r/Bridgerton

The obvious answer is Colin because he’s charming and fun and seems like a good time but I think irl he would probably be a deeply unreliable friend - disappears for months, oblivious to how his words land, means well but makes everything about himself without realizing it

Anthony sounds good on paper until you remember he would spend the entire friendship telling you what to do and genuinely believing he is helping

I think it has to be Eloise - she actually listens, has opinions about everything, would show up for you in the specific way you needed rather than the way that was easiest for her, and she would never let you get away with lying to yourself which is honestly what you want in a best friend even when it’s annoying

Bonus is Hyacinth if you want chaos and someone who is always down for something ill-advised

Potentially unpopular opinion(?)

Just rewatched season 4 after reading WHWW. I really think there are some aspects that had worked better if they kept them.

In the book Francesca realizes Michael is her best friend and that it’s weird that her best friend is a man. They go on these evening walks where she asks him to tell her of his romantic pursuits (“tell me something wicked!”)

Why not just do that? The 3 of them living together and enjoying each other’s company from the get-go makes much more sense with a woman than a man in this era.

Why not have Fran know Michaela is gay, and be intrigued, and ask her about her Gentleman Jack-style pursuits?

Why not establish a bit more of Michaela’s story in season 4, throwing a flashback in, to show how in love she is with Fran?

Then when John dies, explicitly pass the title to Michaela in season 4, show Michaela crushed under all the shame that Michael had in the books PLUS the shame of this FORBIDDEN, sapphic love, and take off?

I also think in the books Fran is quiet around her family but she’s very self assured, and Michael is less chaotic. I think making them opposites makes the story worse and their friendship less explainable.

The two of them turning into friends in the show after Michaela says pretty harsh stuff is just less believable.

Also yeah all the pinnacle stuff and being more obsessed with not having become pregnant a mere few months into the relationship… Why have that? Just why? Can’t she have two great and satisfying loves, and be content with who she is? Fran in the books only wants kids a while after John dies. It’s going to be tougher in a 1800’s sapphic relationship. She could have been completely uninterested in having children and it would have been more consistent.

I wish they had just kept their marriage timeline vague because he says this after episode 2 in which months are supposed to have passed between Benedict meeting Sophie at the masquerade and meeting her again at the party. We also see Elliot sitting up on his own unassisted in that episode which puts him around 9 months old.

Im curious what the explanation is on Benedict in the beginning remembering her lips when speaking to another women, who isn’t Sophie, why does he not immediately recognize her from the details he knew disqualified the other women?

I am on episode 4!

I think some of us are pretty much convinced that Eloise's trope will be Moc. But obviously they never confirmed this. I was wondering if they do really go that way, would you enjoy watching that? Or do you think she could benefit more with a different trope?

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Like guys just stop. Franchaels enjoy the books and leave the show alone, Franchaelas enjoy the show and leave the book alone.

Neither the show is changing nor the book. Just shut up and enjoy whatever you have. If you feel the need to drag Michael/Michaela just stop. Leave the book/show alone. If you feel the need to drag the other you’re clearly insecure and need to touch grass.

- someone who’s favourite is when he was wicked and is also excited for season 5

I love Penelope. I love her character. I love her actor (and btw, if you want to see more of her actors, watch Derry Girls, it’s so funny) but yeah, I genuinely loved everything about her, but her character def had flaws like a lot of flaws were i look on the screen and I just wanted to scream like I feel like they could have done a lot more with her character and I know her being whistle down was like a pretty big part of her personality cause it was ironic because she was so outspoken as whistle down and so shy and quiet as herself I get it but I really wish she kinda of was a bit different, but I liked her in the 4th season and Nicola is just so beautiful ♡

Hi everyone, well, I've finally finished reading all the Bridgerton books. I left Francesca and Eloise's for last because of all the debate surrounding these seasons, and I really would like to, I will touch on important points that explain why I believe both seasons will be good, despite what many detractors say. There's a lot of text, you've been warned haha

Before I begin my analysis, I want to say that I love all the seasons, but my attention is currently focused on seasons 5 and 6 because they were the ones I had the lowest expectations for, but now my perspective has changed, positive.

