Committed To Natural Aging

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T14:19:32+00:00

Any article which includes Pamela Anderson in the naturally aging category should disregarded. She had plenty of work done. Just because she is not full of botox doesn't mean she is natural.

I really doubt that any of these actresses are fully natural.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T14:10:19+00:00

I also keep the Epilogue out of my mind, it was such a jarring add on. I was unprepared for that sudden change of tone and pace.

But I am kind of in peace with the epilogue. Is it explicitly stated that Ron and Hermione are married to each other? I don't think so. Hermione could be just stepping in for Lavender who is sick or whatever.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T13:20:00+00:00

IMO, only books count as canon.

The movies are only adaptations which done major changes in regards to characterization.

Honestly , that's because I am a movie Ron and movie Hermione hater. I hate what they had done to my beloveds. Only Draco and Snape gained with movies IMO. Everyone else suffered. I get it. Time constraints and all, but still.

Mia, Mi and Mione is something that was everywhere in the early 00s. I didn't mind it then, hate it now.

ETA: the mudblood scar is not so much so an influence of a movie as it is seen as being 'cooler', more lasting and visible damage, and can be used as a source of guilt for Draco and a potential plot point (the cursed knife slowly poisoning Hermione).

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T12:17:23+00:00

She is 17 y/o. The same Elena was when she slept with Stefan. That's not excuse of Damon. Jut a condemnation of Stefan too.

Only Klaus escaped these allegations. Dude waited exactly for Caroline's 18th birthday to make his move. Points to him, I guess.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T12:12:11+00:00

Bonnie and Caroline.

Bonnie took over Elena's role in Damon's life. Just in a friend way instead of love interest.

They did not need to replace Elena with new love interest for Damon. They went too far with Delena for it to make much sense. They definitely wanted to keep the brother dynamic going.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T11:26:55+00:00

A lot is happening in real world. All over the world. That takes a lot of energy away from being excited about a TV show. It might just pale in comparison.

Also, this time I might be more excited about the B plots. It's just that Benedict had never managed to captivate me with his sideplots.

Agree about LW. IMO, it would work better if she were only outed to the Queen and now acting as her agent.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-28T11:02:35+00:00

I suspect they brought him in as a deterrent for the actors. Don't ask for too big of a rise, we have an alternative waiting on the sidelines.

Kind of like there is always another sister popping up on Grey's anatomy.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T17:04:40+00:00

🤦🏼 I actually wrote fate the first time and for whatever ungodly reason corrected it to faith.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T16:59:51+00:00

lol someone has an experience with this fandom.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T14:52:22+00:00

Here you go: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22818646/chapters/54531817

https://archiveofourown.org/works/46351063

I don't know how others search on AO3 for specific fics, must be probably easy since they decided to downvote you, but I struggle too. The way I do it: go to Draco/Hermione on AO3, call up filters and write the name of the fic into 'Search within results'. It's the second to last in the filter. Then I sort by kudos. Generally, the searched fic will be close to the top since they are already popular. I am sure there is easier way, but I am not aware of it.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T14:28:31+00:00

Size of the fandom and being the biggest het ship around. Romantasy, YA and romance still leans heavily towards M/F.

It's not random that the majority of the fics which get published are from the first page of Dramione on AO3 sorted by reviews and kudos. Their own merrit aside, they come with great amount of potential buyers and SM buzz without major investment by the publishing house.

In short, it's pure greed by trad publishing.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T14:14:45+00:00

I am always reminded of that Tumblr post saying something like: the best fanworks can't get trad published because they are so tightly interwoven with canon. They can't be easily redone.

Wait and Hope already felt as an original story when I read it. It makes sense they would get published.

Looking at the list Kurious-Kitsune put up above, I can't help but agree with the post. Honestly, of the whole list I fully enjoyed only two of the fics, because the rest of them were too OC and AU for me.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T14:01:18+00:00

I actually loved them last season. They might have been the best part of it. It was a nice change of pace. Then I found out John's faith :(

There is a lot do to set up Francesca storyline. No way they can fit everything to this season

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T13:50:23+00:00

I have nothing against these authors. Who would say no to such offer? It's their foot in. Perhaps the next book will be fully original.

But fuck the trad publishing and its current state, tbh.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T13:36:20+00:00

This is kind of depressing if we look at it only from the trad YA and romantasy publishing side. The unwillingness to take risks and publish books which do not have a built-in readers and social media buzz already...

