In the books it is mentioned that the Lady Whistledown paper was given for free for the first week then started charging a subscription fee once everyone was addicted.
Also, that’s why there wasn’t anything about the Queens tea party. The feathertons were not allow to come in. She couldn’t write about it....she wasn’t there.
I suspected Penelope all along. In every "gossip" the show focused on, she was either present, or present to hear the gossip. Those that she wasn't present for, she heard directly from the source. Eric is right - a little bit. Penelope didn't "seem" intelligent enough to put down on paper what she was experiencing. So, I suspect she played down her intellence to get information. Think about it - it would make her the perfect candidate because people dismissed her presence, thereby dismissing her involvement in the column of Lady Whistledown. BTW...you guys looking fine today.
It's shocking how many people don't remember/straight-up didn't notice that the Bridgerton siblings being named alphabetically is something that was literally explained out-loud in episode one! LOL It wasn't a new reveal or something meant for the viewer to pick up trough the episodes.
literally marinas pregnancy was the biggest clue for me. no one else knew about her pregnancy but the family AND the timing of the paper to tell that she as pregnant? The morning of her elopement!....suspicious.
3 года назад
That’s what tipped me off as well! It had to have been someone who already knew about the pregnancy and had had the motive to not reveal anything (Marina being her friend and her family’s reputation) as well as a reason to not cover for Marina anymore at that exact time (the engagement to Colin). After that was revealed to the public it was so obvious that it was Penelope.
There are hints. You literally said a few episodes back: "Penelope is the only one who knows. How did Lady Whistledown find out?" Also, they had to reveal it now because people were going to look it up in the waiting period until season 2 anyway.
Pin money is money a woman "pinches" off and saves after she's paid a bill like for groceries, etc. It's what both my grandma's called it. Grandpa would give grandma a couple of bills for a new church dress or to pay the milkman (yes I'm that old) and what was leftover she'd pinch off to save. Every smart woman had pin money in case of an emergency in an age when women didn't work for wages or even if they did- didn't control their own money.
Actually, it was called that because it was literally money for pins. It was small amounts of money given to young women for small purchases like pins and ribbons and paper for letters.
The guys reacting to the Duke doing what the Duke did was the most hilarious thing. They were so invested and it was so hilarious watching them cheer like he had just scored the winning touchdown. That, and the reaction to the wordplay of "the grand finish to the season" was great. I will say the Lady Whistledown reveal didn't surprise me. I think there were several moments where I suspected her throughout the season. Which, to be honest, I actually appreciate. I'm glad it didn't completely come out of nowhere and that it actually somewhat fits. I'd rather that be the case than it be a complete surprise because they just pulled it out of their asses. (I'm looking at you, Gossip Girl.)
I was kinda expecting a person we haven’t really seen with a flashback of them being at all the places to know the info. I wonder what season 2 will bring with us now knowing their identity.
Interesting fact, they weren't certain they'd get another season so they revealed Whistledown WAY earlier than in the books. In the books it's a secret until book 4 (which would be season four if they do book a season). The point of the reveal then is that well, it's her book so makes sense for it to come out then. While it's interesting to see people with no prior knowledge react to this reveal, the book lover in me feels cheated out on watching all of you theorize/struggle until midway through season 4 :(
Penelope /Lady Whistledown didn’t really need to invest to start the paper. The publisher invests in it. In the first episode , we see the paper is distributed for free in the beginning for people to get hooked. Then in a couple of weeks it’s sold so she starts making money off it. Eloise talks about Lady Whistledown making money of the Ton in episode 2 or 3 itself. Pen is 17 in this season. Also, I don’t agree that she doesn’t come off as intelligent. She’s always reading, she was smart enough to figure out that the letter was a forgery, she was sly and sarcastic in several scenes (the swish scene with her mother, the scene with Colin in episode 4 at the ball). But you’re right she’s a child - she’s 17 and immature and emotional
The publisher of Whistledown gave it away for free at the beginning to get people hooked... after that people had to pay a subscription to get it. My guess is that in season 2 it will be revealed that Penelope is secretly using her Whistledown money to keep her family afloat.
She did that in the books too. When a distant relative died, she had her lawyer send some of the money to her family as an inheritance the relative had set up.
Penelope's sisters are not evil. It is just her mother is opinionated,judgmental, controlling with good intentions and bitter because she is stuck in an loveless marriage but under all that she loves her daughters.
And to be fair, during society in that time, women had very few options and it was very cut throat when it came to the marriage market, as evident in the show. It really was about who you know and who you marry.
@@Lumeriadeborel Of course you are correct wouldn't/haven't thought otherwise. The whole Maria plot that was added took Lady featherington from a obliviously misguided mother hen into a bitch. She is much more a sympathetic character in the books.
