#no spoilers but there is some DRAMA if you know YOU KNOW!!!

[choster33]

Bridgerton S3 episode 3 reaction

So this is my reaction to Episode 3 of Bridgerton Season 3. I am doing this slowly so I don't burn myself out and can digest each episode. So far I am loving the show and know it's just going to get more juicy, so here goes. Spoilers ahead but most of y'all have seen it already.

Wow, they're starting on a sexy dream and it's super hot! I knew Colin was hooked from last episode's kiss and he is! He is thinking about Penelope and the kiss, we're going to get a lot of lovesick Colin and I am here for it!

Ok, so now with the family we are getting awkward trying to deny it but failing miserably Colin which is hilarious! He's such a cinnamon roll he won't be able to hide this for too much longer. He may have slept with some ladies, but he is no true rake or hider of his feelings.

Awww, we're getting a bit Peneloise! Love them as besties, and so so hope this means there is going to be a thaw and a path back to friendship. I think I would be somewhat upset as Eloise due to Penelope's lies and continuing as Lady Whistledown even if it hurts people even herself. But I get Penelope too in that LW offers her money, power, and a voice. It has become a part of who she is and she enjoys it. Perhaps if LW were to be revealed or gotten rid of, the two will be friends again.

The ton is full of bitches, geez what was Pen's crime? Being a bit pathetic? She doesn't fit the mold due to size and being a wallflower and they are so mean to her about it. Granted LW just labeled her as pathetic as well and they take cues from LW, but this was happening even before LW said anything. I'm going to live for her becoming Mrs. Colin Bridgerton and having a rising star as an in your face to all the haters!

Ok, the willow scene is everything I wanted it to be! It's gorgeous and the awkward Pen and Colin! They are friends and want to make sure that the other is happy. Even in lust, Colin doesn't push his way into Penelope's life or arms again and listens to her. So cute!

Aw, I ship Colin and Penelope, but I really like Lord Debling. I think that to spice up the drama they couldn't have put someone uninteresting in that place, they had to make him a viable suitor for Penelope and it's working for me. He's adorable and charming, Not endgame obviously but good for you Penelope! Flirt away with handsome vegetarian man!

The pastry scene! I was spoiled by pictures of this and it lives up to the hype! The expression on his face! He is going to have so many nasty thoughts about this moment lol! Oho! I so get the he bought the pastry to see how Pen's mouth tasted at that moment memes started, yes yes!

Ooh man of action Colin! So hot! But then we have Lord Debling coming over and protecting her! Ooh, get it Penelope! What a day! To see Colin's rippling arms like that and then to be wrapped around Lord Debling's arms! And the care he's putting into making sure she's ok! He's definitely in the running now!

I like Lady Tilley Arnold. I think she's an interesting addition to the show, she seems like an intelligent, capable woman. She might not be Benedict's endgame, but I think she will offer a lot of interesting scenes and banter. I think she will play the perfect foil to Sophie if the writers stick to that storyline. I like Tilley and she's interesting, but a little too forward and sure of herself for Benedict. I think Benedict wants someone he can sweep off her feet and live a romance with.

Ok, I really like Lord Debling, so sue me. He is honest, charming and understanding. He doesn't want her to be someone just for him and seems to like Penelope for being herself. We're rooting for Polin, but I like the writers here for making Lord Debling attractive and a viable second choice.

Colin is so falling for Penelope and now Violet definitely knows that he feels something for Penelope. Mama ain't no fool! And Lady Whistledown here is doing amazing writing here. The whole episode was full of innovations, nature, and technology and now we get the whole thesis of the episode. In that all innovations are a distraction and our greatest battle is within ourselves.

Colin was on the precipice of something, but couldn't put it into words. Penelope felt something and even gave him a chance, but that time delay was starting to get awkward. She had to go with Lord Debling. I don't think she was being cruel here or making Colin suffer, there was no other option besides she likes Lord Debling too at this point. I also like "Happier than ever" playing, I like that song and it is Pen's f you people, I can get a man if I wanted to moment.

OK, so not as juicy an episode as ep 2 so far in that they are still in the will they won't they stage of things, but I think that's ok. For friends to lovers and these Bridgerton seasons, I think the slow burn is for the best before we get the sex all the time episodes. We got a lot of pining Colin in this episode and I loved it! He's so cute when he's all jealous and wondering what Penelope's doing.

