Introduction to 'Book Watch'
00:00:08
Speaker
Welcome to Book Watch, the podcast where pages meet screens. I'm your host, Sarah Day. Each week, I'll be joined by amazing guests to dive deep into the world of adaptations, comparing beloved books with their cinematic counterparts.
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Speaker
From faithful retellings to bold reimaginings, we'll break down what worked, what didn't, and what made each adaptation unforgettable.
Dual Appeal: Books vs. Movies
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Speaker
Whether you're a bookworm, a movie buff, or both, you are in the right place.
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Speaker
So grab your bookmark, grab your popcorn, and let's watch some books.
00:00:46
Speaker
Welcome back listeners to another episode of book watch.
The Duke and I vs. Bridgerton S1
00:00:50
Speaker
Megan is joining me again to talk about the key plot points of the Duke and I slash the Netflix adaptation, Bridgerton season one.
00:01:02
Speaker
Megan, welcome back. Hi. ah Someone has a lot to say and is excited.
00:01:12
Speaker
It's one of my favorite book series and shall we say not one of my favorite TV series. Do you like it though as a drama? Yeah. If I separate myself from the books completely, then i think that it's a very well-made show.
00:01:30
Speaker
Okay, good to know. um But let's get into it. So we, both book and show, we kind of open up introducing ourselves to, well, actually, no, that's a lie. The show, we're introduced right away to the Bridgertons. In the book, we're introduced to the Duke first with this whole prologue. So we get all of his backstory in this prologue, whereas in the show, we're getting these flashbacks throughout the entire season.
00:01:57
Speaker
Right. I did... Notice that towards the end of the season, we didn't have the flash, like the second half of the season didn't really have any flashbacks. So then when it went back to him not being able to speak when he was a child, I was like, almost like I had forgotten or the show had forgotten that that's a huge part of all of this.
Narrative Pacing and Adaptation Choices
00:02:19
Speaker
And i I wonder if that was intentional because they were trying to have the audience be very um understanding of Daphne's confusion about why he the Duke was doing what he was doing.
00:02:34
Speaker
So that would be my guess. But as an audience member... It felt jarring when she had that that realization that he had a he couldn't speak when he was younger because it was like, it was almost like, okay, but like like, they shouldn't have mentioned it at all. And then we should have found out along with Daphne about that rather than having it be in the heavy in the first half of the season and then not mentioned at all. And then all of a sudden it's brought back in the last episode. So to me, that seemed strange for them to do it that way. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that it's because they wanted us to be kind of wrapped up in the confusion.
00:03:16
Speaker
I agree that that's why they did it. But in the book, we don't really come back to it again until Daphne discovers it in the book as well.
Character Dynamics: Book vs. Show
00:03:24
Speaker
so But it is different because we're given that all in the prologue and then where it's fed to us little by little in the show.
00:03:35
Speaker
Well, and also the book is so much shorter. It's it's a much more condensed story that with the the show being so much more expanded, which that's not an issue by itself, I don't think.
00:03:49
Speaker
That never happens. It's usually that a bunch of stuff is cut out in the show or that and in the movie. um But I think because the book was so much more condensed than if it wasn't visited for a while in the book, it's like, well, it doesn't really matter because you're reading it for two days or whatever, whereas the TV show takes place apparently over so much more time. It seems like it takes so much longer. So maybe that's why it felt more um jarring and strange for them to like take some time off of the the childhood stuff and then bring it back.
00:04:24
Speaker
Right. And we're going to get into all of that added storylines in a little bit. ah But let's go back to the show introducing the Bridgertons versus how the book introduces the Bridgertons. Because – The books are very much just this particular one is just all about Daphne. Whereas in the show, and like I said, we'll get into the added storylines, but we get to know a lot of the other Bridgertons lot more than we do in the book.
00:04:53
Speaker
And we open up the show with them all right before she's going to be introduced to the queen. And we kind of get this just chaotic family dynamic. Yeah. Yeah, i I don't mind that. I like that they are um creating more dimension for the characters.
00:05:10
Speaker
um i I don't think that anything was wrong with the way that the books portrayed the family, but I do like what the show was trying to do. um I'm always a fan of like more character development and building out the characters more.
00:05:26
Speaker
But again, which we'll get into, there were so many things that they added in for all of the siblings. that to me changed their character rather than keeping ah keeping the same personalities that all of the siblings had or the children had that were in the books, and then expanding on the storyline, the various storylines, in ways that wouldn't modify the characters.
00:05:51
Speaker
But for me, so like, showing more stuff that the characters were going through or um just showing them on on the screen more than ah on the page,
00:06:04
Speaker
that's fine, but they change so much that it's like, well, okay. It's like, I don't know. It just, it to me, it felt like I get what they were going for and I like the ideas and we'll talk more about the side plots and stuff. And I like those, but it felt, it just was like, to me, it was just too jumbled. Like they were doing too much stuff and and they were also changing all of the personalities of all of the main characters. And I'm like, well, okay,
00:06:31
Speaker
All right. you I feel like they they had a goal and they had like good ideas, but then they went way too far with it and changed too much, in my opinion, where the dynamics were different.
Simon and Daphne: Subplots and Chemistry
00:06:45
Speaker
So moving on off from the Bridgertons, because I know we're getting into the conversation about all the added subplots, but we're introduced to Daphne and Simon.
00:06:58
Speaker
And the whole kind of first half of the season is about their deal. um And then the second half of the season, and just just like the book, the first half and the second half, is – is their relationship basically.
00:07:12
Speaker
um But going back, what were your thoughts on how they introduced Simon in the show and kind of all this added um diamond of the season? Because that's not even a thing in the books.
00:07:26
Speaker
Right. um I thought it was stupid but that they added the whole diamond of the season stuff. um and But i I didn't mind how they introduced Simon. The Duke, um I think that, as usual, the show has a more dramatized version of the Duke being the biggest rake or whatever. Like, that sort of thing is mentioned in the book.
