Pen doesn't want Cressida taking credit for her work, because Cressida was her bully. It doesn't go really deep in on the show, but in the book Cressida goes out of her way to belittle, humiliate, and put Pen down, every chance she gets. If I were Penelope, I wouldn't want my bully to get the credit, or the reward for my work either.
The Fran and John thing really bummed me out. In the books Francesca loves John, and does not even notice Michael until after John´s death. I loved the actors who played Fran and John in the show as well, and I guess I just wish they were allowed to just be until John dies. We could have seen Micheala look longingly at Fran rather than the opposite, it would not have changed the ending. 🤷♀
To help explain the upset….. The problem with Francesca’s story shift changes the whole story for her. She truly loves her husband and enjoyed that marriage. Then fell in love with Michael after his death. She also had alot of trouble with fertility and was happy on her own but wanted a child so bad. So the Micheal relationship went forward because of that. This change ruins the first love story, her children goals, and her pure love makes her special. This sets her up for an unhappy marriage where she is distracted and ruined the whole story line where she chose her own partner and stood up to her mom and the queen for it. She also marries into a title and the title passes to Micheal so she gets to stay in the home she loves in her second relationship which doesn’t work if Michael is a female. Benedict is a much better pick to change the story because it doesn’t have to verge so far off the inspired story line. Hope that helps a bit. No dis on the actors. The female Micheal is a wonder actress to add to the cast and just prefer to see her in any other role!
Michaela could inherit the title because many Scottish peerage titles are heritable by women if there are no sons (I'm not sure if this would extend beyond a sibling to a cousin) and this is a Scottish title. However, there would certainly be some issue about where the title would go after her if she does not wed and have a child. I was looking forward to Masali playing Sophie, so I was surprised, but I'm fine with her in this role. There are a lot of possibilities, but it will have to change in some direction or another.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, becz. This change ruins everything from a storytelling perspective. If we're being honest, I think most people are afraid to admit that because then those who want a Queer love story will lose their minds and start calling us homophobic and all the other words used to shut down valid criticism. The reality is, the new showrunner for Bridgerton sucks. She messed up big time because she was so busy trying to put HER PERSONAL lifestyle on this beloved character that she did so in spite of knowing it would ruin the most beloved of all the books. John and Francesca were beautiful in this series up until they had "Michaela" show up. I would have been perfectly fine with John & Francesca being happy and then perhaps they introduce *his **_TWIN cousins, Michael and Michaela_* which would be an interesting twist. Have Michael follow the true love story. Have Michaela be someone to gain Eloise's attention since she's going to be in Scotland for a while. Doing _that_ would have allowed the beautiful *Two Great Loves* story we were looking for to happen, while also having the Queer representation that some people want.
I am surprised how many people do not understand Pen not wanting someone else to take credit for her writing. I am surprised how many people think Colin makes any sense as a character because Colin was not hurt by Marina's deception he still blames Lady Whistledown for Marina's actions 3 seasons later. Hey my guy, my guy, the gossip column did you a favor. Colin also has the audacity to say Pen entrapped him, I'm sorry who trapped whom?
I agree! Unpopular opinion, but LW told the truth, regardless whether 'good' or 'bad'. Marina entrapped & lied & was outed. Mean? Maybe, but S1 Marina's actions, which she accepts & owns in S2, were wrong. For El, it was dangerous for her & LW outing her did save her life, though at the expense of the printer guy (who I hope we see again!). I felt El was more jealous than upset bc Pen DID have a voice, something El feels she doesn't. S3 needed to show the power LW had, that even the Queen herself both feared & admired her, and why Colin & El were jealous of that power. Colin, I felt, & wanted the sow to show more of, wasn't upset about Marina being outed; he was upset Pen had achieved his goal before he did so he used the Marina outing as a front. When he said she entrapped, ohh, I wanted to slap him silly! Who took Pen to an empty house knowing what could happen (well, since we are to be married)? Who started the sex in the carriage & their house? Ugg, you spoiled little boy, esp. after he told Portia he wasn't entrapped; he proposed for love. I felt that was not in character for Colin at all.
A major point throughout all three seasons that too many people are forgetting is that 👩🏾🏫 *Cressida Was A **_BULLY_** To Penelope The Whole Time!!!!* If it were literally _anyone else,_ Penelope might have been able to let it go and allow that person to take the fall with the Queen. But *CRESSIDA?!!!!!* Hell no!
I don't think Colin blames LW for Marina's actions...he knows it was Marina's scheme and was hurt by her, but he still had empathy and sympathy for her plight. Colin is not one to hold grudges....he never has been that way, he may remain hurt but he never lets his anger take over. Colin was angry but more hurt that Pen chose to use LW, a public shaming and means to ruin Marina, in order to save him from the scheme. Pen could have told him she was pregnant...Pen only told him she was previously in love with another man, that is what Colin was angry with. Pen hid a lot of truths from him and even straight up lied to him multiple times, on top of airing private issues of his entire family and him for the entire public to read about. I think Colin was very justified to be angry and hurt, especially since he is so open and honest with Pen throughout all 3 seasons. Colin's entrapment comment was a reflection of the trauma and hurt he experienced the last time he was lied to and humiliated by Marina, where she did try to entrap him.....although a harsh statement, Colin had the right to question everything Pen said to him...he eventually got over it and supported and loved Pen 10000%, so I think for them to be able to get over this together shows that their relationship is strong and can survive anything.
