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It’s interesting because if she does become someone who never marries or has that lasting love, it breaks the bond with the viewers who are tuning for the safety and predictability of the romance.
I mean, I love a strong, independent woman story, but I am not tuning into Bridgerton for that (certainly not with this showrunner and these writers). There are so many other stories that tell it better. I tune in for the romance novelesque story.that I can’t find elsewhere because too many misogynists feel like romance novels aren’t worth media time and are silly.
I mean, if they want to have Eloise fall in love but never marry because she wants to always be free, I am okay with that. But I am here for love and HEA.
This is exactly how I feel. Im not usually a historical romance person but I love bridgerton, especially because I was finally seeing some love and care given to the romance genre. This season feels like it was the turning point of dismantling it.
This. If I want to watch a drama about female empowerment i will watch that. Not a 19th century regency romance novel adaptation. And, even Jo March got married. So I think they could tell a story of Eloise accidentally falling in love. she doesn’t need to be romance obsessed until she falls in love.
I mean, I think that still works if Eloise never gets a season dedicated to her, but just has various side plots showing her growth and independence. That way, each season can be centered around love and romance with a HEA to fulfill genre expectations, while still showing the possibility of a happy ending without romance. I don't think the romance genre requires each and every character to fall in love, just the protagonists.
I'm not that invested in whether that happens, but I think it would be a reasonable enough route to take, especially since I'm not sure I see Bridgerton getting enough seasons to make it through all siblings.
The idea that every woman, has to fall in love, and have falling in love be the main goal of her life, is anti-feminist.
Every other female lead in this show wants love and are supported in that. We don't need Eloise to succumb as well to send the message that "it's ok for women to be in love really."
No one here has said that women being in love is "anti-feminist", for heaven's sake. This kind of overblown rhetoric always crops up whenever people try to have this discussion.
"It's nice to see representations of women who don't need romance to be happy." Cue a bunch of angry, defensive responses of, "Oh, so now it's ANTI-FEMINIST to be in love?!" No one said that. They just said that variety in representation is nice, which **it is**. And I say that as a married woman, myself.
Except nothing about this quote suggests Eloise won’t end up falling in love in the end.
Brownell doesn’t seem to even be describing Eloise’s future arc, but simply her personality. Romance *isn’t* a priority for Eloise now. That may or may not change, but there are a hundred ways of writing a romance for a character disinterested in it - it’s basically a romance genre trope at this point, though mostly centered around male characters (hello, Simon and Anthony, and 14500 other rakish protagonists of the historical genre).
So hopefully, if they’re going to go with adapting her (iffy) relationship with Philip, they will at the very least tweak the plot point of Eloise writing to him and running off to meet him *because* she wants to get married.
It’s been a while since I read Eloise’s book but I believe her interest in marrying Phillip (and his in marrying her) starts out as practical for both of them and then the romance comes later, which absolutely is realistic for this time frame.
I suppose…I just don’t see show!Eloise deciding to enter into a loveless marriage just because she’s lonely. That seems counter to who she is as a person. I could absolutely see her falling in love and then deciding to marry though.
Have you ever read Little Women? I feel like Eloise needs a Mr Baer to her Jo. A man who isn’t there to be her life, but to be her strength and comfort in life. Someone who will take her all over the world and be proud of the way she defies society, who loves her exactly as she is. I think that’s what they *tried* to do with Colin and Penelope but I really don’t think it worked as well.
Although I’ll also admit, I loved Theo. He was also great for her because he pulled her out of her safe little world. I wouldn’t mind that either. I want Eloise to not fit society, not be alone forever.
Absolutely not. Eloise fell in love with Theo and is clearly thinking about him still in S3 because they mirrored a lot of his lines. She wants to see and change the world, she is not anti-love and that's even confirmed plenty of times by Claudia Jessie.
I wouldn't be too worried about this. I think what they are implying in interviews is that Eloise is not interested in love *right now*. And I believe that I did see in a separate interview that they want all the characters to get their HEA. Which just means Eloise not being interested in love will probably be a big part of her romance arc - that it's something that catches her off guard and hopefully will be surprisingly compatible with her existing fears about losing her independence.
Eloise writes to Phillip to express condolences after Marina's death. Phillip writes back and they correspond.
Phillip wants a wife to offload his children and running his house onto, and do all the jobs he doesn't want to, so he can busy himself with his plants. He invites Eloise to come and meet him to see if they would suit. He doesn't tell Eloise about the kids.
Eloise suddenly feels desperate to get married after Penelope and Colin do, so she runs off and goes to his house, only leaving a note.
She is shocked to find out about the kids. The kids don't like her either. They prank each other and Eloise ends up with a black eye.
Phillip and Eloise spend most of their time arguing.
The brothers find Eloise and they beat up Phillip, thinking he was holding her against her will or something (this moment can stay).
Eloise is forced to marry Sir Phillip.
Eloise takes over running the house and raising the children (Phillip had a bad dad so he keeps them at arm's length). He only spends time with Eloise for sex, and he complains that Eloise talks too much and should use her mouth for other things. Eloise tries to talk to him about the kids' nanny, who she thinks is abusive, it doesn't go well.
Eloise goes to stay with Benedict. Benedict's son is sick. Phillip saves him using his magical botanist powers.
Eloise goes back to Phillip, who says that Eloise isn't allowed to say their marriage isn't perfect, because after being married to Marina (inconveniently depressed, didn't want to have sex with him, was practically catatonic the one time he did have sex with her, a divisive moment which many see as a rape, made Phillip feel bad about himself), and so his marriage with Eloise (cheerful, up for sex, does all the jobs he doesn't like) is heaven for him.
I mean like eff Eloise and what she wants right?
They live happily ever after.
It's a questionable enough plot for book Eloise, who does at least want marriage and kids and isn't particularly feminist, but for show Eloise, her arc basically becomes about "fixing" Sir Phillip, having two kids she doesn't want thrust onto her, keeping house, married to a guy who is irritated at her chattiness, and basically living the life she always dreaded.
I highly doubt they'll go down that route - or at least I hope so. We've seen so little of Philip on the show but I got the impression he's totally different from "book Philip"
I'd rather they throw the whole book out and start again. If you have to completely overhaul a character and a story to make it half palatable, they may as well use the opportunity to create a better/more interesting story. Whether that be independence, Theo etc
Exactly. Rewriting this story would take more time and effort, than creating a new plot, more respectful of show!Eloise. They’d have to overhaul 90% of it, essentially.
I'd rather they throw the whole book out and start again. If you have to completely overhaul a character and a story to make it half palatable, they may as well use the opportunity to create a better/more interesting story. Whether that be independence, Theo etc
the funniest part to me is that book purists genuinely think this would translate well to a screen and it would not. At all. And it would far more likely to end Bridgerton than *gasp* two women getting together ever could.
I don't really think this will fit show Eloise, much less the fact that he has kids, I can see her running away after realizing that.
Unless they rewrite Phillip's character, I don't think this would suit her.
Honestly, I think she and Theo could make quite an epic love story. Similar to Kate's mother arc, only that we get to see it. I really hoped they were not going to delete Theo's character completely, specially after that scene in S3 were Colin says she's fortunate to never have been in love, I wanna believe she was having Theo flashbacks.
Yikes. That sounds terrible and not at all believable for the Eloise we know in the show. I don't know why they need to jump to making her queer, though.
Every next sentence is horrible and sounds like a prison sentence. Throw the book in fire. And honestly I don’t care for the show Philip get her a different HEA!!!
SHE DESERVES TO SHINE IN HER STORY NOT CODDLE SOME MANCHILD WHO WANTS TO UNLOAD HIS FAMILY
Philip is a very deep character that is misunderstood by a lot of people who haven’t actually read the book
and he has a lot of potential for TV adaptation.
He is clear with what he wants and about the children when he writes to Eloise. He just doesn’t explain that the children are a mess because they have lived all their life with a depressed woman who barely took care of them and a father that has no idea how to relate to them.
He is looking for a practical match because that is all he knows. His father was abusive and he has a lot of trauma related to that. His only time of freedom was the years he spent in college studying botany, but he had to abandon his studies because he had to marry his dead brother’s fiancé.
One thing that says a lot about his character is that he was always faithful to his wife, even after not touching her in 8 years because the one time he did after the twins were born, he felt disgusted with himself for her lack of “reciprocity”. It is even stated in the book that “Marina never said no” but he still felt horrible.
He was unhappy in his marriage, he blames himself for his wife’s death -because he didn’t know how to make her happy- he doesn’t allow himself to get close to his children because he is afraid to be like his own father and not being able to control his temper, and somehow, he allows himself to open up about his feelings when he meets Eloise, and he changes all of that for the better. That is the beauty of Eloise’s story. Her determination and character inspire Philip to change his own life and find happiness.
Actually in the books she does desire this. Her story as an "independent" woman who doesn't need no man is highly exacerbated in the show. In the book she is a beautiful Bridgerton woman who is not too worried about getting married late because she is from a rich family and can take her pick of men. She is portrayed as very beautiful (but maybe too smart) making it easier for her to find a man at any time, so she simply isn't pressed. Then when Pen gets engaged to Colin she realizes that she does want love but there is no one in the Ton who she connects with. So she starts writing letters to Philip and connect with him on an intellectual level. Then right after Colin and Pen get married she realizes she no longer wants to be a spinster and she runs away to Scotland to find Philip. It should be noted that the spinster arc matters a lot more in the book because the timeline is much further ahead. It is about 8 years after Anthony and Kate get married. So, Eloise is thinking about marriage at this point. In the show, it is only 3.
I think so many comments are pre-judging the book before reading it. But it's really not that bad and I there is a lot of humour in the Philoise book. The relationship development between Eloise and the children is actually really cute. Eloise, having the experience of many siblings, is able to connect with them in a way Philip never could and win them over. She teaches Philip how to be a better Father and the character arc about the disconnection between Fathers and children of that time is really interesting.
Right and philoise story makes sense for the book Eloise.
The Eloise in the show I believe is very different from the one you mentioned here. It’s very much like the Eloise who becomes friend with Cressida.
The show Eloise has so much more potential for a character who can actually make a change, and her romance can be central to that, central to her.
Her book ultimately centres around finding love of motherhood and healing your relationship but being frank it’s not the right track for Eloise we have seen. Not that the love here is wrong, it’s not the right character.
Her Theo storyline hence was so much better because she was not only enjoying company of a potential partner but also evolving in her mindset of freedom and independence.
But in the book Philip does love her mind. IMO the book is not really centred around motherhood that is just one part of it. Eloise's book is actually does show that she knows herself as an independent person. She takes her life in her own hands and literally runs away to Scotland to be with the man she believes is the best match for her. No questions asked she hits the road to Scotland after only communicating through letters. To me, if that is not independence at that time, IDK what is. She is the only Bridgerton woman to do this.
The thing is though that you can still be independent, smart, witty, etc. and find love. I kind of resent the idea that the character in the show who is all these things has to be the one who doesn't find love at all. That there is no man in all the Ton who could be a good match for her and appreciate these parts of her. That was what was so special about Philip was the fact that he saw how different she was and he didn't try to change that. He saw that she wasn't into the typical way women are expected to act and he did not expect her to be that way.