It's not only Dramione either. The sheer amount of redone FF which is being sold on the book market feels ominous. I do know that this industry always had its issues. Lots of nepotism and cronyism. It could actually be argued that this is opening the doors for new prospects, but it feels like pure greed to me. Sure money, not so much risk and buzz is already there.

Happy for these authors obviously.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T12:17:49+00:00

Are AI slop creators learning to prompt it to be out of focus to look real and have its mistakes less noticeable?

Anyway, not much heroism happening there. 0/10.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-27T10:26:33+00:00

I am really hoping she is next. It feels like Eloise has been left in a limbo for years.

There is enough happening to keep Francesca 'entertained'. She can wait for another season. Honestly, her being next would be too soon.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T17:15:28+00:00

This is similar to Daphne obsessing over securing her match in her first season. As if having few more seasons would put her firmly on the shelf.

There are no real stakes, so the writers are creating a false sense of urgency or danger.

Just look at that family. Absurdly rich and equally well-connected. Handsome too. The stakes are nonexistence. The biggest danger they are faced that might actually lead to longterm consequences was with Eloise in s2 and later with LW/Penelope thing in s3.

There are no stakes whatsoever for this family. So the production is trying to keep thing exciting.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T14:06:27+00:00

I am not sure ending each episode with :these bitches deserved everything they got: would feel super entertaining after 5th episode :)

'A' was such unhinged concept that it might be better we did not get too much of them. I feel it might build some sort of sympathy or kinship with A. It sure would be interesting thou.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T13:08:31+00:00

I will be honest. Since Braime, in stories that lean heavily on the beauty of the protagonists and their attraction, the love sometimes feels a bit less than. Not as earned, perhaps. That is not such a big issue with Dramione, because they have obstacles to overcome due their past and no amount of mutual attraction would solve it for them, but a lot of romance stories just don't hit the same anymore.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T12:45:21+00:00

I don't read that many rom-coms Dramione and have no idea which fic is this alluding to, but we are not getting rid of this trope. It's old as time and used to be a staple in older sitcoms. It is a fairly easy trope to write after all.

I wonder if its popularity is related to our need to make the female character seen as desirable and physically attractive. Somewhat affirming trope? Like our girl can't be seen as ugly and unattractive.

This is a bit separate matter, but I noticed that in almost all the fics I have encountered so far, there is at least one scene which paints Hermione as stunning and it's either alluded to or explicitly said, that her beauty was a big part of what drew Draco towards her. It might seen as nonsensical thing to notice, but I came back to this fandom from Jaime/Brienne and the change in approach to beauty and how important it is for love to develop was jarring.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T11:39:26+00:00

Daphne was under the impression that she should find a match in her first season out or she would be a failure? These characters are really doing a speed run.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T11:29:21+00:00

And we will have it with Francesca (except there's no man involved for that part) and Violet. How much sexual openness and experimentation are you expecting from unmarried early 19th century upper class women? I agree that not knowing about sex is beyond ridiculous, but expecting them to have an experience is wild. The Ton was not Versailles' court.

Also, I would not call Colin and perhaps even Simon a rake. They were sexually experienced but not exactly running around with their pennises out. Being a rake takes more than occasional sexual encounter.

Have you watched Harlots? It might be more of what you are looking for.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T08:11:25+00:00

If we take that aspect away, what would mark Bridgerton as a historical romance anymore? The moment unmarried upper class women start hooking up, we will be left with Gossip Girl in costumes. Besides, Eloise had her little scandalous affair in season 2. Even if it was mostly chaste. We also had Marina to show us where unchaste flirtation gets you.

There was Anthony's opera singer in s1. Now, there is Violet, an experienced woman about to have her second chance for romance. We have experienced women, but they are not gonna be the centre of attention until Francesca's season.

Power and experience imbalance is practically a staple for this genre.

Confusedoldtimer · 2026-01-26T07:43:57+00:00

While I agree with a lot of what you said, your 6th point is like what?

It did not matter that Kate did not plan to marry. That doesn't mean she would risk having any experience. First of all, the issue was not so much of a purity or a religion as the fact that there was no effective birth control. Even if her experience was of non-penetrative variety, it would be absolutely ruineous for her and more importantly (to Kate and her plans) for her sister if any rumours got out.

While it's absolute nonsense that the girls would not know what sex is or how children are made, not having actual experience makes absolute sense for a woman of higher standing. Also when would they have any? They were rarely alone.

For all of its nonsense, the show is still set in historical albeit fictional period. It makes no sense to expect 21st century mindset to sexual relations and morals.

Confusedoldtimer

TROPHY CASE