@@CKeel88 Agree to Disagree! Colin is absolutely holding a grudge against Lady Whistledown, he let's it go because he has too. He also places all of his anger on Lady Whistledown because to him, LW ruining Marina robbed him of happiness. He said himself if she would've told him he would've still married her. Colin is jealous and petty. He and Eloise act as if they are entitled to Pen's secrets. They are not and they carry secrets of their own. Colin gives grace to people he cares about but LW isn't someone he cares about so he holds a grudge until he realizes it is Pen. Even then he punishes her and remains upset much longer than he does at anyone else. And I don't care what Pen did saying she entrapped him is despicable because if he treated Pen with the same level of respect he gave Marina he wouldn't have been in that situation at all.
Writers can understand why Pen clings to her writing career, esp. in a time where women weren't supposed to be anything but wives (seen with the talk with Portia) & doesn't want to give it up. It's her voice, her expression, her way to BE someone in a world that treats her as nobody. El drove me crazy: she's so dang clueless about others around her; even Cress says this, "all you do is talk" & that made all the times Pen has said the same thing come home...even the printer guy told her that! I love El & so want her to just wake up. I would have loved to have seen, esp. given S1 Dap & the 'insets himself where' comment...both Violet & Portia have 'the talk' with Fran & Pen..it was a truly missed moment for all of them. There's NO WAY Ant would have traveled with Kate that pregnant, esp. given how he recalls Violet in childbirth: her suffering was the main reason he didn't want to fall in love! Plus this is the Bridgerton HEIR, for Ant, that's massive. They would travel after the baby was older, but to risk Kate? Nope. I agree with the let down of Fran being 'disappointed' in John; BOOK SPOILER: in the book, he is her love, & when he dies, it's almost life ending for her. I really want to see them dive into her infertility story line; that's one place Bridg hasn't gone, & was a huge issue for women then (and still is: a couple childless is usually 'the woman's fault'). I sorta wanted some redemption for Cress; and definitely wanted to see Lord D happy; he was a sweet character & deserved better. I agree! We needed more Pen & Colin scenes & focus, and less 'other' stories. I would have taken out Ben's & saved for his Season, plus scaled back others to really focus on Polin. I didn't get the 'got to have more!' feeling either; and having to wait 2 YEARS seems silly, given they have everything they need (sets, acters, costumes, etc.) to go ahead & film.
I think that everyone else kind of match as far as the couples go. Both the Duke and Daphne have wicked tendencies and come off a bit arrogant at times. Kate and Anthony are hyper competitive and extremely responsible. I was more invested in Pen and this season was also more invested in Pen than the relationship so I liked it. Also I think Colin is the only male lead that takes cheap shots when he goes through his angry phase and it pissed me off this season because this man could not find a bad word to say about the woman who actually tried to entrap him but was just taking shots at Pen for fun starting last season.
The problem is not the inability to "relate to non-straight characters" but the fact that this is an adaptation of the existing work, not an original script, and Michael's change impacts a) Francesca's infertility storyline, which is pretty important to many women; b) the idea that "true love can happen more than once" - because they showed it not as Michaela being infatuated with Fran but vice versa, and Fran seemingly not being happy with her first marriage. In addition, we have Benedict and Eloise who just scream for a queer storyline, so why not go with that? Why not change Sophie into Soren or something, if they absolutely must?
I like that Cresida and Pen are similar. Both have unfortunate home situations and have played the part of the villain but can also show they care. Will mirror's Pen's career life them both losing something to gain something else. Lord Kilmartin's courtship of Fran mimics Deblin's courtship of Pen. Pen's constant knee jerk reactions to everything shows how similar she is to her mom and the consequence of doing the wrong things for the right reasons. And the best part to me is while they all mirror Pen's story they all have the opposite outcome. Pen gets to keep writing, Will loses his club. Pen does not marry Deblin, Fran does marry Lord Kilmartin. Pen gets her happy ending, Cresida ends up miserable. And just like everything works out for Pen, everything works out for Portia solidifying that they are very similar. These were excellent story telling beats that I noticed and I acknowledge not everyone like it but I did, because I never thought Colin deserve Pen anyway. So my investment in them was well nonexistent.
Wow. What a great perspective!!! I hadn't thought of it from this angle and now I appreciate having my *unrighteous anger* challenged. 😁The mirror images throughout the season really do point to something pretty spectacular, especially Penelope and her mother being one and the same. Wow. Mind blown. 🤯🤯 Thank you, letarivera!!! 🤗
I am not happy with the Polin storyline in the show. However, I feel compelled to point out that it was made quite clear that Penelope wrote that last Wgisteldown column because she wanted to protect the Bridgertons as she and Eloise predicted that Cressida would write a series of mean lies
She destroyed Marina in print to ensure there was no possibility of Colin or his family accepting her. If she had told Colin he could still decide to forgive and marry Marina. By publishing the story she ensured Marina was vanquished with no possibility of return.
