It’s such sloppy writing that they set up a wager between Penelope and Queen Charlotte in episode 1 just to never provide any resolution to it.
One of the most frustrating things about watching Eloise being so aimless every season is that she has all these great ambitions about wanting to "change the world" and yet the writers are not giving her any chance to do that or to at least show us what she means by that?
How will Eloise change the world in the context of the universe?
My thing is, what she wants to achieve seems so monumental that having it done within her own season isn't going to be enough.
There's already a lot going on in Philoise's story and so to add an entire arc of Eloise "changing the world" as she keeps saying she wants to do every season just seems a bit too "ambitious" of a tall order.
It needs to be told over several seasons not isolated to her own season. There needs to be a foundation to her eventual end goal and purpose in life the same way Benedict found his passions through art since S1 or Penelope finding her passion in writing as Lady Whistledown and eventually as an author.
We were first introduced to Eloise as someone who was eager to learn more and desired to have a university education and equal rights/opportunities for all as well as female empowerment so that's where my head immediately goes to but they've abandoned that after S2.
Do the writers even know what Eloise wants? Do they know what her passion is?
Unless the writers are just spitballing every time they give Eloise this line and really do not intend to give her an arc where she's actively striving for something great then what is the point of this rhetoric?
This is partly why I'm so frustrated with the material they've been giving her because they've written her out to be this character you want to root for and want her to achieve everything she sets her mind to but they are not moving her along.
To shove these great ambitions in her season is just poor writing imo because fundamentally, this is a ROMANCE show, not Downton Abbey where we could actually have a whole season of just Eloise "changing the world" and reshaping society.
So again, I ask, how exactly are they going to have Eloise "change the world"? What does that even look like in a show like Bridgerton?
Is it education? Is it career based? Is it political activism? Is it social reform? Is it business related? What is it?
Or are they simply going to have Eloise just come to the realization that she doesn't want to change the world anymore?
I want Eloise to achieve everything she sets her heart to.
I want her to find love but I also want her to find a purpose in life. I'm TEAM ELOISE all the way. I just want a clear direction and guidance to where her story is going in this specific avenue.
i really enjoy the contrast between the working women and the 'ladies' in bridgerton
working women like siena, genevieve, sophie, rae, and varley tend to have more day-to-day autonomy, a clearer sense of purpose through work, and less pressure from the marriage market or constant public scrutiny. they can sometimes exercise more direct choice in relationships, even if class limits them
ofc there are also major downsides like financial insecurity, little social protection, vulnerability to exploitation or scandal, and very limited upward mobility
by contrast, 'ladies' have financial security, status, and protection through family and society, but they are tightly constrained by reputation, marriage expectations, and constant public judgment, often with less real control over their romantic and personal choices
i think penelope is the only character we see who really teeters between both worlds
unlike most 'ladies,' she has hidden labour, income, and authorship, but unlike working women, she still has status, access to balls, and protection through her family name
she kind of traps herself in a different way: if she’s exposed, she risks losing her social safety, but if she fully conforms, she loses her independence
I've seen some comments lately claiming that Off Campus is now bigger than Bridgerton, usually pointing to the show's social media engagement after its debut and the recent Season 2 couple announcements.
Off Campus has an incredibly active online fandom. Its audience generally skews younger, and they're very engaged on social media.
But if we're talking about overall viewership, the available numbers don't really support the idea that it's surpassed Bridgerton.
Off Campus reached 36 million views in its first 12 days, which is an outstanding result and makes it one of Prime Video's biggest recent romance successes.However, Bridgerton Season 4, reached 39.7 million views in just its first four days on Netflix.
That's not to diminish Off Campus at all as it has been a phenomenal breakout hit with a very passionate fanbase, and I enjoyed the show myself. But social media engagement and overall viewership aren't the same thing.
I think it's fair to say Off Campus is one of the biggest romance adaptations at the moment, but based on the viewership data we have, it isn't bigger than Bridgerton in terms of global audience size. I also think it's unlikely to surpass Bridgerton, especially considering that Netflix has a significantly larger global reach and subscriber base than Prime Video.
Edit : I never said it was a competition guys, and I even talked about how off campus is a phenomenal hit and one of the biggest romance adaptations at the moment, I think that some people didn’t read the entire post.
The talks Portia had with Penelope leading up to her marriage were so cool. They touched on topics like ambition, personal values, Portia marrying for security and it not being provided but it was still worth it because she had her daughters. Honestly it's endlessly rewatchable.
Its okay Not Loving a Ship but stop lyng that they dont have Chemistry.
Last time I talked about this book here, it was about the criticism to the show I did not agree with. To have a more positive conversation, I’ll tell you what I liked and think will translate beautifully into the show.
This will absolutely contain spoilers.