00:07:49
Speaker
But it just seems a lot more lighthearted and, like, Daphne doesn't take it as seriously almost. Whereas in the show, it is, like, the biggest deal on the planet how much of a rake he is.
00:08:02
Speaker
And then, yeah, the diamond of the season, I remember the first time that I watched that and I was just like, here we go. Like another thing, another screen moment of like a pretty like petite little girl being like chosen by the queen is like, and it's like, well, obviously she's chose like that. It was not, it was so, it felt so typical or contrived, like,
00:08:29
Speaker
Yeah, she's from like one of the most popular um affluent families in the area and everybody knows them and everybody loves them. So it's OK if she's chosen as the diamond of the season. It's not like it's it would be it's like if they were trying to go that route for some reason, they should have had like Penelope.
00:08:50
Speaker
be the diamond of the season. Because then that would have been like right off the bat, making everybody be like, oh, OK, there was a choice that was made that people weren't expecting, which is the whole point of making that part of the storyline.
00:09:02
Speaker
But having Daphne be the diamond of the season was like, we don't need her to be the diamond of the season because she's beautiful. She's the firstborn daughter in this family that everybody knows and loves, and they have all of the money. She doesn't need this title or anything.
00:09:19
Speaker
So it just felt like an eye roll to put it in because it felt like it added nothing to her character and to the family. and it almost deepens his decision work with her because now she has this title.
00:09:33
Speaker
Whereas in the book, she's just a Bridgerton, which is still, it means something to be a Bridgerton. And it's the little sister of his best friend, but it's her. Like he he wants to have this deal with her because he was intrigued by her.
00:09:51
Speaker
who But in the show, it's like, well, I'm the Duke. You're the diamond. It makes sense for us to be together. Right. So it just kind of cheapens that decision on his part. Yes. And their relationship in general, which i'm sure we'll get into, is so not believable to me. Like though their chemistry is so not believable in the first half of the season, I think.
00:10:12
Speaker
And I think that that would have been helped. I mean, i I think that there's multiple factors in that, but I think one of the things that would have helped is exactly what we're talking about, where they immediately set Daphne up to be the diamond and then him as a Duke. And it's like, okay.
00:10:28
Speaker
But then at the same time, they're still trying to include the plot of her not being desired enough by anybody to be proposed to. And it's like, well which one is it Because if the queen is going to choose her as a diamond and you guys are going to put that into the show when she's already from one of the richest families and she's beautiful and all of that.
00:10:48
Speaker
and But she's not desirable. But now the Duke wants her. but they're keep like it To me, it just doesn't. They're trying to be able to have all of the aspects of the plot and they don't fit like that.
00:11:01
Speaker
and The book. And they kind of, correct me if I'm wrong, is this not in the book that Anthony kind of... Antony. Medals.
00:11:11
Speaker
Antony. Kind of medals. Thank you for correcting me. um Medals in the relationships and like turns them away in the show. Does that happen in the book? I – Oh my God.
00:11:24
Speaker
You'd think that I would remember this after reading it multiple times. I don't think, not not to the extent that this happens. Oh my god. Okay, readers, you're going to have to write in and correct us.
00:11:35
Speaker
um i don't It's definitely not what's in the show. I know that, that it's like so dramatized in the show and it's such a huge deal. And they're like arguing about, Daphne and Antony are arguing about it and it's like such a huge thing. And I know that it's not a huge thing in the show.
00:11:51
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Because I think that the point is that Daphne is like, she's just a really like fun, lighthearted, jokester type of person.
00:12:03
Speaker
Right. And then she's like friends with them in the book. And that's why she's not being seen romantically is because she's buddies. Right. And so again, they're trying to make, they're trying to have every single plot point added, but they don't match that way. Like they don't all make a cohesive Very contradictory. Yeah. Yeah.
Queen Charlotte and Lady Whistledown's Roles
00:12:20
Speaker
um Before we move on to the garden scene, um which fuel fuels the duel, let's talk about the queen because this whole Diamond of the Season being her choice is added, but the queen herself, ah of course, is a queen in the books, but as a character that we see and get to know that was added in the show.
00:12:41
Speaker
Now, as me being – I've seen all the seasons and only read the first book. I've seen Queen Charlotte, loved the Queen Charlotte show, – What are your thoughts on having Queen Charlotte be such a prominent character in this series?
00:12:57
Speaker
I think it's a great addition. I think that they did a really good job with it aside from the diamond of the season thing. Because in my opinion, pretty much all of the other ways that they have added her in has not taken away or modified the other characters, which is that's my biggest issue with this adaptation is that the characters are like 100% different from how they are represented in the books.
00:13:23
Speaker
And so I think that the addition of Queen Charlotte is simply that it's just an addition. It's not um something that massively changes the dynamics of what goes on except for the diamond of the season thing is weird so once we got past that but and then it was gone it was like they she was a diamond of season and we forgot about it after one or two episodes or whatever and so i was like why did you even add that in but anyways otherwise i like adding her in whistle down The second part of this character and what she's adds to the show is ah figuring out who Lady Whistledown is. And that again is, that's just a little piece of the book. Like every chapter opens with a Lady Whistledown note. Yeah.
00:14:07
Speaker
um So what did you think of this whole mystery and discovering who? And don't spoil it me because I don't know they reveal who she is in the books like they do in the show.
00:14:17
Speaker
um But how do you feel about this whole the queen working with the um one of the Bridgertons to kind of discover who she is? I like it mostly because, again, i don't think it takes away from the characters and the personalities and the dynamics.
00:14:36
Speaker
I do think that there there is a point where, and it's not necessarily because of the queen working with Eloise to try to find the mystery or whatever. It's not necessarily because of that.
00:14:48
Speaker
But I do feel like the intense... mystery and investigation that they demonstrate does what pretty much all of the other scenes do, which is over dramatize everything.