You guys in your gentlemanly outfits were a fun surprise to see. It was awesome how invested you got on a show that's so different from your normal reactions. I was surprised that you never suspected Penelope back when you were trying to figure out how Whistledown could possibly know about the secret of Marina and her pregnancy when she was one of the few people who knew, she was the most closely involved in all of it (aside from Marina) and she was jealous and angry that Marina was going to run off with Collin. I will admit though, while I suspected her for a moment, I totally didn't even take my suspicions seriously. Which I suppose works because it makes sense why no one in the show would think of her either. She reminds me very much of those kinds of people that are perceived shy, socially awkward, bumbling or loners who have a talent that no one expects and their personality/demeanor almost seems to shift once they get into that thing they're really great at.
In case anyone is curious, "pin money" literally means money for pins. During the 18th century and before, pins were used a lot to fasten clothing and keep everything in place. Pins are lost really easily, so pin money refers to the money girls would be given regularly to buy additional pins. Even after the use of pins for clothing fell away, the term stayed and is roughly the equivalent of the term "pocket money".
Final plea for Outlander to follow Bridgerton!! It’s been a real pleasure watching you guys get into, react to and discuss this first series of Bridgerton. Thank you for all you do!!
I will also volunteer to be your Outlander guide so you don’t have to Google things and hope you don’t get spoiled. I’ve read the entire series twice. I got the deets, yo.
As someone who read the books, I knew that they would not drag her reveal out but I was surprised they did it so soon. I was under the assumption that it would have had more than one season already planned. But It was still a lot of fun. Very much enjoyed your reaction to this series. & Eric, you need to give us a warning if you decide to dress like that. Hot Damn.
I think if they couldn’t really drag this “mystery” over multiple seasons, because anyone can look up the information in the books if they want to. The only way they could have done that would have been if they changed it and made someone else Whistledown.
@@Jsjshsjanxj Exactly. There was a big rush from people who wanted to read the books when this came out, if the showrunners hadn't put the reveal in in this season a lot people would have spoiled it for themselves and had less motivation to follow the mystery until season 4.
@@Jsjshsjanxj and that's exactly what the author has said in interviews. They couldn't drag out the mystery for as long as it was dragged out in the books because it's easily googleable information now. So they just decided to get it over with at the end of season 1 because that was the smarter thing to do than to drag it out to book fours season.
I love that yall are going outside of yall normal boxes by watching shows like this! I personally think yall need to watch Shadow & Bone next. Its a fantastic show that I think yall will really enjoy!
Ehh i don't think ut's THAT far out of their normal boxes. They love to watch CW shows after all. Which basically are just cheesy romance shows cosplaying as superhero shows.
It’s pin money. An allowance given to upper class women to buy things they might need that weren’t part of the household budget. Like pins for sewing or holding their dresses together (no buttons yet at this point). F they were able to save it they could use it for emergencies.
The thing with the Bridgerton children being named in alphabetical order is said in the very first episode! It's been so fun watching you guys watch this show and be invested. It's been renewed for 4 seasons and I hope you do all of them!
I was very surprised you took on this series. But I very much enjoyed your commentary. I very much appreciate that your commentaries are well thought out and thorough. BTW it’s Featherington.
You guys need to do Outlander next! It's a great replacement for this: period drama, love story, plus a lot of great action! I think you guys will enjoy it!
Literally binged all these reactions in one go. I hope you do Season 2 I think you'll love it. While I'm here I'll recommend Outlander as well, if you all enjoyed Bridgerton I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy Outlander.
Funnily enough, the makers of the show weren’t gonna make Penelope be Whistledown. They decided to go with her and follow the books when they were gonna film the carriage scene with the actual reveal. Madame Delacroix and Eloise were more likely to be Whistledown
The main clues about it having been Penelope were: When the Queen was incensed that her party didn't make it to Lady Whistledown's gossip column on the day when the Featheringtons were ejected from the party; AND of course the exposure of Marina's secret. Then the fact that she was inquisitive but generally ignored, even at parties, so she was free to observe what was going down.
And another big clue was her nickname being "pen" 🖋️🖋️🖋️ That was a thing that did not occur to me when I first watched it, but someone pointed it out after the fact and I was like, oh, hey, that's cool! 😂🤷
Loved the costumes guys, so awesome and I really hope you do season 2 or other shows that are out of your comfort zone, this has been incredibly entertaining.
Is Rick wearing a kilt? The jacket, waistcoat and shirt look like kilt attire, also think I saw knees!!!Any chance that means you'd consider moving on to Outlander? Pleeeeeaaaase??
I have absolutely loved this surprise reaction series from you all! You all looked very dashing and charming also! I'd really love to see a Pride and Prejudice reaction in honor of Bridgerton!
See I don't feel like Eric is entirely off by saying this Penelope doesn't seem as intelligent (especially emotionally). I won't delve into all they did in changing her since it's two separate mediums (tv vs book), but can hint toward the fact that they add a lot of emotionally dramatic moments for her that weren't there. Clearly it's added to give her more to do as they did to a lot of characters honestly (the books are focused on one couple so everyone else is a background character). The changes do however have that cause effect of altering how different story points are seen that weren't changed from the original source. Case in point with Penelope, they gave her more scenes that were fitting for the age she is (17) that also make it harder to believe the Whitsledown part for some people.