Can't wait for the final episode, I know it's super juicy!

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Do you have a favorite Bridgerton book/storyline?

Favorite/Least Favorite changes book to show?

So let me start this answer by saying that I haven’t watched any of season 3 yet. 🫣 Part of that is money reasons. We pared down our streaming services to the minimum when money was tight and I just haven’t gotten around to renewing my Netflix. Probably will once the rest of season 3 drops because… (book spoilers below the cut)

My 3 favorite books/storylines are:

1) When He Was Wicked (Francesca & Michael Stirling) because holy damn and hell and everything holy in between. Michael Stirling is the epitome of making consent sexy. That's all I'm gonna say about that, but I've seen enough talk and gif's floating around here to know that they've introduced John Stirling already and I am HERE for them laying the groundwork for a season five or six focused on Francesca and Michael Stirling.

2) Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (Colin & Penelope) asfklsjfksanfs. I loved how sweet their story is, enough that I am mildly concerned about how they're going to deal with the massive change on the show, i.e. the fact that book!Lady Whistledown didn't nearly bring ruin and humiliation down on the Bridgerton family at all, let alone twice. On the one hand, I understand why show!Penelope did this and I kind of love that they've given her this massive mistake, this huge flaw for her and Colin to work through. But also 🫣 I don't have an excessive amount of faith in them handling these kinds of changes well on the show because the show is all about The Drama. Which brings me to...

3) The Viscount Who Loved Me (Anthony & Kate) Look. I absolutely love some of the changes they've made while translating the books to screen. And I don't even care all that much for the historical accuracy of the show. They threw it out the window with season one and made it a brilliant alternate universe that allows them the freedom to not only give us a diverse cast but also give the middle finger to anyone who says "that' never would've happened." So I'm willing to forgive a lot of changes. Buuuuutttt.... having Anthony actually propose to Edwina, having Edwina actually believing she wanted to marry Anthony, changed the characters in a way that didn't sit very well with me. At least not with the way it was handled on the show.

So that covers my least favorite change they've made on the show so far, now for my two favorite changes.

Benedict. Gah he's so much better, such a more interesting and fleshed out character on the show than he is in the book. They've maintained his fantastic sense of humor and relationships with his siblings and somehow made it better by bringing in the pseudo underground culture of artists, the introduction of queer characters, and his cravats! I could write an ode to show Benedict's wardrobe it is FABULOUS. And while I know I said above that I don't really care for the changes made to Anthony's story, I'm kind of hoping they flip book!Benedict's story on it's head and see where they can take it. Because that book was one of my least favorites. Give him a man. Or give him a woman built like Luisa Madrigal but who sometimes dresses as a man and can pull it off. I don't care but do SOMETHING ELSE besides the nonsense that happens in his book and GIVE HIS PARTNER SOME FUCKING AGENCY.

Queen Charlotte. Look. She's not even in the books, but she's one of my favorite characters on the show. She and Lady Danbury own my whole heart, okay? And her spinoff show... I've only been able to watch it once because (other than the money issue mentioned above), I was crying literal buckets starting somewhere around episode five until the end and I binge watched that shit so what is that like six hours straight crying???? Also, having her as a character gave us Brimsley and Reynolds. (*whispers my poor overworked and beleaguered babies*) I wasn't overly fond of the role she played in dragging out the drama surrounding Anthony and Edwina, but that could've been avoided entirely if you'd given show!Edwina even an ounce of book!Edwina's compassion and understanding of her sister and had her do something equally dramatic like, oh I don't know... TURN HIM DOWN?!?!? (Can you tell I'm still salty about this?)

Alright, that's enough of that. I have a job interview to prepare for, but this was a nice distraction from my inevitable nerves.

Love,

kdnfb

[biromanticbookbabe]

Sam and Cat from Lip Service (2011-12) in 1920's style clothing.

