#also if you think Eloise is upset about pen not telling Colin about lady whistledown and not also about being jealous and sad that her

[thefabulousfab-3]

I’m actually refusing to engage in anymore Eloise v. Penelope discourse because besides being exhausting and oh so redundant. It’s also very very annoying and no arguments allow for actual nuance. This blog loves both pen and Eloise and understands both their sides.

[choster33]

Bridgerton Season 3 Ep 6 Reaction

This is my take on Episode 6, if you want to read how I felt about episode 1-5 please go to my history and you will find them there! Well, here it goes! Read below, there will be spoilers!

Firstly, I love the writing on this show and Pen's vicious lines! Comparisons to the devil lol! And I love Portia in the corner chaperoning and being nosey. Her little face when Colin takes out the ring! Priceless!

Aw, the ring is so pretty and Colin is so sweet. That's why we love Colin and Bridgerton in general isn't it. Modern men just aren't going around saying stuff like "only half as beautiful as you". Swoon. Penelope is living a lie and a fantasy right now, but I can't blame her for not wanting it to end. Colin saying and doing everything she ever wanted him to? Yes, please.

That look when she's alone though. Poor Penelope, there is a world of drama ahead of you. Nicola Coughlan is a queen and a really great actress. She really sells all the different facets of Penelope from being in love to being scared and having sobering realizations.

Cressida, Cressida, Cressida. I don't know what to feel about you. I was enjoying the Cressida Eloise friendship and totally understand not wanting to marry that old man, but I don't think this plan is well thought out and she's going to get caught or look a fool. I have mixed feelings about Cressida, but I'm not mad at the storyline. I think it's interesting and really highlights the plight of women during that time and how hard it was for unmarried women without getting too preachy.

I was critical of Lord Anderson in the past and though I still don't find him wildly charismatic I am starting to warm to Violet-LW coupling. I think the subtle enjoyment of each other's company is cute and for their age and circumstances the subtle and slow approach is rather refreshing.

Bridgerton family hijinks are the best! One of the reasons we love the show and the characters are for the love we have of this family. They are hilarious together! John is so funny and witty. I love his line about the plague. He is not like the Bridgertons, but he likes them and finds them amusing. Yes! I knew this was coming and was soon to happen- Francesca and John are getting married! I like them so much, they just make sense together and it is so natural. The actors portray them so well.

Colin and Eloise having a heart to heart, yes. I think this season is about two relationships- Colin and Penelope and Eloise and Penelope. The writers have not highlighted the Peneloise friendship from Season 1 and have dramatized their breakup for no reason, I think that Polin is important, but so is Peneloise and the revealing of Whistledown is going to be messy, but necessary to get Peneloise back together.

I love Eloise's plotline so far. It makes her so much more of a grounded, complex character than the shrewish, preachy mode she sometimes gets in. She is not telling Colin the truth because it's not hers to tell and knows it will hurt him and she's also still got lingering friendship feelings about Penelope.

Oooh, the talk between Penelope and Eloise is so good! "You're name is about to be Bridgerton." I get why Penelope is upset and why she's holding on to Lady Whistledown, but right now I'm kind of on Team Eloise- she's not wrong, Colin would be devastated to find out and she could just stop, it's not like she needs more money and the column isn't changing the world, it's just petty gossip for the most part. I love Penelope, but it's true!

The queen is written and acted so well here. She is the power player here and is not taken in by Cressida Cowper. I love the Queen and even though she is Penelope's foil and causing all this drama, I still respect and love her. She's a boss. She can read people and almost did catch LW almost outsmarting Penelope.

Portia- I knew this conversation was going to go sideways somewhere and here we are. Penelope is a ballsy and intelligent woman who has outsmarted the queen with her infinite resources and the entire ton for years. She is so clever and best friends with Eloise and so spent years not merely wanting to be someone's wife. I read somewhere that this scene is what makes Pen want to hold on to LW even more and I agree- she doesn't just want to be some lady some wife with no dreams, She's Lady friggin Whistledown. Although, I must say that Portia is not being deliberately cruel here or anything, she's just a product of her times.

I love the boys having a boys night and for being good friends to Will. I like how it shows the kindness of the Bridgertons and shows that they are not stuck up or snobbish, only befriending those that are of their class and whatnot. I also like the dynamics and seeing a side of the different men as friends and not just as lovers. It really grounds them and makes them even more likable!

Awwww, Colin and Pen together in the church, so cute! "In what world would I not". "I will spend a lifetime begging your forgiveness for not seeing you sooner." "There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than being with you." And then they dance, too! Oh my god this scene is the cutest scene ever!

Ok, I knew that I was going to have problems with Cressida going forward and here it begins. She asks Eloise to help her write, pretty smart actually because Eloise is a capable writer, but then Cressida became petty and mean so quickly. I think Eloise was letting her down gently and then all this vindictiveness and fury. I really hope that Cressida gets taken down eventually!

I love seeing the subtleties of Francesca and knows that she is slightly jealous of the attention that Penelope and Colin are getting. She doesn't want to be in the spotlight, but she is in love with John and wants to get married right away.

Penelope throwing the LW papers out is so telling because at this moment she loves Colin more than Lady Whistledown and all that that entails. She would rather be his wife than have her own voice and her own dreams and I think that is heartbreaking, but cute. She really does love him a lot.

Also, I really love that they put the book story line of having Colin be a writer in the TV show. I think that connection to writing is important for the relationship because Penelope is foremost a writer and it's nice for her to have someone understand her and have a love of writing as well.

I love Madame Delacroix. I think she's such an interesting character and I love that she as an independent woman recognizes the importance of LW on Penelope's life and calling it her life's work. She recognizes what it has given to Penelope and she admired Penelope for having a dream outside of just being a wife. I love her line about liking the glow she gives to others.

LOL! Cressida's attempts at writing is so laughable! I love that they included such awful writing proving how dumb Cressida is and how it can't possibly be her. I would feel bad for her, but I think the show is back to making her the main villain so I don't really. She is choosing violence and malevolence now and it's disgusting, it isn't even desperation or getting away from the old man now, it's just scheming and power grabbing at this point.

Benedict scenes kind of bore me which kind of scares me for the Benedict Sophie season. So here we have an awkward dinner party, let me guess the other guy is into guys isn't he? He's going to try to get it on with Benedict because Benedict attracts artsy gay guys.

The Mondrich ball is gorgeous and Penelope looks gorgeous! Even the queen is impressed! I love the oversized pop up thing they had going on it was cool.

Aha! See I was correct in that Francesca was annoyed that her wedding was being delayed and Violet definitely has some reservations about John which I understand sort of. I think that they are cute together, but they're both weirdos. Cute weirdos, but they have some social issues that might be exacerbated by being together and so similar. Violet is worried that they might encourage each other to be anti social and awkward and not bring one another out and I don't think she should be, but I see where Violet is coming from.