I mean, I do feel for Marina, too. She had it rough. I don't know how I would have handled it if I were Pen, and I don't remember enough mitigating nuance from the season. But I agree that's why she exposed her in print: to leave no possibility of Marina to still be accepted by the Bridgertons. Definitely a tinge of self-interest there for Pen.
*Penelope, as a person, did everything possible to stop Marina from hurting Colin. Everything! But her own mother was pressing the issue. No one would listen to Penelope.* She was at the end of her rope trying to save her *FRIEND* who is also the man she truly loves, so when she saw Colin was going to fall for the okey doke, Penelope allowed Lady Whistledown to take Marina out. I am still 100% proud of her for doing so because she genuinely tried everything within her bounds to stop the entrapment before she went with the nuclear option.
I hate how they changed Francesca’s relationship with John and Michael. Ruins her whole book and the fertility journey. Francesca loved John in the books. John was her soul mate, and Michael was her great love. They fumbled the entire arc simply by making her not as into John as the book. And the lack of Polin in this season was disrespectful. This show runner does not understand romance. I hope Cressida returns as Sophie for Benedict.
I just stumbled on this review and literally why are we of the same mind? Wild! I suspect that the Mondrich kid will be somehow intertwined with Hyacinth and Gregory's story especially since the intro to Hyacinth seemed significant to the parents. Also, I don't know why they would have us care so much about Cressida for no reason and then send her off to Wales. I suspect the letter writing could lead to something for them both as well over the course of the next season. I would have also supported CressidaXDebling too. Colin doesn't have a title just a small point of correction. Anthony does.
Colin clearly married up and I could understand if he is upset about what Pen says about Eloise however his anger over Marina and even what she wrote about him is so stupid. I also want to point out Pen tried talking to both Colin and Marina in season 1 about that situation they ignored her. And what she wrote about him is what everyone was thinking including himself why mad Bro??? He projects on Pen a lot this season and I hate it. Also he is more jealous than upset with Pen. That scene where he talks about being a great writer as if they can not both write or Pen can not be a great writer and still like his writing Ewwww Gross!!
I hate how they changed Francesca’s relationship with John and Michael. Ruins her whole book and the fertility journey. Francesca loved John in the books. John was her soul mate, and Michael was her great love. They fumbled the entire arc simply by making her not as into John as the book. And the lack of Polin in this season was disrespectful. This show runner does not understand romance. All she seems to want is to virtue signal and cosplay her own life in Bridgerton.
I loooved this season. ❤️❤️❤️. So angsty… so many Easter eggs. The complexity of the human experience is what the point is. People could be multi/faceted.
No problem whatsoever with Michael being Michaela, I'm excited for that choice -- what I personally didn't like is that they swept John Stirling and that sweet neurodivergent romance aside right into the trash at the end of the season when they were supposed to be at a storytelling climax of newlywed bliss. The writers didn't calculate it as a bad step to leave us on that note. Why start the endgame romance by having Michaela have to overcome that kind of viewer resentment?! Why not instead, give Francesca her whole season, and have the romance with John be in the first couple episodes or so, do a time jump, and then bring Michaela to the fore. This way, no one feels like their time was wasted, and Michaela has a proper chance to shine as a love interest! The choices they made with timing and introductions did a real disservice to both John and Michaela, that's why I personally didn't like it.
This season was such a disappointment, such a mess for me. I fell ASLEEP during the last episode, ASLEEP, lol! The make up were horrendous, so hard so tacky. The dresses and decorations-what in the name of the Hunger Games Capitol vibe was that? I get that it is fantasy but it is supposed to be REGENCY era inspired. So very few dresses were elegant and nice. Most were synthetic and chaotic. The plot - urgh. I cant even. Overall quality of the set designs, costumes, make up, dialogues - are so low and lazy this season. Its like they thought “omg lets make everything super bright and thats it”. It takes away whole B vibe and atmosphere for me, established in s1 and s2. Weird camera angles, very unflattering to the actors. There were some nice points - Featheringtons were hilarious this season, some dresses were nice. Actors all tried to do best they cud with the most generic dialogues they could have been given. But most had 0 character growth. They just were shoved in various situations and thats it.
The costumes and makeup were wild indeed! The contouring and false lashes were pretty but definitely took me out of the period. And I totally agree that there were many things happening for the sake of drama rather than delivering a complete character arc :/
Hunger game vibes for sure that were a bit distracting to the plot. I also thought the script was soo disappointing for an aspiring writer and columnist the could do more than just stare at each other open mouthed! The wonderful actors did amazing with what they had just missed the clever conversation.
