Kanthony's chemistry aside ( because 🥵), i was a little disappointed by some of the changes at first. I went back to re-read the book after watching this and let me tell you.. I could not finish it lol. I think the show is a more mature re-telling and actually prefer it now. Anthony is soo much more likeable in the show, his trauma and fears were better portrayed. I like that they didn't make it too easy by getting Edwina out of the way and the forced marriage, they actually have to choose to put themselves first for once. My biggest complaint is too little Kanthony, too many side plots.
This is SO well said. I was also a little surprised on the first watch, but the show actually feels so much more nuanced to me! Just wish there were more scenes of Kanthony.
YES! Anthony's fear in the book is SO surreal. Like who thinks like that? The bee scene is unrealistic for regency seeting, and the forced marriage trope is EXACTLY like S1. I do like the trope, but it would be *so* repetitive. The series really refined the plot and characters, imo. I wasn't too happy with the relationship between Mary, Edwina and Kate (wish their bond was stronger), but it was a good idea to add drama with the love triangle. I think the series will just keep on moving farther and farther from the books, so we have to look at it as a story of its own and not as a book 2.0!
I’m very interested to see what they do with the next three books as I didn’t much care for them. Well, actually I didn’t finish Colin’s book because “Penelope lost a lot of weight so now he’s into her” was just too foul!
Anthony and Kate were absolutely edging the viewers all season. They really had me like “oh my God!” when their fingers almost touched. That’s how far I’ve fallen down the season 2 rabbit hole 😭
i haven't read the book but know what happens and def think i would still prefer the show version - like it is frustrating because you just want them to like kiss and get married and be happy and shit - but i get WHY they aren't, and the way they deal with the fallout over multiple episodes is really well done imo
I read the book after watching the show and I'm so glad they made the changes! Many of the plot points was way too similar to the first season and I kept thinking that Kate & Anthony were better characters in the show. The book was great too of course, it was an enjoyable read but it paled in comparison.
I’m obsessed with the mutual pining and angst in the book once the two are married, but I loved these two in the show so much. The series most definitely goes to the forced marriage well too much - I never finished reading them because of that.
That's what i do with any book adaptions too! Because if I read the book first and go into the movie/show comparing then I'll never be satisfied and vice versa but seeing it as a "multiverse" or a version of the book make it so much more enjoyable and it doesn't ruin it for you...well unless they reallyyy mess it up but they didn't! Kanthony was soo good in the show
yes - 'multi-verse' is the way to go! why should we criticise movie/TV adaptations of books instead of seeing them as a kind of fanfiction - not necessarily the same as the original but just one more opportunity to dive into the world of the book. I really like how you put it! I started reading book 2 because I simply needed more Kanthony. I know it will be different and I will probably not like it as much as the series but I am also really enjoying some of the moments (I'm still in the beginning) for what they are - a different story with the same characters.
Another one who hasn’t read the books, but really enjoyed the show. I empathise with Kate here, as I don’t know if I could tell my sibling I lusted after their fiancé. Just gotta push it all down into a deep, dense ball, and put all that energy into something that will keep you out of trouble (did they have Warhammer in Bridgerton-days? I could totally see Kate distracting herself behind a wall of Tau painting and army rosters). Really looking forward to your reactions of the rest of the season.
"We have moved beyond teasing to full-on edging now" had me laughing so hard! Well, the climax, when they did eventually get to it, was great! I've read in several forums that part of the contract with Julia Quinn is that the original couples are kept. I have rewatched this season more times than I care to admit but the more I watch it the more I appreciate it's storyline. Anthony and Kate's stubborn insistence to put their misguided sense of familial duty above their own feelings is quite vexing and I'm sure I wasn't the only one screaming at my screen with each near kiss. The arc they go through is important though and in the end when they finally stop self-sabotaging and accept the love they both deserve, it is beautiful. I, too, hated that they had to hurt Edwina in the process but liked that she walks away stronger and understanding herself more after. (She was confusing too because she insisted on love but Anthony was clear from the start that it wasn't what he was offering her.) I also went through frustrations with the maternal figures in the show because surely any one of them could've meddled and stopped it right? But again, I softened upon rewatch. Lady D actually has this Sheffield dinner for Kate and not Edwina to ensure that Kate can have a future even with the heartbreak of losing Anthony. They delve deeper into the Violet/Anthony relationship in the last episode and that scene had me in tears. And they also show some of Kate's insecurities with Lady Mary finally stepping up to the plate as mom in the last episode too. I think the writers are getting a lot of slack because they did go so far off from the source material and brought it so far into the drama. But I found the characters had much more depth than in the books.
