Where do you think that is reflected in this series to you? That’s right! The Duke of Norfolk is considered the Premier Duke of England. Besides the dukedoms of Cornwall and Lancaster, the oldest extant title is that of Duke of Norfolk, dating from 1483 (the title was first created in 1397). What's immediately different about this period drama is the cast. Click the button below to start this article in quick view. I know that now. Set during the Regency era in 1813 London, the show's first season was a steamy love story between Simon and Daphne Bridgerton. He's certainly become popular after playing Simon Bassett, Duke Of Hastings in Netflix series Bridgerton.. And actor Regé-Jean Page, 31, has described his devilishly handsome character as … The following morning, he wears the same threads during a duel with his long-time friend, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who feels obliged to defend his sister Daphne's honor. I think it's figuring out how to make sure that the people in the relationship are collaborators, figuring out how to make both people protagonists in a relationship and how that needs compromise. ADJOA ANDOH: (As Lady Danbury) We were two separate societies divided by color until a king fell in love with one of us. So while the show cast Black actors in … And for my part, that's in the male romantic lead. It is out now. And the most eligible bachelor in all of England is a Black man - the duke of Hastings, who's played by Rege-Jean Page. This comes right on the tails of the big reveal about another Black character: Marina, a young Black woman who has been sent blindly into a white, hostile household thanks to a gambling debt that’s not her fault at all. Meaning, the new Duke of Hastings refuses to "sire" an heir out of pure spite. The Duke of Hastings mostly dons all black during the first three episodes of the Netflix series, which doesn't go unnoticed by members of high-class society in 1813 London. Here's everything you need to know about Regé-Jean Page, aka Simon Basset, aka the Duke of Hastings, aka quite possibly the best bright spot of … Like, I want to talk about one of the few moments in the show where race is directly addressed. The show’s two darkest male characters are either the Duke of Hastings, a father anyone would hate, or Will (Martins Imhangbe), a boxer whose only purpose was to serve as Simon’s unpaid therapist. Actor who plays Duke of Hastings will be moving on to work on several film projects Published: April 03, 2021 10:25 Bindu Rai, Entertainment Editor Regé-Jean Page in … His jealous cousin murders him. I do not know how to do this. At the season-ending ball, Daphne unloads her true, unfiltered feelings for Simon and pleads with him to forget about his dark past, and to accept that he doesn't need to be perfect. The Duke of Lancaster has merged with the Crown and so is held by the monarch. How can I contribute to something of a feminist lens to this while examining the male hero in this story? (SOUNDBITE OF RYUICHI SAKAMOTO'S "AMORE"). Related: Bridgerton Cast & Character Guide: What Else The Actors Have Been In. Flamboyant, battle-hardened, and a ladies man, the Duke of Florence's reign is cut short by his assassination in 1537. CHANG: Rege-Jean Page stars in the new Netflix series "Bridgerton." I think we're at a point in history where, generally, people consider themselves to be feminists in the sense that we believe in the equality of the sexes. The Duke of Hastings’ mother dies in childbirth. All rights reserved. PAGE: I think in that sense, it reminds me of every relationship I've ever had. At the family estate, he begins wearing dark clothing again and becomes emotionally distant while Daphne tries to acclimate herself to new surroundings. PAGE: ...Clint Eastwood type. And being the protagonist in these stories and being the protagonist in these settings where you can see yourself as rich, attractive and admirable is important for absolutely everyone. And he takes a tumultuous episode to try and unpick that joyous ball of yarn. The second half of Bridgerton season 1 thematically shows that Simon retreats to his old ways. As an angsty teen, Regé-Jean formed a … (Myth Debunked), Why Everyone Loves Captain America Again (Despite His War Crimes), Falcon & Winter Soldier Get Citizen Super Titanium Armor Watches, Chucky Show Casts Two More & Reveals New Story Details, The Irregulars True Story: The Golden Dawn Secret Society Explained, Sokovia's MCU Fate Lays The Foundation For Doctor Doom, Teletubbies Tease Announcement This Week With Bizarre Image, Buff Baby Yoda Cake Is An Upsetting Sight You Can’t Unsee, Supergirl Season 6's Phantom Zone Repeats A Smallville Season 6 Story, Why Bucky Keeps The Secret Captain America From Steve Rogers. Here's what the color motif means for the main male character. I have searched and searched and found no evidence of Black duke during this period. Q.V. CHANG: In other words, a classic leading man for this kind of material. At the time of Edward's death he was one of the most powerful and richest men in England. The color motif then comes full circle in Bridgerton season 1, as the Duke approaches his wife wearing an unbuttoned white shirt, which is symbolic of his vulnerability. Accuracy and availability may vary. The Duke then takes off his multi-colored threads and presents his natural, naked self to his wife. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. By the end of episode 5, "The Duke and I," Simon has now married Daphne, and awkwardly admits that does indeed "burn" for her. As a child, Simon was rejected by his father (Richard Pepple) because of an embarrassing stammer, and because the perceived "imperfection" wouldn't be received well in public. However, a certain someone inspires Simon to change his drab appearance. In a recent interview with NPR titled “Redefining Regency-Era Masculinity In ‘Bridgerton,” Page opened up about the Duke Of Hastings a.k.a Simon Basset. PHOEBE DYNEVOR: (As Daphne Bridgerton) Yes, you do. - four or five waves of feminism since then. He was executed following accusations of treason by Edward's … PAGE: (As Simon Basset) I do not want to be alone. Though she was born in Germany, the daughter of a Duke, Queen Charlotte was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, which was the Black … It's very familiar to any people of color watching the show - the conversation of twice as hard for half as much, you know? His father — Lord Hastings — is clearly Black. At the beginning of the second episode, we get to experience a difficult, traumatic childbirth and the death of a Black woman—the unnamed First Duchess of Hastings. And so I think it's nice to see parts of your experience reflected within that wider arc of a love story. Simon cheekily explains that he heard an all-black look was "all the rage," yet flashback sequences from his childhood suggest that he subconsciously wears his (black) heart on his sleeve as an adult. And so I was like, well, where are we at with discussing masculinity? And the genre on television appears has stood fairly still. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. CHANG: There was a lot that I'm sure audiences could relate to watching the way Simon the duke was struggling to relate with Daphne, the woman who eventually becomes his wife. A one-stop shop for all things video games. CHANG: And yet the story is not completely colorblind, right? CHANG: That's so interesting. During Daphne's first kiss with Simon in Bridgerton season 1, Simon wears a red coat which thematically aligns with his burning passion. Thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Page stars in the new Regency-era romance as the Duke of Hastings, the story's leading character. Why haven't you heard more of this duke? When adult Simon arrives in Bridgerton's 1813 London setting, he informs his dying father that the family bloodline - and therefore, title, which his father prized even above his own son - will end with him. And that generally tends to be their redemption arc - kind of trying to find their way through that. And what I do not know is how to be the man you need me to be, the man you truly deserve. Season two of the hit TV series Bridgerton will roll out for fans without its hunky star, Regé-Jean Page, who played Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. CHANG: So what do you want audiences ultimately to learn or to take away from the duke of Hastings' story? Still, he initially plans to leave London because he's simply emotionally unavailable, the result of being raised by a cold-hearted father. He is rumored to be the son of Simonetta da Collavechio, a black servant, and Cardinal Giulio de Medici who later becomes Pope Clement VII. When the Duke and Duchess move closer to each other, they feel a spark and subsequently reignite their romance. It was announced Friday that actor Regé-Jean Page, who played the extremely appealing Duke… Regé-Jean Page, the actor who plays the dashing Duke, is still relatively up-and-coming, so he might be hard to place. WARNING: Spoilers for Bridgerton season 1. Simon's mother also passed away during childbirth, which made Lord Hastings even more of an unforgiving tyrant; a man who traumatized his innocent son for years to come. Christmas Day this year may be a drab affair with the Covid-19 pandemic still raging on, but fear not, Netflix is here to save the day. So I'm a huge fan of period romances, especially British ones, you know, set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which is why I devoured the new Netflix series "Bridgerton" from executive producer Shonda Rhimes. Prior to a social gathering in episode 2, she asks the Duke of Hastings if it would "pain" him to "wear some color," and compares his wardrobe to the "monotonous" London season. But whereas the opening episode ("Diamond of the First Water") frames the Duke of Hastings as a man who's willing to present a faux image, the second episode ("Shock and Delight") provides viewers with the appropriate context of his backstory. The hit