The Lady Danbury and Lord Anderson argument is so juicy to me. I knew there was something deep and hidden there and this hate goes back years! I love Lady Danbury from the show and in the books, so when she was mad at her brother I felt it and didn't trust him. I hope they resolve it, but this is some deep stuff.

Oho! I knew it! Benedict was being pulled into some threesome business! I think he will not partake because he is straight and a one person at a time kind of guy, but who knows he might be tempted. He is very pleasure seeking.

Cressida with that hair and the red dress walking into the ballroom uninvited to "Confident" playing in the background is a whole mood. I love the actress that plays her, she did a fabulous job this season.

Penelope and Eloise seem to be friends again now, huzzah! Things seem to be back to normal with Peneloise together and Cressida is the villain again. I like the fact that it took Eloise coming to Penelope for her to pick up the pen again because she sees how they have created a monster and Eloise is sure that Cressida is coming for her and her family. She says that she's finally doing some good with her pen and she now has Eloise's blessing to be Lady Whistledown.

"You are Lady Whistledown?" Argh! No! I knew this was coming, but still I don't like it. I knew that this reveal had to happen, but now I see drama for the next few episodes from this. This is no easy thing to overcome or forgive and is going to cause a tsunami in the Polin relationship. Cringe. It's juicy and necessary, but major cringe.

I can't wait to see what's next!

[wigwurq]

WIG REVIEW: BRIDGERTON SEASON 2

Oscar season is OVER! Now it’s back to trashy TV! The absolute trashiest show I watch (and that’s staying a lot!) is back: BRIDGERTON!!!! This season is all about eldest brother Anthony, some new love interests, definitely NOT THE DUKE, and also and most importantly: FRAN BRIDGERTON! Much like my review of last season, I will be mainly focusing on the most mysterious member of the Bridgerton family, Francesca, who left for about 98% of last season to learn the pianoforte AND I WISHED I WAS WITH HER. Now she’s back (OR IS SHE?) oh and there are also some wigs. Let’s discuss.

EPISODE 1 - Capital R Rake

OMG LOOK IT’S FRAN!!!!! Right up in front! FRAN! YES! The Bridgertons have (mainly) all gathered for something very exciting on the other side of a door. This show is all about eavesdropping and familial togetherhood so this feels fair. Missing, of course, is Colin who is abroad somewhere and THE DUKE who was banished from this season for being too hot but Disney Daphne is there in a wig that can only be described as “Stockholm Syndrome Era Belle.” Also absent is Demi Moore Bridgerton (Eloise!) because that is what they’re all looking at...

DEMI MOORE IS A DEB YOU GUYS! Dressed as a Toulouse-Lautrec painting minus the absinthe, Demi Moore looks about as pleased as anyone would look if their entire family gathered together to see a giant feather on top of her head. Demi is outtttt this season which means the family is gonna try to marry her off but who are we kidding? This is ANTHONY Bridgerton’s season and Demi isn’t getting hitched anytime soon. BUT WHO WILL ANTHONY MARRY?!?!

THIS HORSE GIRL!!! Her name is Kate Sharma, she LOVES HORSES, hates men, has a backstory of questionable lineage, and a wig of ever changing lengths. ANTHONY IS TOTALLY MARRYING THIS BITCH. I’m here for it and honestly this braided wig isn’t bad.

However, Kate’s wig changes lengths constantly whether in a braid, some tendrils, or an updo. Anyway, she just wants to get her wide-eyed (and very Disneyfied) sister married off (hello love triangle!). Edwina Sharma is basically an Indian DD but without the upsetting bangs? She is very sweet and will 100% have her heart broken somehow. They’re staying with my favorite badass, Lady Danbury, and brought their corgi along with them without asking which is a power move made by absolute kweens. 

Lady Danbury, who always has some long grift going, sees that Kate is definitely onto some con and yes - she is! I guess Kate’s long lost aristocratic grandparents (who will definitely show up later and be totally horrible) have said they’d un-disown them if Edwina marries a gentleman (HM WHAT WILL HAPPEN). Kate obvs doesn’t tell her sister this and Lady Danbury correctly thinks that’s a bad idea. Side note: WHERE DO THESE BITCHES KEEP ALL THESE TIARAS?!

Anyway, Anthony claims he’ll marry whoever the queen’s “diamond” is and of course it’s Edwina and then Kate conveniently overhears him telling his disgusting dude friends who I hope I never see again about how he’s just gonna marry whatever rando whatever who cares and Kate is all HOW DARE YOU!! It is so hysterically obvious that this is all based on The Taming of The Shrew even down to the names and you guys, I can’t. These two assholes are for sure falling in love and adopting like 1000 horses duh. 

FRAN WATCH: THE MOST FRAN EVER YOU GUYS!!! Not only is Fran around for Demi’s big feather reveal but she also accompanies the family to the season debut with the queen or whatever it’s called which Demi gets to skip due to Lady Whistledown existing again. Fran then ACTUALLY PLAYS THE PIANOFORTE so that Demi can learn to dance and I love that this show is trying to make it seem like it was worth it for Fran to miss DD’s wedding to learn a musical instrument but like sure?

EPISODE 2 - Off to the Races

I fully didn’t talk about Pen last episode! I love Pen. She is my Derry Girl and she needs to get more respect from everyone around her when not using her, well, PEN to be Lady Whistedown. But more importantly, Derry Girl needs a better wig!! The budget clearly is improved for season 2 but somehow this wig is just worse!!! HOW IS ANYONE EXPECTED TO THINK THIS IS HAIR?!?!?! Everything about it screams off-brand Merida from Brave and truly she deserves better. Oh also, her entire family (the Cinderella Clan) has a new ruler who absolutely sucks - he’s pompous, selfish, and annoying aka he fits in perfectly. Also her sister now gets to get married. Mazel?

Also! Colin is back to the delight of basically no one except Derry Girl and the younger Bridgertons and yes THAT INCLUDES FRAN. Now that all the Bridgertons have reassembled, it’s time to immediately go to the races as if this wasn’t something they had planned on doing forever. Edwina is paired with some rando dude who seems nice enough and sure maybe marry him and not Anthony. Kate is paired with some dude who has heard of India so they talk about how awful English tea is or something. Both Sharma girls’ wigs are definitely the best of the season. Anthony shows up and is a complete asshole who demands lemonade and it’s discovered that Kate’s date was just a ruse for him to get closer to Edwina. RUDE! Kate is mad but also wins at all the horse races because she knows so much about horses. Also this entire scene is basically straight out of that one scene in My Fair Lady and/or Pretty Woman depending.

Also when all the Bridgerton boys get together they......fence? Seems legit. The creative one (Benedict) still claims to NOT be gay but like sure honey. Also Colin is so insufferable talking about his trip abroad like that one friend you had who studied in Paris and refuses to stop wearing berets. He also is still paying games with Derry Girls’ heart by saying his trip made him realize he was in love with....HIMSELF? Yeah that adds up. Derry Girl, you can do better! 

