but upon deeper inspection, it was revealed that his girlfriend, Michelle Carter of Plainville, Mass., had been coercing him to commit the act for months.
In the Hulu adaptation, Elle Fanning, who plays Michelle Carter, plays the role well by taking it to a slightly disturbing place. While watching, it begs the question: Should this horrendous crime have been dramatized for the public’s entertainment?
The real Carter only received two and a half years of jail time and five years of probation for her offense and was released from prison in 2020. She will be off probation in August, “after which time she will be permitted to both leave the U.S. and make money from her story” (4).
The family of Conrad is apprehensive towards the show, wondering if it will cause the audience to feel sympathy for Carter. Roy’s mother, Lynn St. Denis, tells People Magazine, “There may be an attempt to defend some of her needless and evil actions” (5).
Conrad’s family is now trying to make change for others who may have experienced similar fates. Unlike other states, suicide coercion is not illegal in Massachusetts. They propose a law that would change that by penalizing the person for up to five years in prison (5).
If you are interested in learning more about these shows, check them out on the respective services.
1. https://people.com/tv/bridgerton-season-3-everything-to-know/
2. https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1511418422394978306?s=10&t=68ehtL-mcv9Xl50qJYSy1g
3. https://screenrant.com/mcu-marvel-phase-4-darker-storytelling-characters-reason/
4. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a39611783/girl-from-plainville-explained/
5. https://people.com/crime/why-conrad-roys-mom-is-fighting-to-make-suicide-coercion-a-crime/
Is it worth the watch? New shows to streaming services
Rena Weafer, Arts Writer
April 7, 2022
Stella, a UMass Boston student, watches season two of Bridgerton. Photo by Olivia Reid / Mass Media Staff
About the Contributors
Rena Weafer, Editor-in-Chief
Olivia Reid, Photo Editor