Bridgerton Season 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it’s over. It was an ok season. But I really, really miss the fire of Jonathan Bailey’s “And it is not far enough!” monologue. We need more unhinged yearning like that! Benedict yearned, but like….politely? Not sure how to say it. It was cute, but not fiery.

Agree. But I enjoyed their chemistry. The only thing I was distracted by was how young she appeared in relation to him; he’s very manly and she’s very girlish and during the first few episodes of the first half I just wasn’t feeling it but the acting was very good and I was eventually immersed.

I always found the actress who plays Francesca a bit wooden (maybe by design?) but her acting was great in the second half. I honestly love Lady Danbury, she’s my absolute favorite, with Violet a close second; I cannot keep my eyes away from them when they are on the screen. And I honestly find them sexier than any of the young leads over all the seasons, male or female (I’m a woman).

Lady Danbury is sexy?! I think NOT. lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it’s over. It was an ok season. But I really, really miss the fire of Jonathan Bailey’s “And it is not far enough!” monologue. We need more unhinged yearning like that! Benedict yearned, but like….politely? Not sure how to say it. It was cute, but not fiery.

Agree. But I enjoyed their chemistry. The only thing I was distracted by was how young she appeared in relation to him; he’s very manly and she’s very girlish and during the first few episodes of the first half I just wasn’t feeling it but the acting was very good and I was eventually immersed.

I always found the actress who plays Francesca a bit wooden (maybe by design?) but her acting was great in the second half. I honestly love Lady Danbury, she’s my absolute favorite, with Violet a close second; I cannot keep my eyes away from them when they are on the screen. And I honestly find them sexier than any of the young leads over all the seasons, male or female (I’m a woman).

Lady Danbury is sexy?! I think NOT. lol.

PP here. Or maybe just…electric. The actress is amazing. I will google her - would not be surprised to see a theater (stage) background

[Anonymous]

I really liked this season and the episode just before the break (the staircase scene, etc) but I thought this second half was so disappointing. The chemistry wasn't there, the jail and courtroom scenes were ridiculous, neither lead was appealing (Benedict is like an overgrown teenager and mopey, Sophie has zero personality). Sigh. I had high hopes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really liked this season and the episode just before the break (the staircase scene, etc) but I thought this second half was so disappointing. The chemistry wasn't there, the jail and courtroom scenes were ridiculous, neither lead was appealing (Benedict is like an overgrown teenager and mopey, Sophie has zero personality). Sigh. I had high hopes.

Agreed.

The frustrating thing is that the actor playing Benedict has a lot of charisma in real life if you’ve seen clips of him on set goofing around with his costars. He is sexy and fun, but the script and direction didn’t showcase that.

And I don’t understand why they didn’t make a point of portraying Sophie as a girl whose fun-loving soul was crushed but she reached a point where she decided she no longer gave a F and committed herself to chasing happiness. Why not lean into the transition from repressed/restrained girl to confident woman in pursuit of building a happier life? And go further to be the hero who saves Benedict from himself by showing him how to chose a healthy happiness.

It’s like the producers are just plain dumb. Shows like this are easy to pull off if you employ the appealing storyline and pepper it with sexy scenes with attractive actors with chemistry and charisma. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Maybe I've watched Heated Rivalry but the sex scenes (2) in part 2 had zero heat despite having plenty of nudity. It really comes down to the chemistry of the actors and IMO these two had none. Plus he's a lazy dope and she's rigid and boring. Such a disappointment.

And the idea that they're so "in love" just isn't believable. He wanted her because she was off limits (as she wasn't a prostitute or a lady throwing herself at him). I give the marriage about a year before he's back at the opium den, shagging random guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I've watched Heated Rivalry but the sex scenes (2) in part 2 had zero heat despite having plenty of nudity. It really comes down to the chemistry of the actors and IMO these two had none. Plus he's a lazy dope and she's rigid and boring. Such a disappointment.

And the idea that they're so "in love" just isn't believable. He wanted her because she was off limits (as she wasn't a prostitute or a lady throwing herself at him). I give the marriage about a year before he's back at the opium den, shagging random guys.

