Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, Netflix’s ‘Black Rabbit’ charts how two brothers can stray unimaginably far apart but still find a point of intersection within their lived experiences. Jake Friedken runs Black Rabbit, one of the emerging hotspot restaurants in New York City, but his business is not without peril. When his paths cross with his elder brother, Vince Friedken, all the uncomfortable secrets he has been trying to bury make their way to the surface. Vince’s life is not without hiccups either, as he owes money to people buried deep in the past. However, the two are not the only ones walking a treacherous path, as they are joined by their near and dear ones, each one of whom has their own anxieties to deal with. To that end, Estelle serves as a significant addition to this crime thriller series, bringing a brand new perspective to the chain of events that unfold over time. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Estelle is the Brains Behind Black Rabbit’s Look and Feel
Estelle is introduced into the story as the chief interior designer behind Black Rabbit and one of Jake Friedken’s closest friends. Additionally, she is in a relationship with Wes Williams, which further strengthens her position as one of the most important figures at the restaurant. Jake acknowledges the raw talent she possesses and seeks to use it once again in the creation of his next restaurant, The Pool Club, thus marking the start of her arc. Estelle’s dynamic with the protagonist tweaks over time, before reaching a crescendo in the aftermath of the restaurant’s most successful nights. Once alone, the two empty the contents of their minds in each other’s companionship, and that leads to a moment of deep intimacy, which is sealed by a kiss. When the feelings persist the following day, Estelle gives in to Jake’s advances, and the couple has sex.
Estelle’s decision to get together with Jake is largely defined by the suffocation she feels in her time with Wes. As the latter is an immensely influential public figure, she often feels that his engagement with the masses takes priority over her own desires. Over time, this feeling of isolation draws her more and more to Jake, who is similarly lonely for much of the series. To that end, there is a psychological drive behind their moment of passion, and Estelle recollects her true self at last. However, this comes with a cost, and she acknowledges that their being together is unfair to Wes on some level. To that end, she decides to come clean to him early, even when the exchange takes on an aggressive turn, with Wes claiming that she slept with Jake purely to spite him. Nonetheless, with Wes out of the picture, Estelle and Jake look forward to their future together until the tide of the show changes once again.
Estelle’s characterisation strongly reflects the larger framework of the narrative, which is designed to interrogate how people in positions of power can often abuse those below them. This is crystallized in the form of Jake, who struggles to find a balance between his positive and negative elements. To that end, Estelle’s romantic alignment with him comes as an anchor point, as well as a redemptive hope for his character. However, in doing so, Estelle ends up repeating the cycle, slowly eroding her creative and emotional potential in the process. As such, Jake and Estelle’s dynamic reaches a gray turn by the end of the show, as she realizes that she must strive for herself first, even if that means taking the harder decisions in the process. Estelle’s future as a designer likely means that she is headed towards a shining career, but her relationship with the people around her defines her real battles.
Estelle is Brought to Life by Cleopatra Coleman
Estelle’s character observes many gradients over the course of the show, as she is forced to juggle between the people she cares about deeply. To capture the inner workings of her psyche, actor Cleopatra Coleman brings her A-game, seamlessly embodying the role with a flair of her own. The actor started her illustrious career with a bang, with ‘Silversun,’ where she plays Zandie Brokow. Following her performance as Emma Hellman in ‘Wicked Science’ and Glenn Forrest in ‘Neighbours,’ Coleman made her venture into the silver screen, with films such as ‘Step Up Revolution’ and ‘Fear Clinic.’ Her most iconic work is in the television show ‘The Last Man on Earth,’ where she essays the role of Erica Dundee.’ The actor can also be found in ‘Dopesick,’ ‘Infinity Pool,’ and the ‘Rebel Moon’ series, which cement her broad range as a performer.
Alongside the stellar acting credits under her belt, Coleman is also a trained Ballet dancer, having previously competed at the national level in Australia. This likely played a role in informing her performance as Estelle, giving the character a creative edge. In an interview with Netflix Tudum, co-creator Kate Susman talked about how Coleman made the role her own, adding her own zest to the material she was given. Susman stated: “(Coleman) surprised us with that character (…) The scenes between her and Jude were so interesting and so layered that every scene we shot with them gave us other ideas for how we wanted to shape and change things.” As such, the actor’s approach to the scenes gave them the emotional depth that they needed. This, in turn, also amped up the dramatic flair of the narrative, creating an environment where every character interaction felt alive.
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