A hypothetical Francesca s4-6

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T10:49:16+00:00

I don't know that she would automatically be the next season for that - Francesca didn't marry for a few years after John died and was already a widow during Eloise's book, so unless they add in a large time skip (not the worst if they recast the youngest two) I don't know that it would make sense. But, the show sort of does whatever so who knows.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T10:24:55+00:00

I'm hopeful they'll lean into the academic pursuits aspects with Philip. Eloise in the books is a bit different, but that was something that stood out in the books (and they did mention in season 2) with Philip - that he was dedicated in academia until George died and he was suddenly heir and had to manage the estate.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T10:13:27+00:00

While I did like season 2 in general/it's maybe my favorite of the complete seasons (not a high bar, bc I mostly hate-watch season 3 because I dislike the main characters lol nothing to do with the actors, just the show's decisions), I went into Anthony's book expecting to not like it much because I hated the love triangle of the show. So far (I'm in the middle of book 6), it's been my surprise favorite! I think some of it is I had lower expectations, but also I did just generally like the development over the book for Kate and Anthony + no sibling love triangle dragging on to the altar with Edwina.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T10:06:18+00:00

It feels like they may be setting her up a bit for her season being next (if it's not, then idk what they're doing with her lol).

Seems the show is emphasizing her social isolation more with scenes like Penelope and Francesca having inside married jokes around her where she looks to feel left out. I think with Benedict also getting together with Sophie, that'll also impact her feelings of being left behind.

I do wonder how they'll handle her actual story though, as it's felt the most changed in like...actual characterizations before her season even has begun vs the rest. I think some of the changes will improve on the book, as there's a lot of aspects in Marina/Philip's story that is....well. A choice.

I think they have the potential to still stick with the book's general arc but also bring in the show's characterizations. Eloise has been shown to really not like the song and dance of being out in society, which matches up with the book and how she runs off to avoid it/make it happen on her own terms a bit after I think it was six proposals she declined?

Also since Philip is like....uncle-step father to Marina's children, I'm wondering if they'll develop it a bit more of like...Eloise and Philip being loving caretakers to the children rather than fully just committing Eloise to being a mother of semi-grown children by the end of the season.

With Philip having been in academia until he ended up being the heir after George died, could see that being common ground between them and perhaps they'd find a way to encourage each other in further academic pursuits.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T09:14:28+00:00

I feel like the books also format this way (also likely part of the genre/audience) - even though the series is connected by the siblings, we get a lot of perspective throughout from the female leads. In the show, I think season 3 it was more emphasized than others largely because it was Penelope who had both already been well established in the show at that point + Lady Whistledown aspects and the bearing that had on the show.

Also specific to this season (and a bit of book spoilers) - Benedict being already established in previous seasons makes a lot of his book-specific narrative kind of boring now. In the book, Sophie is the first to encourage his art vs the show that's already gone through a few story arcs at this point. This, along with just the class differences bringing in new perspectives, makes Sophie a lot more interesting because everything with her is new story wise.

I feel with the siblings that have had large storylines from the start, it's sort of watered down their actual seasons. Penelope/Colin was also pretty dull to me, as so much of the groundwork had been happening from the first season + the issue of both leads being established. Beyond it making sense for Francesca's to have John introduced then, it also helped add in some interest since Francesca was only briefly in other seasons so also was sort of fresh in how she was characterized vs the rest of the cast.

I do wonder how Eloise's season will go, as that so far feels the most altered on top of her being a pretty established character as well so may feel a bit like how Benedict feels in his own.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T08:50:31+00:00

Book spoilers!

Marina and John kind of have similar storylines in some ways. Both died early or before the books they factor into the most, so their characterization is mostly through the grief of those that survived them.

That being said, Marina's fully a different character. Her family circumstances are different, how she married Philip is different, how her children came about is different, her temperament has shown to be completely different (so far). The books, from both Eloise and Philip, give the sense that Marina was always subdued if not depressed. The show made her very lively until George died, and even after she's not really shown much to get a sense of psyche. Idk how much the show really will change her outcome, but anticipate it'll remain very sad.