[flintbian]

There's a disabled angel in good omens 🥺

[bumblingbabooshka]

-Remembers how T’Pring looked as she watched Spock & Chapel vanish into the bathroom together after seeing them kiss on the bridge (which she knew was for a mission and didn’t hold against them but perhaps she could sense something there since they do have feelings for one another), maybe attempting to calm herself and her suspicions as she’s left alone again (and later finds she’s been left out entirely this whole time) and how she doesn’t know that Spock almost told Chapel he loved her then and there, with T’Pring in the other room waiting, and how Amanda and Sevet both think she could have more confidence in herself and how T’Pring thought that she and Spock were in this together (her holding his hand, subtly letting him know to pour slower so the tea flowers would bloom correctly, a whispered ‘well done’, the ritual is over mother) and how mere hours after she expresses to Spock how she feels: Like he doesn’t trust her, like he doesn’t care to include her in his life, how she’s trying her best to show him that she will accept him wholly, how she wants to be his partner instead of an adversary or an obstacle, after all this he’s found Chapel within the hour and is kissing her.-

[lunarharp]

wip thing...

of my bg3 avatar hellebore. i also did some casual nude studies of my 3 characters which i'll put under a cut... rather unlike me after all. (so WARNING for abrupt non-sexual full Artistic nudity lol...,,,,) (< won't be making a habit of this)

they mean the world to me

[forcedhesitation]

exhalted vampeeric maaastah

[kurtscrackers]

@berrceste SEE ON ONE HAND I THINK HE'S DEAD AND I LOVE THE DEATH THEY GAVE HIM, 10/10, POETIC CINEMA

BUT on the other...............the official channels have posted videos with his death scene and called it a goodbye, BUT they haven't done a thank-you post for Ibrahim like they did for Hakan Salinmis, AND Ibrahim hasn't done a goodbye-to-Korkut post like he did for Mehdi...SO 👀 I don't TOTALLY believe Korkut's dead yet 👀 There's a theory going around in the social media comments that Daghan dreamed the whole thing, so WE SHALL SEE 👀👀👀

I just read the summary on dizilah! Up until now I'd only seen the trailers, which have the bombshell implying AYDAN'S PREGNANT?!?!?!??! 👀👀👀 One thing's for sure, pal, I am ALWAYS HOLLERING ABOUT THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[wine4thewin]

Rhaenyra: Uncle Dearest, you are being an absolute clown. Stealing dragon eggs? Fake shotgun weddings, complete with ‘maybe babies’? Living unchecked in my castle? I demand you kill me and let this sass come to an end!

Daemon: No. No, I don’t think I will.

Daemon: *hands over egg and flounces away, back into Rhaenyra’s castle to continue his unlawful castle squatting*

[janexromantic]

nooo i actually thought that we'd be called out or at least be confronted by the ones you've flirted with aside your main li after being locked with them but nope, didn't happen

choked and snorted at friend tbh my mc was really digging the heart choices with this man every chance she gets multiple chapters before this

but so glad that abel treasures his friendship with linc so much that he'll ditch the mc for him <33

EDIT:

okay, we will be confronted by the ones you've flirted with aside your main li after being locked. it will be different though. if you've flirted with others, the outcome like the one above will show. but if you do kiss or hook up with others, an outcome like the one below will show. i definitely feel bad now.

[outeremissary]

How about 3, 14, and 32 for Balthazar and Tristian?

Hello Cassy! Thanks for the ask, and apologies as always for the tardiness.

[prompts from here]

[and to have a posterity note at the top instead of just the tags for once, significant Kingmaker chapter five spoilers throughout]

3. By contrast, what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh…I adore them…”

(note: I think I may have played it a little loose with this one... apologies!)

There had long been a sense of protectiveness on Tristian's side of things, but it was a sense born out of obligation and guilt: on the one hand the obligation to do his duty to Nyrissa and the need to return to his goddess, and on the other the guilt of treachery that dragged on and on (even if the victim of that treachery wasn't exactly Tristian's favorite person). There was always a twist of terror when Balthazar was in danger or astonished respect seeing him persevere through what should have been the end, but none of that was that soft feeling. The first time for that feeling was probably some time after Balthazar's wings came in, when Tristian, still anxious from the lingering effects of the Bloom and attempts on Balthazar's life, caught Balthazar attempting to slip out of the capital by himself one afternoon and insisted on accompanying him (doggedly ignoring attempts to lose him). Following the reluctant baron to the privacy of the countryside, he learned that Balthazar had been attempting for some time to adjust to the wings on his own. Before that it was clear that the wings had been unwelcome and that on some level Balthazar was fighting it, and it had stirred some amount of envy and resentment in Tristian to see the ungrateful aasimar rejecting what Tristian yearned to have back. But seeing the open vulnerability as Balthazar tried to come to terms with his changed body felt painfully familiar, and as he attempted to offer advice under the flimsy veil of having known another aasimar at his childhood temple (lies, all lies, and for what?) he began to feel a sense of connection with Balthazar. It wasn't the first time he had seen Balthazar vulnerable- there were more than enough of those throughout the Bloom, and awkward moments littered their history before that. But it was the first time that pang of sympathy blossomed into a deeper sense of understanding. As the initial tension eased the afternoon became comfortable, conversation becoming easy and unguarded. It was awkward but genuine. It may have been the first time Tristian saw a soft, warm smile on Balthazar's face- something that would haunt him a long time after.