Meanwhile, Derry Girl is almost found out by her best friend Demi who really is being a detectress about the Lady Whistledown type setting and truly: I wish this show was all about fonts? Anyway...Derry Girl goes to some poor people market to get a new type key and throw Demi off her trail and of course is spotted by everyone’s favorite dress maker, Madame Delacroix!!! To be fair, Derry Girl (using an Irish accent! YES!) is wearing the most RIDICULOUSLY CONSPICUOUS BLUE CAPE TO THIS MARKET! She’s legit dressed like OG Cinderella’s fairy godmother and is like: wait how did I get spotted amongst the unwashed in this very fancy baby blue satin cape?!?! CHOICES PEOPLE.

Speaking of important life choices through fashion, Demi wore THIS HAT to the races! CAN YOU EVEN?!?!?! WHAT CENTURY IS IT?? I also really don’t understand what they’re doing with this wig which is just sitting there and would never be allowed but Demi doesn’t know what she’s doing either because she goes to the printing press to try to uncover Lady Whistledown and is super rude to a printing dude there who is also a lowgrade suffragist and wow these two are definitely gonna bone. 

FRAN WATCH: NEVER ENOUGH FRAN!! Despite being semi excited to see Colin, Fran was not featured enough in this episode. I DEMAND MORE PIANOFORTE! EARN IT GIRL!

EPISODE 3 - A Bee In Your Bonnet

We begin with a decade old flashblack! Anthony is a teenager and has...REDDISH HIGHLIGHTS?!?! I don’t know what games this hair is trying to play with my heart but this flashback is playing with all our hearts because it shows how Viscount Bridgerton died and do you remember crying at My Girl? WELL. Get yourself an epipen and stay away from the bees, y’all! 

Back in present times, DD and HER BABY are back but definitely NOT THE DUKE NEVER THE DUKE. FRAN IS THERE!! She tells Eloise to hold DD’s baby! Eloise does not want to! FRAN LOVES THE BABY! YAY FOR FRAN! Boo for DD’s weird bangs still.

The whole Bridgerton family is off to their country estate and if you’re wondering why they don’t live here ALL THE TIME the answer is definitely: BEE GHOSTS. Anthony is HAUNTED through this episode by his dad’s bee death and sadder still his mom’s depression and near death during childbirth which was somehow left up to him as teenage viscount. Olde Times were ROUGH you guys. Also rough? DEMI’S WIG!! I don’t know why this is a wig (the actress’s hair is similar) or why it’s allowed to be down or why anything but whatever - let’s all play some really intense version of croquet?

This episode spends A LOT of time explaining the rules of Pall Mall which is like croquet but EXTREME and the Bridgertons are totally that family who would play extreme frisbee or whatever if they were around now. Sporty families, man. UGH. DD is there SANS THE DUKE and her wig is as unacceptable as his absence. The Sharma girls remain with the best wigs of the season. Also of course, Kate’s pall mall ball goes into the forest and she and Antony basically take a mud bath which is the second most erotic secret forest mud bath this side of The Power of the Dog. It’s all sexy until they uncover Anthony’s dad’s grave. BEE GHOSTS GET YOU EVERY TIME. 

I really lost track of how many times these assholes almost kissed in this episode but the most insane one was when Kate gets stung by a bee and Anthony has a panic attack about it (MAKES SENSE!) and then she puts his hand on her heaving breast and you guys...THIS SHOW. They still haven’t kissed. And Anthony still hasn’t explained how he got rid of his teenage red highlights.

Meanwhile, the creative one wants to go to art school (SURE HENNY!) and in a series of scenes in which this show attempts to be...”funny” (???) he takes mushroom (?) tea supplied by Colin’s stupid overseas travels and trips his balls off and everyone is just like SHRUG that’s our creative brother for you! AND THIS CHARACTER IS HIGH ON TEA AND YOU’RE TELLING ME HE’S NOT GAY?!?!? He got into art school though so let’s see where this goes.

ANYWAY! Derry Girl and Madame Delacroix, now aware of all the Lady Whistledown secrets, form a super cool business lady club where they help each other and I’ve never been so excited about business lady specials since Romy & Michele you guys. 

FRAN WATCH: STILL NOT ENOUGH FRAN! Sure, she’s excited to be an auntie to a very cute baby and shame Demi for not liking children but WHY COULDN’T SHE PLAY PALL MALL?!?!?! JUSTICE FOR FRAN!

EPISODE 4 - Victory

I really haven’t spoken enough about how awful the Cinderella Clan’s wigs are ALWAYS but honestly all of their red wigs hurt my eyes so I’d rather see and discuss them as little as possible. But their current situation is: POVERTY! And by that I mean: they have but ONE servant. Peasants!! In order to improve their situation, mama Featherington has decided to marry her non-Derry Girl daughter off to THEIR COUSIN WHO LIVES WITH THEM. Complicating matters is of course: CRESSIDA! Cressida who ALWAYS has a stink face. Cressida who always has a wig that looks like a Maury episode of weave wars. Cressida who will ALWAYS be the other woman. Cressida who has the audacity to be named CRESSIDA. MAY SHE NEVER CHANGE.

MEANWHILE, the Bridgertons are now hosting like all of London at their fancy countryside mansion which is definitely still haunted by BEE GHOSTS. All the dudes get to go on a cool hunting expedition and of course, horse girl Kate wants in on the action. The patriarchy says NO but then kind of shrug I guess AS LONG AS YOU BRING YOUR LADYMAID WHO CANNOT WALK THROUGH A FOREST. Obviously, this leads to ample opportunities for Kate and Anthony to almost kiss but more importantly leads to Kate wearing the SHIT OUT OF THIS HAT.

Whilst in the country, Colin decides to pay a visit on his long lost secret ex-fiance that he is still pining after: Marina who is now a fancy aristocrat with a nice husband and TWINS. Mazel! When her husband comes home, he and Colin literally start talking about OLIVE TREES just like two insufferable Euro bros would and this gives Colin the opportunity to tell Marina he’s still not over her. Marina, who you may recall came to this show pregnant, then had to live with the awful Cinderella Clan who almost married her off to the worst dudes in London, then her lover died, then she almost had to marry Colin and then was last minute married to her lover’s brother has honestly DONE PRETTY WELL FOR HERSELF CONSIDERING has ZERO time for Colin’s fee-fees. GOOD FOR YOU, MARINA!! LITERALLY GET OVER YOURSELF COLIN AND GO BACK TO GREECE NO ONE HAS TIME FOR YOU HERE!!!!