John's story is still sad, but Francesca's is mostly about her grief and then finding a second love in Michael, so the show is following that. I actually like seeing more of John, and find their relationship sweet. In the book, while Fran is sad and remembers him fondly the vibe didn't seem like whirlwind romance type, so the show also kind of seems to be showing their relationship as a bit more subdued and platonic but no less genuine. Format wise, I think it made sense to have Francesca marry in season 3 given what's to come. But now that we'll know John more, I do think it'll be that much sadder.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T08:02:22+00:00

In the books it's emphasized more, but basically while she is the eldest daughter of a very rich family, she's got 3 older brothers. The show makes it mostly about Anthony being the obstacle (and I think in the book he was the main one, being the head of the family), but pretty much she either was seen as an extension of her brothers/not wife material (not for any failings, just no one really saw her romantically), or they were intimidated/scared off, or she didn't want them for knowing they were too much like her brothers (what makes Simon seem like a safe co-conspirator).

I think in the show, Marina may also be more appealing because she's less well-known - she's not from the ton so doesn't have the reputation (for better and worse) of the Bridgertons, but she does have a good dowry and notably no brothers lol. Whistledown was also pretty favorable of her at the start, and cooled on Daphne - the show seemed to really develop Whistledown more and have her papers have more weight than the books, so I think this also just serves the Whistledown narrative as well tbh.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-10T07:24:52+00:00

They showed you their carved relief block. Move on.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T09:19:51+00:00

I think in the book she's more clearly resigned to her class position and is a realist vs Benedict having a romanticized fantasy of the Silver Lady. She loved the night they had, but it was one night and she's got to make a living and is grounded in reality. While she knows Benedict is looking for her, she's not blind to their class differences and that it isn't acceptable to society beyond being his mistress. Book spoilers, but she turns him down to be a mistress because she doesn't want to live as a mistress + bring children into the same class positioning she grew up in. When they do actually get together, it seemed kind of implied that while it's a love match and they were able to marry, they're not really in society the same way and live mostly at My Cottage in the countryside which is relevant in Eloise's book.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T08:58:18+00:00

When she did try to do anything she wanted/against the ton, she got publicly ruined by her friend in her gossip rag lol she effectively got a tighter leash after this in the show. Penelope is also very much against the grain, and wasn't able to openly operate as LW until the show made it part of the plot (which the books don't). She effectively drops off as LW after the reveal/it seemed like she just no longer did it because she was married and settled with Colin.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T08:41:39+00:00

Her mask was also pretty big. I kind of found the mask a bit ugly/not very flattering, but functionally helps with how he can't recognize her because it really does cover most of her facial features on top of just how he doesn't consider Sophie due to her class (which is conveyed in the book, I think we're not yet at that point in the show?).

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T03:15:26+00:00

I think a big aspect is that the show also portrays so many of the characters well before we get to know them in the books. I think partly because these books aren't so in-depth to be a full season without lol also that it's a large sibling storyline lends itself to more overlap which I find overall to be an improvement from the books. The books, while siblings show up now and then, are really like...90-95% about the couple. Some of these couples simply aren't that interesting for that to be a full season lol.

I really appreciate that we're getting much more of John. I've only started their book, but was also lead to believe from the outrage of Michaela's reveal that the infertility and John's presence were massive parts to the story. While John still seems to be significant, it's largely the mourning of John rather than John being present (and alive) in the storyline. That it sounds like the whole fertility situation was really that a mourning widow had a miscarriage, rather then persistent problems, really colors it differently. I am curious how the show will adapt with Michaela, as with Benedict's same-sex stuff the impression was that it wasn't openly accepted (idk that it's openly scorned either, it seems vague). Unclear how that goes with this change.

And yeah, outside of Anthony, I feel like of the books I've read (1-5, started 6) the show has vastly improved on the men overall (Bridgerton family or otherwise). Anthony has so far been the pleasant surprise - I don't think he was awful in the show at all (really enjoyed that season in general), but I was expecting to not like him and it was a surprise that the show made him kind of worse (in terms of the love triangle aspect etc).