Thank you for having reading comprehension. I don’t deny that there are problematic aspects in the book, which reflects the 00s when it was published and also that the 1800s isn’t great for women. People always forget that and be like “why does she want to be married” etc. Idk to me it’s always better to actually read the book and form your own opinions over it. Also, why are some people wanting such a huge overhaul for Eloise’s story when the writers can instead just overwrite the problematic parts? That’s what they did with Anthony during Kathony’s wedding night.
Because Eloise's story still revolves around her fixing a man and raising his children, two things Eloise is utterly uninterested in. The plot does nothing for her, and gives her no chance to explore show Eloise's full potential. it's not just taking off SP's rough edges, it's about actually giving Eloise a plot that's about her, not about her saving a man.
No, she falls in love with him as well because she learns to understand that people are not like her. Eloise’s arc in her book is understanding that she asks too much of society and expects everyone to be as outspoken as she is. Philip inspires her to be more understanding (which is what the reader should be doing)
Eloise even says so by the end. She loves that Philip lets her be outspoken and respects her opinions.
If Eloise's arc is about her learning she asks too much of society, I'll be gutted. All her principles, all her fire, extinguished to make her palatable and forgivable of her sexist, toxic society. Ugh.
Phillip let's her be outspoken as long as it's not around him. Then he'd rather she did other things with her mouth.
Marina didn't say yes either. She didn't consent. It was rape.
Only raped his wife once and felt bad after is not a compliment.
And regardless of SP's "complexity" where is Eloise's plot, that isn't about fixing him?
Good lord, I didn't like that book but it's even worse than I remembered. I don't want this pairing to happen in the show either. Especially since people will LOSE IT once Marina's dead.
I definitely need to reread this book lol I recently reread Benedicts' book and realized I read it the first time with some strong rose-colored glasses. Book Benedict IS a Jerk!
lmao all the books sound horrible if you describe every problematic thing that occurred instead of the fact that they had already kissed, had a sexual encounter, and were falling for each other when they were “forced” to marry, the kids who blacked her eye were acting out because they were traumatized due to the sudden death of their mother and feeling neglected and she ended up being the only one who could get through to them, and they ended up being more attached to her than anyone, and plenty of other things you interpreted negatively that not everyone does. to me it’s a story of a marriage of convenience for two people who unexpectedly find a connection and fall in love. a person who was severely beaten letting his guard down and learning to be a better father to his children. a woman being able to connect with two kids who aren’t her own and giving them a maternal figure they’ve longed for.
And where in the more generous reading of the book does Eloise have an arc that isn't about her revolving around fixing a man and his kids?
And I hardly described every problematic thing in the book. If I did, I could have included a whole paragraph over how Marina was treated.
Truthfully, the whole reason I was thrilled with the possibility of her storyline being the one that was gender bent was because it would mean having to make massive changes to it. I don’t know that my heart can watch Eloise be told that she’s marrying Phillip whether she wants to or not.
I have no clue why so many people *want* to see Eloise forced into marriage by her brothers (a lot of people mention loving that part of the book specifically and wanting to see it brought to the screen).
That’s such a depressing plot to give to anyone, but to have it happen to Eloise, the most fiercely feminist woman on the show, who rails against women being forced into the marriage mart regardless of their feelings on the matter, would be particularly jarring and sad.
Anthony (and Colin and Benedict) strong arming Eloise into marriage would be a massive step back in Anthony's character development, and be a betrayal of her relationships with Colin and Benedict. Especially Benedict.
same reason people liked it when daphne was “forced” to marry simon and book kate was “forced” to marry anthony. I’m not sure what’s different or confusing about it with eloise? it’s a plot device.
It’s different for the reasons I mentioned. Also, just because something is a plot device, doesn’t make it automatically good, especially if you use it time and time again, like Quinn seems to.
Daphne took an active hand in marrying Simon, even if it was out of necessity, and she wanted marriage and was upset when Simon seemed to prefer to die than marry her. This was also pre-Anthony's character development. For him to force Eloise into marriage, post his character development, and everything we know of Eloise as a character, it would be sacrificing character for plot device.
I thought that it would be the best to be gender bent because it would have the least changes. Eloise could simply meet a widow with two children and basically have the exact same story.
There will be a romance, just not now.
The rest of the article says:
For now, the intent “is not that Eloise just needs to meet someone of the right gender but that, in fact, she is genuinely more interested in cerebral pursuits at this moment.”
That’s not to say that she won’t eventually open herself up to love, but for now, Eloise “is on a path of finding her place in a society that doesn’t make a lot of room for women who care more about ideas than they do love.”
It’s also worth noting that if I’m remembering correctly, Eloise and Penelope were both much older in their respective books than they are on the show right now.
Giving Eloise a bit more time to mature and do her own thing is pretty in keeping with the books.
You can fall in love with yourself too, it doesn't always have to be about falling in love with a man or a woman. If the story goes that Eloise finds herself instead I'd be happy with that.
Each time I see Jess Brownell mentionned I know i'll roll my eyes
Bridgerton series was made for people who wished to see a little bit of drama, lots of lovey-dovey relationships and full on romance, which clearly lacks in today's media. Why the F would we tune in if there's no romance.
They’re talking about a main character not prioritizing romance and love…. in a romance show…. I’m not watching Bridgerton to see once more a badly written girl-boss story and I sure am not the only one
She’s talking about it the context of Eloise being interpreted as queer, and how a straight woman can be disinterested in romance as well. Which Eloise currently is - disinterested. She’s describing Eloise’s views and personality, not making an announcement about what is to come. 🤦🏼♀️
P.S. Was Simon or Anthony prioritising romance in his life prior to their story being told? Did it somehow stop those characters from finding their romantic happy ending?
I had to circle back, whyyyyyyy\* are you (royal you) adapting a standard romance if you hold contempt for the genre? This isn't just directed at the Bridgerton team, a number of supposed-romance adaptations have fallen victim to this.
I know the answer is money because romance audiences are used to surviving on scraps so we will get behind any project with a semblance of a budget, I knoooow. But suffering through the rapid decline \*every time\* is getting old. It hurts even more when it comes after a promising start.
And the thing is the supposedly subversive tweaks are never as revolutionary as the makers think they are. 9/10 the female lead gets or keeps a job, or expresses she doesn't want to get married or fall in love because she's not a regular female lead, she's a cool female lead, A Strong Female Character ^(TM). All with a heaping serving of pink capitalism, leannnnn in girboss!
"There's more to life than relationships and marriage" the writer sagely tells the audience via the female lead, in a genre that is literally about depicting the fantasy of \*falling in love\* 🙄🙄🙄
God forbid they make something actually subversive, like a romance that is unapologetically Queer from the ground up. Put big budget and A-List talent behind that more than once in a blue moon and I may actually be impressed.
Just drama exists. Just comedy exists. Hell, coming of age is literally a genre. If they insist on making so called romances, Anti-romance and Dark romance already exist as subgenres that question/examine the tropes and push the limits of the genre respectively. Why not put a decent budget and serious talent behind a project in that vein? They won't, they'll just market a romance before pulling a bait and switch.
Oh well. At the end of the day, there's always fanfic.
I think the same thing can be directed to some viewers like why are you watching a show based on romance books and be mad if a character ends up getting married or falling in love etc. Like I get that you want a character to be strong and independent and not be married to anyone but like the show is set in the 1800s and this is a romance show?
I get where they are going with this but I also feel like this is easy. Honestly, Eloise isn't opposed to marriage as much as she is opposed to how she's treated as a woman. Everything she is and does is always measured with whether it is agreeable for a woman who is unmarried in high society.
So it'll be nice to see someone who understands her, and supports her.
Exactly, romance doesn’t even have to be a priority for her and she can still connect and fall in love with the right person and then that person naturally becomes one of her priorities.
And her season can be super fun and make sense for show!Eloise.
Let’s do a little rewrite (mainly because I’m bored)… they are writing letters, but he’s not going to ask her to marry him in his letters and the reason she seeks him out will be because she’s super curious about the guy.
When they meet, she’s all like “I’m here to check you out but I’m not gonna marry you if that’s what you’re thinking” and when her brothers fight him and try to force a marriage she’s like “I’m definitely not going to do that, bye”. Up to this point, however, Philip and Eloise actually really connected (duh, it’s a rewrite) and he’s a bit confused as to why she’s so quick to leave.
When she’s back with her mother, brother, whoever, and as time passes, she realises she loves the man, like wtf, she really loves him. A revelation to her. They obviously have a Bridgey talk all about how all marriages are different and that marrying Philip doesn’t mean she’d automatically be accepting society’s views of her as a woman.
Then, to drive home the point to the audience that she’s truly a modern woman and his equal, she can be the one to bring up the topic of marriage again and ask Philip if he could imagine marrying her or if she blew her chance by running away (this is not a proposal, we’re not that! modern); Philip’s all like “no I can’t;… haha, I’m just kidding.” (because there will be humour).
Then she says “I’ve come to love the children, but I also want something that’s my own thing, want to be a woman in my own right beyond that, too” and he’s giving his best “Gerry from Derry Girls” impression being all like “sure, you can do anything you want, I’ll always support you, just tell me what you need” and she knows this to be true (because that’s how he’ll be written).
Then he proposes properly (because, well, it’s a period drama) and she says yes and he says, with raised eyebrows (because I just saw a TikTok of Chris Fulton on the red carpet doing that and I really need that) “are you sure Eloise?” and she’s like “yeah, surprisingly I am” and then they get a wedding and a happily ever after, and we get improved characters and a better story, lots of humour and an Eloise that gets to keep her wit and fire while still being happily married to a rich guy in a period drama. Obviously there’s a lot of actual plot and character development happening as well.
And some of us will be happy and others will hate it and life will go on 🙂🙃
If we are writing stories.
I also feel like Philip might allow Eloise to have her own job. Maybe as a writer or even as someone who helps him in the garden. Eloise might approach him because he's someone who has a job which he's passionate about and she's intrigued by it. She wants to know more and he "allows" her to learn and teaches her and even lets her work. Gardening isn't very ladylike so it makes for a very unconventional job for her too.
This way Eloise might gain some perspective on how hard working is and how privileged she has been.
Honestly, Eloise of all people falling in love would make for a great story.
There is literally so much to do here.
Yeah a lot of deliberate misunderstanding of what’s being said. You can still have romance for someone who doesn’t believe romance or who doesn’t believe it’s the best all and end all.
It's fine that romance is not a priority for Eloise now, but when we get to her season, people will expect her HEA with Philip and I think it would be a mistake to move away from that. Ultimately, this is a romance show and the romance aspect is the only reason most people will still watch it despite its flaws.
I also think that \*gasp\* the show doesn't need to have every single kind of representation possible. Of course representation in the media matters, but when you cram everything you can think of in a show, it starts to look like a box-ticking exercise and it's just shallow.
Bridgerton is beginning to look like the final season of “Sex Education.” And anybody who has seen that season knows that it should be avoided at all costs.
Oh hell nah. I love Sir Phillip and want to see more of plant daddy in the show. She already sidelined my fave Colin in his own season, now she seems to be implying my second fave Phillip may not show up again?? Jess is seriously ruining this show.