Starting with 5

Season 5 will be excellent because it will break with the predictable formula of the previous seasons.

To be honest, I didn't love Michael from the book, but I reread it and developed a healthier relationship with the character. I love the gender swap, and having Michaela is a better option for me.

Three main reasons why I think season 5 will go well and be a good season

Greater dramatic maturity: It will address grief, guilt, and emotional reconstruction after the loss of John, moving away from the typical teen romance.

Tension and deep longing: The central conflict will be the intense internal struggle between loyalty to John's memory and mutual desire in a complex social environment, adapting the essence of the book more to, Even though the haters say otherwise, I think my girls will do great.

Narrative and production freshness: The change of scenery to Scotland, the introduction of new characters, and a continuous shooting pace will keep the cast's chemistry and creative momentum at their peak.

It will be the most mature, artistic, and emotionally intense season of the series.

This gender shift has the potential to be, narratively, one of the series' most brilliant twists for one fundamental reason: it elevates the concept of "forbidden love" and longing to its highest degree. That is truly the essence of Francesca's book.

Furthermore, they are the first queer couple in the series, so they have guaranteed success with this audience, and I hope people give them a chance. This is coming from someone who has grown to love the book, And I love both Michael and Michaela in the series, so I think it will be a great story. I feel the ratings will be good, although I know there will be hate. I think it will be a great representation and a good adaptation.

Now we move on to season 6. In this case, I've already read the book a couple of times and I had a lot of trouble connecting with Philip, however, now that I've read it again, I'm totally convinced, I think he's one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted characters in Bridgerton, which is why I'm going to give him a chance. Now let's talk about why I think season 6 will also be a resounding success.

This is where it gets interesting. I think most of the Bridgerton fandom is waiting to see Eloise fall in love; they're on tenterhooks, and I think that's what makes the fans even more hooked on the story, which may make fans excited to see what will happen to Eloise in season 5 and what they will tell her in season 6.

My three strengths for season 6 would be the following.

The climax of a historical figure's evolution

By the time season 6 arrives, the audience will have spent years watching, The protagonist grows up, makes mistakes, matures in the background, and sees almost all of his siblings get married. Seeing a character so deeply rooted in the hearts of fans—like the rebellious Eloise—is truly moving. Finally discovering her identity and her great love story generates a catharsis and an expectation that the first seasons simply could not have. I call it the long-term reward phenomenon.

The mystery of Sir Phillip and mental health

The plot of Phillip Crane introduces much darker and more mature themes than the rest of the books, such as depression. (through the backdrop of his late wife, Marina Thompson) and family trauma. On television, this translates into a profound emotional drama. It won't be a season of "walks in the park," but of two wounded people learning to communicate. Which also makes it a mature and reflective season, if we take into account Eloise's fears and the evolution she will have along with Philip.

We have another strong point which is

If it's Eloise and Phillip, they fall in love first through their minds (by letters) and then by dealing with everyday life: the mess, the children, and the traumas of the past. We know it will be a marriage of convenience; it's the first time we'll see a couple who don't fall in love with the "fantasy" of marriage, but with the real person, with flaws and emotional baggage. Intellectual connection and mutual challenge: There will be no submissive romances or dramas due to lack of communication; chemistry will be born from debate, respect, and the ability to challenge each other to grow.

Conscious choice of adults: As characters who have already overcome their identity crises, their union will not be driven by youthful impulse or social pressure, but by a mature decision of two people who are fulfilled.

Audiences love to see how love transforms characters without changing their essence. Eloise, the romance skeptic, finds a man who doesn't want to silence or control her, but rather listen to her and.

Furthermore, today's audiences connect deeply with stories of mental health and mutual support: seeing how they save each other from loneliness and rural isolation will create a huge emotional bond.

Even though I don't particularly like Philip from the book, I think we should get rid of the idea that it will be an exact copy of his book. I think we're already on the right track, and this might upset some people, but I think that, I'm facing the best male character the show will give us, that's why my view of him has changed a lot, plus now I really understand his book, I gave myself the opportunity to read it and I saw that the book and the series, At least with Philip he seems calmer, and to win over Bridgerton is more difficult, so that man is going to be perfect. .

