The Charm Offensive

“Charles Winshaw—the enigmatic, millionaire tech genius with an inexplicable eight-pack—is good for ratings, regardless of whether he can stay mounted on a horse.”

The perception of Charlie as a powerful heterosexual man to serve as the ideal prince charming for Ever After’s first season perpetuates the anxiety-inducing atmosphere in which Charlie feels he must conform. The pressures he feels create the atmosphere in which he feels he must earn affection by portraying the characteristics they expect him to display.

“Ryan Parker is good at douche-bro camaraderie and Dev is good at coaching women.”

Dev’s perception of Ryan’s ability to connect with men is influenced by their previous relationship, and the negativity of his opinion of Ryan is communicated by his word choice. This statement foreshadows Dev’s own change in role within Ever After’s crew as well as the revelations from Ryan regarding why his and Dev’s relationship truly ended.

“Dev knows from her file she has a college degree and her father’s a reverend, which means she perfectly straddles the line of catering to the show’s large conservative fan base without alienating its even larger feminist fan base, which claims to watch ironically.”

Ever After’s producers cast contestants that uphold the heteronormative expectations of their target audience, emphasizing the importance of LGBTQ+ Love and Representation. That the specific contestant described is chosen as the show’s winner before it airs also frames the context of what producers expect from contestants and Charlie alike.