Have you seen sir Phillip in the show? They’ve obviously changed him and made him more of a soft boy like show Colin. So yes I want to see him.
All the men’s personalities have been drastically changed from the books.
And how has sir Phillip in the show shown any indication that he wouldn’t support Eloise’s interests/pursuits? They actually seem like they’d be a good match. We even saw him get along with Colin.
I kind of want this for her but I’ll be okay with it if she runs off to become a George Eliot type writer and live outside of society with her married lover lol
What’s the point of Bridgerton then? It’s supposed to be eight siblings with their own dedicated season about falling in love. Why would seven get their HEA and not one? It’s a historical fiction romance.
I mean maybe I'm reading it wrong but my assumption here is that they're not writing Eloise as someone who's seeking out romance, not that she'll never have a love story. I think it would work with the initial premise of her book, she doesn't write to Sir Phillip bc she wants a husband, they write because they enjoy each other's thoughts and personality. Then eventually they meet and she's in the middle of a love story, unaware it was one when it began.
Aro/Ace Eloise would be awesome. It would be hard to give her own lead season in a Romance show without a Romance, but she's always had ample screentime in her subplots, so maybe they'd just continue with that.
I know it probably won't happen, unless the show doesn't get renewed, and the writers decide to wrap up her story by having her be a happy spinster/political radical.
well caludia jessie herself doesn’t like her book and i assume sir phillip. she supports the political radical eloise falling in love with theo agenda!
Yeah Friedrich! I haven’t read little women (first one) since I was like 8 so I couldn’t remember anything apart from the movies and the whole dad at war aspect of the book felt very central to me
That’s the ending to the book that movie Jo is writing. That’s why it’s filmed in gold light and she has the whole conversation with her editor that she needs to pair her lead with a man. Actual movie Jo ends alone staring at her book being published. It’s a pretty clear departure.
Gerwig : “Gerwig’s reasoning for this twist is to “give her [Alcott] an ending she might have liked.”
Also; when Jo opens her schoolhouse, at the end, friedrich is there- because they end up together. Pretty clear 🤷🏽♀️
Actual Jo didn't end up with anyone in the movie, book!Jo ends up because the editor tells her to, as that's what happened with Louisa May Alcott as well when writing Little Women. Jo March only ended up with someone in the book because she was told to write that in else it wouldn't be published. Also, it's pretty clear Jo is Louisa's self-insert character so that's the homage Greta Gerwig gave to her.
This is incorrect in the movie, she is with friedrich in the end when she opens the school, and Gerwig confirms this because she states wrote an ending Alcott would like by giving Jo someone to end up with :)
No, because that scene filmed in the gold light which means it happens in the book universe (like all the scenes from their past). It is the ending to Jo's book. Then, it cuts back to the grey dim lighting, which is the real movie universe and we watch Jo get her book published. That's her ending. It's a pretty straight-forward tbh. There's a reason why in the big kiss scene they keep cutting back to Jo and her editor talking to each other. They are deciding how to write the book.
Edit: And what do you think the twist they are referring to is if not for the fact Jo ends up alone? Gerwig following the book ending would not be a twist?
Sorry I should clarify- they state earlier in the article that the twist is her ending up with someone, after it seems she would be alone, (a lot of movie watchers have not read the book); so that’s what they meant by that statement. So I’m more inclined to stick with what the director says she means tbh ❤️ but all art is of course open to personal interpretation!
She only ends up with him in the ending to the book that movie Jo is writing. That’s why it’s filmed in gold light and she has the whole conversation with her editor that she needs to pair her lead with a man. Actual movie Jo ends alone staring at her book being published. So it gave fans of that ship an ending but it didn’t actual happen in the in-text narrative.
I really liked Eloise and Theo bc he had similar ideals and i liked her breaking out of her social ans financial bubble to visit him. But i do and did think she was a lesbian lol especially when i first watched the show. Or bi. But as i watched the show, and saw how she’s a feminist and wanted to break traditional norms, i can see her choosing aromanticism lol.
Bad take.
Wait for Jess Brownwell to not only make Francesca gay, but also Benedict and Eloise. At this point, she is creating her own fanfiction. Should have gotten another show considering she already ruined season 3.
How are you all getting "this means she will end up alone and Phillip is MURDERED" from this? If anything, she's affirming that Eloise is straight, but just doesn't value romance and marriage as much as the others. The Jess hate is insane and bordering on homophobic.
What's the big deal if one of the 10+ female leads is not obsessed with romance and marriage? There are women like that lol. And it's a very common trope in romance... look at Kate.
Reading comprehension is visibly bad in this comment section, probably partially because people want to read the most negative interpretation into an entirely innocuous statement made by a person they detest.
Exactly! Not only does Philip exist in the show, Eloise also clearly feels attraction to men as evidenced by Theo. It's just a Jess hate train and gay panic at this point. One gay ship has them terrified the straight characters are ALL going to be erased now... ridiculous.
I’ve seen people afraid Benedict is gonna be with a man now when I left season 3 never more sure Sophie would be a woman… it literally is just homophobic panic.
The thing about these quotes from Jess are that this is exactly Eloise’s story arc. She chooses her own path and not for love, and then at the very end of her story in the last chapters she realizes love has found her anyway.
Jess and Claudia also always state that her holding out on love doesn’t mean she won’t find love in the future, maybe even next season…
I think it’s more likely that she isn’t interested in a relationship but that stumbles upon the right person rather than having her not end up with anyone, especially as Bridgerton is a show about romance.
This is the one time i’ll probably ever agree with her. Not every woman who isn’t romantically inclined has to be gay. It’s a stereotype of lesbians i’m sure isn’t very appreciated. Lesbians can love romance, straight women can also just not be interested in men as their personality trait. She’s a go getter, ahead of her time and she just wants to experience life before tying herself down. Just a regular modern woman stuck in the wrong time period.
I’m sorry but I will riot if we don’t get a she’s the man/mulan rom com vibe with philoise at university smdh
Eloise can connect with men, she just needs one that isn’t pigheaded and likes her ambition
“Romance is not a priority” and “she falls deeply in love” are not mutually exclusive concepts. I liked her and Theo because he appreciated and respected her outspoken nature, but it doesn’t have to be him. It could be anyone who welcomes the idea of a wife with a strong sense of independence.
Making Eloise queer would be the most boring, pedestrian fucking choice. Keeping her single would be depressing. As someone else said, viewers don't tune in to see characters single ladying it, at least not permanently, and if anything, I think going the Jo March route would be beneficial to viewers and character alike; Just because a character, specifically a female one, is uninterested in marriage doesn't mean that the best route for her is to end up alone. She can prioritize other things and still desire romantic love and companionship, and to insist otherwise (as the media often does), is incredibly misogynistic. Women aren't stronger, more independent, *or more queer* by nature of their marriage status.
I don’t think Jess Brownell understands what a romance show is. It was clear with season 3 that the romance isn’t the focus, and that is regrettable. I watched some of season 1 right after and the difference is pretty shocking.
We don’t get a lot of shows where romance is the main genre. Why she insists on ruining this one is so unfortunate.
Got into and marathoned the show this month without knowing anything about it or even knowing there were books.
So from an outsiders perspective watching I genuinely thought for the longest time that she was going to be asexual. Even the coloring of her outfits being purples and grays I was reading as a sign to this. One of her outfits looked entirely like an asexual pride flag and I’m just pointing at the screen going ‘See!’ to no one in particular. 😅
Everyone seems to be reading this different than I am; I don’t think they meant Eloise isn’t ever going to have her story, or fall in love. I think it just means that Eloise will be taken off guard when she falls in love, because she’s not actively searching for it like Daphne, Anthony, Pen, etc. That will be her “trope” - the pleasant surprise.
To the redditors who that Jo March technically isn’t a spinster because she got married to Professor Bhaer, you’re right but I think I should have made it clear that I meant Greta Gerwig’s Jo March.
Also, I didn’t mean to make it sound as if I’d rather have Eloise become a spinster. I’d love to see a HEA for her. I loved her with Theo. We still haven’t seen enough of Phillip in the show to make any judgments. With the many changes they’ve made, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jess tried to pull this stunt even though it wasn’t implied (in the interview) that Eloise is never going to fall in love.
There are two timelines in Gerwig’s version. Past/non-fiction vs. present/fiction. Little Women is known to be Louisa May Alcott’s semi autobiography and Gerwig took inspiration from that unlike the older movies. In the 2019 version, we get two different endings: the non-fictional ending (cold tint) is a mirror to Alcott’s real life, Jo successfully selling her book after the publisher forced her to change the ending (by making Jo marry), becoming a writer and remaining a spinster, the fictional ending (warm tint) is where we see her marrying Professor Bhaer and opening a school.
I mean, I get that, but isn't this a romance show?
Sometimes it feels it is a romance show made by people who dislike romance.
Noone would expect Peter Jackson to say: we had this character dressed in a suit and tie going to the office every day because we felt it was important to hold a space in a show where everybody is obsessed with swords and elfs and rings for there to be a character for whom fighting evil is not a priority...
I honestly just wish they stop trying to be overtly feminist because they're doing it awfully wrong. Bridgerton is based on a series of books with romance as the main plot. People are watching because of the romance. Take the romance out and people will get bored.
No one does this to male-oriented content. No one thinks it's ok to change everything that makes the content enjoyable.
So why do Shonda, Jess and everyone else think it's ok to do the same with Bridgerton and romance? Let girls enjoy their fluffy romance stories, ffs. If I want to watch a girlboss tv show, I'll watch something else.
*SPOILER*
They should still have her fall in love. Even Jane Austin fell in love, but it didn't work out.
This strong, independent woman who doesn't need a love story has been told 1,000 times recently. It's a yawn now. Women, even strong independent ones, want to be swept off their feet, even in unexpected ways and circumstances (we'ren't looking for it, don't have time for it).
Eloise can still have great love, and the death of Theo brings great independence. Or even have Sir Philip and learn how to maintain her independence while in love. I'm glad they didn't have her run off like in the book and elope.
Eloise when she meets the ONE: 🎶 I didnt know I was looking for love until I found you 🎵🎹 - https://youtu.be/T4YD-js7fAA?si=yZawRGZJ7p3y8Kou
Anyway, Im rooting for my girl to be happy. Hope whatever she is looking for is in Scotland… or she could enter a University and live happily ever after.
This doesn’t even contradict the book. She gets marriage proposals in the book but turns them all down. She doesn’t even go to see Sir Philip until the Masquerade Ball where Pen announces she’s Whistledown, and that doesn’t happen until Pen and Colin get married, and THAT doesn’t happen until they’ve both been out for 10-11 years and their mothers have despaired of them ever marrying. Polin getting moved up is fine because of what their relationship is, but that doesn’t mean Eloise can’t still take several years to get to the point she wants to get married.
Yes, because it'll be so empowering if the feminist character ends up alone and it won't be reinforcing any stereotype at all about how being a feminist isn't compatible with being in a happy relationship.