Heated Rivalry has ruined me for other sex scenes! The chemistry between the leads, the lighting, the music (or not), the breathing, the slapping noises…perfection. Everybody else needs to step it up. Take notes, Bridgerton!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I've watched Heated Rivalry but the sex scenes (2) in part 2 had zero heat despite having plenty of nudity. It really comes down to the chemistry of the actors and IMO these two had none. Plus he's a lazy dope and she's rigid and boring. Such a disappointment.

And the idea that they're so "in love" just isn't believable. He wanted her because she was off limits (as she wasn't a prostitute or a lady throwing herself at him). I give the marriage about a year before he's back at the opium den, shagging random guys.

Heated Rivalry has ruined me for other sex scenes! The chemistry between the leads, the lighting, the music (or not), the breathing, the slapping noises…perfection. Everybody else needs to step it up. Take notes, Bridgerton!

What season and episodes can I find those amazing sex scenes?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it’s over. It was an ok season. But I really, really miss the fire of Jonathan Bailey’s “And it is not far enough!” monologue. We need more unhinged yearning like that! Benedict yearned, but like….politely? Not sure how to say it. It was cute, but not fiery.

Agree. But I enjoyed their chemistry. The only thing I was distracted by was how young she appeared in relation to him; he’s very manly and she’s very girlish and during the first few episodes of the first half I just wasn’t feeling it but the acting was very good and I was eventually immersed.

I always found the actress who plays Francesca a bit wooden (maybe by design?) but her acting was great in the second half. I honestly love Lady Danbury, she’s my absolute favorite, with Violet a close second; I cannot keep my eyes away from them when they are on the screen. And I honestly find them sexier than any of the young leads over all the seasons, male or female (I’m a woman).

Lady Danbury is sexy?! I think NOT. lol.

PP here. Or maybe just…electric. The actress is amazing. I will google her - would not be surprised to see a theater (stage) background

I read in the Post that the actress is going to be at the Folgers Shakespeare library for a few events in April. Apparently she's a well known Shakespearean actor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it’s over. It was an ok season. But I really, really miss the fire of Jonathan Bailey’s “And it is not far enough!” monologue. We need more unhinged yearning like that! Benedict yearned, but like….politely? Not sure how to say it. It was cute, but not fiery.

Agree. But I enjoyed their chemistry. The only thing I was distracted by was how young she appeared in relation to him; he’s very manly and she’s very girlish and during the first few episodes of the first half I just wasn’t feeling it but the acting was very good and I was eventually immersed.

I always found the actress who plays Francesca a bit wooden (maybe by design?) but her acting was great in the second half. I honestly love Lady Danbury, she’s my absolute favorite, with Violet a close second; I cannot keep my eyes away from them when they are on the screen. And I honestly find them sexier than any of the young leads over all the seasons, male or female (I’m a woman).

Lady Danbury is sexy?! I think NOT. lol.

PP here. Or maybe just…electric. The actress is amazing. I will google her - would not be surprised to see a theater (stage) background

I read in the Post that the actress is going to be at the Folgers Shakespeare library for a few events in April. Apparently she's a well known Shakespearean actor.

A Shakespearean actor you say? It doesn’t get sexier than that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really liked this season and the episode just before the break (the staircase scene, etc) but I thought this second half was so disappointing. The chemistry wasn't there, the jail and courtroom scenes were ridiculous, neither lead was appealing (Benedict is like an overgrown teenager and mopey, Sophie has zero personality). Sigh. I had high hopes.

The courtroom scenes reminded me of the trail scenes in poldark — basically the process seems to be that rich person testifies with any made up bull, accused stands there without a lawyer or the ability to present witnesses or say anything, judge sentences them to death/jail/transportation to Australia. I don’t know how accurate that is, but if it is — damn, no wonder we had a revolution! Thank you, Bill of Rigjts!

[Anonymous]

I've only watched the first two of the last four episodes, but totally agree that so far it's lackluster. I thought the scene where Benedict and Sophie finally do it was so boring, and that Benedict in particular came off as whiny and boring.

