#rewatching bridgerton and god season 2 is SO much better

[kvtnisseverdeen]

bridgerton | 2.01 perhaps if the queen abandoned this absurdity that is the diamond, we would all see that a woman can be so much more.

[dollypopup]

"all the negativity is killing the vibe"

"just be grateful for what you got!" "was it perfect? no! but we got some good stuff!" "people are just being so down about season 3"

There is a reason people are displeased.

We are consumers of this media. We PAID for this media. With time, with money, with subscriptions. We bought the merch, we watched the promos, we paid in attention, we paid financially, we paid literally and metaphorically.

And they did not deliver.

So, yes, we have a right to complain because objectively speaking, it was a bad ending. It just was! It was poorly written and poorly edited, it did not leave viewers happy, and there is a REASON the engagement of part 2 is much lower than part 1. Polin is not the problem, sidelining Polin is the problem. Writing Polin poorly is the problem. Shoving Colin to the side (half of the pairing) is the problem. Inconsistent characterization is the problem.

the fact that we came in with high expectations and they were let down for us? makes it a bad ending. makes it bad writing. the fact that we waited 2 years for it and then another month in between and did not walk away feeling as though that time was worthwhile? makes it a bad ending.

the writing was disjointed, characters were underutilized, Colin was pushed aside in his OWN SEASON, they tried to do a #girlbossfeminism narrative and then threw Cressida to the wolves because she did a few things that hurt the main heroine's feelings, even after showing us as viewers we should (and do) empathize with her. I mean, for fuck's sake, there was literally a big speech and everyone clapped moment. stakes were defanged, there were threesome scenes that cut any and all tension building between Polin, Eloise's character was written inconsistently for the sake of swift forgiveness, they threw Babies ever After at us, momifying the one character who was said to be plus size representation at NINETEEN, there were more sex scenes for Benedict than there were for the main couple Polin. Lady Whistledown was a black hole for good quality because instead of writing a narrative that suited the couple's ending, they wrote a narrative to keep her as a plot device by any means possible. This season was a roller coaster that went up up up and then stagnated.

there are legitimate criticisms to be had about this season. as if we don't have a right to demand good quality from something we paid for.

and the worst part of it is that they set it up SO. WELL.

I ended Part 1 pacing my apartment, giddy and kicking my feet and rewatching the ending over and over. Part 2? None of that. And the reason people have been so negative about it is that IT SHOWS.

Yes, in part, some negativity is homophobia for Michaela, who I honest to god adore and am so happy to see on screen. Yes, in part, some negativity is for Polin from haters, a couple I love with all my heart.

But most of the negativity comes down to poor writing. Inconsistency. A lack of bravery for dropping a plot device (Lady Whistledown) that the show has held onto not for Penelope or for Polin, but for Bridgerton's story moving forward that writers do not feel confident portraying without a narrator so it might crutch them.

Stop licking a plate of crumbs and claiming it a meal. They had 2 years to deliver a fantastic season. They didn't do so. That is not at all on the actors, because they are FANTASTIC, it is on the writers, and on the production. Was it beautiful? Sure. Was it well acted? Absolutely. Was it good? Well edited? Well written? Meaningful? Fun?

No.

There are parts of it that are, but when you fumble an ending, it sours the entire experience. The reason people loved Part 1 so much was because of the ending of Episode 4, which was done beautifully. It felt satisfying. And then Part 2 felt like an entirely different beast. If you settle for mediocrity, that is all you will get. So yes, I demand better of this season. I demand that we get more than just one thirty second scene of Pen and Colin being intimate after their marriage. I demand more characterization and time devoted to the main couple instead of useless side plots. I demand better writing. I demand better EDITING. Cressida was done dirty, Colin was done dirty, Eloise was done dirty, Penelope was done dirty. And at the end of it, VIEWERS were done dirty.

There's a reason Part 1 had such glowing positivity and then Part 2 is garnering horribly mixed reactions. It's because one is better than the other. And if this show is CAPABLE of delivering content like Part 1, then yes, I will absolutely demand it of part 2. One day, Bridgerton will learn how to write a proper final episode, a proper closing to an arc.

That day was not in Season 3.