00:15:04
Speaker
But I think that surprisingly, that part of the adaptation doesn't actually detract from like overall the person personality dynamics. So i don't have I don't have too much of an issue with it. I think its it makes it kind of fun. I think they do a good job of making it like a mystery and investigative and stuff.
00:15:24
Speaker
Right. And when you turn something like this book into a show, you're going to have to add something because yeah you've said it's such a short novel that you need to add some sort of story arc. So um I thought it was really fun. And I like the character in general.
00:15:41
Speaker
Well, and I really, really, really like Eloise, and I like most of what they've done with her um in the show. There are things, again, that I feel like enhance parts of the her character that don't need to be enhanced. You know, it's like they do a little bit of stuff that's like just to make it more dramatic.
00:15:58
Speaker
So I don't have too much of an issue with her being the one who like works with the queen to try to figure out the mystery. Because I think it it they did it mostly fine, but they could have done the same thing as far as having the queen work with a character to investigate, to make it kind of like more mysterious and more fun for us in the audience and not use one of the Bridgerton characters.
00:16:22
Speaker
And then that way they're adding stuff to the overall plot and they're, you know, expanding on these other characters, but they're not Like the Bridgertons have already been written about. We already have their stories.
00:16:36
Speaker
So we don't need to we don't need to keep adding and modifying stuff with them. Like it would be, I think, but like why not have, I don't know. the they we do We see the, um what's her name? The Modiste Delacorte?
00:16:53
Speaker
No, something, whatever it is. Maybe I'm mixing her up with Fleur Delacour from Harry Potter. But whatever the French modiste is, you know, we see more of her. And I think that that's perfect because we don't see a ton of her in the book.
00:17:06
Speaker
And she's like a perfect side character where we see her enough that she's relevant. But um her plot point doesn't necessarily matter for the Bridgertons unless they like mix it up with the Bridgertons.
00:17:19
Speaker
So like having her work with the Queen, something like that would be perfect because it's like two character characters that are relevant, but they're side characters. So they're not taking away from or changing the main character. So I feel like something like that might have been a ah safer choice, but I don't think that they...
00:17:37
Speaker
you know, they did the Bridgerton's dirty or anything. Yeah. Yeah. I think. um And the character is called Madame Genevieve Delacroix. Oh, I was so close. You were so close.
Casting and Character Portrayal
00:17:49
Speaker
So let's move on to – well, do you want to talk about the deal at all and like kind of what happens throughout the deal and then the chemistry kind of growing?
00:17:59
Speaker
I think it was so bad. i think that they did a really bad job with it. um And I like to see the best in people and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and I like to try to keep a positive attitude. do But I think they did a bad job.
00:18:11
Speaker
I don't think that their chemistry is believable at the beginning. I think that after they're married, I think that their chemistry is more believable. Do you think that it's an actor problem or writing, directing problem?
00:18:26
Speaker
Maybe both. I don't... i I do feel like it's both. I don't particularly like, I'm i'm sorry, i forget her name, the actress who played Daphne. I don't think that she was the right choice for this role. I think, and I think I've said this in the last episode, she looks like a Daphne, like the person named Daphne, but she does not embody the character of how the book was written all.
00:18:51
Speaker
And so I already take issue with that. um and But I do like her more. in the second half. of the show.
00:19:01
Speaker
And I think that, so maybe it, that is a writing directing issue with the first half versus the second half. And, um, so maybe I i don't know, but but they, so I don't think that their chemistry is very believable, but I think a big part of that is because they changed so much about the characters, especially Daphne.
00:19:23
Speaker
And they made her so much more, ah so they made her so much less lighthearted and fun. And so, in my opinion, so less likable. Yeah, she's serious in the show. Yeah, and so it's just not like them coming up with a deal feels like that was a plot point that was handed to the writers and they just like went with it because that was handed to them.
00:19:46
Speaker
Not... Here's a plot point. How do we actually create the dynamic and create the feelings and the chemistry around it? It was like they just were like, well, this is this is what we have to write.
00:19:59
Speaker
And they just put it. It just doesn't feel believable to me. so Yeah, I agree. think it was dumb. think it was dumb. They just shouldn't have added it, you know, if they're going to do a bad job with that. they just Because the deal, like doesn't even make to me, it doesn't even make sense because it doesn't feel like that's a part of the overall plot, really. If you like step back and look at the whole season, it feels so forgettable that they made a deal.
00:20:25
Speaker
Yeah. You know, i don't know. So i I think that they just shouldn't have even had it in if they're going to change. And something that was really shocking to me was that I thought not knowing anything about Bridgerton, I thought the entire season was going to be about this deal. And then they get together at the end of the season based on the trailers. Yeah.
00:20:44
Speaker
um And then so when they got together and the garden scene and the duel and everything happened like mid-season and then the second half is all about their relationship and then the having kids issue, um I was very shocked at that.
00:20:59
Speaker
ah The yeah previews did not express any part of that. It was all about their deal and their relationship blooming.
00:21:09
Speaker
Which I feel like maybe – That's because that was such a big deal in the book. And the book does feel very much like like it's split into two parts, essentially. but But to me, it flows better, at least. And it makes a it feel more cohesive.
00:21:27
Speaker
and so yes there are like two main aspects to what's going on with their whole relationship. But again, it's like they just, they wanted this season so badly to be about the deal because that's like the the big thing in the book.
00:21:46
Speaker
That's like the whole the initial point of the book. Right. And so they like acted like that was going to be the biggest thing. And then it was, it just felt like such a forgettable plot point because it wasn't believable and they didn't make it connect with anything else.
00:22:00
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. um However, they do make this deal. They end up falling for each other. Just everything we said, they still make a deal. And they have an intimate moment in the garden. correct me, does that happen in the book? I don't remember.