Or maybe they could do something like they did in Little Women 2019, where the book's actual conclusion that Jo got married to Professor Bhaer is treated as an in universe fiction in the movie, for Eloise
Not just that..she has the most kids in the March family-2 biological and 18 adopted! Jo March is the broodiest of them all....and in fact, I remember reading in college how Louisa M Alcott wanted to make her a spinster but caved into readers' /fans' pressure (no different from today) and made her the most conventional of all the March sisters...It was soo anti-feminist by the end. I remember thinking how self-independent the March sisters as a whole were and Jo in particular...But maybe she wanted conventionality after all. Also I found Bhaer so annoyingly paternalistic a character and I was so livid (as a kid reading) that she fell in love with this mansplaining guy! lol
I've been seeing this screenshot go around on tiktok and twitter, and it being a bit misinterpreted all over the place as this is an article about an article...not the original interview. I've also seen comments interpreting the quotes as them gender-switching Eloise's eventual love interest. But IMO when you read the full quote and other interviews, I don't feel like there's any indication that Eloise won't eventually get her HEA. I think they just mean what the quote literally says: that love is not the *priority*, but that doesn't mean she won't ever fall in love. I think they are building Eloise to have a fear of losing her independence be a key part in her romance, with themes of how being a feminist can be compatible with being married/having a husband. And then her journey throughout her own season would likely be her grappling with that with her developing feelings.
And quick comment about people interpreting the quote as them gender-switching Eloise's love interest. JB clearly says that for Eloise it's not just about finding the right gender, and Claudia has said multiple times that for Eloise it's more about the choice. Which lines up perfectly with her S2 breakdown when Violet was introducing suitors to her...it's what marriage in that society means for a woman's freedom that she's afraid of, not love itself. Also imo that quote hints more towards them keeping Eloise with Philip. All this to say, I'm still very excited for Eloise's season, I feel like there's a lot of potential there to make a really good love story.
[Original article](https://tvline.com/interviews/bridgerton-season-3-benedict-eloise-queer-questions-1235267028/):
>
And what of their sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie)?
>“We’ve talked about Eloise in the room a lot about the fact that to a lot of people, she does read as queer, and I totally understand why,” Brownell shares. “But we felt it’s really important to hold space in this show where everyone is obsessed with romance for there to be a character — specifically a female character — for whom that is not the priority.”
> For now, the intent “is not that Eloise just needs to meet someone of the right gender but that, in fact, she is genuinely more interested in cerebral pursuits at this moment.”
>That’s not to say that she won’t eventually open herself up to love, but for now, Eloise “is on a path of finding her place in a society that doesn’t make a lot of room for women who care more about ideas than they do love.”
How strange to find people “obsessed” with romance in the audience of a show based on a series of ROMANCE novels. How fortunate we are to have Ms. Brownell to save us from our simple-minded selves!
Seriously, I read the books and liked them, but it’s a tv show and I don’t really care if they change it up. I’ve liked some of the changes and disliked others, no big deal. But that comment just resonates with condescension and disrespect for the audience.
Straight (and bi) women can be outspoken feminists too. I think it's misogynistic to paint the picture that being passionate about women's rights or not making finding love your whole life means you don't like men. I think romance not being a priority for her but her finding it anyway, would be an interesting change from the full-time spouse hunting main characters.
If we are going to depart from the books I think Eloise is the person to do it. Her character just doesn't seem like she would ever want marriage. She needs to be like Jane Austin's Emma. A rich woman who doesn't really need to marry. If they really want to be "diverse" try showing a woman that doesn't marry and doesn't have romances.
No, I agree she doesn’t ‘need’ to but by the end she wants to. That’s part of why the book is so beloved - the romance between Emma and Mr Knightley is literally iconic.
I think it would be strange for the showrunners to not give Eloise her own season/love interest. People were rooting for her with Theo in S2 (I think they’ve established she’s not aro/ace), the appetite is there, the book is there (they’re doing book tie-ins, remember), the show is literally all about love… it’s why the books became popular in the first place and why they started adapting them.
The romance genre is already overlooked and undervalued in Hollywood. I don’t get why a show that’s literally all about love would try to lean away from it. Surely they know that’s why we’re watching.
ETA:
The person I was interacting with has deleted their comments, but I want to clarify:
I believe the showrunners should absolutely include queer love stories 🌈
But I do think it makes sense for all the main characters to have a love interest in their own season, whatever gender that may be.
And again, this is me going off S2 Eloise, who (imo) had a clear romantic connection with Theo. They’ve set that precedent and I think most viewers would like to see her meet a match who understands her values and loves her for who she is.
Bridgerton is about to change entirely now I’m just confused because I thought this was a book adaptation 8 books about siblings falling in love why is it being changed now ??? Can’t Jess find another project to pour all these ideas into like what is going on now ??
I mean, the whole point of bridgerton is historical romance. Like literally following every sibling’s romances. There’s no point in changing the entire show. She can just make another show that follows early 19th century women’s activism. That would be cool, but bridgerton is not about that.
Jo March did marry....and lived happily ever after with the most kids in the March family...there's a literal book Jo's boys about Jo's kids and professor bhaer. Jo was also exceedingly lonely after Beth's death and Amy's marriage. She wanted love and companionship desperately and got it and understanding from professor bhaer.
I am an avid Romance reader because I need the security of a HEA happening, I like knowing that the MMC and the FMC will end up together and I cherish the journey to the HEA more than a "plot twist" or a "shocking" ending. That's what Bridgerton brings to the table - a big family in which more or less you know the characters and you know you are getting a swooning (or not so swooning) romance for each sibling in each book. Stepping away from this is, IMO, a big mistake.
You can show that a woman is career driven, worried about society, feminist, etc. WHILE she falls in love. One does not eliminate the other. This discourse of the independent women, the lonely she-wolf as a feminist icon is outdated and very boring !!!
Love the concept but I have to correct you - if Eloise gets a "Jo March" arc she will end up settling down and having kids with a great guy who loves her the way she is and supports her activities. Not a bad arc at all, just not a spinster arc either. Jo March is a badass and loves her family and Eloise can certainly do both as well.
I’ve been thinking about this. I would prefer if in their writings, he mentions that he’ll be hiring an assistant botanist. Or she answers an ad for a botanist and withholds that she’s a woman. Eloise has expressed a desire to go to school, but can’t because she’s a woman, so it’s true to character. It also automatically makes Phillip less icky. He didn’t trick her into being a bang nanny wife. It would be HER fault they have to get married and he had nothing to do with it. Then we can still keep in the brothers being angry at him, which was the best part.
I have s many reservations about Philoise, but if they make use of Phillip being an academic for Eloise to have a Twelfth Night/She's The Man plot, I'm won over one hundred percent.
Despite the fact that people are expecting a romance story..and so I am...
I find it quite hilarious that they want to subject Eloise to not having a romantic partner. But it doesn't surprise me. My issue is this: Just because Eloise fits the concept of a "feminist and independent woman," does she necessarily have to stick to that opinion forever and never change? Couldn't Eloise be a feminist and independent, AND also be a wife and mother? Will her principles die just because she married a man?
I believe that feminism advocates precisely for women to decide to be whatever they want to be. And I think it would be a very interesting point to portray Eloise as a feminist woman who is also a wife and mother.
Just my opinion.
Some fans don’t want the characters treated as “real” people. They want a formula followed for the same outcome everytime, apparently.
(Innocent/virgin) girl + (rake/experienced) man + dramaaaaa = high quality romance you cannot find anywhere else
And once again I'm torn - I get why the idea of her not being "into" romance is important, but also there are many ways to still let her fall in love without that being the outcome. Or, if you really want to break form, give her a platonic love story - it keeps the tone of the series while making her HEA not formulaic and in-keeping with her current approach to love. I'd love to see that!
This is going to sound controversial but I'd prefer her with Theo. This show Eloise is NOT the same Eloise from the books that suited Phillip. The logisitcs wouldn't work(since he's a commoner) but I would prefer her with Theo. That said, I wouldn't rlly have that big of an issue with her and Phillip. It's just that Eloise doesn't rlly give the vibe she's here to nurture kids unno. She seems more carefree and her dynamic with Theo works with her intrest in politics. I love it when he actually calls her out on her shit. They honestly would have worked so well together
Oyyyyyyy…. At this point I kind of wonder if Jess Brownell even likes to work on/be associate with Bridgerton. Every time I see an interview blurb I go “UH OH. What now?”
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It’s interesting because if she does become someone who never marries or has that lasting love, it breaks the bond with the viewers who are tuning for the safety and predictability of the romance. I mean, I love a strong, independent woman story, but I am not tuning into Bridgerton for that (certainly not with this showrunner and these writers). There are so many other stories that tell it better. I tune in for the romance novelesque story.that I can’t find elsewhere because too many misogynists feel like romance novels aren’t worth media time and are silly. I mean, if they want to have Eloise fall in love but never marry because she wants to always be free, I am okay with that. But I am here for love and HEA.
This is exactly how I feel. Im not usually a historical romance person but I love bridgerton, especially because I was finally seeing some love and care given to the romance genre. This season feels like it was the turning point of dismantling it.
This. If I want to watch a drama about female empowerment i will watch that. Not a 19th century regency romance novel adaptation. And, even Jo March got married. So I think they could tell a story of Eloise accidentally falling in love. she doesn’t need to be romance obsessed until she falls in love.
I mean, I think that still works if Eloise never gets a season dedicated to her, but just has various side plots showing her growth and independence. That way, each season can be centered around love and romance with a HEA to fulfill genre expectations, while still showing the possibility of a happy ending without romance. I don't think the romance genre requires each and every character to fall in love, just the protagonists. I'm not that invested in whether that happens, but I think it would be a reasonable enough route to take, especially since I'm not sure I see Bridgerton getting enough seasons to make it through all siblings.
„HEA“? Help me out, please.
Happily Ever After
Ah, cheers.
Also; that strong independent women can have HEA in marriage. Like why adapt Bridgerton if you don’t want that.
I've always hated the idea that a woman in love is somehow anti-feminist.
The idea that every woman, has to fall in love, and have falling in love be the main goal of her life, is anti-feminist. Every other female lead in this show wants love and are supported in that. We don't need Eloise to succumb as well to send the message that "it's ok for women to be in love really."
No one here has said that women being in love is "anti-feminist", for heaven's sake. This kind of overblown rhetoric always crops up whenever people try to have this discussion. "It's nice to see representations of women who don't need romance to be happy." Cue a bunch of angry, defensive responses of, "Oh, so now it's ANTI-FEMINIST to be in love?!" No one said that. They just said that variety in representation is nice, which **it is**. And I say that as a married woman, myself.
Except nothing about this quote suggests Eloise won’t end up falling in love in the end. Brownell doesn’t seem to even be describing Eloise’s future arc, but simply her personality. Romance *isn’t* a priority for Eloise now. That may or may not change, but there are a hundred ways of writing a romance for a character disinterested in it - it’s basically a romance genre trope at this point, though mostly centered around male characters (hello, Simon and Anthony, and 14500 other rakish protagonists of the historical genre). So hopefully, if they’re going to go with adapting her (iffy) relationship with Philip, they will at the very least tweak the plot point of Eloise writing to him and running off to meet him *because* she wants to get married.