For Balthazar, the first spark of excitement (long before he could pin down what it might mean) came when he managed to coax Tristian into a dance at the first festival held in the wake of the fall of Trobold. The dance had been meant as a tease- a bet with Octavia and Regongar that he could get Tristian onto the floor, nothing more- but he was caught off guard when his success didn't come in the form of the cleric passively following along. Watching Tristian linger at the edge of the festivities, not joining in on the celebration he had himself insisted on, Balthazar had guessed that Tristian was held back by insecurity. Tristian came off as so naive and sheltered that it stood to reason that a noisy northern festival would be far outside of their depth- as would partaking of the dance with an admirer on their arm. He expected to overwhelm Tristian, to enjoy teasing him and leading him along. Instead, after relenting to the dance Tristian proved a quick learner (or perhaps already knew the dance from somewhere): he matched Balthazar's pace without ever being thrown for long, and the threat of being challenged for the lead began to occur to Balthazar. When they broke apart at the end it was Balthazar who was breathless, caught in the fascination of his partner. The mystery of that moment lingered on his mind- he'd thought he had Tristian solved, but he was wrong. After that he noticed Tristian in a way he never had before- he watched for answers, but along the way began to drink in the details of Tristian he never had before. Maybe that dance wasn't itself so soft, but it opened the floodgate of everything after: a growing affection for the awkward innocence that had frustrated him, an amusement with the stern edge Tristian's voice took on when lecturing (so often with undeserved boldness for his ignorance), the sudden sorrow that would soak into his expression at the most inexplicable times. Becoming bound up in pursuit of that pattern began to wear away at him to the point of distraction.

14. What makes them feel loved? Would they build up the courage to ask for it?

For Tristian, more than anything, simply physical presence. It's comforting to have Balthazar present, to feel supported and less alone. Tristian never built many close friendships before the betrayal- easier to keep just a bit apart from people you'll let down in the end, and to avoid becoming caught in the messy tangle of mortal lives to leave without regret at the end (or at least, as little regret as can be managed with the circumstances). But despite that, Tristian is a lonely person, and there was something about being drawn again and again into time with Balthazar that became something of a comfort. That loneliness intensifies after the betrayal: their relationships with most people they know in the Stolen Lands have been soured by their actions, and leaving Nyrissa behind meant leaving even the illusion that one day they might return to Sarenrae. Simply having Balthazar present brought a sense of normalcy that kept them grounded. And similarly, there's something about physical touch that's grounding. It makes them feel at home in a body that they're still struggling to accept. It reassures that despite all of the misdeeds and the hurt, they're still worth touching, worth being in contact with. When they can feel Balthazar at their side they know without a doubt that they have a place in the world still, no matter how much has changed. Sometimes they might ask for that presence or that touch: it's easy to ask for and easily granted. But the truth is it's rarely necessary to ask for it- these are things Balthazar always wants to give.

For Balthazar, more than anything it's verbal reassurance. It's not enough to be close, to spend time together- he needs to hear that he's wanted. He wants to know that he's a choice, one made freely, that he's not just what Tristian has resigned himself to. Maybe some part of him is afraid because of his long, long history of transactional relationships- it's hard sometimes to internalize the idea of a relationship where no value needs to be proven and offered. And he's afraid that a better offer is out there: it's abundantly clear that Tristian wishes he could return to the life he had as a deva, and doubt seeps in that anything Balthazar has with Tristian is only because Tristian is trapped. So he wants to hear it: that he's wanted, that he's loved, that he's irreplaceable. Tristian is so terribly sincere, despite all the deception. It's reassuring to hear it voiced. But Balthazar himself is only half aware of this need, and he'd never ask for it if he came to understand what it was he wanted. It would feel like begging. It would be pathetic and too vulnerable several times over. He can get to it only halfway- teasing and baiting out affectionate words or gentle chiding, demanding that his partner be vocal in intimate moments- but there's always a hunger for something else, something he can't quite name.