Recently discovered your ‘Bridgerton reactions’. Thoroughly enjoyed watching your facial expressions, comments and commentary breakdown. As a fan of Bridgerton since discovering the first book in 2003, I’ve loved season one. Looking forward to watching your reactions to season two
Thank you for reacting to this series, it wasn’t really my thing but I watched along as I greatly support you guys trying something new! Hope you keep trying different stuff!
I really hope you guys react to s2! As for Pen's intelligence, it's very downplayed but comes out in her moments w Marina and Colin. But most of all, it's in quick wit. The comment abt the baby heir at the ball looking like the footman, the rewording to appeal to her mama when she wants to see Eloise, the way she surprises Colin with comments that are mischievous. Pen is ALWAYS in the background and that's the point. No one really listens to her. She knows her society so well that she knows how to play them. Her intelligence shows in how she maneuvers the ppl around her and knows when to play a part.
I have such respect for you guys for watching this series and having such in depth thoughtful discussions after. At no point did you belittle the show just because it's a romance story. I appreciated all of your points of view. Well done!
Hope you guys react to season 2, it's way better and i loved how you guys branched out with this show and gave a little something to the fans that don't see a lot of their interests being reacted to.
I just want to say I greatly appreciate the effort, time, and thought put into each of you all's videos!! The fashion in this is phenomenal (I mean you guys could have just worn your casual clothes but the fact that you each dressed up); Thank you! I remember when y'all did the same for The Promise Neverland on the last episode of season 1 and even created your own opening. I just wanted to let you know that we see it! 😀😊
i was super proud of myself when i watched this bc i suspected penelope pretty early on for some reason… i couldn’t think of anyone else who was pretty smart with so much insider information :D
If you go back through the episodes, you'll find Penelope in a lot of scenes, in the background. She wasn't suspected because she was a wallflower and people often overlooked her. I don't want to give out too much info because if they stick to the books, her story will be the center of the 4th season. (They appear to be, because Anthony's story is the second book in the series and appears to be the topic of second season. But you will find out how she pulled it off then. Also, if you remember, Lady Whistledown was free the first two weeks and then after the ton became addicted to her gossip column she began charging. She has the money to pull it off.
ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO WATCH SEASON 2? Come on please please please! This has been so much fun ! By the way I love that you all dressed up for the finale , brilliantly done!
Ok, I just caught this review now.. and I don't know any of your names.. but the dude on the far right several episodes back on the whole Colin/Marlina thing said... out loud "Penelope is the only one who knows that". And I thought, oh! They got it. Now you question yourselves. Oh, and the guy second from the left.. love the appropriate neck ware.
Sooo the time there was the Queen’s luncheon and the feathertons were asked to leave. The queen was upset Whistledown said nothing about it. Also when whistledown outed the pregnancy. Had to be a featherton. Those were the things that made me think it was Pen.
I really, really love watching a group of geeky dudes such as myself discuss and enjoy "chick flick" stuff of the Austenworld persuasion, so I truly hope you have decided to continue with season 2,, which for me wasn't necessarily better but different and original enough--with an absolutely gorgeous new actress of Indian descent--to be perhaps even more entertaining.
Lady Whistledown was not supposed to be revealed till her and Colin's book. Which is the 4th book. The search for Lady Whistledown was exaggerated in intensity for this the events of first book. Maria and Colin's sub-plot is original to the show. It totally mucks up Penelope's portrayal.
Penelope never had to pay anything for the column. The first few sheets were offered for free by the publisher, and thereafter each edition (three times a week) was 5 pence apiece. At roughly 1000 copies per edition, assuming Pen gets 3p per edition, that’s 9000p (which I think is 90 pounds?) per week, 360 per month, or about 4000 pounds per year. AKA very comfortable doctor/lawyer money. Penelope Featherington is a rich girl.
Penelope was intelligent as it she was able to pretend to be silly +empty headed + plain to be a, wallflower and as such people never either took notice/ paid, attention of her . Hence people spoke freely around her. That takes a, special skill!
It's absolutely wild watching this reaction to the reveal that Penelope is Lady Whistledown and seeing how none of these guys suspected it and their stated reasons for why they didn't realize it might be her or why they were having trouble buying that it even could realistically be her are the EXACT SAME reasons the rest of the ton never suspect Penelope. They also view her as not smart enough, not savvy enough, not wealthy enough, not independent enough, etc. Of course she succeeds because no one sees how she very much is all of those things. They just underestimate the wallflower. The show reveals to the audience plenty of evidence throughout the first season that Whistledown is Penelope. Even the characters within the show have enough evidence to figure it out if they were to actually see Penelope for who she is. And yet... It's heartbreaking that in season one no one (yet) realizes how special she is but it also has given her this incredible cover for pulling off this spectacular thing for a woman in her position at that time.
