Hamilton's Most Significant Character Is Easy to Miss
Hamilton spoilers follow for both the musical and actual history.
Hamilton is now available to watch in all of its multi-award-winning glory right now on Disney+.
Whether you're a first-time watcher or a long-time fan, the release of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical on the streaming service makes it easier than ever to rewatch Hamilton – which will help you spot all the extra details.
Such as the fact that one of the musical's most significant characters is someone you might not even notice on your first watch.
Say hello to The Bullet.
Played in the show's original Broadway run (and in the Disney+ movie) by Ariana DeBose, The Bullet is officially listed as one of the musical's ensemble members.
However, as pointed out by Odyssey, this ensemble member becomes Hamilton's harbinger of death. The Bullet not only interacts with characters who are about to die, but also influences others into actions that lead to another character's death.
For instance, The Bullet shakes hands and celebrates with John Laurens after they kill a redcoat during 'Yorktown', only for it to be revealed a few songs later that Laurens was killed shortly after fighting ended.
While in 'Blow Us All Away', she tells Philip Hamilton where to find George Eaker, leading to the fatal duel that would see Hamilton's son die.
But The Bullet's most consistent interaction is with Alexander Hamilton himself, such as when she stands by his side in 'Ten Duel Commandments' as a foreboding line is sung: "Pick a place to die where it's high and dry."
Throughout the second act, The Bullet makes moves that will lead to Hamilton's death at the hands of Aaron Burr, such as bringing the desk on stage where Burr will write the letters that lead to their duel.
Where you might finally notice The Bullet on first watch is during Hamilton's final monologue as DeBose holds an invisible bullet towards him, getting ever closer to landing the fatal shot.
As DeBose told The Great Discontent, The Bullet is always aiming for Hamilton even before this final moment.
"It's really intense for me because I always know I’m aiming for him – even if the rest of the ensemble members don't. So even if I'm just a lady in a ballgown at a party, there's still a part of my character that knows that that moment is going to come," she said.
"You can look at the final duel in a couple different ways. We're slowing the bullet down to give Hamilton time to say everything he wants to say, or we're saying, 'This is it. It's inevitable. It's happening, so you can stare it right in the face.'
"There are a lot of different ways to interpret it. It was really special to create something like that, because it's inspired by a lot of different pieces we've already seen; it's very Matrix-like. I've never seen a moment on stage like it."
Hamilton is now available to watch on Disney+.
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