[superblysubpar]

NINE PEOPLE I WANT TO GET TO KNOW BETTER

thank you so much for the tag @crappymixtape 💛

last song: Smoke by Caroline Polacheck

favorite color: I love yellow, always, but I'm really on a white/cream/neutrals sort of kick lately

currently watching: I'm late to the game, but just finished season 2 of Bridgerton, watching True Detective & Abbott Elementary with my guy, and I've also been rewatching America's Next Top Model 😅 Also, I'm always, and I do mean always, watching Friends and Stranger Things

last movie: literally just finished Dune Part 2 like a half hour ago

currently reading: I just finished Funny Story by Emily Henry (cannot recommend her and her stories enough), and about to start The Guest List by Lucy Foley & The Book Proposal by KJ Micciche

sweet/spicy/savory: I feel like it truly depends on my mood and like, if it's a meal or not, but I'll go with snacks for each:

Sweet, I love a simple chocolate chip cookie or ice cream (don't get me started on flavors though, we'll be here all night...) spicy would have to be my favorite salt and vinegar chips with serrano pepper, and savory would be hummus and cucs/meat and cheese charcuterie sorts of things for sure.

relationship: Married for almost 4 years, but we've been together for 12!

current obsession: oh my god this is so broad, I have obsessions in all areas of my life...ummmmm I've been making these salad jars for lunch and I really love them haha. Love dumping them in a big glass bowl and pretending I'm super bougie. Also eating it with another current obsession: sanpellegrino melograno & arancina

last thing I googled: Jonathan Bailey Wicked (listen...)

currently working on:

Outside of tumblr - rewrites to my We'll Call It Love screenplay as well as starting work on my second movie - To Whom It May Concern

Inside of tumblr, the wips are too high to count, but my main joys right now are:

- Baby, I Can't Fight This Feeling (enemies to lovers coworkers steve series)

- one of my "she's seen all the classics" stories that I'm AMPED to share soon

-a secret untitled series

- You Got That Somethin' (90s Robin oneshot)

- Sweet Talk (personal trainer Steve Part 2)

no pressure tags: @rebelfell @palmtreesx3 @curiositydooropened @jo-harrington @lonelysatellites @abibliophobiaa @inklessletter @rosewaterandivy @boyfriendstevie - and of course anyone who'd like to join in!

[polin-erospsyche]

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Thoughts

Alright, it’s been a few days since the end of Season 3 Part 2 of Bridgerton, and I’ve had some time to think about all of it and rewatch the show. I have some thoughts. I’m not sure how much this will add to what everybody has already said, but I’m hoping that by writing this, I can free myself from the torment that is my Polin obsession. There are a few points I’d like to hit on, so this will probably be separated into parts.

1. The Break Between Part 1 and Part 2

I’ll start this whole thread with what seems to me like a big reason for which Part 2 was received the way it was in the fandom: the break. Of course, that is not to say that Part 2 was perfect. It wasn’t. I think by now we all agree that something was missing from it. Some used the word “lackluster”; others deemed it “disappointing.” However, what seems interesting to me after having spoken about it with some of my friends who watch it but are nowhere near as invested is that they overall enjoyed Part 2. Some even thought Part 2 was better than Part 1, with more solid storytelling. I personally have come to the conclusion that it is overall a great season and a very entertaining one. With its flaws, of course, but then again, no season of Bridgerton so far was ever perfect.

The difference, then, to me, between casual viewers of the show and the fandom, and maybe what could explain the difference in the level of disappointment we felt after Part 2, is the break. How we lived the break more specifically, and the AMOUNT of media we consumed during it. In effect, this break was essentially a great idea and the worst mistake Netflix could have made. A great idea because it caught a lot of people’s attention. With nothing to do but to wait after that carriage scene of all scenes, the only place to turn to, if you couldn’t get it out of your head, was online with the fan community. And god knows we were fed. Constantly and very, very well. With drops nearly every day, interviews, stills, and everything else, we had plenty to interact with. On top of that, you add fan theories and possible spoilers and a constant assurance that this season would get “very steamy, the steamiest,” and you end up with a lot of hype around Part 2.