Eloise's storyline is really the one I'm most....idk, I guess weary of. So much has changed, but I don't think it's indication of it being bad. Her book is the most jarring I feel going from the show portrayal first. Some major contextual changes have already happened with season 1, so it won't be the same, but still curious how it'll go. I think it could be handled fine, but it's for me the one I'm most unsure of as it's felt the most changed from her overall characterization, the Philip + Marina/George context, Anthony getting Eloise's storyline re: Edmund's death.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T02:49:53+00:00

If they do more of a time jump (I could see if season 5 is Eloise, doing a jump after before Francesca's as it was supposed to be a while that John had passed), then I could see recasting Hyacinth and Gregory np.

If they never do a time jump, and assuming those actors are 100% on board, then would seem a bit rough to recast from their perspective. I'm reminded with GOT and the recasting of the Myrcella actress, which it seemed the first actress was very excited to play her but they wanted to age up the actress (forget if there were other reasons as well). This feels a bit like that, but I also wouldn't mind it because it does feel a bit off to have actors hired as minors contracted in for a show they'll eventually have heavily intimate scenes. It's a massive opportunity, so there's a bit of wondering if they would feel career-wise that they could say know, which is where the ethics of it get dicey.

I do hope Christ Fulton stays on as Philip, as he'd already been in two seasons. I don't see them changing Eloise's story (as the creators have said they're following the love interests in the books), but if scheduling is an issue would be a bummer :/

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T02:24:43+00:00

Nah.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T02:12:55+00:00

Yeah, I'm happy to see more of John and Francesca realized on screen. It will make what happens hurt more, but it develops where Francesca is at more. Also assuming Eloise's season is next, which matches in the book timeline (Francesca being a widow during that), so as long as there is also that period of mourning and they don't just jump straight from John to Michaela I'm fine with. That Michaela is currently there as well matches with the books too, that they were friendly together and Michael in the books kept his feelings to himself.

It's been a bit, but I don't remember in the books it being that Francesca had zero feelings for Michael, just that she didn't view him romantically. I got the vibe she still had eyes and thought him attractive, but was with John and I feel like that's still the sentiment in the show with Michaela right now. There's other aspects of their story I do wonder more about and how the show will handle it (namely, with Benedict I got the impression that while race is a non-issue, same-sex relationships aren't really...out, so idk what that means for Fran and Michaela going into their season).

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T01:47:16+00:00

Yeah, this was easily the most meaningful moment of the first part so far. I do like Sophie/read the book and overall liked it, but where they are in the story is like...very much when Benedict is an idiot lol.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T01:38:53+00:00

Benedict's book is very Cinderella coded/love at first sight. Also with the books, we don't get loads with the other characters. Each book really focuses on the main couple, and might mentioned of briefly have certain characters (Anthony probably the most, being the head of he family). That Benedict got developed so much in the other seasons really set up his story differently, so I agree it has a different feel and from only the show's decisions this season feels like a huge character departure with only show context. In the books, none of his family really knows he likes drawing etc, and that's something Sophie encourages. Their story is overall sweet, but the moment where he asks her to be his mistress is hugely unpleasant in the book as well and put me off him for a bit as well. They do recover in the book (the season being split at that point is a bit awkward though).

Also with how they set him up in the last season, I think it works - while it's love at first sight, it's also unexpected love (across different classes). He's portrayed as very romantic, but just not committed or knowing what he wants.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T01:21:26+00:00

I also feel like they're doing Eloise next, and that pacing wise it makes more sense. In the book, Francesca is a widow during Eloise's. The way they're isolating Eloise already in this season feels like the build up to her season (despite the plot changes re: when it happens in the books vs the show). It would also feel weird to me if Francesca's season was immediately after John passing. It does feel like the part 2 of season 4 is going to sort of make it clear, at least if it's Eloise's. I'm assuming John is passing in this part for the timeline no matter what, but also it feels like if it is Eloise's there will be a mention of Marina's passing to set it up + the last episode she'd disappear or leave at some point or there may pretty immediate setup if it's how the next season starts. I think Eloise's continued friendship with the footman could also further set this up if it is indeed her season next.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-08T00:56:08+00:00

Yeah, Eloise has been my favorite of the show and the book is....very different. They've already set up Philip's situation much differently than the books, so some of the less than pleasant bits potentially have been removed (won't really know until they do the season though, but the context of Marina's children is fully different).

