Reading helps pass time & what better books to finish while I'm sick than Bridgerton.
😊
Oops, this has turned into a bit of a comparison and a wish list for the show. Unintended, but I can't be bothered to make a 2nd post. So enjoy.
I've now read 7 of the 8 books in the Bridgerton Sibling series, plus Violet's little additional story. Just Gregory's left.
So far, I've enjoyed each Siblings story.
My favourite is Romancing Mr Bridgerton. Of course.
It has some good humour, I liked how Colin found out about LW, and while he was emotionally confused, tortured etc, it was expressed kinda differently than in the show... like he didn't fully shut himself off from Pen emotionally in the book, like he does in the show.
Idk. Its just different. There are definitely things in the show I liked way more than the book. like how Pen takes control of sharing her secret identity.
Also I think the visuals of the show help in building the world and the emotions. Plus the acting of all the cast, but especially Luke N and Nicola In season 3 was phenomenal.
I like the books, but I think I love the show more.
I love Penelope's character. Both in the books and the show.
I also really like Lady Danbury; in the books she's got a bit more humour and has more interaction with most of the family and others in the Ton.
POLIN
I love the friends to lovers story. How well Colin and Pen know each other and how playful they can be together. Yes, I'm aware this is explored more in the show than the book. But there's elements of this in the book too.
I love Pen and Eloise's friendship. I also think theres a lot more to be explored in this relationship dynamic in the show. Especially after how they ended S2 and most of S3 went. I hate how they just brush over the challenges and suddenly everything is all better and they're best friends again. Some Friendships aren't that simple.
Francesca's book... I struggled with.
It took me at least 5 goes to get through the first half of the book.
The posturing and back and forth emotional conflict between Francesca and Michael was so drawn out. And I know it has purpose to the story, but God it annoyed me.
However, I enjoyed the second half of the book more. And even though I guessed the ending, it still made me cry. It was sweet.
There's definately some plot lines that I hope will be explored for Fran's story in the show when they get to her season. Especially communicating to her mother about grief and loss.
AND UNPOPULAR OPINION:
I really struggle to see how they're going to translate some of Fran's key story elements into a queer narrative. Id prefer if they stuck to the OG dynamic for Fran.
Im all for queer side stories in Bridgerton, but personally, NOT for the main characters. Simply because they're based on books that have clear, well developed stories and plots.
I also kinda find it annoying how Fran's introversion has been translated in the show, especially in S3. But again, that's MY opinion.
Hyacinth's book was cute, some good humour. I enjoyed some of the character development. I loved the friendship between Hy and Lady D.
I would like to see it done a bit differently in the show. Ie, I'd love to see Hy have more connection with Pen and Pen more connection with Lady D.
I did find the end a little... anti-climatic. Without giving away spoilers, that fact that it took 20plus years for something to happen truly annoyed me.
Also I wanted more plot around how some the conflicts were settled or addressed. It felt like Julia Quinn kinda rushed the ending, having put so much time and energy into building the characters and the story.
So I'm interested to see how Hyainth's story will get translated onto the screen.
I don't know if reading the books has helped build the Bridgerton world in my imagination or just increased my expectations for the show.
I read the first book years ago before the show was a twinkle in Shondaland's eyes. Then after season 1 have read almost all the books.
At the end of the day, I've enjoyed the books. They're a quick, easy read, light-hearted fluff. Which is nice when there's so much heaviness hanging around.
As for the show:
I want more, lots & lots more! 😁
More family and sibling scenes. I want to see the chaos of a large loving, competitive family as well as the trials and tribulations of navigating society, managing estates, keeping themselves out of trouble etc. Growing pain's. Violet being a doting grandmother, trying to cajole her children and grandchildren.
Violet and Lady D friendship. Violet and Lady Featherington working out how to get along as in-laws.
More Feathering sister chaos, because they're halirious and brilliant characters in the show, with their husbands of course.
Pen coming more and more into her own strength, navigating the complexities of her relationship with her mother and sister.
Pen being drawn into the chaos of the Bridgerton Siblings, especially their games and competitions- Pall Mall, charades etc.. being comfortable & confident.
Polin as parents. All of the siblings as Parents, their different personalities would make for some funny & dynamic family and society moments.
Always more Polin.
More Lady D, More Violet (those motherly moments with her children and I'd love to see more of Violet and Pen's relationship).
More Queen Charlotte and Brimsley.
More romance, emotional intimacy, sexual tension, sexual chemistry, etc. Of course, its not Bridgerton without the sex scenes... but sex scenes with purpose, that build the story and or relationships, not just gratituious.
I could go on. Lol
More
More tea
More romance, love, intimacy (including emotional vulnerability and intimacy)
Complex, dynamic characters, especially in the female characters.
More Please, lots& lots more 😁😇
Its such a big world with characters who have depth and individual stories that could be explored for years, not just through the main sibling stories, but also through side series just like they did with Queen Charlotte.
So please Shondaland, Netflix, the TV gods, don't ever stop making Bridgerton or Bridgerton Spin-offs.
And for the love of God, please get faster at filming, producing and releasing seasons.
The 18months - 2+years between seasons is so frustrating.