I truly believe we might have been disappointed if we had gotten the whole season in one go, but the fallout might not have been as bad because they simply wouldn’t have had the time to build so much hype around it. That was the stupid aspect of putting a break in the middle. Nothing, I think, could have come close to what each one of us hoped and prayed Part 2 could be. It is the eternal problem of expectations vs. reality.

One last thing that I will add to this is the reputation Bridgerton has built for itself over the years. Bridgerton, when it was first released, was new, thrilling, a show that bent convention of traditional historical drama, a show that was steamy. We had a lot in terms of intimacy scenes in Season 1. Then Season 2 came, and fans were disappointed. Then Season 3 rolled along, and fans are finding themselves equally disappointed (now I see there are actually wars being fought over which season between 2 and 3 was the least steamy or showed the least amount of nudity, and I just sit here rolling my eyes because is this really necessary? Anyway, I digress. This is not the point here). We, as a fandom, have come to expect more nudity, more steaminess, more focus on the main couple, and each season for the past two we get disappointed. Season 1, no matter what you may think of it, and Queen Charlotte both delivered, I would say, in terms of focus on the main couple and steamy scenes. That is because both of them had fewer things going on in them, fewer side plots. My friend said something to me that made me laugh: she said that if you expect a romance show focused on the main couple above all else, you will inevitably be disappointed. However, if you make your peace with the fact that the format has changed somewhat, then it’s actually great fun. I personally think that the problem is the format has changed, but Bridgerton is still being sold to us on its original pitch, and if the original pitch is to be kept, then the 8-episode format is nowhere near enough to cram everything in, ending up in a weirdly paced show with disjointed scenes and a disappointed fan base.

Now that the problems have been laid out, and despite the flaws, this season still remains so beautiful, especially due to the complexity in both Colin and Penelope individually and as a couple (which I cannot wait to discuss!). It is worth sitting with it and taking it as a whole and not as a Part 1 and Part 2 😊

[justsomemusingsandthoughts]

Now about season 3 of Bridgerton....some thought from a Greys Anatomy fan of the first hour cause I need to get it off my chest :)

I was really excited to see Polins story unfold even though I didn't watch Bridgerton before or read the books but I was swept up by the excitement on tiktok and got invested in their story.

But as soon as I heard Shona was involved I was like okayyyyyy, I gotta keep my expectations in check cause the women is not one to write healthy and lasting relationships and reasonable men who communicate well😬

Looking at how the season played out, I completely understand why so many people are disappointed cause there was so much potential wasted, so many scenes that could have made clear to the viewer what was going on in Colins head. I think I filled in the gaps in my mind but there are still some moments, some things he said and did that were almost character destroying, specially the comment about the entrapment, cause dude, she didn't even know what sex was🙄 Also, not even trying to have a converation with her about why LW started and has such significance to her was not sth Colin would do.

And that's the crux of why I think for many die hard fans, the season was a let down. They didn't show any true discussions or enough moments of passion alongside the argument cause in truth, there was no time with all the unnecessary side plots and so few episodes. If you saw the season you know, I won't list them all but I will say they better put a proper Polin side story and spicy scene in Ben's season cause the amount of pointless threesomes I had to skip through is almost offensive, especially cause it should be clear people want intimate scenes of the main couple😮‍💨

But looking at all of it considering this show is part of Shondaland, I am not the least bit surprised. The number of downright character assasinations I watched on Grey's (and other shows of hers) after over a decade watching the development of some of them is kinda ridiculous. The number of ruined relationships and the horrible ways most of them were ruined (I almost cannot believe I'm saying this now but thank god they killed off Derek before completely undoing who he actually was and what Meredith meant to him😭).

Untimately, Shonda loves the drama and the angst and very clearly doesn't think there is much entertainment value in showing happy couples resolving their issues in a healthy way. If you watch a project she's involved in, you gotta be prepared for the couple to not make it and in that way, Bridgerton fans are rather lucky considering no matter how the seasons play out, it's gonna end with a happy couple that's not gonna split up again.

She also was never gonna just take books and keep to the narrative cause I don't believe that would be any fun to her. Especially this season, since she has said that Pen is her favorite character. I was immediately thinking Colin will be taking a back seat and have moments viewers will hate him for to have Pen in the forefront individually.