Netflix show “Bridgerton” will continue without the Duke of Hastings. Black female fans of 'The Bachelor' saw the drama coming from a mile away. He's very kind of, you know, Darcy, Heathcliff. And I think that figuring out how to open the doors in yourself that make you worthy of love and capable of giving love is that ongoing conversation that I was most interested in exploring. And she seems to be suggesting to him that the king and the queen's interracial marriage is this huge step forward for Black people. They don't seem to wear their pain the way that Simon does. Soon after, the two share a first kiss. Now, Page is tackling the role of Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, ... Interracial romance movies and TV shows featuring Black heroes and … All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. The Bridgerton family is made up of white actors like Dynevor, while the Duke of Hastings is played by Page, who is Black. PAGE: ...Are hugely emotionally stunted. Instead, the more revealing measure of “Bridgerton” is how it treats its Black female characters. The streaming platform now hosts the first season of Shondaland's 'Bridgerton', adapted from Julia Quinn's best-selling novels, with the first season based on the first book, 'The Duke and I'. Enter: Regé-Jean Page, who played the steamy Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. PAGE: That there is always a place to listen and evolve and grow; that there is more than one type of strength; that a lot of the time, exerting strength and dominance - which Simon, I think, starts from - can in fact be what's holding you back, what's making you weaker. CHANG: Absolutely, absolutely - though, you know, one of the most striking things about the duke from the very outset is, of course, the fact that he is Black. The Duke of Hastings mostly dons all black during the first three episodes of the Netflix series, which doesn't go unnoticed by members of high-class society in 1813 London. Bridgerton: Why Simon Basset, Duke Of Hastings, Starts Wearing Color, Bridgerton Cast & Character Guide: What Else The Actors Have Been In, Bridgerton: Why Simon Wanted His Line To End With Him, WandaVision: How Scarlet Witch Could Destroy The Multiverse, Erin Kellyman Interview: Falcon & Winter Soldier, Invincible Show Won't Have Any Crossovers From Other Image Comics Characters, Zemo's Backstory Retcon Creates MCU Timeline Problem, Why Bucky Still Has The Winter Soldier Inside Him, Shadow & Bone Trailer Reveals Best Look At Alina’s Power To Summon Light, Grey's Anatomy Star Responds To Fan Complaint She Spoiled An Episode, Did Bruce Springsteen Really Get Booed On SNL In 2015? Like any cool kid, he used to be in a punk band. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Why and when does Simon start wearing vibrant clothing in Bridgerton season 1? How important did that scene feel to you in shaping this character for the duke? DYNEVOR: (As Daphne Bridgerton) I know you do. It was she who bestowed nobility upon the Duke of Hastings’ predecessors, positioning him to inherit a dukedom. CHANG: I'm curious. As we eagerly await season two, we'd be lying if we said Page's character, The Duke—and his oh-so-lucky spoon—wasn't the main reason why we're so desperate to dive into a second season of this sexy, Regency era series . PAGE: I kind of tried to find my lane and do my part. I kind of made the decision that I didn't want to lionize the brokenness of men in that type. I kind of wanted to try and continue in the tradition that Shondaland is very good of - bringing in 21st century perspectives to whatever it is they're doing and try and kind of, you know, put some vitamins into pop culture. Simon then disrobes again, just like in episode 5, and offers his natural self to Daphne, this time with an open heart, along with an open mind in regard to the future. Bridgerton viewers around the world have gone wild over a racy scene which sees the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) lick a spoon while out … Copyright © 2021 NPR. PAGE: Well, I think it's incredibly important that when we are indulging ourselves in these kind of great, big Cinderella fantasies, that everyone gets to see themselves as worthy of status and glamour and love and redemption. From that point forward in the Netflix series, Simon's style becomes more colorful and bold. However, a certain someone inspires Simon to change his drab appearance. Say it ain’t so — Regé-Jean Page’s Duke of Hastings will not appear in Bridgerton season 2.Liam Daniel | Netflix. And I think that that's part of what this conversation is. PAGE: Well, I think it was important to me from early on. More: Bridgerton: Why Simon Wanted His Line To End With Him. PAGE: I think it's - we're at a point in history where kind of since you had Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Mary Shelley start writing these books that we've kind of adapted into the genre of the period drama, we've had, like - what? The Duke of Hastings and race in 'Bridgerton' At