magical_willow

[magicaldarkwillow]

The Bridgerton Curse

I hope Eloise Bridgerton never gets an official season because we need at least one sibling to retain their personality.

The curse of the marriage mart (to the Bridgerton's at least, and the Bridgerton adjacent spouses) is that as soon as they walk down the aisle, any semblance of character and personality, particularly anything considered a flaw, evaporates and they all become doting, charming, lovely, amenable partners.

This is boring.

They bring back previous season faves for them to smile and nod and be oh so nice.

You could argue this a maturity reveal, most of the time these characters are parents now - and of course they can't impact the plot too much because the fiery focus needs to be on the current siblings romance.

Eloise still gets to be snippy comic relief because she is unmarried, and I want it to stay this way.

[SPOILER IN 3 2 1]

Even Cressida's return shows a fairly similar fate. Although it makes a little more sense for her character- it only really works because she was a raging bitch last season. She's still suddenly incredibly understanding, repentant and demure.

Penelope of course has kept up her writing, and her point of privilege undermining Lady Whistledown was interesting but the way it was done, simpering and smiling over tea was cursed. These characters can no longer feel anger or spite. Just ongoing empathy, sympathy and resignment.

Who knows what Daphne's up to. God speed.

Saying all this, this season did allow a deeper focus on older characters which was enjoyable and refreshing. Violet Bridgerton who's arc essentially disrupts the curse, proves that maybe down the line, once responsibilities ebb you CAN go back to who you were. She gets a sex scene. She lies to the Queen. All great stuff that perhaps previous season Violet's wouldn't have done.

We also got the evolution of Mrs Mondrich, and the fight between Charlotte and Agatha was genuinely moving and riddled with personality.

I'm not saying Bridgerton, particularly S4, didn't give us great female characters and fun arcs to follow. Just a disappointing ongoing transformation of interesting leading character to smiling married partner.

Sophie being a maid, she was already on the 'smile charmingly at the delightful sight of Bridgerton's and Babies' train so she won't have far to go if and when she comes back next time. But the little spike she did have i'm sure will be worn down and filed into a neat circle.

Francesca is free from the curse so far because her romance isn't over yet. I am genuinely excited to see this unfold and truly hope she gets the same romantic treatment as her siblings (aka fabulously long sex scenes). Perhaps with the lack of children on the horizon she may forever escape the curse. We'll see.

[lucylehane]

Liz's List of Perfect RomComs [in chronological order except sometimes not]

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

[acecroft]

MEG RYAN as Sally Albright in When Harry Met Sally (1989)

[dailyflicks]

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) dir. Rob Reiner

[jakeperalta]

SEASONS ON SCREEN -> Winter in When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

[magicaldarkwillow]

When Emily Watched Harry Meet Sally

So I've never seen When Harry Met Sally (1989). That is, I hadn't since about three Thursday's ago.

I hadn't intentionally avoided it - I wasn't born to see it in cinemas, and then was subsequently too young to catch it on TV. I also think if I'd seen it in my 20's I would have dismissed it - and in my teen years in an attempt to appear serious about film I was fervently anti rom-com. (I was also an idiot).

Anyway, at the ripe age of 33 I found it in a charity shop for £1 and a few weeks later finally stuck it on.

I don't know if any of you know this - but this movie is a masterpiece.

I could go on about how the most famous scene isn't even the best in a long line of fantastic scenes. How Billy Crystal should be deeply unlikeable but is somehow the opposite. How Meg Ryan is one of the most sparkling, talented actresses of her generation with fabulous hair.

But alongside these very important discoveries, I found myself, as I returned to the film every Thursday since (and intend to until every line of dialogue is imprinted onto my brain) that it was offering me something beyond iconic performances and perfect writing.

I found myself yearning.

Not for a romantic relationship, but for a time machine. Maybe it was because I'd just finished Sex and the City for the first time. Maybe it was the instructions to start using AI in my day job - but I longed for the 90's. Specifically to be 33 in the 90's.