In theory, the social conflict of Benedict not being allowed to marry a maid due to social convention, and Sophie being unable to accept being his mistress because of what happened with her mom and her own experience growing up illegitimate, is interesting to me. But the way it's portrayed is so dull. It's too much standing around explaining the unfairness of the situation to each other, not enough action.

I also thought it was very unrealistic when Benedict tells Sophie he's had relationships with men, and she takes like zero beats to be like "sure, yeah, I get that -- what a dumb social convention and I have absorbed and moved on from your bisexuality easily." I'm not saying she needed to object to it, I like the idea of her being open about it. I just think it's incredibly unrealistic that it would be like a side note for these characters. I agree with the PP who said it would have been more interesting to see a transformation in Sophie, where she goes from super restrained (out of necessity) to being willing to buck social rules in pursuit of her own freedom and happiness. The bisexual storyline could have been part of that, but instead I'm supposed to believe that a woman who is freaking out at the idea of being a mistress would be like "oh yeah, sex with men, cool" and then move right along? In Regency England? Sorry, but no. It makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've only watched the first two of the last four episodes, but totally agree that so far it's lackluster. I thought the scene where Benedict and Sophie finally do it was so boring, and that Benedict in particular came off as whiny and boring.

In theory, the social conflict of Benedict not being allowed to marry a maid due to social convention, and Sophie being unable to accept being his mistress because of what happened with her mom and her own experience growing up illegitimate, is interesting to me. But the way it's portrayed is so dull. It's too much standing around explaining the unfairness of the situation to each other, not enough action.

I also thought it was very unrealistic when Benedict tells Sophie he's had relationships with men, and she takes like zero beats to be like "sure, yeah, I get that -- what a dumb social convention and I have absorbed and moved on from your bisexuality easily." I'm not saying she needed to object to it, I like the idea of her being open about it. I just think it's incredibly unrealistic that it would be like a side note for these characters. I agree with the PP who said it would have been more interesting to see a transformation in Sophie, where she goes from super restrained (out of necessity) to being willing to buck social rules in pursuit of her own freedom and happiness. The bisexual storyline could have been part of that, but instead I'm supposed to believe that a woman who is freaking out at the idea of being a mistress would be like "oh yeah, sex with men, cool" and then move right along? In Regency England? Sorry, but no. It makes no sense.

This is well put, PP. I also just finished 2 episodes.

I think this is the worst season so far. But I do like the Violet and Eloise subplots and the clothes as much as ever.

I think that Penelope will now write a novel like Pamela to keep herself busy. Perhaps she will base it on Sophie's experience lightly fictionalized. Lol.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was just fine. Better than season 3, but not as good as 1 or 2. I just didn't find the main couple landed as well. I hope they take a more interesting tactic with Eloise next season.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, I think the biggest issues with seasons 3 and 4 is that the male leads are too nice. I'm not excited by this observation, it's kind of a bummer. But when I think about what worked in 1 and 2, a big part of it was the tension between the leads, driven in part by bigger and more aggressive personalities.

The women in 3 and 4 still have interesting, strong personalities. Arguably stronger than Daphne in Season 1 (I think Kate is the best female lead so far). But Colin is a drip generally, and while Benedict used to be fun, he is completely dull in this actual romance.

I don't think they needed to make these guys angry-hot like Anthony or closed off/stoic like the Duke, but they need something other than "respectfully in love" to make it interesting. I think Colin was just fundamentally miscast and that a different actor would have been able to make a lot more of the "you published gossip about my family" conflict. But Benedict is well cast, they just neutered him. I would have liked to see him more mischievous and making rash mistakes, to make Sophie reject him because she doesn't trust him for the same reasons his family is always skeptical about him, and then he changes to earn back her trust. Or something like that. Instead he just earnestly pursues her, listens to each of her concerns and take practical steps to address them so they can be together. Sweet, but BORING.

[Anonymous]

Benedict is hot, though! Such a beautiful man.