the same time, Page seems to find unnecessary that Black people appear in the series but that it’s never discussed. What shocked me was the decision to cast a Black actor as a British duke during the Regency period. The Bridgerton series premiere establishes Simon (Regé-Jean Page) as somewhat of a bad boy character. CHANG: You know, another thing that made Simon Basset, the duke, quite different from other Regency-era romantic leads - and perhaps what ultimately makes him a modern character - is that even though he is a man struggling with his demons, he seems vulnerable. (CNN) -- That scream you may have heard are the fans of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. Season two of the hit TV series Bridgerton will roll out for fans without its hunky star, Regé-Jean Page, who played Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. Can you talk about that? NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. Readers know Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, as a devastatingly handsome rake whose cold exterior is actually armor protecting a sensitive soul and embarrassing speech impediment. And I was wondering if there was any particular scene, as they were figuring out how to have a healthy, sustainable marriage - if there was any particular scene that spoke to you personally. PAGE: ...And revolutionary in itself, whilst respecting our experience. What do you mean about the feminist lens into masculinity? There's this conversation between your character and Lady Danbury, who's, like, kind of a mother figure to Simon, the duke. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Black people lived in England during this period, so that was no biggie. By the fourth episode in Bridgerton season 1, "An Affair of Honor," speckles of gold suddenly appear on Simon's attire, which inspires a long gaze from Daphne at a public sporting event. By the Bridgerton season 1 finale, "After the Rain," Simon wears black and purple clothing while posing for a portrait with his wife. You stay. I didn't kind of want to do any more damage in that sense. Tell me; what do you think that achieves when audiences take in a diverse cast like this? NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with actor Regé-Jean Page about the new Netflix series Bridgerton. And so how can we bring that agenda into the editorial stance of the show? PAGE: I think in the earliest of our conversations and kind of going on through developing the production, Chris Van Dusen and I talked about... CHANG: Chris Van Dusen - he's a showrunner. A loyal follower of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses, he became a close friend and one of the most important courtiers of King Edward IV, whom he served as Lord Chamberlain. The Duke of Hastings, Simon — who returns to England to settle his father’s affairs — is clearly of African descent. There's something different about his masculinity than you see in many male leads in other historical romances. And I thought that part of that is bringing in this conversation that we have contemporarily of masculine vulnerability and where the strength in that lies and where the redemption in that lies and where - what's appealing about that in a romantic hero and what we're looking for in our lovers in the 21st century. And so we kind of wanted to see what we could do to advance that in the lens of the show. And the most eligible bachelor in all of England is a Black man - the duke of Hastings, who's played by Rege-Jean Page. Love, your grace, conquers all. REGE-JEAN PAGE: He is a tall, dark, handsome, brooding, thoroughly broken man who is struggling with issues of legacy and pride and trauma. In Bridgerton season 1, Simon's severe style is first acknowledged by Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), the woman who helped him as a child and throughout his formative years. Why and when does Simon start wearing vibrant clothing in Bridgerton season 1? In Bridgerton, the Duke of Hastings spars frequently with Will Mondrich, a Black boxer and confidante of the Duke’s, who is perhaps modelled on Thomas Molyneaux, a freed black … He arrives in London just before the death of his father and makes his societal debut with a cocksure attitude that appeals to and repels the very single Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor). PAGE: (As Simon Basset) I believe that remains to be seen. The Duke of Hastings takes the lead in Netflix’s Bridgerton (Picture: Netflix) Everything about Netflix’s latest binge-worthy series, Bridgerton, is exquisitely rich in colour. They couple still has passionate sex, yet the Duke clearly doesn't know how to fully commit, seemingly because he's still unwilling to have children. William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG was an English nobleman. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Racially diverse characters populate all classes of British society, including the highest echelons. He's also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.