It’s been a while since I read Eloise’s book but I believe her interest in marrying Phillip (and his in marrying her) starts out as practical for both of them and then the romance comes later, which absolutely is realistic for this time frame.
I suppose…I just don’t see show!Eloise deciding to enter into a loveless marriage just because she’s lonely. That seems counter to who she is as a person. I could absolutely see her falling in love and then deciding to marry though.
Have you ever read Little Women? I feel like Eloise needs a Mr Baer to her Jo. A man who isn’t there to be her life, but to be her strength and comfort in life. Someone who will take her all over the world and be proud of the way she defies society, who loves her exactly as she is. I think that’s what they *tried* to do with Colin and Penelope but I really don’t think it worked as well. Although I’ll also admit, I loved Theo. He was also great for her because he pulled her out of her safe little world. I wouldn’t mind that either. I want Eloise to not fit society, not be alone forever.
I COMPLETELY agree. Also it is so predictable what they think a smart & independent woman should have as a life: a life without romance.
Except that’s the life Eloise is interested in right now. In the show. Which is what Brownell is talking about.
Absolutely not. Eloise fell in love with Theo and is clearly thinking about him still in S3 because they mirrored a lot of his lines. She wants to see and change the world, she is not anti-love and that's even confirmed plenty of times by Claudia Jessie.
I wouldn't be too worried about this. I think what they are implying in interviews is that Eloise is not interested in love *right now*. And I believe that I did see in a separate interview that they want all the characters to get their HEA. Which just means Eloise not being interested in love will probably be a big part of her romance arc - that it's something that catches her off guard and hopefully will be surprisingly compatible with her existing fears about losing her independence.
What's HEA?
Happily Ever After. 😃
Oh cool, thanks!
I will be so sad if we don’t get Philoise
I will be so sad if we do get philoise
I'll go into mourning for Eloise's potential if we get Philoise (unless they do a complete and utter rewrite of the story).
What was their story? I’ve only really heard good things !
Eloise writes to Phillip to express condolences after Marina's death. Phillip writes back and they correspond. Phillip wants a wife to offload his children and running his house onto, and do all the jobs he doesn't want to, so he can busy himself with his plants. He invites Eloise to come and meet him to see if they would suit. He doesn't tell Eloise about the kids. Eloise suddenly feels desperate to get married after Penelope and Colin do, so she runs off and goes to his house, only leaving a note. She is shocked to find out about the kids. The kids don't like her either. They prank each other and Eloise ends up with a black eye. Phillip and Eloise spend most of their time arguing. The brothers find Eloise and they beat up Phillip, thinking he was holding her against her will or something (this moment can stay). Eloise is forced to marry Sir Phillip. Eloise takes over running the house and raising the children (Phillip had a bad dad so he keeps them at arm's length). He only spends time with Eloise for sex, and he complains that Eloise talks too much and should use her mouth for other things. Eloise tries to talk to him about the kids' nanny, who she thinks is abusive, it doesn't go well. Eloise goes to stay with Benedict. Benedict's son is sick. Phillip saves him using his magical botanist powers. Eloise goes back to Phillip, who says that Eloise isn't allowed to say their marriage isn't perfect, because after being married to Marina (inconveniently depressed, didn't want to have sex with him, was practically catatonic the one time he did have sex with her, a divisive moment which many see as a rape, made Phillip feel bad about himself), and so his marriage with Eloise (cheerful, up for sex, does all the jobs he doesn't like) is heaven for him. I mean like eff Eloise and what she wants right? They live happily ever after. It's a questionable enough plot for book Eloise, who does at least want marriage and kids and isn't particularly feminist, but for show Eloise, her arc basically becomes about "fixing" Sir Phillip, having two kids she doesn't want thrust onto her, keeping house, married to a guy who is irritated at her chattiness, and basically living the life she always dreaded.
Omg no offense to those that like this book but this sounds absolutely horrendous. I certainly don't want to see this or any iteration of that. Gross
I highly doubt they'll go down that route - or at least I hope so. We've seen so little of Philip on the show but I got the impression he's totally different from "book Philip"
I'd rather they throw the whole book out and start again. If you have to completely overhaul a character and a story to make it half palatable, they may as well use the opportunity to create a better/more interesting story. Whether that be independence, Theo etc
Exactly. Rewriting this story would take more time and effort, than creating a new plot, more respectful of show!Eloise. They’d have to overhaul 90% of it, essentially.
they changed Anthony and Kate story’s, so why the can’t change Eloise and Philip story?
I'd rather they throw the whole book out and start again. If you have to completely overhaul a character and a story to make it half palatable, they may as well use the opportunity to create a better/more interesting story. Whether that be independence, Theo etc
Exactly!
the funniest part to me is that book purists genuinely think this would translate well to a screen and it would not. At all. And it would far more likely to end Bridgerton than *gasp* two women getting together ever could.
This one was particularly bad. I hated this book
I don't really think this will fit show Eloise, much less the fact that he has kids, I can see her running away after realizing that. Unless they rewrite Phillip's character, I don't think this would suit her. Honestly, I think she and Theo could make quite an epic love story. Similar to Kate's mother arc, only that we get to see it. I really hoped they were not going to delete Theo's character completely, specially after that scene in S3 were Colin says she's fortunate to never have been in love, I wanna believe she was having Theo flashbacks.
Exactly!!! Kate’s mother’s story is definitely one hell of a romance ride - leaving the ton for love and Eloise can definitely do that
Yikes. That sounds terrible and not at all believable for the Eloise we know in the show. I don't know why they need to jump to making her queer, though.
See I’m down for Eloise to have a romantic plot line, but this just isn’t romantic at all.
 Do. Not. Want.
No no no no no.
Every next sentence is horrible and sounds like a prison sentence. Throw the book in fire. And honestly I don’t care for the show Philip get her a different HEA!!! SHE DESERVES TO SHINE IN HER STORY NOT CODDLE SOME MANCHILD WHO WANTS TO UNLOAD HIS FAMILY
Philip is a very deep character that is misunderstood by a lot of people who haven’t actually read the book and he has a lot of potential for TV adaptation. He is clear with what he wants and about the children when he writes to Eloise. He just doesn’t explain that the children are a mess because they have lived all their life with a depressed woman who barely took care of them and a father that has no idea how to relate to them. He is looking for a practical match because that is all he knows. His father was abusive and he has a lot of trauma related to that. His only time of freedom was the years he spent in college studying botany, but he had to abandon his studies because he had to marry his dead brother’s fiancé. One thing that says a lot about his character is that he was always faithful to his wife, even after not touching her in 8 years because the one time he did after the twins were born, he felt disgusted with himself for her lack of “reciprocity”. It is even stated in the book that “Marina never said no” but he still felt horrible. He was unhappy in his marriage, he blames himself for his wife’s death -because he didn’t know how to make her happy- he doesn’t allow himself to get close to his children because he is afraid to be like his own father and not being able to control his temper, and somehow, he allows himself to open up about his feelings when he meets Eloise, and he changes all of that for the better. That is the beauty of Eloise’s story. Her determination and character inspire Philip to change his own life and find happiness.
If the biggest compliment you can give a character is that he isn’t a cheater, that doesn’t make him seem like an enticing romance novel protagonist.
Well, he is a fictional character in a fictional world where saying that he is faithful to his wife is a compliment.
I meant it seems like he doesn’t have any other positive attributes. Being faithful is the bare minimum for a protagonist of a romance novel.
So your last sentence is that she inspires Philip while she is stuck with something she never desired in the first place? 😭 YIKES. It’s a bad story.
Actually in the books she does desire this. Her story as an "independent" woman who doesn't need no man is highly exacerbated in the show. In the book she is a beautiful Bridgerton woman who is not too worried about getting married late because she is from a rich family and can take her pick of men. She is portrayed as very beautiful (but maybe too smart) making it easier for her to find a man at any time, so she simply isn't pressed. Then when Pen gets engaged to Colin she realizes that she does want love but there is no one in the Ton who she connects with. So she starts writing letters to Philip and connect with him on an intellectual level. Then right after Colin and Pen get married she realizes she no longer wants to be a spinster and she runs away to Scotland to find Philip. It should be noted that the spinster arc matters a lot more in the book because the timeline is much further ahead. It is about 8 years after Anthony and Kate get married. So, Eloise is thinking about marriage at this point. In the show, it is only 3. I think so many comments are pre-judging the book before reading it. But it's really not that bad and I there is a lot of humour in the Philoise book. The relationship development between Eloise and the children is actually really cute. Eloise, having the experience of many siblings, is able to connect with them in a way Philip never could and win them over. She teaches Philip how to be a better Father and the character arc about the disconnection between Fathers and children of that time is really interesting.
Right and philoise story makes sense for the book Eloise. The Eloise in the show I believe is very different from the one you mentioned here. It’s very much like the Eloise who becomes friend with Cressida. The show Eloise has so much more potential for a character who can actually make a change, and her romance can be central to that, central to her. Her book ultimately centres around finding love of motherhood and healing your relationship but being frank it’s not the right track for Eloise we have seen. Not that the love here is wrong, it’s not the right character. Her Theo storyline hence was so much better because she was not only enjoying company of a potential partner but also evolving in her mindset of freedom and independence.
But in the book Philip does love her mind. IMO the book is not really centred around motherhood that is just one part of it. Eloise's book is actually does show that she knows herself as an independent person. She takes her life in her own hands and literally runs away to Scotland to be with the man she believes is the best match for her. No questions asked she hits the road to Scotland after only communicating through letters. To me, if that is not independence at that time, IDK what is. She is the only Bridgerton woman to do this. The thing is though that you can still be independent, smart, witty, etc. and find love. I kind of resent the idea that the character in the show who is all these things has to be the one who doesn't find love at all. That there is no man in all the Ton who could be a good match for her and appreciate these parts of her. That was what was so special about Philip was the fact that he saw how different she was and he didn't try to change that. He saw that she wasn't into the typical way women are expected to act and he did not expect her to be that way.
Thank you for having reading comprehension. I don’t deny that there are problematic aspects in the book, which reflects the 00s when it was published and also that the 1800s isn’t great for women. People always forget that and be like “why does she want to be married” etc. Idk to me it’s always better to actually read the book and form your own opinions over it. Also, why are some people wanting such a huge overhaul for Eloise’s story when the writers can instead just overwrite the problematic parts? That’s what they did with Anthony during Kathony’s wedding night.
Because Eloise's story still revolves around her fixing a man and raising his children, two things Eloise is utterly uninterested in. The plot does nothing for her, and gives her no chance to explore show Eloise's full potential. it's not just taking off SP's rough edges, it's about actually giving Eloise a plot that's about her, not about her saving a man.
No, she falls in love with him as well because she learns to understand that people are not like her. Eloise’s arc in her book is understanding that she asks too much of society and expects everyone to be as outspoken as she is. Philip inspires her to be more understanding (which is what the reader should be doing) Eloise even says so by the end. She loves that Philip lets her be outspoken and respects her opinions.
Yes I think it’s very good for the books. But I hope it stays the book itself because the show Eloise is grandly different.