I adore Lady Danbury no matter what, but I must say I agree with you on how silly it was for a woman of her stature to _Still_ be upset over something her brother did *when he was TEN YEARS OLD!* Honestly, it made me laugh in the moment because it reminded me of the show *Once Upon a Time* and for the first three or four seasons, the Evil Queen is still upset and trying to murder Snow White because of a secret she told *_when she was ten years old._* 😂🤣😅😂😆😄😅 #GetOverItAlready! 😁
That being said this actually turned out to be my favorite Bridgerton season because I can not get over the SA in season 1 and the unhinged treatment of Edwina in season 2. I still like the couples but it feels like a level of toxic I just can not support. Where as Colin is just stupid and Pen is just lying and the way the characters around Pen and Colin mirror then to create and introduce these other storys I like even though not everyone did.
Keep Bendick straight and find his Sophie. Franchester married her husband's cousin. He was not her husband's brother. I like less gay or same-sex sense. The following season should be Bendick and Eloise.
all these comments kinda got me giggling like we have only had a few seconds of the interaction between fran and michaela i feel like people are not considering on a writing standpoint that it will most likely go over people’s heads that francesca isn’t straight if they didn’t include her reaction towards michaela at the end. i can already see people say “there’s no way she can be other than straight because she is alr married to john. they might drastically change the books” and then people will still be upset about the gender swap anyway. i feel more than anything that scene is supposed to give us a clear indication that fran hasnt entirely come to terms abt her sexuality (as most women do during this time) more than it trying to undermine whatever connection her and john have.
I think people giving Marcus a pass for his age is stupid. He said at 10 he saw her fire or conviction and was in awe of her and scared of her. But he has no concept of shutting up?? If he views her as formidable then his excuse of trying to protect her is flat out stupid. And she is not asking Marcus to stand up for her Marcus said that not her. Her issue is that he made the choice to actively go sell her out to their father (a man he also hates I might add). My problem is it does not make any sense if what he says about how he viewed his sister back then is true. Unless he was just being selfish which admittedly he kind of admits to a little bit.
Gregory's character in his book is awful. There are passages that literally read like a vicious stalker's diary. SPOILER BELOW Yes, I get that he plays the hero, but when someone has told you "no" repeatedly and you tie them up and hide them away; you're a villian. If Netflix gets all the way to him, I think even die-hard book fans would happily let them change whatever they want.
Oh gosh that does not sound great… I understand that rakishness is part of the genre but that sounds WAY beyond. And at this point I really do wonder whether they’ll even make it all the way to book 8 (when everyone will be 10000 years old 🥲)
@@abitoverzellis Gregory isn't really a rake. Actually my favorite book (in the series) and I hate a lot of how the men treat women (particularly Michael and Phillip, but Colin, Benedict, and Anthony are also problems). That's done in a screwball comedy kind of way but would doubtless be changed for the show if they ever make it that far.
No. I don’t mind a queer storyline but not for a most anticipated story/character. Eloise would make sense - she could go to Scotland and get it on with Michaela. I would root for that. But to deny the fans Michael and do it in a way that changes - entirely - the Fran/John love story and the rest of Francesca’s story is not okay. The actress who plays Michaela looks gorgeous and I’d be totally excited to see her with Eloise … but not to replace Michael. No. no. No and No
Sir Phillip is the worst in the books I desperately want better for Eloise but she does not have to be a lesbian I feel like people keep saying that because she is the closest thing to a feminist in the show. Feminism does not = lesbian or hatred of men and I would like to avoid that stereotype because god it sucks. I think they should make Eloise, Cresida, and Dublin a throuple. Both of them get the freedom to do whatever they want Dublin does what he wants and with 2 women he is bound to produce an heir even though he will not be around much. We can also pick that story up later since he is gone for 3 years. Until then Eloise can spend some time in Scotland with her sister and find out who she is and what she wants. And Cresida can grow from the mistakes she's made and truly learn how to make her own choices and be herself because her parents suck. Dublin returns acknowledges the change in both of these women because he did spend time with Eloise as well and then boom epic love story begins where he can not resist them both.
No. I don’t mind a queer storyline but not for a most anticipated story/character. Eloise would make sense - she could go to Scotland and get it on with Michaela. I would root for that. But to deny the fans Michael and do it in a way that changes - entirely - the Fran/John love story and the rest of Francesca’s story is not okay. The actress who plays Michaela looks gorgeous and I’d be totally excited to see her with Eloise … but not to replace Michael. No. no. No and No
Pen doesn't want Cressida taking credit for her work, because Cressida was her bully. It doesn't go really deep in on the show, but in the book Cressida goes out of her way to belittle, humiliate, and put Pen down, every chance she gets. If I were Penelope, I wouldn't want my bully to get the credit, or the reward for my work either.
