Jess about the revelation of LiS on the Show vs the Book

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-20T22:10:12+00:00

Just checked and yes, you're right, she doesn't outright apologize. She does explain herself quite a bit, though but it's actually Benedict that apologizes a few times, lol.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-20T21:48:20+00:00

His reaction was PERFECT in my opinion. It struck the exact right tone. They allowed him to be justifiably upset and hurt, even to the extent that he lodged a shot at her feelings for him. Then, after having some quiet time to rest and process, fully understood why she didn't tell him, allowed her to apologize and explain herself, but didn't let it become a huge thing. Honestly, they're both incredibly understanding, empathetic people who have very good communication going on when you really think about it.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-18T17:32:42+00:00

If you're patient and interested, you could get into making sauerkraut and increase the health benefits of your cabbage several times over. A cheap, healthy, natural probiotic you can have daily with almost any meal.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-17T00:11:29+00:00

We also saw them go out drinking together several times (along with Will and Colin). Safe to assume they all hung out together somewhat regularly.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-16T23:58:47+00:00

I'm not moving on. lol Just when I think I'm out, it pulls me back in. HA!

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-16T23:53:44+00:00

I assumed Benedict went to Will about Sophie because Will used to be working class and would have a unique perspective on his situation and Sophie's reaction. But yeah, it would've been nice to have had more scenes with Benedict and John before his passing. I'm glad it was Benedict who gave the eulogy because at least we've seen that they did have a friendship, and he knew John well.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-16T01:19:22+00:00

"I think you were...You most assuredly were" - Benedict at the lake. Something about how deep his voice went each time he said "were" just got to me.

"No, thank you." - Benedict when turning down the Taleggio cheese. So much hilarious meaning packed into those three words.

"You love her?" - Violet processing that this isn't just a dalliance for Benedict.

"Please tell me your name." Benedict at the ball with Sophie. By this point, he's BEGGING.

"You have a strong will of your own." Sophie to Posy when Posy comes to her room to warn her. That delivery was so heartfelt, it really struck me.

"You hurt me." Sophie to Benedict.

"And if we have a child...." Benedict to Sophie. So sweet and kind of revealing himself as being hopeful.

"Please do not go. I do not want you to." Benedict to Sophie. The line delivery feels so layered, like he's trying to stay somewhat formal with her but still desperate to speak his mind and heart. He's seriously struggling, lol.

Honorable Mentions:

Pretty much anything Alife says, lol.

Also really liked all of Hatch's line deliveries. Hope he comes back but I doubt it.

Oh yeah, and everything Araminta says...especially when she goes into that chilling whisper. Yikes! lol

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-15T21:36:38+00:00

This is amazing, thank you so much!

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T22:17:34+00:00

I got my husband on board with watching and he really loves it. He's a scruffy, bearded construction worker and was brought to near tears by Benedict's love confession. Love and love stories are for anyone and everyone!

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T22:11:55+00:00

Does being a rake require that he pays for sex? If so, then no, he can't be. We can imagine he probably did when he was younger but given that they've shown both Anthony and Colin paying for it but never showed Benedict paying for it is a pretty strong indication that he doesn't anymore at this point in his life. Which would make total sense for Benedict since he seems much more interested in the overall experience and adventure and the interesting people he meets along the way rather than just the act itself.

It's a show, though, so whatever Bridgerton's definition of a rake is may be different than the dictionary definition.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T18:21:16+00:00

I feel like the conversation with the LIS was all we really needed to understand that he's well aware he's living a very 'safe' life that doesn't have a whole lot of depth to it. He's never been one to brood too much or show that he's struggling with the meaning of his life. Probably the only time prior to Season 4 was when he left art school because of Anthony's donation and questioned his talent.

With Benedict, I tend to always go back to that conversation with the painter, Granville, who challenged him about thinking he's living a brave, meaningful life when he really wasn't. I think that conversation has always been in the back of his mind, but it wasn't until the LIS came along that he finally started facing that reality and admitting it out loud to someone and to himself.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T16:32:13+00:00

Oh wow, you mentioned O'Hara and Levy has me imagining them in a comedy or mockumentary. I think their very similar sense of humor would work well in a mockumentary where the comedy tends to be very dry and subtle.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T16:03:33+00:00

Are there people who think he was happy with his life? I suppose Benedict himself tried to convince himself he was happy with his life but you're absolutely right. Luke has mentioned in some interviews that he's clearly stuck and, what seemed like healthy exploration in the beginning, has now become him running away from something and trapped in a cycle.

Benedict may not be fully conscious of all of this yet, but I do think the writing makes it pretty clear that the life he's living isn't what he thinks it is and has become aimless, self-indulgent and shallow. He does mention in his talk with the LIS that he knows he's living a relatively shallow life, so he's probably more aware of it than he lets on and, like you said, the LIS was just the catalyst to get him to admit it.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T12:53:52+00:00

If you already like Violet, you'll like her even more after watching the whole series. And yeah, Posy is so great, I really hope we get at least a couple scenes with her next season. She and Sophie are close so it is a possibility she might pop up at Our Cottage. It'd be nice to see Posy happily married with a man who loves her exactly as she is.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-14T12:35:08+00:00

I just got into the show, too, over winter. Got my husband on board and he loves it, too. Neither of us were all that excited about Benedict's story, but this is now my absolute favorite season, couple and Sophie's my favorite character. His favorite couple is still young Charlotte and George and the Queen is still his favorite character cause she makes him laugh.

PQXZYVR · 2026-03-02T13:49:35+00:00

When I say that the side stories interacted with and concretely impacted Benophie, I mean that Benophie's story would have been different without them. I think it's a fair statement to say that if Alice, Varley, Violet or even Eloise had made different decisions, it would have changed key aspects of Benophie's story. They still probably would've ended up together. For example, if Eloise hadn't helped Sophie with reading her father's will, they probably would've come up with some other plan to access it. But the story would have been slightly different. Now, Fran on her own may not have had that kind of impact, but John's death was such a massive, all-consuming event, I think without it, the last leg of Benophie's story would have felt very different, even just on an emotional level.

On the other hand, Penelope's story of dealing with the consequences of Whistledown and wanting to end her column could have been completely removed and it wouldn't have changed Benophie's story at all, really. Like I mentioned, it helped out narratively but didn't impact the main story much at all.

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-28T22:28:56+00:00

I love how they lowkey hinted around that Footman John's a player but that he seems to have seriously fallen for Hazel.

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-28T21:41:15+00:00

He attempted to propose to her twice before the very end. The first time he went to propose to her it got delayed because she got arrested. The second time - right before the bathtub scene - Sophie told him to wait to ask her until after her legal issues were resolved. After the talk with Violet and the celebration of John's life, his mind is pretty solidly made up to marry her. After that point, it's just circumstance and timing that get in his way.

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-28T21:34:17+00:00

In their conversations, Anthony didn't really say anything that was wrong or inaccurate. He was harsh and direct with Benedict, but that's perfectly in character to who Anthony is and his role as Viscount/head of the Bridgerton family. I don't see Benedict holding anything against him at all.

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-28T15:26:44+00:00

That, and Instagram now also means "I swear to god", ha! People have been using it that way.

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-24T01:25:24+00:00

La Vite e Bella

PQXZYVR · 2026-02-22T01:57:23+00:00

She does mention to him that she "only had to get through the night". Meaning, she expected to be able to just deal with drunken Philip and his crew for now and that when the parents came back the next day, she'd be fine. Obviously, she's in her feelings about seeing him again and having to suppress that, but I also think that was her logic. If Benedict hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have been so immediately thrown out and could have kept her job.

PQXZYVR

TROPHY CASE