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 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.

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 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 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 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).

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.

Anonymous wrote:The one thing I am desperately hoping for the end is that they don't handwave Sophie's background and make her perfectly acceptable to marry with no scandal. It's lazy, especially given Benedixt's "I'm so unconventional" vibe. Let's not have the central conflict waved away, let's see him make an actual brave choice for her.

Can’t say for the show, but in the book they don’t just ignore it. They try to spread a rumor that Sophie is legitimate, but the couple still has to live in the country and avoid London because they’re not fully accepted by “society.”

Anonymous wrote:What’s the bathtub scene I keep hearing about?

It's from the book but hasn't happened yet. The show does have some promos based on it.

Anonymous wrote:What’s the bathtub scene I keep hearing about?

It's something they've teased for part II.

Anonymous wrote:What’s the bathtub scene I keep hearing about?

I watched the whole show and I have no memory of that, but as with everything in Bridgerton, I hope it wasn’t about jis.

Oh, wait, maybe you’re thinking of the bathtub in Saltburn?

Which now that I think about it, sadly was about jis.

What’s the bathtub scene I keep hearing about?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The one thing I am desperately hoping for the end is that they don't handwave Sophie's background and make her perfectly acceptable to marry with no scandal. It's lazy, especially given Benedixt's "I'm so unconventional" vibe. Let's not have the central conflict waved away, let's see him make an actual brave choice for her.

I guess that your hope is unlikely. I think the mother is going to turn out to be a real marriage that was hidden because of some inherited title or something, and the wicked stepmother is going to lose it all (making way for the new couple to live next door to Mom!). And I think Benedict is going to be completely conventional going forward. He's reformed now that he's met THE ONE!

I know this is likely to be the case but it would just be such a lazy choice. They've made Sophie a really appealing character, let's have Benedict prove himself for her. Especially after his "ugh" moment he needs to do some big work.

yep. she's going to give in to his seductive ways and boyish charm and that is going to be that. Meanwhile in real life this coupling would lasta few months and then he'd get bored.

I think they are setting us up for the boxer dude’s wife to influence the queen to legitimize the maid who married the maid to catch the spider.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read Pamela. A quick google search led me to this description:

Pamela tells the story of a fifteen-year-old maidservant named Pamela Andrews, whose employer, Mr. B, a wealthy landowner, makes unwanted and inappropriate advances towards her after the death of his mother. Pamela strives to reconcile her strong religious training with her desire for the approval of her employer in a series of letters and, later in the novel, journal entries all addressed to her impoverished parents. After various unsuccessful attempts at seduction, a series of sexual assaults and an extended period of kidnapping, the rakish Mr. B eventually reforms and makes Pamela a sincere proposal of marriage.

This doesn’t sound like the Cinderella storyline of Bridgerton at all to me. Kidnapping, sexual assault and she’s only 15. And actually works for Mr. B. Completely different.

Sophie actually works for Mr B here, and he has comported himself inappropriately (trying to get her to be his mistress.) Pamela is considered one the first British novels. So the plot of Season 4 can fairly be said to be a mashup of Cinderella and Pamela, at least in spirit.

Totally disagree. Sophie was originally working for another family. She does not work for Benedict. Benedict’s mother hired her as a favor for Benedict. Benedict has not sexually assaulted or kidnapped her and she’s not 15. These were not unwelcome advances either that she resisted.

Well there’s no fairy godmother or glass slipper so I guess Cinderella cannot be an influence either!

There is the glove she left behind. And the countless interviews with the actors regarding the influence of Cinderella. Not one of them has mentioned Pamela though.

What about Barry Lyndon though

https://ew.com/tv/chris-van-dusen-bridgerton-pop-culture-inspirations/

Thanks for this link!