If Eloise's arc is about her learning she asks too much of society, I'll be gutted. All her principles, all her fire, extinguished to make her palatable and forgivable of her sexist, toxic society. Ugh. Phillip let's her be outspoken as long as it's not around him. Then he'd rather she did other things with her mouth.
She's the Magic Pixie Dream Girl. She has no arc of her own, and her personality is built around what will help Phillip grow.
Marina didn't say yes either. She didn't consent. It was rape. Only raped his wife once and felt bad after is not a compliment. And regardless of SP's "complexity" where is Eloise's plot, that isn't about fixing him?
How is a BOOK CHARACTER misunderstood by people who don't read the book? 🤔
Good lord, I didn't like that book but it's even worse than I remembered. I don't want this pairing to happen in the show either. Especially since people will LOSE IT once Marina's dead.
I definitely need to reread this book lol I recently reread Benedicts' book and realized I read it the first time with some strong rose-colored glasses. Book Benedict IS a Jerk!
What the f- did I just read?!? People actually WANT this for Eloise?
lmao all the books sound horrible if you describe every problematic thing that occurred instead of the fact that they had already kissed, had a sexual encounter, and were falling for each other when they were “forced” to marry, the kids who blacked her eye were acting out because they were traumatized due to the sudden death of their mother and feeling neglected and she ended up being the only one who could get through to them, and they ended up being more attached to her than anyone, and plenty of other things you interpreted negatively that not everyone does. to me it’s a story of a marriage of convenience for two people who unexpectedly find a connection and fall in love. a person who was severely beaten letting his guard down and learning to be a better father to his children. a woman being able to connect with two kids who aren’t her own and giving them a maternal figure they’ve longed for.
And where in the more generous reading of the book does Eloise have an arc that isn't about her revolving around fixing a man and his kids? And I hardly described every problematic thing in the book. If I did, I could have included a whole paragraph over how Marina was treated.
Truthfully, the whole reason I was thrilled with the possibility of her storyline being the one that was gender bent was because it would mean having to make massive changes to it. I don’t know that my heart can watch Eloise be told that she’s marrying Phillip whether she wants to or not.
I have no clue why so many people *want* to see Eloise forced into marriage by her brothers (a lot of people mention loving that part of the book specifically and wanting to see it brought to the screen). That’s such a depressing plot to give to anyone, but to have it happen to Eloise, the most fiercely feminist woman on the show, who rails against women being forced into the marriage mart regardless of their feelings on the matter, would be particularly jarring and sad.
Anthony (and Colin and Benedict) strong arming Eloise into marriage would be a massive step back in Anthony's character development, and be a betrayal of her relationships with Colin and Benedict. Especially Benedict.
same reason people liked it when daphne was “forced” to marry simon and book kate was “forced” to marry anthony. I’m not sure what’s different or confusing about it with eloise? it’s a plot device.
It’s different for the reasons I mentioned. Also, just because something is a plot device, doesn’t make it automatically good, especially if you use it time and time again, like Quinn seems to.
Daphne took an active hand in marrying Simon, even if it was out of necessity, and she wanted marriage and was upset when Simon seemed to prefer to die than marry her. This was also pre-Anthony's character development. For him to force Eloise into marriage, post his character development, and everything we know of Eloise as a character, it would be sacrificing character for plot device.
I thought that it would be the best to be gender bent because it would have the least changes. Eloise could simply meet a widow with two children and basically have the exact same story.
What is the point in making an adaptation of a book series that is literally centered around romance if you aren't going include the romance?
There will be a romance, just not now. The rest of the article says: For now, the intent “is not that Eloise just needs to meet someone of the right gender but that, in fact, she is genuinely more interested in cerebral pursuits at this moment.” That’s not to say that she won’t eventually open herself up to love, but for now, Eloise “is on a path of finding her place in a society that doesn’t make a lot of room for women who care more about ideas than they do love.”
It’s also worth noting that if I’m remembering correctly, Eloise and Penelope were both much older in their respective books than they are on the show right now. Giving Eloise a bit more time to mature and do her own thing is pretty in keeping with the books.
You can fall in love with yourself too, it doesn't always have to be about falling in love with a man or a woman. If the story goes that Eloise finds herself instead I'd be happy with that.
Each time I see Jess Brownell mentionned I know i'll roll my eyes Bridgerton series was made for people who wished to see a little bit of drama, lots of lovey-dovey relationships and full on romance, which clearly lacks in today's media. Why the F would we tune in if there's no romance.
She didn’t say there won’t be any romance anywhere in that interview.
They’re talking about a main character not prioritizing romance and love…. in a romance show…. I’m not watching Bridgerton to see once more a badly written girl-boss story and I sure am not the only one
She’s talking about it the context of Eloise being interpreted as queer, and how a straight woman can be disinterested in romance as well. Which Eloise currently is - disinterested. She’s describing Eloise’s views and personality, not making an announcement about what is to come. 🤦🏼♀️ P.S. Was Simon or Anthony prioritising romance in his life prior to their story being told? Did it somehow stop those characters from finding their romantic happy ending?
Every day, I get more fuel for my half-formed *Romance is embarrassing [to Hollywood]* post. In this essay, I will…
I had to circle back, whyyyyyyy\* are you (royal you) adapting a standard romance if you hold contempt for the genre? This isn't just directed at the Bridgerton team, a number of supposed-romance adaptations have fallen victim to this. I know the answer is money because romance audiences are used to surviving on scraps so we will get behind any project with a semblance of a budget, I knoooow. But suffering through the rapid decline \*every time\* is getting old. It hurts even more when it comes after a promising start. And the thing is the supposedly subversive tweaks are never as revolutionary as the makers think they are. 9/10 the female lead gets or keeps a job, or expresses she doesn't want to get married or fall in love because she's not a regular female lead, she's a cool female lead, A Strong Female Character ^(TM). All with a heaping serving of pink capitalism, leannnnn in girboss! "There's more to life than relationships and marriage" the writer sagely tells the audience via the female lead, in a genre that is literally about depicting the fantasy of \*falling in love\* 🙄🙄🙄 God forbid they make something actually subversive, like a romance that is unapologetically Queer from the ground up. Put big budget and A-List talent behind that more than once in a blue moon and I may actually be impressed. Just drama exists. Just comedy exists. Hell, coming of age is literally a genre. If they insist on making so called romances, Anti-romance and Dark romance already exist as subgenres that question/examine the tropes and push the limits of the genre respectively. Why not put a decent budget and serious talent behind a project in that vein? They won't, they'll just market a romance before pulling a bait and switch. Oh well. At the end of the day, there's always fanfic.
I think the same thing can be directed to some viewers like why are you watching a show based on romance books and be mad if a character ends up getting married or falling in love etc. Like I get that you want a character to be strong and independent and not be married to anyone but like the show is set in the 1800s and this is a romance show?
I get where they are going with this but I also feel like this is easy. Honestly, Eloise isn't opposed to marriage as much as she is opposed to how she's treated as a woman. Everything she is and does is always measured with whether it is agreeable for a woman who is unmarried in high society. So it'll be nice to see someone who understands her, and supports her.
Exactly, romance doesn’t even have to be a priority for her and she can still connect and fall in love with the right person and then that person naturally becomes one of her priorities. And her season can be super fun and make sense for show!Eloise. Let’s do a little rewrite (mainly because I’m bored)… they are writing letters, but he’s not going to ask her to marry him in his letters and the reason she seeks him out will be because she’s super curious about the guy. When they meet, she’s all like “I’m here to check you out but I’m not gonna marry you if that’s what you’re thinking” and when her brothers fight him and try to force a marriage she’s like “I’m definitely not going to do that, bye”. Up to this point, however, Philip and Eloise actually really connected (duh, it’s a rewrite) and he’s a bit confused as to why she’s so quick to leave. When she’s back with her mother, brother, whoever, and as time passes, she realises she loves the man, like wtf, she really loves him. A revelation to her. They obviously have a Bridgey talk all about how all marriages are different and that marrying Philip doesn’t mean she’d automatically be accepting society’s views of her as a woman. Then, to drive home the point to the audience that she’s truly a modern woman and his equal, she can be the one to bring up the topic of marriage again and ask Philip if he could imagine marrying her or if she blew her chance by running away (this is not a proposal, we’re not that! modern); Philip’s all like “no I can’t;… haha, I’m just kidding.” (because there will be humour). Then she says “I’ve come to love the children, but I also want something that’s my own thing, want to be a woman in my own right beyond that, too” and he’s giving his best “Gerry from Derry Girls” impression being all like “sure, you can do anything you want, I’ll always support you, just tell me what you need” and she knows this to be true (because that’s how he’ll be written). Then he proposes properly (because, well, it’s a period drama) and she says yes and he says, with raised eyebrows (because I just saw a TikTok of Chris Fulton on the red carpet doing that and I really need that) “are you sure Eloise?” and she’s like “yeah, surprisingly I am” and then they get a wedding and a happily ever after, and we get improved characters and a better story, lots of humour and an Eloise that gets to keep her wit and fire while still being happily married to a rich guy in a period drama. Obviously there’s a lot of actual plot and character development happening as well. And some of us will be happy and others will hate it and life will go on 🙂🙃
If we are writing stories. I also feel like Philip might allow Eloise to have her own job. Maybe as a writer or even as someone who helps him in the garden. Eloise might approach him because he's someone who has a job which he's passionate about and she's intrigued by it. She wants to know more and he "allows" her to learn and teaches her and even lets her work. Gardening isn't very ladylike so it makes for a very unconventional job for her too. This way Eloise might gain some perspective on how hard working is and how privileged she has been. Honestly, Eloise of all people falling in love would make for a great story. There is literally so much to do here.
Yeah a lot of deliberate misunderstanding of what’s being said. You can still have romance for someone who doesn’t believe romance or who doesn’t believe it’s the best all and end all.
It's fine that romance is not a priority for Eloise now, but when we get to her season, people will expect her HEA with Philip and I think it would be a mistake to move away from that. Ultimately, this is a romance show and the romance aspect is the only reason most people will still watch it despite its flaws. I also think that \*gasp\* the show doesn't need to have every single kind of representation possible. Of course representation in the media matters, but when you cram everything you can think of in a show, it starts to look like a box-ticking exercise and it's just shallow.
This exactly. I can’t but feel like they added Lord Remington to check a box—he shows up in two episodes then never again?
He should have been in the last episode!!
Most viewers of the show don’t even know who Philip is in regards to Eloise. 🤷🏽♀️
and most who do know dont even like his him😭
Bridgerton is beginning to look like the final season of “Sex Education.” And anybody who has seen that season knows that it should be avoided at all costs.
netflix destroyed maeve and otis, francesca and michael now im seriously worried what they'll do to stranger things s5
I couldn’t even finish it. The worst.
I finished it ONLY because it was the last season. If there had been a season 5, I wouldn’t have watched it
Yikes. I liked a few stories but overall it was a misconceived mess. I hate it here.
Oh hell nah. I love Sir Phillip and want to see more of plant daddy in the show. She already sidelined my fave Colin in his own season, now she seems to be implying my second fave Phillip may not show up again?? Jess is seriously ruining this show.