The Fran and John thing really bummed me out. In the books Francesca loves John, and does not even notice Michael until after John´s death. I loved the actors who played Fran and John in the show as well, and I guess I just wish they were allowed to just be until John dies. We could have seen Micheala look longingly at Fran rather than the opposite, it would not have changed the ending. 🤷♀
To help explain the upset….. The problem with Francesca’s story shift changes the whole story for her. She truly loves her husband and enjoyed that marriage. Then fell in love with Michael after his death. She also had alot of trouble with fertility and was happy on her own but wanted a child so bad. So the Micheal relationship went forward because of that. This change ruins the first love story, her children goals, and her pure love makes her special. This sets her up for an unhappy marriage where she is distracted and ruined the whole story line where she chose her own partner and stood up to her mom and the queen for it. She also marries into a title and the title passes to Micheal so she gets to stay in the home she loves in her second relationship which doesn’t work if Michael is a female. Benedict is a much better pick to change the story because it doesn’t have to verge so far off the inspired story line. Hope that helps a bit. No dis on the actors. The female Micheal is a wonder actress to add to the cast and just prefer to see her in any other role!
Michaela could inherit the title because many Scottish peerage titles are heritable by women if there are no sons (I'm not sure if this would extend beyond a sibling to a cousin) and this is a Scottish title. However, there would certainly be some issue about where the title would go after her if she does not wed and have a child. I was looking forward to Masali playing Sophie, so I was surprised, but I'm fine with her in this role. There are a lot of possibilities, but it will have to change in some direction or another.
And Michael is his cousin, not brother. John is an only child
I agree with you wholeheartedly, becz. This change ruins everything from a storytelling perspective. If we're being honest, I think most people are afraid to admit that because then those who want a Queer love story will lose their minds and start calling us homophobic and all the other words used to shut down valid criticism. The reality is, the new showrunner for Bridgerton sucks. She messed up big time because she was so busy trying to put HER PERSONAL lifestyle on this beloved character that she did so in spite of knowing it would ruin the most beloved of all the books.
John and Francesca were beautiful in this series up until they had "Michaela" show up. I would have been perfectly fine with John & Francesca being happy and then perhaps they introduce *his **_TWIN cousins, Michael and Michaela_* which would be an interesting twist. Have Michael follow the true love story. Have Michaela be someone to gain Eloise's attention since she's going to be in Scotland for a while. Doing _that_ would have allowed the beautiful *Two Great Loves* story we were looking for to happen, while also having the Queer representation that some people want.
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 Would’ve love this instead of what we got.
@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 100% I just want to see the books come to life! Why call it Bridgerton if you are going to tell a different story?
I am surprised how many people do not understand Pen not wanting someone else to take credit for her writing. I am surprised how many people think Colin makes any sense as a character because Colin was not hurt by Marina's deception he still blames Lady Whistledown for Marina's actions 3 seasons later. Hey my guy, my guy, the gossip column did you a favor. Colin also has the audacity to say Pen entrapped him, I'm sorry who trapped whom?
I agree! Unpopular opinion, but LW told the truth, regardless whether 'good' or 'bad'. Marina entrapped & lied & was outed. Mean? Maybe, but S1 Marina's actions, which she accepts & owns in S2, were wrong. For El, it was dangerous for her & LW outing her did save her life, though at the expense of the printer guy (who I hope we see again!). I felt El was more jealous than upset bc Pen DID have a voice, something El feels she doesn't. S3 needed to show the power LW had, that even the Queen herself both feared & admired her, and why Colin & El were jealous of that power. Colin, I felt, & wanted the sow to show more of, wasn't upset about Marina being outed; he was upset Pen had achieved his goal before he did so he used the Marina outing as a front. When he said she entrapped, ohh, I wanted to slap him silly! Who took Pen to an empty house knowing what could happen (well, since we are to be married)? Who started the sex in the carriage & their house? Ugg, you spoiled little boy, esp. after he told Portia he wasn't entrapped; he proposed for love. I felt that was not in character for Colin at all.
A major point throughout all three seasons that too many people are forgetting is that 👩🏾🏫 *Cressida Was A **_BULLY_** To Penelope The Whole Time!!!!* If it were literally _anyone else,_ Penelope might have been able to let it go and allow that person to take the fall with the Queen. But *CRESSIDA?!!!!!* Hell no!
I don't think Colin blames LW for Marina's actions...he knows it was Marina's scheme and was hurt by her, but he still had empathy and sympathy for her plight. Colin is not one to hold grudges....he never has been that way, he may remain hurt but he never lets his anger take over. Colin was angry but more hurt that Pen chose to use LW, a public shaming and means to ruin Marina, in order to save him from the scheme. Pen could have told him she was pregnant...Pen only told him she was previously in love with another man, that is what Colin was angry with. Pen hid a lot of truths from him and even straight up lied to him multiple times, on top of airing private issues of his entire family and him for the entire public to read about. I think Colin was very justified to be angry and hurt, especially since he is so open and honest with Pen throughout all 3 seasons. Colin's entrapment comment was a reflection of the trauma and hurt he experienced the last time he was lied to and humiliated by Marina, where she did try to entrap him.....although a harsh statement, Colin had the right to question everything Pen said to him...he eventually got over it and supported and loved Pen 10000%, so I think for them to be able to get over this together shows that their relationship is strong and can survive anything.