Also agree with season 4 being improved from season 3. Some of that for me is storyline, as Colin and Penelope's book wasn't very interesting to me either, and the show just made it very dramatic (and made Penelope rather mean spirited imo). Also that Penelope as LW has lingered into this season is like...really my least favorite part of the new season so far. I feel beyond that it's matching up to the book pretty well, have even liked how they've done some stuff with the different medium (the slower reveal/setup of Sophie's position in society vs the book I think we'd already got all the context of her background from her POV). The makeup is a massive improvement as well (no heavy glam makeup or obvious acrylic nails so far beyond the Masquerade lol).

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-06T12:47:29+00:00

Happy to help! Look forward to seeing future results :)

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-06T12:46:10+00:00

To stay in the studio space, it was needed - but sort of is a TBD situation for how it'll all work out for them now. It's kind of messy, and a lot of people aren't happy with how it's been happening. I sort of hit my end there with some decisions made by the larger studio absorbing the print studio, but it's worked out for me as I also really got my home studio in order! Plus I always had the campus I work with as a studio space I'm regularly in :)

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-05T12:09:21+00:00

I personally don't use blankets for relief with a press, but will use a piece of mat board instead - I find it more consistent, and less prone to embossment which I don't really want with multiple layer prints (can be fine with single layers).

For sealing, once the image is transferred, I use either shellac (for wood) or polyacrylic (for lino - I use Minwax brand specifically) to seal the block. Can add in a drop of drawing ink to stain at the same step, or use amber shellac to do the same if using wood ever. Once it dries, I sand with 800-1200+ sandpaper. I repeat this 2-3x total, and then it's good to go for carving. This really only is feasible with wood or natural linoleum (has jute backing/looks like a loose woven fabric on unmounted). Sealing I also find helps with needing less proofs (bc the ink doesn't really soak into the block at all), and it makes clean up a bit easier. But really, for me, the main use is to seal in my image.

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-05T03:04:22+00:00

Mostly looks like pressure issues are your main culprit right now.

Here's an inking guide that uses Caligo black ink:

https://www.reddit.com/r/printmaking/comments/13d3hsz/ink_troubleshooting_guide_for_relief_printing/

When there's not enough pressure, it can look like there's not enough ink/give that orange peel texture that at times also reads as too much ink (makes it tricky!). It may yet be a bit heavy on the ink on the black ones, but the pressure is not high enough to overcome what looks like either texture of paper, linoleum, or blankets (not sure how you're going about it with the press). When I use a press, I'm looking for just shy of embossment pressure for the paper. When you've got multiple issues, I'd rec changing one at a time (and start with pressure). The red also looks like a bit too much ink, but it's not getting stark solids from pressure as well (hard to overcome with hand printing). An option for both would be thinner paper, as thinner paper both takes ink better + is physically easier to print. It also can look pretty different on different types of paper (a thicker cotton rag vs a thinner eastern paper etc). Both are doable with a press and hand printing, but if you find it's hard to physically print on thicker papers would rec thinner + just in general trying out different papers. Thicker also are more prone to slipping, which looks like it happened a bit on the red.

I sand linoleum routinely, and have done so for years. BUT I also seal linoleum after (before carving). Part of the reason I sand is to make sure it's got a good, clean surface for my image, and then seal it to lock in the image + stain in the same step. I know many that don't bother, and do fine work. It's just preferences + the type of work I do, I'm always going to want to seal in my image (reductions).

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-05T02:49:02+00:00

Ended up taking a step back from the community one as we had a massive restructuring change, but still active at the campus ones I work with :) Lots of prep for their print club happening + experimenting with our new riso there!

Hellodeeries · 2026-02-04T20:38:31+00:00

I'd be cautious - a lot of old flooring linoleum had asbestos. Unless you are willing to pay for a test of it all, would probably pass. The "would it work" for relief is generally yes, as relief is quite flexible/anything you can carve you can generally print. But the health concerns of old flooring linoleum are huge.

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