We’ve finished the show now, and I SO appreciate that they had scenes where each mother apologized for putting too much pressure on the oldest child. It was really important for them to have that acknowledged.
Imo Anthony is in the fault for this unneccesary drama🤣 he was courting Edwina while he actually wants Kate.. he almost kissed Kate but the next morning asked Edwina to merry him
I haven't read the books, so idk if my opinion can really count here, but when I hear how the romance goes in the books compared to the show, I (think) I'd prefere the show. Trauma bonding and forced marriege could be nice, sure, but I *LOVE* the writing of this season! Marina was put in the past, Pen and Eloise get plenty to do, along with the romance between Kate and Anthony feeling more natural. It feels mature and it fits their roles. It's a huge step up from last season imo. I also love how they wrote and used Edwina in this story. I'll read the books some day so I can fully make up my mind.
In general I don't really relate with book readers who want adaptations to BE the book. Adaptations are not meant to be copies, they're meant to be retellings. It's not only fine for them to change things, it's what should be EXPECTED from them haha In this case in particular, I really don't get it because S2 is SO much better than the book 😂😂😂 I *did* finish it (which makes it better than book 1 haha) but most of it made no sense. The show turned the story into something more coherent and realistic, imo. Not perfect, but good. Of course, you should try the book and judge for yourself! :)
Haven’t read the books but from what I’ve heard The Viscount Who Loved Me is a product of its time aka a book from 2000 and the show does a great job of having more modern character development. With that being said I ABSOLUTELY loved Season 2 and now prefer it over Season 1. I’m a sucker for rivals to lovers and slow burns! Jonathan Bailey did what he had to do!
7:42 Alex has the best laugh ever!! The start of the Featherington Bling Ring. 🤦🏾♀️ The set up of that entire scene at 15:00 was such perfection for me. The dim lighting, the way the camera dances around them, the whispering, heavy breathing. Who knew old world lust could still work on a jaded millennial. I declare it....my favorite scene of the series! 😍 Another fun/funny commentary video from you both. 👏🏾
Before Lady Danbury told Kate she couldn't choose a life of independence before trying marriage and now she's saying it's not just some consolation prize.
After watching the show and seeing how may book fans complained, I went and read the book. And let me tell you, I'm so glad with everything the SHOW did. Anthony is SOOO much more likeable in the show, i felt book Kanthony was rushed whereas in the show they were done to perfection. Also there's a sense of equality between them which I really enjoyed. Only thing I probably would add from the books regarding Kanthony is Kate's trauma related to her mother's death. I really loved how much Anthony was there for her through it all in the books and I think it will be just the same in the show as well. But since Kanthony is no where near over and is confirmed for the next season, we might still get it.
I’ve never read the book but I love the way the season is going so far. Yes it’s a slow burn and it’s very dramatic but I’m here for it and I love that the writers aren’t taking out everything the book gave them. That’s a show for ya
The main thing the Shondaland writers did is making Edwinas part MUCH bigger than the one she had in the book. From the descriptions in the book I have troubles imaging Edwina (aside from "she is blonde and beautiful"). Unfortunately (or not....) this change demands even more deviations from the plot. From a fairly conventional "K&A were found in a compromising situation and have to marry" followed by Edwina more or less leaving the plot in the book the writers of the show decided to go a complete different path. One may argue that this isn't the book any more and that would be correct. Aside from the whole trouble brewing between the sisters my pity is with Antony. His whole adult live he was ALWAYS pulling the shortest straw. Every problem the Bridgerton family has lands squarely on his shoulders, if he's ready to carry it or not. He was a Rake with a capital R, but it's obvious that he has lots of emotional problems. His list with positive attributes of a wife prospect is laughable, but that's all he has. That the right Woman (with a capital W) would hit him squarely between the eyes was inevitable. That he has no idea how to react to someone like Kate is delightful, even if it will bring Edwina heartbreak and strain the relationship between the sisters to the max.
