Listen, if Cressida Cowper can have a happy ending, and she should, and if the Bridgerton writers are presumably gonna have Queen Charlotte let Franchaela get married in season 5, as they should, than they can have her legalize divorce so that Marina doesn't have to die JEEZ-US! The woman DESERVES find her own happily ever after just like everyone else on this show.
Marina is literally the epitome of the character who deserved better.
I don't want to hear anyone say anything about it being to contrived or taking away from Philoise. And I say this as someone who low-key ships them, even though I have my own issues around how Eloise romantic arc will be handled based on her characterization, but that's another post. (The talkative girl and quiet guy is weakness, I'm sorry I know I hate myself too).
The writer’s have already bent over backwards to let main couples have happy endings, despite some of them doing horrible things or being put in dramatic situations, can't they just let the woman live?! I know people have suggested she die off in a different way than in the book, but why not completely avoid the disposable black girlfriend trope all together?
I’m just so tired of her and mental illness (at least in the book) being treated as a villain, because people are biased towards Philip. Like we saw their relationship on screen for 5 seconds, and people are like, "Why is she so mean? She hates him, poor puppy."
Firstly, like for one sec imagine you were in her shoes. After everything she has been through, she is allowed to be human. She should be allowed to be upset, even distant. Even if Phillip is nice, if two people don't vibe, then they don't vibe.
Secondly, people always disregard or forget that Marina says this to Colin about Philip when he comes to visit her in season 2,
"Philip cares for me. He is a good father. We have built a life together."
So, she acknowledges he cares for not only for their children, even though they aren't biologically his, but for her as well, and they built a life together. Why why WHY, would she say that if she didn't have a some sort of genuine positive feelings, even if not romantic, towards Philip?
Maybe just me, but I see her more being annoyed at Colin coming into her house, presuming things about her and her marriage, than Philip. And yes, maybe she can't vibe with Philip nerding over plants, but we don't know anything else about their marriage or relationship, expect, what she has said above, which is positive. So can people stop treating her like she just one dimensional character who is always hating on him, please?! I swear they way people would rather infantilize a grown man, than let a woman be nuanced character should be studied.
You know, it's kind of ironic their story fits the marriage of convenience trope so well. The love of her life and his brother dies, she's pregnant so they marry cause, you know, convenience. In a different story, they would eventually fall in love, but it's not. They don't love each other, that is fine. They both lost someone the loved, and both had to make a hard decision. Despite their circumstances they seem to have respect for each other, but if their are not in love, then why should they be married? And why shouldn't they both get a second chance to get a happily ever after.
And yes, regency England didn't really have divorce or if they did the children would be seen as illegitimate, but Bridgerton has always played fast and lose with historically accuracy. They "fixed" racism in the show with a interracial royal marriage. I think they can figure out a way to make divorce work, even if it would be totally unbelievable in real life. And say divorce or annulments where legalized in the show, it would be interesting to have a subplot about it in Eloise’s season, with women finally being able to be given a choose to end a marriage, rather than being a something she stuck in. It fits with what her character has always stood for, giving women agency and autonomy over their own lives.
I'm always bad at endings, but for those of you who made it this far, thanks. In conclusion on show that all about happy endings, can't Marina have one too?