@@CKeel88 Agree to Disagree! Colin is absolutely holding a grudge against Lady Whistledown, he let's it go because he has too. He also places all of his anger on Lady Whistledown because to him, LW ruining Marina robbed him of happiness. He said himself if she would've told him he would've still married her. Colin is jealous and petty. He and Eloise act as if they are entitled to Pen's secrets. They are not and they carry secrets of their own. Colin gives grace to people he cares about but LW isn't someone he cares about so he holds a grudge until he realizes it is Pen. Even then he punishes her and remains upset much longer than he does at anyone else. And I don't care what Pen did saying she entrapped him is despicable because if he treated Pen with the same level of respect he gave Marina he wouldn't have been in that situation at all.
Writers can understand why Pen clings to her writing career, esp. in a time where women weren't supposed to be anything but wives (seen with the talk with Portia) & doesn't want to give it up. It's her voice, her expression, her way to BE someone in a world that treats her as nobody. El drove me crazy: she's so dang clueless about others around her; even Cress says this, "all you do is talk" & that made all the times Pen has said the same thing come home...even the printer guy told her that! I love El & so want her to just wake up. I would have loved to have seen, esp. given S1 Dap & the 'insets himself where' comment...both Violet & Portia have 'the talk' with Fran & Pen..it was a truly missed moment for all of them. There's NO WAY Ant would have traveled with Kate that pregnant, esp. given how he recalls Violet in childbirth: her suffering was the main reason he didn't want to fall in love! Plus this is the Bridgerton HEIR, for Ant, that's massive. They would travel after the baby was older, but to risk Kate? Nope. I agree with the let down of Fran being 'disappointed' in John; BOOK SPOILER: in the book, he is her love, & when he dies, it's almost life ending for her. I really want to see them dive into her infertility story line; that's one place Bridg hasn't gone, & was a huge issue for women then (and still is: a couple childless is usually 'the woman's fault'). I sorta wanted some redemption for Cress; and definitely wanted to see Lord D happy; he was a sweet character & deserved better. I agree! We needed more Pen & Colin scenes & focus, and less 'other' stories. I would have taken out Ben's & saved for his Season, plus scaled back others to really focus on Polin. I didn't get the 'got to have more!' feeling either; and having to wait 2 YEARS seems silly, given they have everything they need (sets, acters, costumes, etc.) to go ahead & film.
I think that everyone else kind of match as far as the couples go. Both the Duke and Daphne have wicked tendencies and come off a bit arrogant at times. Kate and Anthony are hyper competitive and extremely responsible. I was more invested in Pen and this season was also more invested in Pen than the relationship so I liked it. Also I think Colin is the only male lead that takes cheap shots when he goes through his angry phase and it pissed me off this season because this man could not find a bad word to say about the woman who actually tried to entrap him but was just taking shots at Pen for fun starting last season.
The first born male gets the title, Antony. Colin's name is Mr. Colin Bridgerton.
The problem is not the inability to "relate to non-straight characters" but the fact that this is an adaptation of the existing work, not an original script, and Michael's change impacts a) Francesca's infertility storyline, which is pretty important to many women; b) the idea that "true love can happen more than once" - because they showed it not as Michaela being infatuated with Fran but vice versa, and Fran seemingly not being happy with her first marriage. In addition, we have Benedict and Eloise who just scream for a queer storyline, so why not go with that? Why not change Sophie into Soren or something, if they absolutely must?
I like that Cresida and Pen are similar. Both have unfortunate home situations and have played the part of the villain but can also show they care. Will mirror's Pen's career life them both losing something to gain something else. Lord Kilmartin's courtship of Fran mimics Deblin's courtship of Pen. Pen's constant knee jerk reactions to everything shows how similar she is to her mom and the consequence of doing the wrong things for the right reasons. And the best part to me is while they all mirror Pen's story they all have the opposite outcome.
Pen gets to keep writing, Will loses his club. Pen does not marry Deblin, Fran does marry Lord Kilmartin. Pen gets her happy ending, Cresida ends up miserable. And just like everything works out for Pen, everything works out for Portia solidifying that they are very similar. These were excellent story telling beats that I noticed and I acknowledge not everyone like it but I did, because I never thought Colin deserve Pen anyway. So my investment in them was well nonexistent.
Wow. What a great perspective!!! I hadn't thought of it from this angle and now I appreciate having my *unrighteous anger* challenged. 😁The mirror images throughout the season really do point to something pretty spectacular, especially Penelope and her mother being one and the same. Wow. Mind blown. 🤯🤯 Thank you, letarivera!!! 🤗
I am not happy with the Polin storyline in the show. However, I feel compelled to point out that it was made quite clear that Penelope wrote that last Wgisteldown column because she wanted to protect the Bridgertons as she and Eloise predicted that Cressida would write a series of mean lies
Whistle down was a part of pen she didn't want to let go
Colin was hurt before by deception but... didn't he realize Lady Whistledown/Penelope actually exposed that deception?