I think the couple from season 6 is going to be a lot of people's favorite.

I want to conclude by saying that we are facing mature seasons, which I love. I love all the seasons, but we needed seasons with more mature approaches and less fantasy. I think Franchela is going to be a huge success, which I love, we Sapphic fans are going to be happy, and I think Philoise is going to be a huge success too, and both of them are going to have great seasons. ✨⭐💜💚

Seasons 5 and 6 are coming in strong and I'm excited for both stories.

When watching Bridgerton, I usually dont care about historical accuracy. Whenever I see something that doesn't make sense in the terms of the Regency, (the very simplest example is Colin's Travels because of napoleonic wars, or dresses), I just say "It is what it is".

But when I remember in Season 2, when Anthony is looking for a wife and all Violet mentions about how 2 ladies, one had good manners and the other did great embroidery I think, he says one of them thinks that Napoleon fights for the Spanish..

.. How in the world Colin travels to Europe if Napoleon was infact alive in this universe? He fights in wars and Europe is safe somehow?? . .

Im still 'mad' that Franchaela happens right the very next season after John’s death. Or not really mad but sad, especially for John

It’s one thing to reduce her mourning period from four (in the books) to only two years, this is actually what mainly bums me out

But then not giving her mourning time to breath and immediately jumping to the next romance? I just feel so sad for John

Again, if they would’ve reduced the mourning period to two years but put Eloise’s season between it, then it would’ve been much more acceptable

Note: yes I know that Eloise couldn’t be next bc she isn’t properly prepared yet (although the writers would’ve had four full seasons time to properly prepare her)

I’m already kinda annoyed that the last 2 seasons focused so much more on the female leads, especially S3. Pen was already super developed after S1-2, while Colin still desperately needed more screen time and character work. I really hope they don’t repeat that with Philoise. It’s the season I’m looking forward to the most so I have high hopes.

At this point we know Eloise pretty well, even if her side plots lately haven’t been the strongest. But we know basically NOTHING about show Phillip, and considering how divisive he is in the book, they really need to spend time fleshing him out.

I recently reread To Sir Phillip, With Love and honestly I still don’t love book Phillip, even though I understand his trauma and why he is the way he is. For most of the book it feels like he mainly wants a caretaker for his kids and someone to fill the role of “wife,” and the romance itself doesn’t fully land for me. The last-minute “oh I didn’t expect to actually fall in love with her” didn’t completely sell me.

BUT I absolutely love what we’ve seen from show Phillip so far. He already feels way gentler and more emotionally appealing than book Phillip, while still having the potential for the same emotional depth and trauma. If they actually lean into his backstory and complexity, he could genuinely end up being the most compelling male lead on the show so far (imo). The potential is 100% there and Chris Fulton is perfect and I’m in love with his version of Phillip so far.

I’m hoping S4 develops Eloise a bit more, and then S5 really focuses on Phillip so we fully understand BOTH of them before throwing them into the romance.

What was everyone’s favorite season. I personally liked Penelope’s. I loved she has been in love with her best friend’s brother and how deep their relationship got once they both realized that they wanted each other.

Do yall think we will get the correspondence between Eloise and Phillip

Personally I want the letter writing to be in s5 mainly just so Eloise actually has something to do

But I also think a montage of them writing and receiving each others letters and then a Benophie style timejump of a few months or a year all in episode 1 (and then at the end of episode 1 Eloise runs away or she is the one proposing the marriage of convenience to Phillip) could actually work and I’d be fine with it

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I had discovered the show before the books, and so I decided to start on book 5. I absolutely loved Eloise’s story and Julia Quinn’s writing style!! I’m excited to start Francesca’s story next!

I had gotten books 5-8 only, since I had loved the show seasons so much, I wasn’t sure if the books would “spoil” them (I know that sounds silly, but I was told that the men were portrayed in a much different way).

Anyone read books 1-4 after they saw the show? Opinions?