Well I guess except Derry Girl who is still pining over this loser and still has the worst wig on this show. Truly: get this chick a better wig!!! ALSO WHY DOES NO ONE WANT TO DANCE WITH HER?!?! Demi is forced to dance with some rando who she burns immediately but I guess no one is dancing with her because of her terrible family’s plan to marry her sister off with her cousin. Which actually turns into an engagement of nonsense in an ORANGERIE!!! I want all bad marriage proposals to happen near citrus fruit because at least no one will get scurvy. Joke is definitely on the Cinderella Clan because the cousin is actually poor and needed Cressida’s weave war money but oh well: WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ORANGERIE DOESN’T STAY IN THE ORANGERIE. D’oops!

Back on the dance floor, these assholes STILL. HAVE. NOT. KISSED. I really don’t know what games they are playing with us but Kate’s wig is definitely getting the tendril treatment and despite being one of the better wigs on this series, still is all over the place with how long it wants us to think her real hair is. After the ball, Anthony confides to Kate about all the BEE GHOSTS and her hair is in this messy braid that is definitely 50% longer than the wig above would lead us to believe. More unbelievable: THEY STILL HAVEN’T KISSED AND SHE’S LIKE JUST MARRY MY SISTER. Disaster!

The episode ends with an actual proposal! Kate’s face says it all: THIS IS SO STUPID!! Also her wig is looking not that great here but I think this wig realizes just how dumb this proposal is.

FRAN WATCH: ZERO FRANS!!!!! Even with the entire Bridgerton clan (INCLUDING DD) on the front steps as this stupid engagement happens. WHERE IS FRAN?!?!! FRAN KNOWS HOW STUPID THIS ALL IS! TAKE ME WITH YOU, FRAN!

EPISODE 5 - An Unthinkable Fate

I realize that I haven’t talked about the queen’s insane wigs at all. This is because we know them to be wigs within the narrative of the show and I am only concerned with wigs trying to pass themselves off as real hair. Still, these wigs are elaborate and fabulous (THERE IS EVEN A BLUE ONE YOU GUYS) and befitting a real queen (drag or otherwise). Clearly the entire wig budget went to her and honestly: spare some $$ for Derry Girl please!

I mean spare some money for any of the Cinderella Clan? No really: they need money and not just for wigs! Due to the orangerie proposal, they are now moving forward with just marrying this sister off to her cousin so they can keep their house but have NO MONEY FOR UGLY DRESSES. It should be noted that the cousin is also a ruby con artist (SURE!) and their plot this week involves deciding to pass off fake rubies to make some coin and nothing has ever been more on brand for these idiots. ALSO! We meet the cake-hungry jeweler who is terrible at overhearing all of Kate and Anthony’s discussion of engagements because FREE CAKE (and truly: priorities). 

Meanwhile, in other money making schemes: the boxer from last season has now retired into...owning a gentleman’s club? That caters specifically to artsy bros aka Colin and Benedict Bridgerton? I mean: get that money, honey but this feels absolutely not sustainable in just decanter fees alone.

As for the creative Bridgerton, he has begun art school and it is SO NOT HOMOSEXUAL ENOUGH. Despite wearing the most insane ascots, he is titillated by, well, tits and begins a really boring romance with the FEMALE nude model for the school who is also a budding art student herself. I realize that he had sex with women last season (Madame Delacroix!) but I am super disappointed in how not gay this storyline is. BOO!

In other boring cisgender romance storylines, Demi might have found herself a boyfriend!! As foretold in the episode where she is guided by typekey fonts, she goes to a suffrage meeting with that printer guy!!! He is very cute and this is 100% the same as the Downton Abbey season where Sybil falls in love with Tom and I really hope this doesn’t end with anyone getting preeclampsia. It does so far end with Demi lying to Derry Girl about her whereabouts but to be fair, Derry Girl has been lying to Demi this entire time about not being Lady Whistledown. SECRETS DON’T MAKE FRIENDS!

AAaaanyway, over at some boat races or whatever, Kate and Anthony get into some quarrel that ends with ANTHONY IN A WET TSHIRT JUST LIKE COLIN FIRTH IN BOTH PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ALSO BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY. EMERGENCY YOU GUYS THIS IS THE ONLY IMPORTANT TRIBUTE THIS SHOW HAS EVER MADE. Excellent work!!

Oh wait there’s actually more of this episode!! Kate’s long grift this entire season has been to get a secret dowry from her horrible grandparents who disinherited her father long ago BUT they said she could only get some coin if Edwina married a gentleman. She obvs didn’t tell her sister any of this despite all of Lady Danbury’s warnings and then they come to dinner and it’s as awful as you might imagine. The grandad is played by the dude who also plays an asshole in Ted Lasso and *chef’s kiss* casting, you guys. Of course, they tell everyone about the whole dowry requirement and Anthony defends Edwina and despite this being a PERFECT OUT of this whole stupid engagement (AND ALSO BECAUSE THEY FINALLY ADMIT THEY ARE HOT FOR EACH OTHER WITHOUT ACTUALLY KISSING), Kate (in her messy long braid wig!) tells Anthony (and some horses) that he must marry Edwina so that she won’t be heartbroken. QUICK GET EDWINA ANOTHER DUDE STAT! DISASTER! 

FRAN WATCH: NO FRANS!!! WHERE IS FRAN?!?!?!

EPISODE 6 - The Choice

Welp...here we are guys! Wedding of the season! The Queen has some new wigs, some new peacocks, and A TON OF COCAINE. What could go wrong?!?!? The Bridgertons and Sharmas are just going along as if this farce of a wedding is actually going to happen and oy vey. The only voice of reason comes in the form of DD (SANS DUKE EVEN AT A FAMILY WEDDING ARE YOU KIDDING ME). DD and her stupid bangs tell Anthony to follow his heart just moments before the wedding. WHAT IS HE GONNG DO? Meanwhile, Kate (in a braid honestly too close to the scalp) offers Edwina (in a pretty nice wig!) some bracelets owned by her mother and Edwina is all: no you keep them! Her fate is now sealed forever because we all know that JEWELRY WILL CURSE YOU FOREVER.

The jewelry curse is in effect basically IMMEDIATELY when Kate drops one of the bracelets, Anthony fetches it for her, and Edwina is FINALLY all: WAIT MY SISTER AND MY FIANCE ARE IN LOVE? ON THE ALTER YOU GUYS! She storms out, the wedding guests are shook, literal fireworks go off, and society and this tv show both simultaneously implode. 

The Queen, who has bought herself MATCHING WIGS WITH HER LADIES IN WAITING is PISSED. Mama Bridgerton, Mama Sharma, And Lady Danbury have no clue what to do and everyone just sort of lets Edwina decide if she should get married which is definitely the ONLY TIME A WOMAN HAS DECIDED HER MARITAL FATE ON THIS SHOW. In what should probably have taken 5 minutes, the rest of this episode descends into madness while Edwina takes HOURS to make this choice. Meanwhile, Anthony stares into the middle distance, likely haunted by BEE GHOSTS and Kate cries IN A PUNCH BOWL CLOSET I’M NOT KIDDING!!! Legit question: did I miss a writers’ strike because it really felt like NO ONE WROTE THIS EPISODE.