Dramatization of Key Scenes
00:22:20
Speaker
Oh my God. are you I'm so bad. I have just reread this. Just reread this because we were recording this and I'm like already forgetting. So there's music, there's heat and Antony walks in on them after, after um what's the character's name that is trying to hit on her and she punches him?
00:22:40
Speaker
Nigel. Nigel. um And so they move from the Nigel scene into the garden scene and then Antony finds them. That is how it happens in the show. How did that change or what is your opinion on how that changed from the book?
00:22:56
Speaker
I wonder what I'm going to say. dramatized it so much and made it so intense. Of course. um what i What I do like is that the concept of demonstrating that women are so often pursued by men in a non-consensual way.
00:23:22
Speaker
And men take it as the opportunity to continue chasing and to try to convince because they feel like women should be owned by them. um And that's and I'm speaking as modern times.
00:23:38
Speaker
So I do like the idea that we see that that's like a serious thing. Not that I think, you know, men who might be doing that are going to be watching this show and learning a lesson from it. So it's probably falling on deaf ears.
00:23:56
Speaker
But um so I like that concept, but I have to like really struggle to like think about just that as the concept that they're demonstrating because as usual, they make this garden scene, this incredibly dramatic, intense, like negative thing. Whereas – They blended two scenes from the book into this one garden scene, which I wouldn't have an issue with if they weren't.
00:24:24
Speaker
ah the The show is so much more expanded than the book. So it's interesting that they would condense something into one scene when The rest of the show is like adding in all of this stuff that isn't in the book. So it's like, why would you condense this?
00:24:37
Speaker
And so what happens for the first part of it with Nigel and Daphne is that they're at a ball or, you know, event or whatever. And then... he He follows her like into the hallway and she punches him.
00:24:53
Speaker
and But she feels really like immediately bad about it. Like the way that it's written in the book is really comical and lighthearted. And... um Daphne doesn't seem to really feel threatened. I mean, she feels threatened enough that she hits him, but it's more like it's almost like she did it as a reaction just to like say, yes stop talking to me rather than like her life is genuinely threatened or like she's about to, you know, he's about to do something really bad to her.
00:25:20
Speaker
So the book, i'm in general, Julia Quinn, all of her books are very, very lighthearted. And she can write about a relatively serious scene and have it be kind of fun and comical.
00:25:34
Speaker
So that changes. And then um that's when in the book, Simon and Daphne interact because she punches Nigel and Simon is watching the whole time, like waiting to see if he needs to step into her rescue.
00:25:47
Speaker
And they hadn't interacted before. And then he sees that happen. And then he's like, well, I was going to, have you know, I was going to help you. and And then then they start talking and they start joking and they're quipping. And it's really fun. Their banter is so good and their chemistry is so good in the book.
00:26:04
Speaker
And it makes sense. Then what will happen later, which is them making the deal and then their relationship starting to blossom and they start to have their attraction towards each other. That flows really well in the book.
00:26:17
Speaker
And then they, okay, so they do the hallway, Nigel punch, start quipping and talking. And then they, that's like right away when Daphne says that she, you know, isn't able to find a suitor. And then um the Duke says that he can't have children, but he wants the, the fussy mamas to be off of his back. And so then that's when they come up with the deal.
00:26:43
Speaker
and And it, again, feels really lighthearted and fun in the show. And then they have the then their meet their attraction starts, so then they have the garden scene.
00:26:53
Speaker
And then Antony sees them in the garden and gets mad and says, which is, you know, for this time period, understandable that he would be like, you have to marry her because, you know, God forbid a woman be kissed, you know, and not have her life be ruined.
00:27:08
Speaker
So then that happens. And then we move on to the rest of the stuff that happens after. So it just feels really dramatized and intense in the show. Intense is a good And there's lot beating people up that's not really happening in the book. And so that's how those scenes differ.
00:27:32
Speaker
Yeah, and i agree. Tense is a really good word from their shared experience, Simon and Daphne, the beating up, and then – we That leads us into the duel.
00:27:44
Speaker
And we can move on to the duel and the forced proposal because Anthony says, you know, you have to marry her um or we're going to have a deal. And he's refusing to marry her. we know it's because he doesn't want to put Daphne in this position because he knows she wants to have the kids and the big family like she's a part of.
00:28:05
Speaker
And he does not want to have kids. Yeah. And so he doesn't want to put her in the predicament, which is really sweet and noble. But then he's in this predicament where he is willing to die for that. And she just does not understand because she doesn't understand that he can't have kids or doesn't want to have kids. And we'll get into that in a little bit.
00:28:26
Speaker
And she stops the duel and convinces him to agree to marry her. And then that's when we kind of go into our second half and we have a whole new set of dynamics.
00:28:40
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean, as usual, the show makes like the whole duel scene so dramatic. so dramatic Which to be fair, it is a duel where they're trying to kill each other.
00:28:53
Speaker
But it's so just i feel it To me, it feels really cringey to watch in the show, um especially after reading the books.
00:29:04
Speaker
Because i I believe I watched... Now I can't remember because this felt like years ago. um It was years ago. think I watched the first season and then read the book and then read the rest of the books before season two came out. I'm pretty sure.
00:29:18
Speaker
um And after reading the books and then watching that the duel scene, it just feels really cringy to me because it's like really, really dramatic. But the show is supposed to be a drama.
00:29:30
Speaker
So I think that for what they were going for, it worked, unfortunately. um But I mean, and also Daphne like riding her horse into the middle of where they're shooting. I'm just like, girl, you are – Not smart.
00:29:49
Speaker
yeah That's actually the reel I posted when I announced we were doing pressure tin on my Instagram is the the scene from the book and then the scene from the show. And like she just says no in the book. And then in the show, there's this whole we think she got shot and she falls off the horse thing. It's insane. It's intense. Insane.
00:30:10
Speaker
ah They don't need to do that. Right. Yeah. And again, like you said, it's a drama. So they have to add the shock value. But do they have to make her dumb? i mean, i think that the Duke, like, don't, whatever.