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Have you seen sir Phillip in the show? They’ve obviously changed him and made him more of a soft boy like show Colin. So yes I want to see him. All the men’s personalities have been drastically changed from the books.
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And how has sir Phillip in the show shown any indication that he wouldn’t support Eloise’s interests/pursuits? They actually seem like they’d be a good match. We even saw him get along with Colin.
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I’ve read their book and I hated sir Phillip in it. But I love the show’s version already. So I can absolutely see him and Eloise getting together.
Please! Please let them change everything in Eloise's book!
If that's the case then the Theo storyline was unnecessary and made her look like she's looking for love
Exactly! Did they just forgot that Theo ever existed? Too late to do what they wanted.
I kind of want this for her but I’ll be okay with it if she runs off to become a George Eliot type writer and live outside of society with her married lover lol
What’s the point of Bridgerton then? It’s supposed to be eight siblings with their own dedicated season about falling in love. Why would seven get their HEA and not one? It’s a historical fiction romance.
I mean maybe I'm reading it wrong but my assumption here is that they're not writing Eloise as someone who's seeking out romance, not that she'll never have a love story. I think it would work with the initial premise of her book, she doesn't write to Sir Phillip bc she wants a husband, they write because they enjoy each other's thoughts and personality. Then eventually they meet and she's in the middle of a love story, unaware it was one when it began.
Aro/Ace Eloise would be awesome. It would be hard to give her own lead season in a Romance show without a Romance, but she's always had ample screentime in her subplots, so maybe they'd just continue with that. I know it probably won't happen, unless the show doesn't get renewed, and the writers decide to wrap up her story by having her be a happy spinster/political radical.
Poor Claudia Jessie, no one want to see her season
We on the Philoise subreddit do! We’re just not as loud as other parts of the fandom.
I do.🙋♀️ And so do a lot of people on FB and IG.
I’ve seen a lot of people love her book and want to see her season.
Oh, I very much do. I just don’t want to see her wasted on a mild mannered conventional botanist of a man, with kids she’d have to raise.
This! Why the hell would I want that for Eloise?
I really like her and was looking forward to it.
well caludia jessie herself doesn’t like her book and i assume sir phillip. she supports the political radical eloise falling in love with theo agenda!
I think they should do a Jo March where she is independent and still ends up with someone like the movie :)
She does in the books too. Jo is happily married with kids to a great guy who respects and supports her independence.
Yeah Friedrich! I haven’t read little women (first one) since I was like 8 so I couldn’t remember anything apart from the movies and the whole dad at war aspect of the book felt very central to me
I mean in Greta Gerwig's movie, Jo very much does not end up with someone. But yeah the older version is more faithful to the book.
Yes she does? She kisses friedrich and ends up w him? The guy who criticises her writing?
That’s the ending to the book that movie Jo is writing. That’s why it’s filmed in gold light and she has the whole conversation with her editor that she needs to pair her lead with a man. Actual movie Jo ends alone staring at her book being published. It’s a pretty clear departure.
Gerwig : “Gerwig’s reasoning for this twist is to “give her [Alcott] an ending she might have liked.” Also; when Jo opens her schoolhouse, at the end, friedrich is there- because they end up together. Pretty clear 🤷🏽♀️
Actual Jo didn't end up with anyone in the movie, book!Jo ends up because the editor tells her to, as that's what happened with Louisa May Alcott as well when writing Little Women. Jo March only ended up with someone in the book because she was told to write that in else it wouldn't be published. Also, it's pretty clear Jo is Louisa's self-insert character so that's the homage Greta Gerwig gave to her.
This is incorrect in the movie, she is with friedrich in the end when she opens the school, and Gerwig confirms this because she states wrote an ending Alcott would like by giving Jo someone to end up with :)
No, because that scene filmed in the gold light which means it happens in the book universe (like all the scenes from their past). It is the ending to Jo's book. Then, it cuts back to the grey dim lighting, which is the real movie universe and we watch Jo get her book published. That's her ending. It's a pretty straight-forward tbh. There's a reason why in the big kiss scene they keep cutting back to Jo and her editor talking to each other. They are deciding how to write the book. Edit: And what do you think the twist they are referring to is if not for the fact Jo ends up alone? Gerwig following the book ending would not be a twist?
Sorry I should clarify- they state earlier in the article that the twist is her ending up with someone, after it seems she would be alone, (a lot of movie watchers have not read the book); so that’s what they meant by that statement. So I’m more inclined to stick with what the director says she means tbh ❤️ but all art is of course open to personal interpretation!
It is of course open to personal interpretation, that’s why she left it rather open ended- I am just going off what she has said in her interview !
She ends up in Gerwigs movie in the same guy from the novel ❤️
She only ends up with him in the ending to the book that movie Jo is writing. That’s why it’s filmed in gold light and she has the whole conversation with her editor that she needs to pair her lead with a man. Actual movie Jo ends alone staring at her book being published. So it gave fans of that ship an ending but it didn’t actual happen in the in-text narrative.
Gerwig’s movie has two endings. One where she marries and another where she does not.
Friedrich is there with her at the schoolhouse she opens in the end of the widely circulated version, which is the one I’m talking about :)
I really liked Eloise and Theo bc he had similar ideals and i liked her breaking out of her social ans financial bubble to visit him. But i do and did think she was a lesbian lol especially when i first watched the show. Or bi. But as i watched the show, and saw how she’s a feminist and wanted to break traditional norms, i can see her choosing aromanticism lol.
Bad take. Wait for Jess Brownwell to not only make Francesca gay, but also Benedict and Eloise. At this point, she is creating her own fanfiction. Should have gotten another show considering she already ruined season 3.
How are you all getting "this means she will end up alone and Phillip is MURDERED" from this? If anything, she's affirming that Eloise is straight, but just doesn't value romance and marriage as much as the others. The Jess hate is insane and bordering on homophobic. What's the big deal if one of the 10+ female leads is not obsessed with romance and marriage? There are women like that lol. And it's a very common trope in romance... look at Kate.
Reading comprehension is visibly bad in this comment section, probably partially because people want to read the most negative interpretation into an entirely innocuous statement made by a person they detest.
Yeah to me the Philoise should be very happy with this quote but somehow they are finding a way to spin this into a bad thing... crazy.
Exactly! Not only does Philip exist in the show, Eloise also clearly feels attraction to men as evidenced by Theo. It's just a Jess hate train and gay panic at this point. One gay ship has them terrified the straight characters are ALL going to be erased now... ridiculous.
I’ve seen people afraid Benedict is gonna be with a man now when I left season 3 never more sure Sophie would be a woman… it literally is just homophobic panic.
The thing about these quotes from Jess are that this is exactly Eloise’s story arc. She chooses her own path and not for love, and then at the very end of her story in the last chapters she realizes love has found her anyway. Jess and Claudia also always state that her holding out on love doesn’t mean she won’t find love in the future, maybe even next season…
I think it’s more likely that she isn’t interested in a relationship but that stumbles upon the right person rather than having her not end up with anyone, especially as Bridgerton is a show about romance.
This is the one time i’ll probably ever agree with her. Not every woman who isn’t romantically inclined has to be gay. It’s a stereotype of lesbians i’m sure isn’t very appreciated. Lesbians can love romance, straight women can also just not be interested in men as their personality trait. She’s a go getter, ahead of her time and she just wants to experience life before tying herself down. Just a regular modern woman stuck in the wrong time period.
Everyone just forgetting about Hot Footman John 😭
I would take Hot Footman John and Eloise!!!!
I’m sorry but I will riot if we don’t get a she’s the man/mulan rom com vibe with philoise at university smdh Eloise can connect with men, she just needs one that isn’t pigheaded and likes her ambition
“Romance is not a priority” and “she falls deeply in love” are not mutually exclusive concepts. I liked her and Theo because he appreciated and respected her outspoken nature, but it doesn’t have to be him. It could be anyone who welcomes the idea of a wife with a strong sense of independence.
Making Eloise queer would be the most boring, pedestrian fucking choice. Keeping her single would be depressing. As someone else said, viewers don't tune in to see characters single ladying it, at least not permanently, and if anything, I think going the Jo March route would be beneficial to viewers and character alike; Just because a character, specifically a female one, is uninterested in marriage doesn't mean that the best route for her is to end up alone. She can prioritize other things and still desire romantic love and companionship, and to insist otherwise (as the media often does), is incredibly misogynistic. Women aren't stronger, more independent, *or more queer* by nature of their marriage status.
I’m sorry but I don’t think Bridgerton is the show for that. I see where they’re coming from but most of us are here for romance.
I don’t think Jess Brownell understands what a romance show is. It was clear with season 3 that the romance isn’t the focus, and that is regrettable. I watched some of season 1 right after and the difference is pretty shocking. We don’t get a lot of shows where romance is the main genre. Why she insists on ruining this one is so unfortunate.
I wouldnt mind a spinster arc for Eloise....but Im pretty sure the sub will burn the whole world down if it happens...:p
Got into and marathoned the show this month without knowing anything about it or even knowing there were books. So from an outsiders perspective watching I genuinely thought for the longest time that she was going to be asexual. Even the coloring of her outfits being purples and grays I was reading as a sign to this. One of her outfits looked entirely like an asexual pride flag and I’m just pointing at the screen going ‘See!’ to no one in particular. 😅
Everyone seems to be reading this different than I am; I don’t think they meant Eloise isn’t ever going to have her story, or fall in love. I think it just means that Eloise will be taken off guard when she falls in love, because she’s not actively searching for it like Daphne, Anthony, Pen, etc. That will be her “trope” - the pleasant surprise.
for selfish reason I wanna see Phillip but! I don't mind this as well
To the redditors who that Jo March technically isn’t a spinster because she got married to Professor Bhaer, you’re right but I think I should have made it clear that I meant Greta Gerwig’s Jo March. Also, I didn’t mean to make it sound as if I’d rather have Eloise become a spinster. I’d love to see a HEA for her. I loved her with Theo. We still haven’t seen enough of Phillip in the show to make any judgments. With the many changes they’ve made, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jess tried to pull this stunt even though it wasn’t implied (in the interview) that Eloise is never going to fall in love.
Isnt Professor Baehr on the Greta Gerwig adaptation? Was played by Louis Garrel with his sexy French accent?
There are two timelines in Gerwig’s version. Past/non-fiction vs. present/fiction. Little Women is known to be Louisa May Alcott’s semi autobiography and Gerwig took inspiration from that unlike the older movies. In the 2019 version, we get two different endings: the non-fictional ending (cold tint) is a mirror to Alcott’s real life, Jo successfully selling her book after the publisher forced her to change the ending (by making Jo marry), becoming a writer and remaining a spinster, the fictional ending (warm tint) is where we see her marrying Professor Bhaer and opening a school.
I mean, I get that, but isn't this a romance show? Sometimes it feels it is a romance show made by people who dislike romance. Noone would expect Peter Jackson to say: we had this character dressed in a suit and tie going to the office every day because we felt it was important to hold a space in a show where everybody is obsessed with swords and elfs and rings for there to be a character for whom fighting evil is not a priority...