The wedding guests at some point decide to leave the church and wander indeterminably around the palace gardens, avoiding peacocks and allowing society to crumble around them. Was there an actual wedding planner besides the queen? Will some bitch with a clipboard ever tell them the wedding is still on or nah? Everyone is just losing their minds: Mama Featherington and the new Lord Featherington are FLIRTING despite him being betrothed to her daughter, being mean to that wrestler dude, and trying to pass fake jewels to rich assholes! Cressida has a new and insane weave! Colin is drinking champagne and being nice to Derry Girl (TOO LATE DUDE!) Anthony’s shitty friends are back! And most insultingly, Demi betrays her own Bechdel Test by ONLY talking about that printing press dude who I will now be referring to as NEWSIE based on my love of the movie Newsies and not his actual profession. Demi wisely leaves with her bangs AND TENDRILS (huh?!) to see if Newsie is in LIKE with her and yes he is because he gave her some dusty old books and these two are as good as married now.

JK JK no one is getting married! Or are they?!?! Time still doesn’t exist and neither do wedding rules: THEY START SERVING WEDDING CAKE DESPITE NO WEDDING! WTF!! I tried to use this as a hint that our favorite cake-hungry jeweler would show up and save the day by suggesting that if Kate and Edwina have the same ring size, they probably have the same dress size so just: SWITCH DRESSES AND LET’S HAVE A WEDDING! (This did not happen). I’d like to point out that in 50% of screwball comedies (see: The Philadelphia Story), messed up weddings are usually fixed by interchangeable brides and grooms because wasting a wedding is stupid. BUT SO IS THIS SHOW! And it is far from a screwball comedy - it is just an endless tragedy and even Mama Bridgerton and Lady Danbury, racked with guilt and updos, don’t know what to do but just laugh LAUGH AND LAUGH (YES REALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING!)

Edwina finally decides not to marry Anthony (DUH) and NO ONE POINTS OUT THAT KATE SHOULD JUST MARRY HIM INSTEAD! THEY ARE SERIOUSLY WASTING A WEDDING! THESE TWO ASSHOLES WILL GET HITCHED ANYWAY! THE WASTE AND THE DECADENCE I CAN’T!! Everyone just sort of shrugs and leaves including Mama Bridgerton and DD and her insufferable bangs!

Inside the church, these two assholes FINALLY KISS while society as we know it crumbles outside. WHATEVER!!!

FRAN WATCH: NO FRIGGIN FRANS!! AT HER BROTHER’S WEDDING! I finally actually googled what is going on with this and apparently the chick who plays Fran actually had another tv gig and is only in the first 3 episodes. This will not stop me from 1) bemoaning her absence and 2) bemoaning the fact that this show had the audacity to not even excuse her absence with some lame pianoforte sabbatical! There legit must have been a writers’ strike I missed, right??!?!

EPISODE 7 - Harmony

Well the world is continuing to spin even though everyone just ruined 1) Edwina’s heart and 2) a perfectly good wedding. There is some really dodgy footage of Kate and Anthony definitely masturbating to the idea of once kissing and yuck!!!

And then! The Bridgertons are all sitting around (SANS FRAN) and decide the only reasonable thing to do is: PROMENADE!!! And the promenade proves that the Sharmas and the Bridgertons are complete social outcasts. Now the Sharmas, Lady Danbury, and the Bridgertons are all just hanging out like: WHAT DO WE DO NOW TO MAINTAIN SOCIETY?? Kate’s wig is like...meh whatever but her dog suddenly is into Anthony! And Edwina is all: WHOA YOU GUYS ARE IN LOVE PLEASE DON’T MAKE OUT LITERALLY IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!

Meanwhile, the gay one who is NOT GAY is I guess just super bougie? AND ALSO HAS A DRUG PROBLEM MAYBE?!?!! Anthony DOES NOT APPROVE and hard same but like the Bridgertons can only handle one scandal at a time? Oh except now Colin might invest in the Cinderella Clan’s fake ruby mines (OF COURSE UGH COLIN) and the Queen essentially told Demi that she’s going to murder her if she doesn’t admit she’s Lady Whistledown oh and also everyone hates the Bridgertons because of the failed wedding. DISASTER!

My two very favorite businessladies meet next to the coziest fireplace this side of Yellowjackets and talk about what they’re gonna do about the whole Queen threatening Demi thing. Madame Delacroix in ringlets too magical to be true suggests that Derry Girl print something bad about Demi that she would never say about herself (excellent idea, awful consequences!) Derry Girls’ wig has smoothed out in a way that is really trying to be The Little Mermaid and bitch knows what she has to do: DESTROY DEMI!!! 

Meanwhile, the Sharmas, Bridgertons and Lady Danbury (who I’m just gonna call Eartha Kitt now - I mean come on) decide the way to fix their societal issues is to: THROW A BALL!!! THE THEME IS LITERALLY HARMONY AND NO I’M NOT KIDDING!! No one shows up because the one thing people like more than wasting a perfectly good wedding is wasting a perfectly good ball. And then Anthony solves everything by just DANCING!!! It has come to my attention that Jonathan Bailey is actually gay (HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS) and clearly took a lesson from the Rupert Everett school: there may not be love, there might not be sex....BUT BY GOD THERE WILL BE DANCING!!!! It is all a total hodown until Lady Whistledown publishes that Demi is a trashy minx who is carrying on UNCHAPERONED! MY PEARLS!!! 

SPEAKING OF UNCHAPERONED!! Kate and Anthony meet undera Wisteria laden, candlelit, throw pillowed sex gazebo....and....THEY. HAVE. SEX. 

IN AN OPEN AIR SEX GAZEBO!

YOU GUYS!! THE FEATHERINGTON BITCH GOT ENGAGED JUST FOR BEING IN AN ORANGERIE SOMEWHAT NEAR HER COUSIN.

THIS SHOW IS BANANAS!!!!!!

AND THEN! Anthony wakes up in the same sex gazebo (HE SLEPT THERE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!) to obviously find NO KATE because, well, she has common sense?!

Take it back - she has common sense UNTIL she decides to punish (?) herself for premarital gazebo sex by riding her horse in the rain and then Anthony chases after her and then HER HORSE THROWS HER! IN THE RAIN! I know this show is trying to be Pride and Prejudice but now it’s trying to be Sense and Sensibility too? 

FRAN WATCH: NO FRIGGIN FRANS!!! This show had the common decency to tell us that DD’s son “had a cough” thus why she and the Duke had to miss the Harmony Ball but WHERE IS FRAN’S EXCUSE?! Hyacinth was forced to play the pianoforte instead! THE HELL, FRAN?!?!?!