I only read the books after watching season 1 so I think that while I enjoyed the books, I'm not as emotionally attached to them as some other readers. I really liked that they didn't go down the forced marriage road this season as I had found that trope a little overused in the books. I loved the slow burn between Kate & Anthony in the show and I enjoyed the other storyline as well. My only problem with this season was poor Edwina. I was actually thinking that she was going to be secretly aware of the Sheffield's offer and that was why she was so invested in marrying Anthony for the sake of her family, but then when she was revealed to know nothing about it ... I just felt really sad for her and hated how badly her and Kate's relationship was affected by the triangle.
also it's interesting how people have been downplaying the traumas/ptsd that the book addressed in their praise of this season,, i think the book did a fair job of showing how real people experience rly horrible things (grief) and it manifests itself in weird ways. thats the beauty of their union, they both had ptsd others would think is silly but they understand each other... i like that they explore those depths! i wish the show actually leaned into it a lot more, rather than have the plot move the characters around instead! hurt/comfort ftw
Really enjoyed these reactions thank you both! I love the dynamic of book reader and non book reader it’s super interesting! I watched this season first then read the books so I definitely feel both reactions 😂 I prefer the series overall in a lot of ways, but after reading the books and on reflection I do think Kate’s storm backstory change is strange, making it about her father instead seemed odd to me. My only thought is perhaps they did this A) to avoid potentially misrepresenting trauma/PTSD as being healed by love / feeling like they didn’t have time to explore the effects of trauma on someone in a way that would give it justice (although they do this with Antony & his dad’s death?? But perhaps specifically they didn’t want to depict panic attacks/flashbacks inauthentically?), or B) because we don’t hear much of anything about the girls’ father otherwise from them ? I do also like how they expanded Edwina’s character to be more fleshed out in the show, although I feel uneasy about how that has the repercussion of making her suffer a lot more, it’ll be interesting to see what you both think of the rest of the series! 🐝
I don’t know as Sony who has read the books I wonder what the writers and directors thought process was to make so many changes to the books not that change is bad but it must be executed well. I think I have to re read the book after watching the show and I get they didn’t want to repeat the whole forced marriage troupe but because I am a sucker for forced marriage troupe and that does take place in the books it creates a space for them to really be vulnerable with one another and realise their they do love each other. It’s interesting the way they have created Edwina’s character and how she was so set on marrying Anthony but like you said most marriages in 1800s were for economical benefit.
i don't...love the way the adaptation chose to handle this sisterhood because they decided to raise the stakes in every way imaginable only to fumble with the reconciliation/resolution...while i can appreciate them exploring a different version of these characters/their motivations, i don't like that edwina was collateral damage for the sake of drama and kate/anthony getting together :/ especially because (imo) she had a lot more agency in the book (despite not having as much main character time), they could've done a lot more for her character... i dont know...it was just messy writing-wise, and the sisterhood took a hit because of it (also yes, more time to flesh the main 3 out would've saved a lot of the issues lool)
@@jessaandalexwatch i don’t think she’s going to be in it 🥲 the actress alluded to her story pretty much being over (at least for now) so…i sad. at least we get happy domestic kanthony lol 🫠
I'm incredibly disappointed with the story they went with this season. It's not even about being different from the book, they've just chosen drama over telling a romance story here. It's hard for me to even enjoy what few Kate and Anthony scenes are in this season because you can't help thinking about Edwina. I would've much preferred Kate and Anthony to spend time together. They haven't really had a single heart to heart. Ever since episode 3 all of their interactions are alone in a room nearly kissing. While that is fun to watch I'd much rather watch them connecting without the specter of Edwina. I think forced marriage like it was in the books was the only way to have this happen.
I wasn't a huge fan of this season, because I hated how Anthony treated Kate here in this episode. He puts all the blame on her, which makes her feel even more guilty and makes her push her needs away even more. Maybe it's because I relate to her position, of disregarding her own desires for the sake of a loved one, but at this point, I really didn't feel like Anthony deserved her at all.
I disagree. Kate did put this on herself by not telling Edwina about this. Lady Danbury also caused this situation to happen in the first place. Anthony has a right to be at least a little angry at her. Also he's so 'mean' to her here (15:22) because he just defended the girls, just said what he thinks of both of them and right here what he says is 'You can't go far enough on this earth where you won't torment me,' while what he means is that he is very, very attracted to her and that she will always be on his mind. He doesn't really blame her all that much. They are very similar, they are both 'protecting' their families by fulfilling their duties, by not chasing their desires. And both of them lack perspective (I want to explain why but that would get into spoilers).
I don't think Anthony is being mean to Kate. He's just coming to terms with the terrible situation that they are in, which is on both of them (him because of the proposal and her because of lying to Edwina). He doesn't want to marry for love so he can't marry Kate and she doesn't want to break her sister's heart and won't admit her true feelings. They are both self-sabotaging. But I get that if you relate more to Kate that Anthony would seem more at fault.