00:30:25
Speaker
i think that there's a lot of, um, martyrdom that happens in general in in the show um where people are acting so dramatically because they're like just trying to make things more dramatic and it just makes them martyrs. And so it's like a little bit of an eye roll, but that's the kind of the point of a drama series is to do things like that. So whatever, we can move on from this.
00:30:48
Speaker
yeah Well, do you want to talk about um like the honeymoon and everything or do you kind of want to get into Simon's secret and her finding out and then her betrayal and the differences between the book and the show? I mean, i guess that I guess that's fine because I think that the way that they did the wedding was pretty good in the show, especially because obviously it is a drama. And so I think that at that point, to me, that's when the acting felt more believable. Yeah.
00:31:17
Speaker
Okay. um you know where and also you can it felt more empathetic and more realistic i guess where you as the audience member you could put yourself into either one of their shoes where like they have made a decision that's uncomfortable for both of them on japaneseney's end and on the duke's end And so seeing that wedding and everybody knows a wedding is like a big deal. Getting married is a big deal. And so I feel like that is when things start to become more believable, I guess, for their acting and maybe the way that that's written or the directing.
00:31:48
Speaker
but um But yeah, so I feel like that's fine. Really dramatic the way that they did it, of course. But I think i think it was fine because in the show that it's kind of – you know, it's a little bit more lighthearted, but that's still that's still a pretty intense point of the book.
00:32:04
Speaker
What did I say? Whatever I said. You guys know what I said. The book. The book lighthearted, but it but it's still sad, what the you know, the decision that they're that they're making.
Marriage and Character Development
00:32:15
Speaker
Well, fast forward, they're learning how to live together. They're experiencing life together and settling into this new chapter of their lives. And she's learning how to be the lady of the house.
00:32:25
Speaker
And she is having conversation with um the head maid or whatever that position is. And that's when she learns more about his childhood.
00:32:37
Speaker
and i believe that's when she finds out about – the process of making a child. And in the show, okay in the book, okay, the book is a little bit more controversial than the show.
00:32:53
Speaker
In the book, Daphne has sex with him while he's passed out after drinking too much. And then in the show, she just doesn't let him go and he finishes without being able to release himself elsewhere. Sorry to get so real on the podcast. um So do you think that they made a good call not being as controversial as the book made it?
00:33:21
Speaker
No, because i think that the way that that the book is written, even though like ah it's not okay. Nothing that either of them have done for this aspect of their relationship is okay.
00:33:34
Speaker
Where simon Simon was upfront about not wanting children, you know, and not wanting that to be a part of his life, but he obviously lied to her. ah well Well, I will i will say...
00:33:48
Speaker
Daphne went into this knowing oing that children was not something. And so it's like you can't fully... you know, feel bad for her or blame him when she knew what she was getting into. And he he was, and as he has said, he was planning to duel to make sure that it didn't happen. Again, totally murdering himself and making it way more dramatic.
00:34:12
Speaker
But also that's kind of Britain in the eighteen hundreds right? Is like, right everybody's like... feeling so sorry for themselves and society is so dramatic about everything. um But, you know, you can't you can't really blame um Simon for it because Daphne knew what she was getting into. However, you can't really blame Daphne for being completely betrayed because... of course not.
00:34:37
Speaker
what Yeah. So already both of them have not um acted appropriately. So in my mind, the what Daphne did in the book is like, kind it's it's still believable. Like even though it's controversial, like you can see, you can put yourself in her position where, you know, he's not he's not totally passed out, right? He's... he's Well, he's enjoying himself. right he's not kind like He's not cognitive of what is happening. right
00:35:12
Speaker
He's not sober enough to be able to like put a stop to it like he normally would. And she knew that and took advantage of it. But that's... If you can... put yourself in her position of being really desperate, you can understand her thought process for that. Right. And it's not the same – But it's not okay. It's not the same as Like back then, they probably didn't have a word for rape like we do today. And it's, you know, the whole Me Too movement and everything. So she didn't – I don't think she understood what she was doing was wrong like we would today knowing like, oh my gosh, what she's doing is not okay. Correct. But yeah. But reading it –
00:35:48
Speaker
Well, and I do actually like that that was in the book because she's such a likable character overall, and that made her unlikable. I feel like that was when when you're reading it, you're like, whoa, what? Like she was so likable up until that. And so I like that that was added in because it wasn't it wasn't out of character necessarily. Well, she's flawed character. Exactly. Yeah. Yes. And so I actually like that the that the book had that more controversial aspect, especially, again, like you just said, for our modern times, for how we would view something like that, because it it did give her a major flaw and it made us, it made her more real rather than just being like this perfect, fun character.
00:36:30
Speaker
And she did feel a lot of guilt afterwards. Did she not in the book? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. um And then – and, you you know, I think that on his end, like, I think that the way that they portrayed it in the show was really similar to what happened in the in the book. So it was just mainly Daphne's that was changing. Like the anger, the hurt, the betrayal. Mm-hmm. But what I think was – um again, different from the book to the screen and better in the book is that very soon after their marriage, from my ah recollection, is when um Daphne finds out about him not wanting to have children. Wait, no.
00:37:14
Speaker
She finds out that he doesn't want to have children he doesn't want have children because of what happened in his past. He's choosing to not have children. And then that's when she does the the thing, the drunken. don't think she knows why, but she finds out that he can. He's choosing not to.
00:37:32
Speaker
but And she knows about the past. Yeah, I think it's more – it's not the full story, but I think it's more explicit in the book as far as like that he – the two of them have had a conversation about it, whereas in the show, she finds out from one of the maids – That he's doing something wrong. He is intentionally pulling out.
00:37:56
Speaker
And she didn't know what that meant before. And so I think that right in the show, she finds out from the maid that he has to his heat into her. And then she immediately does that. But I think in the book they have a conversation. I too, might.