EPISODE 8 - The Viscount Who Loved Me

HERE WE ARE! THE LAST EPISODE! We did it! And so did Kate and Anthony and now Kate is in a coma out of sex gazebo horse girl guilt. And truly: EXCUSE HER GLAMOUR. As in: there is absolutely no excuse for the gorgeous glamour of this woman whilst in an actual coma. HOW DARE SHE. Her glorious locks have never looked better. A week goes by, Anthony doesn’t visit her out of moral obligations (?) and finally Edwina just kind of talks her out of the coma and she comes to with absolutely no visible wounds or neurological damage and literally the first thing she asks is: DID ANTHONY VISIT ME. The answer is no so FUCK HIM!!!! He does then visit her with tulips (TULIPS!!!) and asks her to marry her but she says no because she thinks it’s out of obligation and OMG YOU GUYS WE’RE ON THE FINAL EPISODE GET IT TOGETHER.

Ok they get it together kind of immediately because the Cinderella Clan are having a ball to celebrate their fake ruby pyramid scheme and Edwina and Kate make up and dance together because screw society!!! I love how much dancing just sort of fixes everything in this show the last two episodes. The hair on these two is...fine? Anyway, Kate and Anthony then dance and everyone is like SCANDAL but then the Queen says she likes the pairing so everyone falls in line. She also suggests Edwina marry her nephew the prince (remember him?) and I approve of this pairing of two sorta boring but nice people. 

OH AND CRESSIDA is in her most extreme weave war to date. LOOK AT THIS WIG!!!! HOW IS THIS LEGAL?!?! Also not legal: that whole ruby pyramid scheme which Colin points out to everyone thanks to the intel he got from that boxer dude and the whole Cinderella Clan go into crisis mode.

The stupid new Lord Featherington tells Mama Featherington, in a wig that can only be described as Hello, Dolly! meets Marie Antoinette that they should run away to the Americas together and in the first (and I’m sure last) time I will ever respect her, Mama Featherington is like: NOPE BYE I CHOOSE MY DAUGHTERS AND NOT YOU BUT GIVE ME SOME MONEY BYEEEEE. Well played. And goodbye forever, Lord Featherington. We hardly knew ye, and yet that was still too long.

In far more heartbreaking Cinderella Clan news, Derry Girl and Demi have a fight!!!! Derry Girl had warned Demi about seeing Newsie because of the SCANDAL of it all (and also to hide her identity as Lady Whistledown) but then decides to basically clue her in to how much she knows about gossip! Demi is catching on and all I can think about is Derry Girl’s new wig which is somehow in a braided CHINGON as if she’s eating Breakfast at Tiffanys and WHAT THE HELL WHY ARE YOU PLAYING GAMES WITH MY HEART WITH THIS WIG?!

Many more games are played with our heart with these two and it’s kind of the only breakup I’ve ever cared about in this show. Demi discovers all of Derry Girl’s secret floorboard gossip columns and they hiss at each other and it’s all really sad. So is Demi’s wig!! Unacceptable!

Meanwhile we have 10 minutes left in the show and the pace of loose ends is running at breakneck speed because we wasted so much time on that stupid slow moving wedding episode and now THERE. IS. TOO. MUCH. HAPPENING. Everyone goes outside because Mama Featherington promised them a surprise. Derry Girl is all excited to maybe have Colin FINALLY profess his love to her but of course, Anthony’s smarmy friends reemerge and she overhears him telling them that he could never love her. I HATE YOU, COLIN! YOU CAN DO BETTER, DERRY GIRL! 

Meanwhile, Benedict is wearing the most insane ascot/neckerchief and still claiming to not be gay (SURE!) and is pissed at Anthony for paying his way into art school and is gonna quit which is the biggest waste of money since that wasted ball and that wasted wedding both in this season. DECADENCE! The decadence keeps coming in the form of FIREWORKS mere seconds after Kate and Anthony FINALLY ADMIT THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND BECOME BETROTHED. PHEW!

Also Colin vaguely redeems himself by bringing all the smarmy bros to the boxer dude’s gentlemen’s club which is a great solid since he did save everyone from financial ruby ruin but now he has to serve drinks to total assholes. I guess it’s a living! 

In the end, these two assholes have sex and we see some lady parts and they’re married and LATE to a family game of PALL MALL (THIS STUPID GAME!) and Kate has a really intense french braid which isn’t as intense as the PDA they display in front of BOTH OF THEIR FAMILIES! OK? HAPPILY EVER AFTER JUST WATCH OUT FOR THE BEE GHOSTS.

FRAN WATCH: NO FRANS. ZERO FRANS. ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO FRANS!!!!! The Duke is also not there, though his kid is walking and DD is around to play pall mall. BUT WHO WILL PLAY THE PIANOFORTE FOR ANYONE!! I DEMAND MORE FRANS NEXT SEASON! HARRUMPH!

VERDICT: DOESN’T WURQ

[retvenkos]

also though, penelope's reaction to what colin said to his friends just felt, to me, like the writers were trying for something they didn't quite know how to write about. like, she's obviously already upset because of what happened with eloise and overhearing your crush say they don't like you isn't fun but her reaction to run back to her room and restart lady whistledown, to me, feels like the writers were trying to go for a watered-down guy gets rejected doesn't handle it well plot with penelope being the guy who got (indirectly) rejected. idk, like i feel the need to stress that i don't dislike penelope i think she's a very interesting and complex character but it feels like she's stuck in this mindset where everything is against her and she keeps seeing and reacting to the world in a way that reinforces that idea and then gets mad and frustrated when things don't go her way. and like, with marina and what happened with eloise you can argue that she was trying to protect colin and eloise in a convoluted she doesn't know how else to do it way but to me it just seems like she's so focused on people being and acting the way she wants them to she doesn't realize the effects and consequences of what she's doing. like with eloise, she may think 'oh eloise's reputation will be tarnished but at least the queen won't think she's whistledown anymore' instead of 'i'm going to intentionally hurt my best friend and she may not fully understand why if she ever finds out' because she thinks 'eloise will never find out'.

lololol,,,,, you said you don't dislike penelope, but in the previous ask i just told you how much i fundamentally dislike her as a person but think her character arc could be interesting (though i do not ship polin at all and i think that's uhh... not so good, seeing as a season will be dedicated to them in the future...).

i get what you mean about penelope being incredibly self-focused and perhaps not taking into account how others might be hurt (indirectly or otherwise) by what she writes as whistledown, outside of the context of the Big Manifestos like the marina situation and the eloise situation, however (and here is where i disagree), penelope is an intelligent woman! you cannot convince me for a single moment that she didn't know just how damaging everything could be for the person she pens about (heh, pen pun...) and how it could drastically ruin things, could someone find out. and if she didn't think she'd ever get caught,,,, girl, idk how to tell you this, but you're not that slick. you've literally already been caught!!! and you're also well aware that both the queen and your best friend are trying to uncover your identity!!!!!! you cannot tell me that she didn't consider the eventuality of her being caught. i can see her being self-centered enough to not think it matter, but she's definitely considered it, and she's definitely put what she writes (if only briefly) in that context. anything else, i feel, is making too much of an UwU of her complexity (and the fact that the bridgerton fandom is altogether known for making poor little meow meow's out of complicated characters is another reason why i struggle with liking the show. it seems you're either all in or all out when it comes to this show and !!!! i desire to be part of that middleground. even on tumblr, where such a thing is sO. DIFFICULT. to establish...).