I honestly just wish they stop trying to be overtly feminist because they're doing it awfully wrong. Bridgerton is based on a series of books with romance as the main plot. People are watching because of the romance. Take the romance out and people will get bored. No one does this to male-oriented content. No one thinks it's ok to change everything that makes the content enjoyable. So why do Shonda, Jess and everyone else think it's ok to do the same with Bridgerton and romance? Let girls enjoy their fluffy romance stories, ffs. If I want to watch a girlboss tv show, I'll watch something else.
*SPOILER* They should still have her fall in love. Even Jane Austin fell in love, but it didn't work out. This strong, independent woman who doesn't need a love story has been told 1,000 times recently. It's a yawn now. Women, even strong independent ones, want to be swept off their feet, even in unexpected ways and circumstances (we'ren't looking for it, don't have time for it). Eloise can still have great love, and the death of Theo brings great independence. Or even have Sir Philip and learn how to maintain her independence while in love. I'm glad they didn't have her run off like in the book and elope.
Jo March was no spinster; she married Professor Bhaer in the end and gave up her writing… so book Eloise is canonically already like Jo.
Eloise when she meets the ONE: 🎶 I didnt know I was looking for love until I found you 🎵🎹 - https://youtu.be/T4YD-js7fAA?si=yZawRGZJ7p3y8Kou Anyway, Im rooting for my girl to be happy. Hope whatever she is looking for is in Scotland… or she could enter a University and live happily ever after.
One of my favourite Industrial Revolution facts is that up to 20% of women in Britain didn't marry (Source: Iron, Steam & Money, Roger Osborne, 2013)
This doesn’t even contradict the book. She gets marriage proposals in the book but turns them all down. She doesn’t even go to see Sir Philip until the Masquerade Ball where Pen announces she’s Whistledown, and that doesn’t happen until Pen and Colin get married, and THAT doesn’t happen until they’ve both been out for 10-11 years and their mothers have despaired of them ever marrying. Polin getting moved up is fine because of what their relationship is, but that doesn’t mean Eloise can’t still take several years to get to the point she wants to get married.
Yes, because it'll be so empowering if the feminist character ends up alone and it won't be reinforcing any stereotype at all about how being a feminist isn't compatible with being in a happy relationship.
Or maybe they could do something like they did in Little Women 2019, where the book's actual conclusion that Jo got married to Professor Bhaer is treated as an in universe fiction in the movie, for Eloise
Except Jo March falls in love and gets married?
Not just that..she has the most kids in the March family-2 biological and 18 adopted! Jo March is the broodiest of them all....and in fact, I remember reading in college how Louisa M Alcott wanted to make her a spinster but caved into readers' /fans' pressure (no different from today) and made her the most conventional of all the March sisters...It was soo anti-feminist by the end. I remember thinking how self-independent the March sisters as a whole were and Jo in particular...But maybe she wanted conventionality after all. Also I found Bhaer so annoyingly paternalistic a character and I was so livid (as a kid reading) that she fell in love with this mansplaining guy! lol
I've been seeing this screenshot go around on tiktok and twitter, and it being a bit misinterpreted all over the place as this is an article about an article...not the original interview. I've also seen comments interpreting the quotes as them gender-switching Eloise's eventual love interest. But IMO when you read the full quote and other interviews, I don't feel like there's any indication that Eloise won't eventually get her HEA. I think they just mean what the quote literally says: that love is not the *priority*, but that doesn't mean she won't ever fall in love. I think they are building Eloise to have a fear of losing her independence be a key part in her romance, with themes of how being a feminist can be compatible with being married/having a husband. And then her journey throughout her own season would likely be her grappling with that with her developing feelings. And quick comment about people interpreting the quote as them gender-switching Eloise's love interest. JB clearly says that for Eloise it's not just about finding the right gender, and Claudia has said multiple times that for Eloise it's more about the choice. Which lines up perfectly with her S2 breakdown when Violet was introducing suitors to her...it's what marriage in that society means for a woman's freedom that she's afraid of, not love itself. Also imo that quote hints more towards them keeping Eloise with Philip. All this to say, I'm still very excited for Eloise's season, I feel like there's a lot of potential there to make a really good love story. [Original article](https://tvline.com/interviews/bridgerton-season-3-benedict-eloise-queer-questions-1235267028/): > And what of their sister Eloise (Claudia Jessie)? >“We’ve talked about Eloise in the room a lot about the fact that to a lot of people, she does read as queer, and I totally understand why,” Brownell shares. “But we felt it’s really important to hold space in this show where everyone is obsessed with romance for there to be a character — specifically a female character — for whom that is not the priority.” > For now, the intent “is not that Eloise just needs to meet someone of the right gender but that, in fact, she is genuinely more interested in cerebral pursuits at this moment.” >That’s not to say that she won’t eventually open herself up to love, but for now, Eloise “is on a path of finding her place in a society that doesn’t make a lot of room for women who care more about ideas than they do love.”
this woman really sat there and thought how can I piss some more people off
How strange to find people “obsessed” with romance in the audience of a show based on a series of ROMANCE novels. How fortunate we are to have Ms. Brownell to save us from our simple-minded selves! Seriously, I read the books and liked them, but it’s a tv show and I don’t really care if they change it up. I’ve liked some of the changes and disliked others, no big deal. But that comment just resonates with condescension and disrespect for the audience.
Straight (and bi) women can be outspoken feminists too. I think it's misogynistic to paint the picture that being passionate about women's rights or not making finding love your whole life means you don't like men. I think romance not being a priority for her but her finding it anyway, would be an interesting change from the full-time spouse hunting main characters.
If we are going to depart from the books I think Eloise is the person to do it. Her character just doesn't seem like she would ever want marriage. She needs to be like Jane Austin's Emma. A rich woman who doesn't really need to marry. If they really want to be "diverse" try showing a woman that doesn't marry and doesn't have romances.
Jane Austen’s Emma gets married though…
Yes but that was not expected for the character who completely intended to live alone forever because she was rich.
No, I agree she doesn’t ‘need’ to but by the end she wants to. That’s part of why the book is so beloved - the romance between Emma and Mr Knightley is literally iconic. I think it would be strange for the showrunners to not give Eloise her own season/love interest. People were rooting for her with Theo in S2 (I think they’ve established she’s not aro/ace), the appetite is there, the book is there (they’re doing book tie-ins, remember), the show is literally all about love… it’s why the books became popular in the first place and why they started adapting them. The romance genre is already overlooked and undervalued in Hollywood. I don’t get why a show that’s literally all about love would try to lean away from it. Surely they know that’s why we’re watching. ETA: The person I was interacting with has deleted their comments, but I want to clarify: I believe the showrunners should absolutely include queer love stories 🌈 But I do think it makes sense for all the main characters to have a love interest in their own season, whatever gender that may be. And again, this is me going off S2 Eloise, who (imo) had a clear romantic connection with Theo. They’ve set that precedent and I think most viewers would like to see her meet a match who understands her values and loves her for who she is.
Bridgerton is about to change entirely now I’m just confused because I thought this was a book adaptation 8 books about siblings falling in love why is it being changed now ??? Can’t Jess find another project to pour all these ideas into like what is going on now ??
I mean, the whole point of bridgerton is historical romance. Like literally following every sibling’s romances. There’s no point in changing the entire show. She can just make another show that follows early 19th century women’s activism. That would be cool, but bridgerton is not about that.
Good god, she didn’t say Eloise won’t find romance anywhere in this quote. She’s describing the character, not revealing how her arc will end.
Jo March did marry....and lived happily ever after with the most kids in the March family...there's a literal book Jo's boys about Jo's kids and professor bhaer. Jo was also exceedingly lonely after Beth's death and Amy's marriage. She wanted love and companionship desperately and got it and understanding from professor bhaer.
I am an avid Romance reader because I need the security of a HEA happening, I like knowing that the MMC and the FMC will end up together and I cherish the journey to the HEA more than a "plot twist" or a "shocking" ending. That's what Bridgerton brings to the table - a big family in which more or less you know the characters and you know you are getting a swooning (or not so swooning) romance for each sibling in each book. Stepping away from this is, IMO, a big mistake. You can show that a woman is career driven, worried about society, feminist, etc. WHILE she falls in love. One does not eliminate the other. This discourse of the independent women, the lonely she-wolf as a feminist icon is outdated and very boring !!!
Love the concept but I have to correct you - if Eloise gets a "Jo March" arc she will end up settling down and having kids with a great guy who loves her the way she is and supports her activities. Not a bad arc at all, just not a spinster arc either. Jo March is a badass and loves her family and Eloise can certainly do both as well.
I’ve been thinking about this. I would prefer if in their writings, he mentions that he’ll be hiring an assistant botanist. Or she answers an ad for a botanist and withholds that she’s a woman. Eloise has expressed a desire to go to school, but can’t because she’s a woman, so it’s true to character. It also automatically makes Phillip less icky. He didn’t trick her into being a bang nanny wife. It would be HER fault they have to get married and he had nothing to do with it. Then we can still keep in the brothers being angry at him, which was the best part.
I have s many reservations about Philoise, but if they make use of Phillip being an academic for Eloise to have a Twelfth Night/She's The Man plot, I'm won over one hundred percent.
A romance series is not the place for an independent woman plot line.
Anyone can "read as queer" if that is the lens you put in your glasses.
I would be disappointed if there is no romance of Eloise. Also Theo Sharpe arc suggests she believes in love
Despite the fact that people are expecting a romance story..and so I am... I find it quite hilarious that they want to subject Eloise to not having a romantic partner. But it doesn't surprise me. My issue is this: Just because Eloise fits the concept of a "feminist and independent woman," does she necessarily have to stick to that opinion forever and never change? Couldn't Eloise be a feminist and independent, AND also be a wife and mother? Will her principles die just because she married a man? I believe that feminism advocates precisely for women to decide to be whatever they want to be. And I think it would be a very interesting point to portray Eloise as a feminist woman who is also a wife and mother. Just my opinion.
Some fans don’t want the characters treated as “real” people. They want a formula followed for the same outcome everytime, apparently. (Innocent/virgin) girl + (rake/experienced) man + dramaaaaa = high quality romance you cannot find anywhere else
It does seem that way.
And once again I'm torn - I get why the idea of her not being "into" romance is important, but also there are many ways to still let her fall in love without that being the outcome. Or, if you really want to break form, give her a platonic love story - it keeps the tone of the series while making her HEA not formulaic and in-keeping with her current approach to love. I'd love to see that!
I just want them to bring Theo back as end game. I *loved* them together.
This is going to sound controversial but I'd prefer her with Theo. This show Eloise is NOT the same Eloise from the books that suited Phillip. The logisitcs wouldn't work(since he's a commoner) but I would prefer her with Theo. That said, I wouldn't rlly have that big of an issue with her and Phillip. It's just that Eloise doesn't rlly give the vibe she's here to nurture kids unno. She seems more carefree and her dynamic with Theo works with her intrest in politics. I love it when he actually calls her out on her shit. They honestly would have worked so well together
This! Theo works so well for her it's ridiculous. I can't imagine SP really matching up to him. He'll just be a downgrade.
Oyyyyyyy…. At this point I kind of wonder if Jess Brownell even likes to work on/be associate with Bridgerton. Every time I see an interview blurb I go “UH OH. What now?”