32. How do their friends react to finding out they’re a couple? Do they have lots of mutual friends? Did their friends know, perhaps before they themselves did?

Obviously there's a significant shared social circle, even if not everyone in it could be described as "friends." ^^;; And it was certainly clear to most people in that circle that something was going on before there was any relationship cemented. There was a period where the two of them were suddenly spending much more time together and there was significantly less animosity between them than there had been previously. The shift may have been most noticeable with Balthazar- after all, this coincided rather cleanly with breaking things off with Regongar (accomplished by avoiding Reg until he got the message. Balthazar is an asshole). Regongar and Octavia were the first to put a name to Balthazar's side of things because of that (in not especially kind terms), although they certainly weren't alone. Tristian, on the other hand, was more of a mystery to most: although certainly not a friend, the person who clocked that one best would have been Nyrissa of all people. The pattern of her skylark's distraction wasn't hard to guess at- a frustrating obstacle with an increasingly useless pawn. This also makes Nyrissa possibly the only person who could tell that these feelings were indeed mutual.

The reaction to the news of the relationship could generously be described as lukewarm. Very, very generously. Everything came together very close on the heels of the betrayal and fallout, and between lingering tension regarding Tristian and some scattered concern about Balthazar's judgment in the wake of everything the general mood could be summed up as "wow! I don't know about this one, guys." Eventually the mood cooled into reluctant acceptance- after all, if two of the most drama prone people you know decide to date, who can stop them, really. Distinct award for least supportive goes jointly to Jaethal and Regongar. For Jaethal, becoming emotionally invested in Tristian was the worst mistake Balthazar had yet made- a mistake which boded ill for the future and she counseled him at every possible opportunity to correct. On Regongar's side of things there was lingering (and justified) resentment over being abandoned seemingly for Tristian. The person who could be most generously described as supportive would be Jhod, with the faint hope that maybe the two of them would keep one another in check. A relationship helps with the maturity, after all.

[i-spilled-my-soup]

things you liked+didn't like about tsats?

haven't read it in a hot minute but my recollections follow thus

liked

that scene with bianca in the lotus hotel.... augugahug. i miss bianca. i wanna see more of her. please

dionysus being a chill guy. and he's eating popcorn. he deserves it

disliked

its so romance-focused.. which i guess is The Point of that book but. not what i was hoping for, not what i was looking for..

it doesn't fit my taste which is not a fair standard for anything Remotely unbiased but this post is biased so i shall continue. there were a number of tropes that i've seen before and poignantly dislike. the cutesy romancey bits felt a little dull to me

that one bit about jasons arms

[tradedsymmetry]

Where the Stars Fell is like:

"You WILL work to figure out what's going on sometimes."

"You will NOT be spoonfed details about every character interaction in this show"

"You WILL confront and challenge your own biases about people with disabilities of all kinds and what they're like."

And I love that about them.

[kdramacrybaby]

Of course they aren’t allowed to be happy 😭😭

[icharchivist]

also i’m not going into the details because the whole dream actually had a full blown overcomplicated plot, but the Belial dream right before i read wmtsb specifically stunned me because one of the major plotpoint of that dream included “Belial being unable to move on from a dead beloved and becoming worse in worse as a result (even if he was bad to start with), so he becomes obsessed when the idea of his beloved probably being back to life comes up to him”

and, i cannot stress enough: i didn’t know anything about Lucilius before reading wmtsb. I genuinely thought Belial was just Mister Horny and had genuinely no emotional depth to him, let alone anyone he actually cared about.

So i had this dream and i remember waking up from it so unsettled because there were so many layers, with Belial being a lot like i’ve seen online personality wise, but still pretty tragic and devoted in ways i haven’t seen anyone mention at that point.

And i told this story to my friends who got me into gbf then, and i was there just like “man thanks god he’s probably going to be far more two dimensional because i have no idea where my brain went to fetch all of this but this is highly unlikely Belial has enough heart for this type of things my brain made up”.

And they were just. reading me like. huh. 

And then i read wmtsb and i was just. Starring at it. Trying to process. The fact that Belial’s motivations in the game were *this similar* to the ones from my dreams *while i swear to god i had 0 spoilers at that point*

So needless to say. I’ve never recovered and every once in a while i think back to that dream and stare into oblivion trying to make sense of how the fuck it happened.

[theladyyavilee]

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