and okay, lol, back to the thesis of your ask, yes, i agree that the writers tried a little too hard to give justification as to why pen continues to write whistledown after the confrontation. like,,,,, penelope, honey,,,,,,,, you've heard this before. i get that you got your hopes up, but ??? the whirlwind of that finale episode was Too Much For Me. i think that there were far too many plotlines in season 2 that just made it.... so hard to let a moment breathe. like, excuse me for mentioning season 1, but at least the less cluttered story led to some decent rumination? like, viewers was able to talk about The Issues in bridgerton because they were given enough time to actually Be Present in the story, rather than being a drive-by. in this season, there's so many things to talk about, but the story goes so fast i forget i want to write a dissertation on one of the 150 each episode.

i feel like had there been more time between the rejection from both eloise and colin it would have been better. and i don't even mean that much time!!!!! like, i would have liked to split it up into two separate days, but same day works! just not,,,,, same 10 minutes,,,,,, and how quickly the focus shifts to benedict, and then to anthony, and then to the other 1,001 characters that have a Very Important Arc This Season,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, bridgerton, honey............. the pacing of season 2 needs a moment to breathe..... it feels off because it was juggling so many different plotlines..... how is it that every character feels sidelined in their own narrative???

(also, completely unrelated, but i love how penelope wasn't even trying that hard to hide behind the statue.... there's literally no reason as to why none of those men saw her,,,,,, i get that ~ShE's A wAlLfLoWeR~ but damn,,, isn't it also a thing that she wears bright yellow dresses all the time that are supposed to be ~UgLy~ and not suited to her complexion? yknow.... dresses that make her sTaNd OuT????)

[joyful-nebula]

Let's Dive in

I'm gonna try to keep my rant to a minimum because while I enjoyed this season and I'm looking forward to the next, the flow hadn’t been the best.

I'm not a book fan. Just a show fan. I love this kind of series but I honestly have no interest in reading it until the entire show is completed because just like the Hunger Games, I know I'll just get upset if I read it now haha

I could tell the season was a bit inconsistent and there was stuff missing. I actually like the side story with the Featheringtons, I think they just focused too much on it instead of the more sentimental moments between Anthony and Kate. I honestly understood why there wasn't a lot of sex scenes since Anthony was meant to be a reformed rake, but compared to the first season, for some, it was a let down. But all in all even though the build up was annoying me by the wedding episode, I like that Anthony did his absolute best not to ruin Kate.

Now let's circle back to the Featheringtons. Pen definitely became a thorn in my side by the end of this and I found it ironic (and this is probably also why the writers focused so hard on it) that Penelope was so focused on Whistledown and keeping it going that she didn't even notice half the stuff going on in her own house. Yeah, she knew about her mom's scheme, but I found it quite amusing and interesting point to note that she chose not to set her family's business out this time since it didn't invovle Colin.

Now I get how people corrected me on Marina not being a major player like she was compared to the book (still thought Pen was wrong though) and Pen and Colin are meant to get together. But the stunts this girl pulled FOR A BOY????

YES, Eloise definitely hasn't been the best friend when it comes to hearing Pen out and seeing things from her perspective. But I'm sorry, how Pen handled things was just...yikes. Eloise didn't listen often nor did she give Pen a chance to voice her thoughts in season 1. But Eloise also took on solving who Whistledown was for Pen's sake and when she does step out of the "stifled woman" rants Eloise is very kind and is a good friend/sister.

And that is why I don't agree with Pen's statement about Eloise not doing anything to change her circumstances. And again for book readers I don't want to hear it, I am commenting on the show alone and this is just my personal take away haha

The reason why I don't agree is because Eloise is extremely outspoken. She never really tries to conceal who she is nor does she hide her beliefs. Just like her sister she knows there is a role she has to play especially with as big of a reputation Daphne had after marrying the Duke. As Daphne said she did set the standard for future matches for her sisters, but this also set the standard on how they should behave and that is a lot of pressure to live up to.

Eloise clearly was struggling with that because she flat out says she knows she is a disappointment and you can tell how frustrated she is with society standards and now she has been condemned for it as well as lost a new friend (who, yes, was still not someone she should have been alone with.) And I can see why even with Eloise wanting to change the situation I understand why she felt it was hopeless to fight against it.

Now flip to Pen. Yes, using Whistledown she is bringing things to light and questioning (especially the queen's) actions in society when it comes to the roles they play in these stifling , outdated rules of polite society but for the most part Lady Whistledown IS a gossip rag. And Pen has used it a few times to air out people's business that has done more harm then good.

I understand that Pen is overlooked, especially by her own family, but Pen I feel does CHOOSE to remain in the shadows. Yes, she doesn't fit the standard looks of society but I feel if she had half Eloise's outspokenness she probably would find a match and I say this because of her snotty, arrogant sisters who are not ugly to me but their personalities are carbon copies of their mother's and THAT is what make them ugly. But Philippa was able to find her match by being herself so I'm sure it will follow for Prudence.

However, Penelope clings to the walls. Even in her bright dresses she goes unnoticed and really she likes that seeing as the only male attention she ever wanted has been for Colin and that is the biggest thorn in my side with her. Every time she used Whistledown and wrote about those closest to her it was out selfish reasons. Selfish reasons that more then once put not only her family's reputation in danger but also the Bridgerton's who DID NOT deserve that. That's why the whole Marina incident bothered me because Penelope KNEW how precarious the situation was for her and she speared her to misery anyway to be spurned by Colin. Who did it again and again and again. And yes, I get it they will be the end goal come season 4 and I'm sure Penelope continues playing Lady Whistledown even after she gets him (I dont know yet for sure) I believe but her behavior has just been disappointing because even with the mask of Whistledown she is still hiding from not only society, but everyone close to her and she is not facing her problems head on.

Eloise at least toes the line and I think people over look that because yes, again, Eloise has not been the best friend to Pen but something else to note, which is why Eloise's anger was justified, Penelope never once spoke up on her feelings or her personal views. Yes, Eloise talked her ear off but Penelope didn't mind it because Eloise gave her a lot of intel. That's why it hurt her so much because she trusted Pen and thought it was mutual and had Penelope had a problem she should have voiced it to Eloise who would have understood. But when Penelope was in tears over Colin and showed up to the Bridgerton home she never told her. When Marina left and Colin left to travel and Eloise thought it was over her dead dad, she never told her. When Eloise started risking her reputation to track down Whistledown Penelope still did not open up to her and then used that against her.