These characters had such rich lives. They had their own places they could hang out in, alone or with others. They went to sports matches, to the movies, walked through the park, visited art galleries, perused bookshops. They had brunch together, went out for dinner all the time and attended so-many-parties!

And of course I hear you cry. Those things still exist. And sure, last year I watched Norwich play Ipswich in the rain. I popped into Waterstones last week. I saw Wicked: For Good at my local Omniplex. But it doesn't feel the same.

The close knit community of friends - despite living in a sprawling city -the abundance of activities they partake in is breathtaking and the PARTIES.

I don't think I've been to the type of party seen in this film since I was, like, 10.

As a 33 year old, I exclusively work from home. My close friends of 10+ years live the other side of the country to me. I live with my parents to save money for a house (if I could only stop eating all this avocado toast). I'm not in the situation where Carrie Fisher could fish out a single gentlemen from her rolodex for me. Nor could I then probably afford to go on a date with them.

Dating is expensive. Food is expensive. Travel is expensive. Brunch has to be planned and budgeted and you're never likely to bump into anyone new - let alone have them actually speak to you!

And yes I could move to a city, into a house share and maybe, maybe my life might be closer to Harry's or Sally's - but somehow I doubt it.

And yes, I'm clinging to the fact this is a MOVIE. People in their 30's in the 90's probably didn't attend this many parties in reality. But I think it's closer to the truth than I'd like to believe.

I want nothing more than to ring my friend up early in the morning on my landline and arrange dinner at a nearby restaurant - and not speak again until we meet there.

And when I watch When Harry Met Sally, I can live vicariously through them and pretend for 1hr 36min that the iPhone hasn't been invented.

[pocketss]

when you are just hanging out

[stevienick]

KATE BUSH Wuthering Heights

[aenslem]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[jueki]

[justiceleague]

“In this scene, Catwoman wants to whip off the heads of four mannequins. And Michelle’s three months of training really paid off. She performed this difficult and potentially dangerous scene perfectly on the very first take.”

“The trick about it is, it is traveling faster than the speed of sound. So, there’s a certain hazard to it because it can cut skin, it can break bones. She is doing things with the whip that will make Indiana Jones green… that 90 percent of the people who do this for a profession can’t do.”

— The making of Batman Returns (1992)

[note-a-bear]

We stan a legend

[magicaldarkwillow]

So...I've never seen Friends. In honour of the 25th Anniversary, Flo's forcing me to. Your support would be much appreciated at this difficult time in my life. Emily Watches Friends Opening Credits

[dailyjackiechan]

You have been visited by the Chan of wealth, reblog this and you will have money come to you!

[misscokebottleglasses-deactivat]

I REBLOGGED THIS YESTERDAY AND LIKE 2 HOURS LATER THE WALLET I HAD LOST 6 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME THAT HAD MY DEBIT CARD AND LIKE 80 DOLLARS IN CASH WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE WITH NO RETURN ADDRESS I CANT HELP BUT THINK IT WAS JACKIE CHAN WHO SENT IT GOD BLESS YOU JACKIE CHAN

[seej500]

Last time I did this it was payday so duh. Let’s see what you’ve got this time, Chan.

[seej500]

Er, actually, about a minute after I hit reblog I got some very important (and positive) money-related news out of the blue. The system works, guys.

[blackexcellence101-deactivated2]

THIS WORKS!!

[mysticalcoffeequeen]

Money Chan come thru

[basket]

IM PRAYING

[teenagerposts]

from now on, by law, no one is allowed to ask me what i plan to do with my life or about my future plans. i’ve updated my privacy policy.

[earendil-was-a-mariner]

Gollum, but with the personality and accent of a New York City cab driver. 

“Wait, you’s guys is trying to get to Mount Doom, and you wanna go through the Black Gate? No no no, the congestion that way is gonna be murder. Let me show you guy’s a secret route - not the best neighborhood, but whatever - that’ll get you there in half the time.”

[sandlyness]

Cats (2019) dir. Tom Hooper

[youarethesunrise]

i need more keanu reeves content tbh give me aaaall the keanu reeves content cos i want it