00:38:09
Speaker
It might be after. I thought maid – because I have seen the show and then read the book for this podcast. And I want to say maid thing happened.
00:38:20
Speaker
They had a conversation. i just don't remember. Because I remember her mom didn't want to tell her anything. And that happened in both. And I do know that the maid told her the history.
00:38:31
Speaker
um And I want to say that's how she found out because the maid was like very embarrassed or uncomfortable. Well, like, because I think that those – the conversations between her and the maid does happen. but um But I think that she confronts Simon and he – yeah might but He doesn't give her the full story, but i think that they have a drinking Yes.
00:38:55
Speaker
And then that's when she takes advantage. So again, for me, yes that makes it more believable of of a plot point rather than her and And then that turns it into like, that's a flawed character moment, what she then does with that information. Because she does it in the heat of the moment. She's angry and betrayed. And then she realizes she take advantage of the situation.
00:39:18
Speaker
right Rather than speculating from what the maid says, not even talking to him about it at all, which is not that she shouldn't feel betrayed, but it's like in the show, she doesn't actually have any information. She just hears the maid talking about that.
00:39:31
Speaker
And she doesn't talk to him at all about it and then forces him to spill his seed in her. And it's like, to me, that's like, well, okay. it It adds more realistic depth to their relationship the way that it's portrayed in the book.
00:39:46
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Still both of them doing wrong stuff, but it makes it more believable. Well, I mean, it's a huge hurdle they're going to have to cross to heal their relationship after that. and Because they've both majorly betrayed each other.
00:40:01
Speaker
yeah And they're married. um Whoops. Yes. Yes. Luckily, they're both rich and they both have like gigantic mansions in multiple cities. so They kiss and they make up after pages and pages and scenes and scenes.
00:40:17
Speaker
And we conclude with a happily ever after. um And they end up having a baby. So it all ends well.
Social Issues and Side Plots
00:40:27
Speaker
Is there any other – before we get into some of the added drama arcs of the show, is there anything else from the book that you want to talk about that the show did well or not so well?
00:40:40
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I think that the show – what the show did well was – Like when she miscarries essentially, right? Because she's not bleeding. and then she does start bleeding. And i think that the way that they portrayed that in the show was good because she's losing a lot of blood.
00:40:55
Speaker
Just FYI for people who have never seen menstrual blood. That was a lot that was suddenly coming out of her. And you could see that she was in anguish emotionally, but also physically when that was happening. So I thought that the show did that well.
00:41:12
Speaker
to show that pain of what so many women or child bearers go through. And it's not talked about very much and it's definitely not shown on a screen very often at all.
00:41:26
Speaker
So in something as popular as the Bridgerton series, I think that that was really good to even show a little bit of that. Um, so I like that. And then that goes along, in my opinion, with a lot of the other things that the show did really well, like the diversity, which we've talked about, and we will continue talking about as long as we're discussing the show.
00:41:46
Speaker
Um, so I think that that, I think that that was really good to make sure that that was included. Um, and then for the rest of their relationship, I do feel like, you know, for that portion of the season, I feel like the acting was really good and the way that they,
00:41:59
Speaker
um Their chemistry was more believable, you know, the and the the anger that they had toward each other was really believable, e excuse me even if it was, um you know, dramatized and made really intense.
00:42:12
Speaker
I've written down three added character plots that the show included, which is Antony, Colin and Marina, and Queen Charlotte.
00:42:23
Speaker
And we've kind of already touched base on Queen Charlotte a little bit. I don't think we need to discuss any more there. But Antony has a whole lot more character development. And then... Colin has a relationship with an entirely new created for the show character in Marina.
00:42:40
Speaker
So which would you like to talk about first? ah Let's talk about Anthony. Okay. um didn't really mind his relationship with the – what's her name? Yeah.
00:42:57
Speaker
Okay. Well, the opposite. Thank you. Okay. So Sienna, um I think to me that fit well with his character and added depth because he cared about her.
00:43:11
Speaker
um And so like at first he was, you know, kind of shown as being a rake and, Which he is in the book, too. Like, he's a rake. And um so, that you know, I think that that's fine that he's portrayed that way. But I like that there was that added um dimension to his character where, like, he he really likes this woman. It's his mistress, essentially. And seeing her ah her side of it and what she has to go through, I really liked that.
00:43:41
Speaker
um Again, i don't think it... It matters if it was Anthony or not. I think that that was an interesting side plot. Regardless, she's an interesting character and she's not the type of character that's usually shown. Right. Because she's just the opera singer. She's somebody that is, um you know, her body essentially is used um for the men in the in high society.
00:44:08
Speaker
And so to have her be not at the forefront as in she's a main character, but like a strong side character and have a whole plot for herself or her relationship, I i really like that they added that in. And then and if it wasn't Antony, if it was somebody else, I still think it would have been an interesting storyline to include. But of course, because Antony is a main character and he's a Bridger to him that you know makes it richer or whatever.
00:44:35
Speaker
So i I don't think that that really took away from his character. um And I think that because the Bridgertons in the books are so likable, the way that they portrayed him with this relationship kept him likable because it showed that he cared. It showed that he was a rake, but he still had depth to him and he still was a caring person.
00:44:57
Speaker
Whereas the way that they showed Benedict in this season Was like not, he did not make him likable, in my opinion, but in his part was a lot smaller than Antony's.
00:45:08
Speaker
So that being said, oh, my, my doggies, little tappy tap foots are coming into the room. um I think, okay, anyways, I think I'm done talking about Antony. That's how I feel about his side relationships.
00:45:21
Speaker
Well, and I do think the fact that they make him care about her makes the next season a little bit more believable because if he was just shown as this womanizer and then all of a sudden he falls in love with this woman, it's like, where where is the development there? So it is nice that they included that.