Has Eloise been selfish and not the best friend? Yeah. That did not warrant that treatment from Pen especially when she ALSO isn't really doing anything to change her situation. All that money from Whistledown is just going back into it. Is it for her to run away or she keeps it after seeing her family struggle, again that is to be determined. But I was just so disappointed with her.

Colin said it best, "Had Miss Thompson's personal matters not been exposed, would we have all treated her situation differently, how may have things turned out?" (Can't remember if that's the exact wording but you get the drift) again I know this is all building to the other plot lines and I know for Penelope's and Eloise's stories these things needed to happen but that didn't make it right and still isn't. Penelope wants to speak about changing one's circumstances, but using Whistledown to force others to make decisions about their lives isn't her place and if it wasn't for some people thinking on their feet she very much could have ruined their lives.

And that's my take away on everything that happened in that finale. I throughly enjoyed Kate and Anthony's story but not nearly as much as Simon and Daphne so paying attention to this sublot made me feel some kind of way.

I look forward to both Penelope's and Eloise's development as this incident is going to force them both basically on their own and now they have to face their situations. How they handle them will be interesting to see.

[livlepretre]

Okay so Bridgerton.

What did you think of the season as a whole and will you continue watching?

Do you think Penelope is really lady whistledown or is that a red herring? And if she is, why would she bring down her family like that, outside of the Marina/Colin stuff or is that the only reason?

Speaking of which I love the idea of Penelope/Colin, what about you?

I really thought the Dukes reticence to having a child was ridiculous, just because of a vow to his horrible father. Luckily that's changed by the end.

Did you like how Marinas story ended or if not ended, how she now has a sort of new beginning?

What did you think of Anthony/Siena and are you glad it's seemingly ended?

I can't wait to see more Eloise and Queen Charlotte, they were both amazing. What did you think of them?

I really enjoyed it! Between this show and The Great I am all over this new genre of sassy anachronistic period dramas. And, you know, like everyone has been saying, it really fills that particular catty void that Gossip Girl left behind. I thought the characters were pretty well developed and amusing-- exactly what they needed to be in terms of depth and humor to keep the show interesting and dramatic. I wouldn’t say it was a dramatic smash or that it swept me away to the wildest emotional highs and lows, but it also didn’t need to. I very much enjoyed it throughout. Also, during episode six (the sexcapade episode), my eyebrows climbed so far up my forehead I learned I can actually wiggle my ears. And I also learned that I have taught my husband enough about period pieces that he was constantly gasping things like, “THEY’RE TOUCHING HANDS WITH NO GLOVES ON!” in the most scandalized tones imaginable. I was so proud. 

So, yes, will definitely continue watching. 

You know, it hasn’t occurred to me until just this moment that Lady Whistledown could be anyone other than Pen??? I think the fact that she writes about her family (and Daphne! her best friend’s older sister!) in such tones really goes to show all the ways she feels neglected or slighted by them-- her family is not particularly nice to her, and they are also incredibly controlling (well, her mother is) and tend to take her for granted. I think the Whistledown thing is how she takes her revenge for those slights (at least in terms of her writing about her family). I have no idea why she said that stuff in the first episode that hurt Daphne’s chances, other than naivetée which is possible. I think it wasn’t so much jealousy over Marina/Colin that caused her to write about Marina, so much as it was the dressing down Marina gave her when she told her to grow up and that Colin would never care for her or see her as a woman-- even though the conversation was about Colin, I think Pen’s response was a reaction to Marina being “cruel to be kind” (but really, pretty cruel) to her. She felt betrayed and hurt by Marina so she lashed out. What this all says to me is that Pen is in so many ways still such a young girl. She is very intelligent and thoughtful and loyal, but things like revealing Marina’s secrets like she did because she was hurt are the sort of responses of a very young person who is still learning and growing emotionally. 

I am RABID for Penelope/Colin!!!! 

Agreed agreed agreed about Simon and his vow to his dad. I kept mumbling that he’s the architect of his own unhappiness when he was refusing to marry Daphne/then when they were on the outs about the children question. So glad he had that wake up call! Honestly, revenge vows to the dead are never worth it. 

I very much so view Marina’s story as a tragedy. She has true love, but he dies; she is the belle of the season, but she can’t really take advantage of it; she finds a good man who loves her, but her fear holds her back from being able to tell him the truth and that’s why she loses him (and honestly? would anyone have told the truth there? she stood to lose everything, so much of the tragedy is that even though what marina did wasn’t right, it’s also really hard to imagine doing anything else in her shoes). I’m not sure how I feel about Marina’s path-- I suppose I’ll have to wait to find out how she’s doing in season 2. I’m relieved she’s not cast out, and I suppose I’m willing to accept the premise that basically her career would be in finding a good husband, but it’s always sad to see a character make due with her dead lover’s brother marrying her out of obligation rather than finding true love like so many other characters seem to be doing. 

I was a bit whatever about Anthony/Siena to tell you the truth. They had wicked chemistry, but Anthony was sort of a doofus and Siena is totally right that he always wants her to be what she isn’t (and what she doesn’t want to be), he always breaks his word to her, he’s totally unreliable both as a lover and as a person, and just in general he sucks? I’m glad they seem to be over, because I always enjoy it when relationships end because one side decides they respect themselves too much for this. I’m interested to find out where Siena fits into the story going forward, and if Anthony manages to grow up next season. 

As for Eloise and Charlotte! I have to be honest, I didn’t much care for Eloise-- my main problem with her is that she assumes she knows better than other characters who see the world differently than her. Like, I didn’t appreciate the way she blew Daphne’s concerns over the marriage market off-- like, Eloise, you’re very lucky you can afford to be so cavalier about it and that you are in a situation where it doesn’t really matter if you get married because you’re rich and your brother will support you no matter what, but for lots of women, it’s deadly serious. I HATED the scene where she broke into the maid’s room and was so haughty and high-handed and I LIVED for the dressing down she got! I suppose my main issue with Eloise is that she cannot conceive that it’s not that she sees more and knows more than others, it’s just that other people see the world differently than her. Also that child is much too young to smoke, BAD BENEDICT for letting her! Maybe she will improve next season though. 

Charlotte had most of these flaws as well and yet she kind of works as a villain-stand-in or at least antagonist in the sense that she is a powerful figure capable of really upsetting the apple cart/threatening the happiness and futures of the characters, so I found the same haughtiness and high-handedness very amusing in Charlotte. I also really enjoyed the little touches, like that scene with her husband. Also: HER CLOTHES! 

I don’t know why Francesca was away most of the season. I sort of forgot she had been sent away/didn’t remember her from episode 1 so for most of the season I kept wondering where the F child was and whether there were 7 or 8 Bridgerton children. 

I also kept expecting Benedict and Henry Granville to be a thing and was very surprised it never happened. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts :)