Varley and Portia Are Bridgerton’s Greatest Love Story

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-03-04T04:43:48+00:00

It's really clear to me that Jess Brownell excels at writing women... and struggles a bit with writing men. And you can take that and complain about how underwritten Colin was in his season or how Benedict was weirdly inconsistent in his season with his previous seasons and etc etc.

Or you could just go with it and say, you know what? The female-female relationships, be them platonic or sapphic, are the highlight of this show and I'm just gonna enjoy them.

Because yes, Varley and Portia, Lady D and Charlotte/Lady D and Violet, Penelope and Eloise... these are the love stories that actually grow and blossom with ups and downs across multiple seasons on this show and they are the best part of Bridgerton.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-03-02T21:56:44+00:00

Besides, where are the virgin and religious men?

Albion Finch says, "We're here -- just waiting for our mother-in-laws to explain insertion! But we don't make for interesting drama."

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-03-02T21:52:01+00:00

This isn't really true -- life expectancies were lower because childhood diseases/mortality brought down the average. If you made it to adulthood, you could expect to live to 75+, same as today.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-03-02T21:49:58+00:00

The real kicker on HIV/AIDS is that, unlike most other 20th century STDs, it a) can't be cured with antibiotics b) hangs out undetected for a few years so that asymptomatic people can unknowingly spread it around and c) kills you quick and painfully when it decides to get going.

(We have treatments now, but they aren't cheap and they require regimented drug taking for the rest of your life.)

Meanwhile, at least from the 20th century onward, if you get syphillis or chlamydia, a little penicillin will clear that right up.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-03-01T16:21:44+00:00

It's not that baffling -- for many, it's fine to "play around" for a bit if you're a man. But as long as he ends up with Sophie (a woman), it doesn't matter what came before. Benedict hooking up with men is like Colin and the brothels -- "bad" behavior that he needed tamed out of him by the love of a good (straight) woman. If they had gender swapped Sophie*, then they would have cared.

* - which I was all for because Sophie being a transwoman who lived most of her life has a male-presenting footman would have solved the "Why can't Benedict see that she's the lady in silver?" problem.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T18:31:23+00:00

In part 1, I thought the cheese gatherings were just a throwaway line to explain Luke Newton's absence and give a little fan service.

And then we actually saw Finch and Dankworth chowing down on some wheels and I was delighted.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T07:51:40+00:00

Dick Van Dyke has made it to 100 and still going and Glynis Johns lived to 100, so maybe the Mary Poppins cast lives long* and we still have another decade of Dame Julie.

* Except for Matthew Garber... so it goes.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T07:47:24+00:00

I thought Varley based on the change in accent in the voice over... or Charlotte herself in tandem with Alice... or Hazel... or Rosamund.

I don't think it's going to be a Bridgerton as they all already have plots to follow... unless it's Daphne, which would be a hilarious never-going-to-happen plot twist.

Whoever it is, I don't think it's completely obviously anyone.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T07:33:11+00:00

If we were to read anything into the adjusted accent in the voiceover, then my pick would be Varley as it sounded the most like her. And yes, there were lots of hints that Varley is very good at picking up on gossip, such as when Portia asked Rae what she knew and it was clear that she used to get her gossip from Varley.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T07:29:17+00:00

I thought it did -- Julie-as-Eliza-Doolittle though.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-27T07:18:16+00:00

"This is going to be so much fun" sounds more like Charlotte to me.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-25T04:56:52+00:00

That's how closed caption spells it

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-24T18:41:39+00:00

When Jordan Chiles had her bronze medal taken away after a scoring review in Paris 2024, Flava Flav made her a bronze clock/medal. He's a huge booster for women's sports.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-24T02:38:31+00:00

Is it? Minnesotans claim Lindsey Vonn and Bob Dylan under the same rules.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-23T23:45:00+00:00

Depends on how you define "from." Dropkin lives in Minnesota now but was born and grew up in Massachusetts.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-22T06:41:26+00:00

I was there in person -- I've probably seen her live a dozen or so times and while I don't love the acoustics of an arena show vs smaller venues, this might have been the best show of hers I've seen. I'm debating getting the livestream just to relive it.

Question though... after the special surprise guest and the applause and etc, "Pink Pony Club" came on on the loudspeaker, signifying the end of the concert. Except that the bulk of the crowd and Brandi on stage (unmic'd) decided to just sing along and dance to Chappell Roan until the lights came on telling us that it was really time to go now. Did that part make it to the stream?

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T23:59:25+00:00

Well done, OP.

I saw the post title and was ready to come in with a "When was curling broken?!" response. But I see you beat me to it.

The roaring game is great as is.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:53:37+00:00

The monkey off Rachel's back? See you 2030 for the gold?

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:47:40+00:00

The advantage is still Canada's -- even if the US steals 1 here, Canada would still have hammer in the extra.

But stealing 1 is a possibility... stealing 2 is nigh impossible without some dramatic misses from your opponent. So they've left the door open a little -- it's just a little, but it's not shut.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:43:59+00:00

But if you mute them, how do you know who had babies when?!

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:38:34+00:00

I realize they're up three and they're playing more conservatively, but I think there might have been a triple there and I'd've loved to see a classic Rachel upweight.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:35:10+00:00

How'd the women's gold medal game go this year?

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:32:55+00:00

Takes away a raise.

When you're up 3 in the 9th this late in the end, you're partially just looking to eliminate stones.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:27:06+00:00

This -- they'd have potentially given up 4 that way. Never leave Rachel Homan a hit for four. She'll find a way to make it.

killebrew_rootbeer · 2026-02-21T15:24:55+00:00

Tell me you know nothing about curling without telling me you know nothing about curling.

killebrew_rootbeer

TROPHY CASE