I guess I'm gonna take away and rewatch the beautiful moments, even some of the angsty ones and wait for what little side plots Polin will have in future seasons. I don't believe I will watch the entirety of future seasons cause I'm not interested to be disappointed by Shonda Rhimes' story telling anymore. Been there done that😂

But my little obsession with Polin was still worth it cause they're just an amazing fictional couple and I might just read their book now☺️

And I have definitely found a new actress to follow along for her future roles cause Nicola is just amazing as an actress and as a person🥰

(Also find it deeply offensive to make an audience wait for 2 years (!!!) for 8 episodes but that's for another day😅)

[enbymoomin]

Shows I Watched in 2023: Ranked!

Like last year, I'm deciding to keep up the tradition and rank all the shows I watched in 2023 for my own personal recommendations and for fun ;) This year, I watched 23 shows in 2023, by sheer chance, I swear.

I will again be ranking my list by scoring each show out of 5 in three categories: Blorboness (how blorbable the characters are, how much they rotate through my mind), Quality (execution, narrative elements), and Enjoyability (including and especially rewatchability). The three scores will then be totaled for a final score out of 15. Let's go, 2023 list!

1. 3 Will Be Free (2019) - 15 pts

Blorboness: 5

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 5

Comment: Won a place in my top shows of all time, third only to Black Sails (forever #1) and KinnPorsche in second place. Literally no other shows are on this list. The representation of the fluidity of sexuality and queerness, challenging amatonormativity, the queer m/f friendships, and poly rep in this show gave 3WBF a special place in my heart >>>>>

2. One Piece (2023) - 15 pts

Blorboness: 5

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 5

Comment: This one snuck up on me out of nowhere! I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did but I wanted to give this pirate show a try, especially since they used the same sets as Black Sails in South Africa. A simply fantastic show all around, and I can't wait to follow the live action as it develops!

3. Shadow and Bone Season 2 (2023) - 14 pts

Blorboness: 5

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 5

Comment: Fuck Netflix. S&B and the Crows deserved so much better <3333

4. Derry Girls (2018-22) - 14 pts

Blorboness: 4.5

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 4.5

5. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023) - 14 pts

Blorboness: 4

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 5

Rest under the cut!

6. Moonlight Chicken (2023) - 13.5 pts

Blorboness: 3.5

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 5

7. Only Friends (2023) - 13.5 pts

Blorboness: 4

Quality: 4.5

Enjoyability: 5

Comment: I feel like people hated on this show too much for not living up to whatever they had hyped it up to be in their head. There WAS a lot of mess (loved it!) but the characters were also treated like real people rather than nonstop Pretty Little Liars-level drama. This show was actually really good and I had fun watching :))

8. Over the Garden Wall (2014) - 12.5 pts

Blorboness: 3

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 4.5

Comment: This will become an annual watch for me 🍂

9. The Eclipse (2022) - 12.5 pts

Blorboness: 3

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 4.5

10. Bed Friend (2023) - 12 pts

Blorboness: 3.5

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4.5

11. Bridgerton Season 2 (2022) - 12 pts

Blorboness: 3

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 4

12. Good Omens Season 2 (2023) - 12 pts

Blorboness: 4

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4

13. Shadowhunters (2016-19) (rewatch) - 11.5 pts

Blorboness: 4

Quality: 3.5

Enjoyability: 4

Comment: Okay so I haven't seen this show in like four years so that's why it's on the list even though it's a rewatch since I basically watched with fresh eyes. It's better than I remembered when I was a teen but I think that's because I'm not a book purist anymore and thank fucking god for that. It was fun! I realize in hindsight how revolutionary the queer rep was when it first aired, even though it was still 2016-2019. Some of the plot changes and show-original arcs were a little strange but for the most part I liked them!