When Francesca tells Michael she wants to get married again, they are having a conversation in the park. For the first time, she notices he’s attractive. She always knew, but never saw him like that. She gets flustered and kinda runs away from the conversation. She doesn’t realize what she’s feeling. That fits a sapphic story so beautifully.
Eloise and Francesca are really close when she re-enters the marriage mart. I hope they keep that as I think Eloise would be so supportive of Francesca.
Francesca convinces Michael to enter the marriage mart/talk to ladies. She is dead set on helping but doesn’t know why she gets upset every time she sees him talk to other women. Can’t wait to see our Francesca deal with feeling jealous.
When they first kiss, she immediately runs to Scotland. We don’t see a lot of her reasoning but I hope we do in the series.
The sex scenes are honestly pretty good. In the second one, Francesca is a tease and totally a top. She strips with her back to him to tease him. She also ends up being the one to ride him (regency strap here we come).
When she realizes she has feelings for him, she feels extremely guilty about it and feels like she shouldn’t, the most same-sex attraction thing ever.
In the end, John’s mom is really happy they got together so I hope they make her as supportive in the show.
And a bonus of one thing I like in the book but would not like to see adapted. Michael has malaria in the book. While the scenes of them talking about it are nice in the book, O think if they add it to the show it might become overcrowded with conflict. They will have to deal with the guilt of John and fighting for a sapphic relationship, that feels like enough already
There are probably more but these were the ones I noted down while reading. Can’t wait for next season 🫶🏻
i just love them
i know the boys are more chaotic, but my girls have never disappointed
the men get so much credit for yearning in this fandom that daphne's "i burn for you" regularly gets attributed to simon even though she's the one who says it
penelope and michaela might be the biggest yearners in the entire series. they spend literal years longing for the people they love from a distance thinking they can never have them. just years and years of quiet devotion
kate is spends an entire season eyefucking anthony from across the room (complimentary). she constantly denies herself what she wants. she's practically the patron saint of yearning
queen charlotte spends decades loving someone she can't always reach because of his illness. lifelong, heartbreaking yearning
francesca's is a quiet, restrained yearning. she internalizes everything, which will inevitably blow up in her face
eloise is our unconventional girlie. she doesn't just yearn romantically (yet) but she yearns for freedom, purpose, independence, and genuine connection
sophie's story is built on yearning. her love with benedict feels impossible because of their different social classes, and beyond that, she yearns for something she's never truly had: a life where she's free, safe, and treated with dignity
Nicola joins Haley Bennett, Marisa Abela, Hayley Atwell, and host Zoe Saldaña promoting Lancôme Paris’ celebration of Absolute Longevity MD at 40.
Emma attended Patrick McDowell trunk show while Adjoa attended the Nexo GP Ball across town.
Gracie, Oli, and Georgina (she played Lady Hollis in S4) attended the National Film Awards where S4 won Best TV Drama.
Victor paid a visit at Wimbledon before heading to Italy for the Italian Global Series Awards.
Phoebe scored an invite to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding in NYC.
Simone shined at Wimbledon and was in good company as she sat with Tom Hiddleston.
And finally, Hannah head to Silverstone for F1’s British GP.
Like it was Sophie who rejected him because she didn’t want to be his mistress. I know he proposed at the end when Violet mentioned that if he asked her to marry him she might accept that but I can’t remember if before that Benedict ever expressed to Sophie or anyone else that he actually wanted to marry her? Did that happen?
It would have been really meaningful if there was a scene where he confessed to Sophie he wishes he could marry her and treat her with the respect she deserves. Like some conversation with Sophie expressing that he actually wishes to make her his wife and not just a mistress. im saying this because I felt during the season, Benedict would have been just happy with the offer and Sophie being his mistress. All his efforts including his gesture with my cottage was about that life. If Sophie had accepted that he would be more than happy with that arrangement.
Idk if there was any real desire or fight from Benedict’s side to fight for Sophie and make her his wife. It all just worked out for him at the end because Violet accepted Sophie and said they would be ready to live with the consequences and handed him her ring. He just seemed kind of passive in this romance and didn’t really fight societal expectations. During the whole season in fact he was trying to convince Sophie to work within society rules and when she wasn’t willing he just sort of didn’t do much else?
What are some of the recurring/newly released TV Shows or Movies you watch in between seasons or are planning to watch before S5 comes out?
What keeps you entertained and occupied? Is it a guilty pleasure show? Is it a comfort show? Are you currently watching it now? Is it a popular show? Is it a niche show? Is it comedy? Is it romance? Is it drama? Is it reality TV?
What are you guys watching?
I also hope we get Penelope Crane in the show. It will be even more poignant with Colin and Penelope already naming their son after Eloise.