Thoughts on Bridgerton, Eps 1-7

So, like other moms of toddlers I know, I’m a bit behind the times when it comes to pop culture and am only just now (after several starts and stops) nearing the end of Bridgerton… though to cut myself some slack, I did stay up to date on WandaVision… if only to avoid spoilers. Anyway, rambling aside, here are some thoughts (and spoilers, up through ep 7) I’ve had while watching Bridgerton, and why I’m on the fence about starting season two whenever it comes out.

First and foremost, I detest most of the characters to varying degrees, perhaps with the exceptions of Eloise and Penelope. Like Eloise I have little patience for petticoats and definitely want to find out for sure who Lady Whistledown is. I’m pretty sure I had the right person pegged by episode 4 or 5 (but more on that below). And like Penelope, I think lies are a waste of time, energy and downright hurtful.

As far as the other characters go, they all irritate me by their lack of honesty and transparency. I know what you’re thinking, because it’s probably the same things all of my friends were thinking when I bemoaned this plot device of concealment of communication for the sake of drama. You’re thinking, but that was the time. Just look at any Regency era novel or film, and you’ll see the same stuffiness get in the way of people’s feelings and growth all the time.

And that’s true, but it still drives me nuts. And while I can overlook families concealing things, or intrigue between members of the ton due to societal expectations of the time, that’s all well and good (and makes for Lady Whistledown’s existence enjoyable). However, for Simon and Daphne, at a certain point, semantics and deception were honestly just unnecessary and unacceptable.

In the beginning I actually liked where their characters were headed. The Proposal is one of my all time favorite movies and I generally loathe romcoms (see above for my issues with deception being used as a plot device). In The Proposal however, not only do you get the brilliance of Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, but the only lying is to help someone, not to get into someone’s pants. And while Bridgerton was obviously going to have the “we’re not in love, but we’re pretending and therefore will actually end up in love” formula, I didn’t think it would take the twists and turns that it did. And very breifly to that end, as a mom and SpEd teacher, I found the Duke’s backstory touching and thought that it was well done.

Anyway, the twists and turns are what made the Whistledown papers a central plot point. Who is Lady Whistledown? What will she write about next? Who should worry about her? Everyone has at least a tiny scandal that could hurt them, and waiting to see who’s next has been fun. Like Eloise, at this point I’m convinced it’s Madame Delacroix, but even if it’s not her, it’s been fun guessing.

For the most part, I was fine with the little lies, but only up to a point. Once Simon and Daphne were married though, the deception was only there to drag along the drama. I mean honestly, how long did Simon think that Daphne would remain naive about the Birds and the Bees? And, while I know that episode 6 is high on a lot of ladies’ lists for how “entertaining” it is, I found Daphne’s actions to be pretty lousy. While I get this is fiction and I shouldn’t overthink it, the Duke didn’t consent to what happened and if consent isn’t there, sex shouldn’t happen.

Now, as other friends may point out… ummmm you’re watching this for plot… and character development? And to that I answer, uhhhhh yeah! I honestly don’t care about how steamy the scenes are if they do zero for plot advancement or growth (no one judge me when I’m watching Season 2 of The Witcher though… ok). I’d also like to add (in my typical overthinking fashion), steamy scenes can be great, but not if they’re unrealistic. Sure, the Duke and Duchess are newlyweds and are going to have sex anywhere and everywhere that they can… however the cold cement of a gazebo in the rain? On the stairs? On a ladder? While most viewers are oggling those scenes my eyes are rolling too much to oggle. Maybe I’m too much like Sally in my other favorite romcom, too practical to enjoy such things (another reason I liked Bridgerton, like When Harry Met Sally, the character were friends before they were romantic). But I digress.

Here we are. One episode from the finale. And I feel like Marina, no hope for a positive outcome at the end of the season. Why? Because either a ton of things about the ton will be left untied and unresolved until season two, or things will be rushed and messy, like all of Lady Featherington’s attempts to get Marina married.

Unfortunately, like the Duke, I can’t not finish. So, after school prep is done, and it’s time to fold more toddler clothes I’ll watch the finale. However, unlike Daphne’s mid-argument stimulation on the stairs, I doubt I’ll feel satisfied.

What are your thoughts on Bridgerton? Are you an overthinker like me, or are you able to cast your cares to the wind the same way the Queen casts her disappointed glare upon her subjects, and just enjoy it? Let me know in the comments.