00:45:36
Speaker
You are correct. Agreed. Yeah. So let's talk about Colin and Marina. And what – okay, so you – what are your thoughts on the addition of Marina? It's so – okay,
00:45:49
Speaker
So many thoughts just went into my head. Colin and Marina, not believable. The way that they portrayed that relationship, and the whole time I'm like, why is this here for these two characters? Because they are not making it believable.
00:46:03
Speaker
And so again, maybe that was a writing and directing issue. Maybe it was an acting issue. I think Marina's a fantastic actor. I think that perhaps the way that they directed Colin was not very believable.
00:46:16
Speaker
Like he he wasn't as believable as a character because I don't think that he's necessarily a bad actor. So I think, I don't know, but I think there, I was every time they would come on screen I would be like, no, I don't believe at all that this is happening. I don't believe their feelings for each other.
00:46:37
Speaker
and don't believe any of this. And it it kept coming out of nowhere. But the the addition of Marina as a character, I think, was fascinating. I think that that was a that was great. But ah again, didn't need to be with a Bridgerton.
00:46:53
Speaker
Because that made Colin not seem... I don't know. it It just... Maybe if it was... Yeah. portray
00:47:04
Speaker
to me it wasn't great because then also setting it up for when he's going to have his love that he meets it's it's not going to make sense to me because and and also it's like we didn't see colin and marina enough to justify them being so in love with each other.
00:47:25
Speaker
Like, Colin was so in love with her. Right. And when they – him and Marina had their final conversation and he was like, if you had told me at the beginning, I would have married you without hesitation. so like – What?
00:47:39
Speaker
No, you wouldn't have. Like, you didn't even talk to her. We didn't see you guys talk at all. He didn't talk about his feelings for her to, like, anybody else in, you know, his siblings or whatever. Only very briefly did he do that.
00:47:52
Speaker
And for a Bridgerton... To marry somebody who is already pregnant in that time period, there is absolutely no way that that would have happened.
00:48:04
Speaker
And so it just felt so crazy to me that they added that in and thought that it would be believable. That being said, I thought Marina was fantastic. I thought the acting was great. And I like the idea of that added scandal and drama in the show. So I think that that part of it was great. That was a really cool plot point to add in.
00:48:25
Speaker
It just should not have been with Colin Bridgerton. Do you think that it should have been with either Antony or Benedict or just not a virgin at all? I don't think so. i mean, I guess maybe i would like to see.
00:48:40
Speaker
It would be fun to see how the writers, if they could like do a mini series almost with like comparing it the same thing with Antony and then the same thing with Benedict. Like if we could we could get that to see like if the chemistry could be built in a different way or if they could tweak the writing.
00:48:57
Speaker
um The reason I ask is because the show is clearly called Bridgerton. So they are the characters. So every kind of story arc needs to kind of relate back to them. But does and Yeah.
00:49:11
Speaker
Well, I mean, they have some storylines that, well, yeah. Because like the bartender. The bartender is fighting. Right. Right. Aren't they betting on him or something?
00:49:23
Speaker
and don't they but I don't think the Bridgertons have anything to do with that whole plot point. Okay. To me, that is like a fantastic plot point to add it as a side story.
00:49:36
Speaker
Because it's it's interesting. It's especially with a grounded character like that where he's not a member of high society. And so he's more – I just about to say it's like the contrast between high society and the Britishians and like the underground. And I like that – I think that the connection with their side story and the boxing and the the gambling or whatever, not the gambling, but the the betting. Yeah, the gambling.
00:50:02
Speaker
That, those characters and that plot point and the connection that they have is because he's such good friends with Simon. i think that's perfect because that's believable that they would be really good friends, especially like Simon being really good friends with somebody who's not a member of high society.
00:50:20
Speaker
But it doesn't like do anything to Simon's plot, which is his relationship with Daphne, other than if they have a conversation about what's going on. And so to me, that's great.
00:50:33
Speaker
And then like the the queen, like we discussed earlier, her as an added character is great because she does such a good job with it. It makes it interesting. It gives her like it adds depth to the overall society or the community of the people. Yeah.
00:50:49
Speaker
But she doesn't necessarily, the issues become when she has the diamond of the season and she chooses Daphne. And then with Eloise investigating um Lady Whistledown, even though I don't think that they totally botched it, that wasn't necessarily, it didn't need to be Eloise. It could have been somebody else and it still would have been interesting.
00:51:11
Speaker
And so I think that this and like the Featheringtons, their money issue that was mentioned in the books, but like not to that. they They expanded on it more in the show from my memory. And I thought it was so interesting.
00:51:28
Speaker
so Super interesting. But again, doesn't does take away. Does die in the book? I think so. Okay. But it doesn't have anything really to do with the Bridgertons, except for Eloise and Penelope being friends.
00:51:41
Speaker
But the show ruins the Penelope and Eloise friends. I don't think it, again, they're not they don't have a very believable friendship the way that they do in the books. But we don't see too much of that in the in this season because that's not a huge part of the first book. So that kind of makes sense. But the Featheringtons have a really interesting plot line.
00:51:58
Speaker
um on the side and it doesn't have anything to do with the bridgertons and i think it still works so i think that they could have done that with marina and had her be with one of the other members of high society maybe that's really good friends with the bridger maybe he's really good friends with anthony or something like that well let me ask you this so okay do you think that it does anything to set up their relationship because penelope is so against it because she has feelings for Colin already and she's trying to save him.
00:52:29
Speaker
And so it kind of plants the seeds for their relationship but two seasons from now. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I know that's why they did it, obviously. But i i think it's – I think it's unnecessary how far they went with it.
00:52:44
Speaker
And they make it not believable. Whereas what you... And it also makes Penelope not likable, in my mind. The way that she's portrayed in the show.
00:52:56
Speaker
It makes her... You can understand, like, was most of us have had some type of unrequited love or, you know, betrayal from a friend because we like somebody or something. Like, most of us have been through some type of something that Penelope is experiencing.