14. 911 Lone Star (2020-) - 11.5 pts

Blorboness: 3.5

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4

15. Heartstopper Season 2 (2023) - 11 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 4

16. The Gilded Age Season 2 (2023) - 11 pts

Blorboness: 3

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4

17. What We Do In The Shadows Season 5 (2023) - 10.5 pts

Blorboness: 3

Quality: 3.5

Enjoyability: 4

18. Never Have I Ever Season 4 (2023) - 10 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4

19. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023) - 10 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 4

Comment: Okay it was a really good show, but as an American I just can't blorbify any English monarchs, let alone King George the fucking III 💀💀

20. Not Me (2020) - 9 pts

Blorboness: 2.5

Quality: 3.5

Enjoyability: 3

Comment: LMAO so I watched this because two of my friends in the KinnPorsche fandom were giving me feedback on this paper for uni doing a queer theory/film studies analysis of KPTS and both of them independently said that I should watch Not Me because it was relevant to my argument, so this was my assigned reading xD I really liked it, but the second half of the show was much stronger than the first half for me. Also really fascinating in context of the pro-democracy protests happening in Thailand in 2020 and then Not Me airing in 2021; although it wasn't my favorite QL I've seen, I've got mad respect for it 🫡

21. Spartacus (2010-13) (rewatch) - 9 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 4

Enjoyability: 3

Comment: This is another rewatch because I was DEFINITELY too young when I watched this the first time like five years ago since I pretty much dissociated the entire time, and I wanted to see if it was really that bad or if I was just, y'know, too young. In hindsight, it actually really was quite gratuitous with the sex and violence (and sexual violence) which lowered its enjoyability score, but it was a really thought-provoking and otherwise well-executed show in terms of themes and narrative. I'll still have to get around to posting my Spartacus-Black Sails-Hunger Games meta analysis some day 👀

22. Wedding Plan the Series - 8.5 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 3

Enjoyability: 3

Comment: I'm sorry but I just can't stand this type of incompetence/manufactured stupid obstacles. Yiwa and Marine are queens, Nuea is understandable, but Sailom, get it together my guy. However, I did really appreciate the queer commentary and I totally dig the mlm/wlw friendships <3

23. Our Flag Means Death Season 2 - 8 pts

Blorboness: 2

Quality: 3

Enjoyability: 3

Comment: I feel like the show didn't really know what genre it was trying to be anymore. I thought y'all were exaggerating when it first came out, but I kind of see your point now. My enjoyment was also tainted by the pirate battle wars (iykyk) and also more importantly Taika Waititi literally firing pro-Palestine actors. Probably not going to watch S3 :(

And last but not least,

SPECIAL HONORARY MENTION:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023-) - 15 pts

Blorboness: 5

Quality: 5

Enjoyability: 5

Comment: PJO isn't officially ranked in my 2023 list because it's not done airing yet, but it WILL be ranked in 2024 when the season is completed. (I learned my lesson with Gap the Series last year when the second half of the show went sharply downhill after the new year :( but I have strong hopes for PJO!) So far, the show is fucking amazing, and I have faith that Jon Steinberg, Dan Shotz, Bear McCreary, Daphne Olive, Toby Stephens, Jessica Parker Kennedy, and Nick Boraine will continue to serve eat and leave no crumbs in 2024. Black Sails, KPTS, and 3WBF my beloveds may have some new company next year 👀

That's that for my 2023, and making this was just as much fun as last year! Surprisingly, no show this year scored a 1, a 0, or negative points in any categories, so good on them (or for me) xD Shout out to all the Tumblr gif makers who convinced me to watch these shows, y'all are more powerful than any marketing department. And @ anybody please feel free to drop into my ask box or messages about any of these shows or with any recs of your own 🙏💕

Happy new year!

[think-pieces]

Sunjoy signing on

if there's one thing i love it's a good show. as television declines, i find myself attaching onto nearly any show that's bottom line mediocre in it's writing. House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, hell even Law and Order SVU. Be sure we'll get to the others soon, today. I have a gripe against Bridgerton.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with it. There's something to say about good worldbuilding, and Bridgerton does it well. You're swallowed whole by the show in the best way. It's a well done show. However, when you adapt from a book to a show, everyone will have something they hate about it.

"it's not book accurate" "The characters aren't right" "It's not even historically accurate"

And truth be told, they're valid arguments. I get it. Especially the character thing, and the historical accuracy. And a secret third option, using the other books that exist in the same universe!

In the books, you make up in your head what they look like, yet all the Bridgerton siblings look the same. "Dark chesnut hair" is the most used description. Although, the show did good in differeing Daphne and Francesca, it breaks up how they appear, instead of a wash of similar actors you get a, oh god I hate to say this word, but diverse group of siblings. However, having Violet be a more reddish brown (she was dirty blonde in the books), would be amazing. I digress and bow to the casting director for choosing Ruth Gemmel, she embodies Violet Bridgerton to a near T.

My main issue with historical accuracy is that hollywood doesn't care. It's nice when they take more care into to purposefully making it seem more historical based. God, Pride and Predjudice 1995?? Stunning, Fabulous, I'm so in love it's seeping out of my pores, it doesn't work for Bridgerton. Bridgerton is truthfully a fantasy, casually set in Regency England. The books take a skinny slice more historical accuracy, not much. to me, perosnally, It's really a fantasy romance; therefore, i can slightly forgive how accurate it is. The costuming is by far the most glorious of it. I really want a behind the scenes in making this solely for the costume designs.

I have read so much of this series. All 8 in the OG Bridgerton set, the prequels, and the first book for the smythe-smith (smith-smythe? smythe-smith? I can't remember). The writers had a real chance of sprinkling in this lore of the Rokseby's and the smythe-smith (they did in queen charlotte, that's a whole other thing), and they didn't. It would be such an amazing easter egg to see it done.

AND ANOTHER THING

Julia Quinn's book series, as books would translate terribly onto film if done, scene for scene, line for line verbatim. the only reason it worked for pride and predjuice, is that it was done to a near complete T historical accuracy. (is it fully accurate, no of course not. but damn if it ain't close.). in the first season, the reason why it is the way it is, about 75% of julia quinn's book is smut. season 1 is formatted pretty close to the books. even the books themselves don't have much of a difference in format.

Exhibit A: in the duke and i, about halfway through the book, they get married and the issue of children comes up, and it's all internal thinking done by the characters. which is why what happens, (it didn't need to) but it gives more insight as to why everything happens and how it's resolved. which is why for season 2 they switch it.

Exhibit B: we as viewers flock to rewatch season 2 over and over before considering season 1. season 2 has a stronger B plot (The featheringtons), more filler scenes, and it uses the shitty 8, hour long episode structure better.

Exhibit C: it morphed from a book to screen from season 1 to a drama in season 2. which makes for a better story structure, that's what film is for. To be a tv show, not a book. yes be accurate, but, the truth is, book to screen content exist as a multiverse. NOT an accurate retelling. thinking of it that way is better for your brain. Yes anyone and everyone could sit and talk for hours, and for me days about the inaccuracies, but at some point you gotta except it's a multiverse, not the same thing. and sometimes, it's better that way. (other times not as much, which is my theory on why season 2 is much more different between book and movie)

signing off

Sunjoy

[bohemian-nights]

This isn’t HOTD related but I was rewatching Bridgerton specifically Bridgerton season 2 and god was I pissed. If I was a Kathony fan coming from the book(s) (I didn’t read the books till after Queen Charlotte) I would’ve been pissed. I swear Anthony treats Kate like his mistress (which is bad enough) while he’s courting/engaged to her sister. Telling her in so many words “you’re good enough to f*ck but not to marry.” And Kate while I felt for her I was pissed at her too. There were so many times no matter how embarrassing she should’ve told Edwina the whole truth. Lying by omission is still lying. The road to h*ll was truly paved with good intentions for Kate. As for Edwina herself isn’t she like 17/18 to Anthony’s 30? And if Anthony was truly only obsessed with duty why didn’t he just move on? I truly felt for Edwina. The only thing she did that really pissed me of was the “you are my half sister Kate.” Mostly cause I myself am a half sister and I know this would destroy me if my sister said this to me but at the same time she was hurt and when people get hurt they lash out and want to hurt those who hurt them. Like I’d straight dog walk my sister if she married my ex-fiancé. All in all I was pissed watching the season and I’m still pissed thinking about it.

Rewatching s2 is on my go do list before the new season comes out, I haven’t even read that novel yet, but yeah they drove the Edwina doesn’t know thing for way longer than nesscary. And as much as I love Bridgerton it makes zero sense because why would anyone do that.