You're so right! Pen was just looking out for him!
@@abitoverzellis She could have just told him or his mother or his brother or his sister.
She destroyed Marina in print to ensure there was no possibility of Colin or his family accepting her. If she had told Colin he could still decide to forgive and marry Marina. By publishing the story she ensured Marina was vanquished with no possibility of return.
I mean, I do feel for Marina, too. She had it rough. I don't know how I would have handled it if I were Pen, and I don't remember enough mitigating nuance from the season. But I agree that's why she exposed her in print: to leave no possibility of Marina to still be accepted by the Bridgertons. Definitely a tinge of self-interest there for Pen.
*Penelope, as a person, did everything possible to stop Marina from hurting Colin. Everything! But her own mother was pressing the issue. No one would listen to Penelope.* She was at the end of her rope trying to save her *FRIEND* who is also the man she truly loves, so when she saw Colin was going to fall for the okey doke, Penelope allowed Lady Whistledown to take Marina out. I am still 100% proud of her for doing so because she genuinely tried everything within her bounds to stop the entrapment before she went with the nuclear option.
I hate how they changed Francesca’s relationship with John and Michael. Ruins her whole book and the fertility journey. Francesca loved John in the books. John was her soul mate, and Michael was her great love. They fumbled the entire arc simply by making her not as into John as the book.
And the lack of Polin in this season was disrespectful. This show runner does not understand romance.
I hope Cressida returns as Sophie for Benedict.
Did you miss the entire second half? You missed the love declaration at the end!!!
I just stumbled on this review and literally why are we of the same mind? Wild! I suspect that the Mondrich kid will be somehow intertwined with Hyacinth and Gregory's story especially since the intro to Hyacinth seemed significant to the parents. Also, I don't know why they would have us care so much about Cressida for no reason and then send her off to Wales. I suspect the letter writing could lead to something for them both as well over the course of the next season. I would have also supported CressidaXDebling too. Colin doesn't have a title just a small point of correction. Anthony does.
Just started watching. I must say I love your hair! I’ll add more as I watch through.
Thank you so much! Looking forward to your thoughts!
I enjoyed listening to your thoughts about season 3. One of the best reviews so far. You have beautiful hair and very elegant hands.
i’m not that into bridgerton but i really enjoy the way u convey ur thoughts
Colin clearly married up and I could understand if he is upset about what Pen says about Eloise however his anger over Marina and even what she wrote about him is so stupid. I also want to point out Pen tried talking to both Colin and Marina in season 1 about that situation they ignored her. And what she wrote about him is what everyone was thinking including himself why mad Bro??? He projects on Pen a lot this season and I hate it. Also he is more jealous than upset with Pen. That scene where he talks about being a great writer as if they can not both write or Pen can not be a great writer and still like his writing Ewwww Gross!!
I hate how they changed Francesca’s relationship with John and Michael. Ruins her whole book and the fertility journey. Francesca loved John in the books. John was her soul mate, and Michael was her great love. They fumbled the entire arc simply by making her not as into John as the book.
And the lack of Polin in this season was disrespectful. This show runner does not understand romance. All she seems to want is to virtue signal and cosplay her own life in Bridgerton.
I loooved this season. ❤️❤️❤️. So angsty… so many Easter eggs. The complexity of the human experience is what the point is. People could be multi/faceted.
No problem whatsoever with Michael being Michaela, I'm excited for that choice -- what I personally didn't like is that they swept John Stirling and that sweet neurodivergent romance aside right into the trash at the end of the season when they were supposed to be at a storytelling climax of newlywed bliss. The writers didn't calculate it as a bad step to leave us on that note. Why start the endgame romance by having Michaela have to overcome that kind of viewer resentment?! Why not instead, give Francesca her whole season, and have the romance with John be in the first couple episodes or so, do a time jump, and then bring Michaela to the fore. This way, no one feels like their time was wasted, and Michaela has a proper chance to shine as a love interest! The choices they made with timing and introductions did a real disservice to both John and Michaela, that's why I personally didn't like it.
This season was such a disappointment, such a mess for me. I fell ASLEEP during the last episode, ASLEEP, lol! The make up were horrendous, so hard so tacky. The dresses and decorations-what in the name of the Hunger Games Capitol vibe was that? I get that it is fantasy but it is supposed to be REGENCY era inspired. So very few dresses were elegant and nice. Most were synthetic and chaotic.
The plot - urgh. I cant even.
Overall quality of the set designs, costumes, make up, dialogues - are so low and lazy this season. Its like they thought “omg lets make everything super bright and thats it”.
It takes away whole B vibe and atmosphere for me, established in s1 and s2.
Weird camera angles, very unflattering to the actors.
There were some nice points - Featheringtons were hilarious this season, some dresses were nice. Actors all tried to do best they cud with the most generic dialogues they could have been given. But most had 0 character growth. They just were shoved in various situations and thats it.
The costumes and makeup were wild indeed! The contouring and false lashes were pretty but definitely took me out of the period. And I totally agree that there were many things happening for the sake of drama rather than delivering a complete character arc :/
Yeah, I think you nailed it. Penelope deserved to be stunning, and they (costumers, lighting, direction, editing) failed her utterly.
Hunger game vibes for sure that were a bit distracting to the plot. I also thought the script was soo disappointing for an aspiring writer and columnist the could do more than just stare at each other open mouthed! The wonderful actors did amazing with what they had just missed the clever conversation.
I adore Lady Danbury no matter what, but I must say I agree with you on how silly it was for a woman of her stature to _Still_ be upset over something her brother did *when he was TEN YEARS OLD!* Honestly, it made me laugh in the moment because it reminded me of the show *Once Upon a Time* and for the first three or four seasons, the Evil Queen is still upset and trying to murder Snow White because of a secret she told *_when she was ten years old._* 😂🤣😅😂😆😄😅 #GetOverItAlready! 😁
That being said this actually turned out to be my favorite Bridgerton season because I can not get over the SA in season 1 and the unhinged treatment of Edwina in season 2. I still like the couples but it feels like a level of toxic I just can not support. Where as Colin is just stupid and Pen is just lying and the way the characters around Pen and Colin mirror then to create and introduce these other storys I like even though not everyone did.
Keep Bendick straight and find his Sophie. Franchester married her husband's cousin. He was not her husband's brother. I like less gay or same-sex sense. The following season should be Bendick and Eloise.
I don’t feel that Cressida is just evil. I think she is desperate to get away and live on her own.
all these comments kinda got me giggling like we have only had a few seconds of the interaction between fran and michaela i feel like people are not considering on a writing standpoint that it will most likely go over people’s heads that francesca isn’t straight if they didn’t include her reaction towards michaela at the end. i can already see people say “there’s no way she can be other than straight because she is alr married to john. they might drastically change the books” and then people will still be upset about the gender swap anyway.
i feel more than anything that scene is supposed to give us a clear indication that fran hasnt entirely come to terms abt her sexuality (as most women do during this time) more than it trying to undermine whatever connection her and john have.
I think people giving Marcus a pass for his age is stupid. He said at 10 he saw her fire or conviction and was in awe of her and scared of her. But he has no concept of shutting up?? If he views her as formidable then his excuse of trying to protect her is flat out stupid. And she is not asking Marcus to stand up for her Marcus said that not her. Her issue is that he made the choice to actively go sell her out to their father (a man he also hates I might add). My problem is it does not make any sense if what he says about how he viewed his sister back then is true. Unless he was just being selfish which admittedly he kind of admits to a little bit.
Gregory's character in his book is awful. There are passages that literally read like a vicious stalker's diary. SPOILER BELOW
Yes, I get that he plays the hero, but when someone has told you "no" repeatedly and you tie them up and hide them away; you're a villian. If Netflix gets all the way to him, I think even die-hard book fans would happily let them change whatever they want.
Oh gosh that does not sound great… I understand that rakishness is part of the genre but that sounds WAY beyond. And at this point I really do wonder whether they’ll even make it all the way to book 8 (when everyone will be 10000 years old 🥲)
@@abitoverzellis Gregory isn't really a rake. Actually my favorite book (in the series) and I hate a lot of how the men treat women (particularly Michael and Phillip, but Colin, Benedict, and Anthony are also problems). That's done in a screwball comedy kind of way but would doubtless be changed for the show if they ever make it that far.
No. I don’t mind a queer storyline but not for a most anticipated story/character. Eloise would make sense - she could go to Scotland and get it on with Michaela. I would root for that. But to deny the fans Michael and do it in a way that changes - entirely - the Fran/John love story and the rest of Francesca’s story is not okay. The actress who plays Michaela looks gorgeous and I’d be totally excited to see her with Eloise … but not to replace Michael. No. no. No and No
Sir Phillip is the worst in the books I desperately want better for Eloise but she does not have to be a lesbian I feel like people keep saying that because she is the closest thing to a feminist in the show. Feminism does not = lesbian or hatred of men and I would like to avoid that stereotype because god it sucks. I think they should make Eloise, Cresida, and Dublin a throuple. Both of them get the freedom to do whatever they want Dublin does what he wants and with 2 women he is bound to produce an heir even though he will not be around much. We can also pick that story up later since he is gone for 3 years. Until then Eloise can spend some time in Scotland with her sister and find out who she is and what she wants. And Cresida can grow from the mistakes she's made and truly learn how to make her own choices and be herself because her parents suck. Dublin returns acknowledges the change in both of these women because he did spend time with Eloise as well and then boom epic love story begins where he can not resist them both.
No. I don’t mind a queer storyline but not for a most anticipated story/character. Eloise would make sense - she could go to Scotland and get it on with Michaela. I would root for that. But to deny the fans Michael and do it in a way that changes - entirely - the Fran/John love story and the rest of Francesca’s story is not okay. The actress who plays Michaela looks gorgeous and I’d be totally excited to see her with Eloise … but not to replace Michael. No. no. No and No