I’m not going to bash Kate for it, but why the hell would you not tell your sister you are in love with her fiancé and he has the hots for you. Even if she went back to India and only visited them on Hollidays/birthdays that’s a recipe for disaster. I have a little sister too, I would never ever do that to her.

Show Anthony is a hoe so I could see him justifying not moving on when he should’ve by saying Well I’m going to cheat anyway, Edwina is good enough🤦🏽‍♀️

Kathony and Edwina deserved better.

[gilbertandanne]

Agreed about how dancing is their best form of communication...very on brand for them.

Ok, my positive thoughts right now seem endless, (PENELOISE, PORTIA, COLIN, YELLOW, THE WEDDING DANCE, THAT SCENE ON THE STREET IN EPISODE SEVEN THAT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER, etc) so I've placed a few initial watch criticisms under the cut...subject to change upon rewatch.

I have three four critiques (the last one is just a 'aww shucks' thing) with the first viewing of pt 2. Like I said, the positives far outweigh the negatives--so much so that I genuinely don't know where to begin with things I loved:

Anthony and Kate and how they handled their absence in pt 2. Ep 5 was SO GOOD and I was SO HAPPY that they were back....but 20 minutes into episode 6, I was like "wait...where are they? Seems like they should be part of what's going on". And while I know scheduling is a lot to work around and blah, blah, blah, making their reappearance such a big thing in ep 7 with the Colin talk was jarring for me (though obvi I loved their convo). And then Anthony suggesting that his 5-6(ish?) month pregnant wife go on a FOUR MONTH boat trip to India was soooooo left field given the TRAUMA he had with his mom during Hyacinth's birth (which we saw in S2). Like....you really wanna risk being at sea while Kate goes into labor? And...it takes MONTHS to get there? There are other ways they could've handled their sporadic appearances in S3, but the way it was handled in pt 2 was very distracting to me. Could be because I adore them so much, but it was....disjointed, at best.

Benedict. Wasn't a fan of his storyline in part 1, but was intrigued by where it was headed in part 2 because he finally acted on something WE ALL suspected/figured in season 1. My issue with Benedict's overall storyline in S3, aside from it being the least compelling/underdeveloped, is the very sudden end of it? He def seemed more into it than Lady Arnold did, so for him to just be like "nah....I don't want anything serious" seemed....weird. I know it's all building up for next season, but it ended SO FAST compared to the how much time we spent on that plot line this season.

Francesca. I'm still trying to sort out my feelings on this one, and it's a criticism that's developing as I've started to think through my initial rewatch. I'm not opposed at ALL to Michaela because the chemistry in two seconds was chemistrying, but like...we just spent SEVERAL episodes rooting for her and John, so the gobsmacked reaction of Francesca upon seeing Michaela MINUTES (well, same episode at least) after marrying John felt disrespectful to the J/F ship. To me, it would have worked so much better if it had been more chill on her part and Michaela had showed a little more attraction. Obvi, I know you can absolutely have more than one great love, but girl....you JUST got married.

The resolution of Lady Whistledown. I was hoping she would, ultimately, be able to remain anonymous because I've enjoyed LW as a narrator/character/plot line throughout the series thus far. I was hoping that Colin would accept that LW is part of his wife and vice versa and she could have them both. If the queen had to be in on it (as I suspected she would have to be), I was hoping she would be thrilled at the prospect of being in on the secret and an alliance would form between them as she loves the intrigue. Having said that, I did like how they went about her reveal and I DO understand the need for it since Pen married into the Bridgerton family. I love that Portia got brought in before the reveal (GOD, I LOVE PORTIA IN PART TWO and the development of her relationship with Pen). As far as the next season, I just wonder how the show will be framed. It'll definitely be a new chapter for the series, but I am sad to see the previous one end.

KATIE!!!!!!!!!! I’M GOING TO TRY NOT TO BE SPOILERY ABOUT MY FEELINGS. ALL I CAN SAY IS I AM FREAKING OUT AND NEED TO TALK TO YOU AS SOON AS YOU HAVE FINISHED WATCHING. PLEASE!

I JUST FINISHED IT AND IDK WHERE TO START?!

Like seriously…how do we begin to unpack everything that happened because <most> of it was perfect?