00:53:10
Speaker
So we can put ourselves in her shoes and we can understand, like, that that desperation. But makes her not alike. We don't get enough time with her before that happens, I think, to make her a likable character and then we see her going through this pain.
00:53:30
Speaker
I think we get a little bit of time with her and she's likable at the beginning, but it's not enough time before she turns into like this crazy mess. And we're like, we don't even know her. We don't know that much about her history with Colt. Like if they had showed more of her history with him and all of this. So then we really feel for Penelope, that would make more sense.
00:53:49
Speaker
So them adding this into the first season, and the only the only reason that they did it is because they wanted the Marina plot point. Do you think there were too many storylines? In the show.
00:54:01
Speaker
Yeah. And again, I think that if they had them be purely side plots, not trying to pull the Bridgertons into it all, um and focused more on Daphne and Simon's storyline and then had like the separate plot points. I think that they'd still be able to flesh out like the characters, flesh out the side plots and make it more cohesive. But I don't think that the main plot point of Daphne and Simon made sense enough and felt cohesive enough.
00:54:32
Speaker
Yeah. For them to be able to add in all of these other plot points. So no. I don't think that they did a good job with it.
Balancing Multiple Storylines
00:54:38
Speaker
But I think that they have the right idea. And I think it's really interesting what they're doing. So they should have. Not to get too ahead of our ourselves. But do you think seasons two and three did better?
00:54:48
Speaker
no With the. Okay. But also I have. I will be curious how I feel. Now that you and i are like heavily analyzing it, and so the next time that i watch the seasons to refresh my memory, having this and like these types of conversations that you and I are having, having that in mind, I'd be really curious to see how my opinion would change.
00:55:10
Speaker
Yeah, same. Because i Well, I've seen two and three, and so I need to read books two and three, but then I'm going to try to read book four before season four.
00:55:24
Speaker
And so I'm going to have the last – what there, seven? There's eight total books. Eight books. Well, but also they did the seasons out of order from the books. Oh my goodness. Wait, so how should I read the books?
00:55:39
Speaker
I would have to like, I think that you should do one and well, you read one. So two and then four and then three. Okay. But would reading book for spoil book?
00:55:52
Speaker
Yeah. So I don't remember. So will have I've seen season three. Oh gosh. You're going have to wait for me to re-watch re-read everything. You're going to have to do research for me? I'm going have to do some research for you.
00:56:05
Speaker
Especially – you won't – You won't be ah rewatching these quite yet, right? You have other adaptations that you're going to be covering first? Several. yeah Okay. So then there's some time. So i'll do I'll do some research before we get to that. And then they haven't even announced when they're doing the next season.
00:56:21
Speaker
I feel like when they announce what the next season is, because it was a shock when they did the season three and the storyline that was in it. I remember being like, hold Because so Colin is book four. Yes.
00:56:33
Speaker
Yes. Okay. So who – so book three is who? Benedict. oh Oh. Okay. So when the trailer – Go ahead. Go ahead. When the trailer comes out for the next season, I feel like that will be indicative. Even beforehand because they had done like photo shoots, the two of them.
00:56:53
Speaker
And so you kind of got the idea that it was going to be their season. Yeah. Yeah. And so once we know what the i the collective we, once we know what the next TV season is going to be about, who the main characters are going to be, then that will determine like which book would make sense to what the sequence or the order.
00:57:12
Speaker
Well, anyway but see next season two and book two should be fine. ah re ah Question of the hour. Which medium told the story better or did both succeed in their own ways?
Final Thoughts on Adaptation Success
00:57:24
Speaker
and Okay. Well, I could feel you laughing as you said that. The book did a much better job of telling the story. I do like that the books are just very quick beach reads.
00:57:36
Speaker
Delightful. Yes, there's eight of them, but just get the story in, find out about this particular Bridgerton and their romance story and move on to the next one. And they're just fun. They're way more lighthearted.
00:57:48
Speaker
They are. Well, the one that I have read. um I do think that the show does a good job of being a drama, which is what it is. It's a Shondaland. So it's very much a Shondaland show. And I think that they do. I do like the added stories. I was very surprised to see no Marina, no Queen Charlotte, especially because I watched the show Queen Charlotte before reading the book. So to see her not even be a character was rather shocking.
00:58:17
Speaker
ah But I did like the book better, although I do think the show does what it set out to do. That's a correct way to describe them. Well, I like to end the adaptation discussions with bookmarked moments, which are the moment you liked best about the adaptation. So what did the adaptation do the best?
00:58:38
Speaker
What is your least favorite aspect of the movie adaptation? And what's a moment from the book or the film that really stands out to you? What are your bookmarked moments? um My first bookmark is that in general, I think that the that the the side plots are great additions to the show.
00:59:01
Speaker
Mm-hmm. um or to the overall story. and What I don't like. um Well, keeping along with the theme, there's so many moments that stand out to me that it's hard to gather my thoughts at the moment.
00:59:15
Speaker
But I would say that overall, just that the So many of the character things for the main characters are not believable. It's like the side characters are more believable with their issues and their struggles and their relationships than the Bridgertons, which it's called the Bridgertons.
00:59:31
Speaker
So don't like that. um And something that really stands out um in the show, right? The show? either Either or. um i i really like the diversity and um and how the show's not afraid to tackle things that are controversial or not talked about very often on the screen.
00:59:53
Speaker
So I like that. Yeah. Which is why it's kind of surprising that they changed Daphne's portrayal. Yeah. Yeah. Shonda, what are you thinking is what I want to say to her for a lot of the stuff. I mean, in so in so many ways, it's so good, but in so many ways, it's not.
01:00:10
Speaker
So it's interesting. But I will continue watching the show as it comes out. Yes, of course, because I need you to come on the podcast happily. Well, Megan, where can people find you on the interwebs? And thank you so much for coming. I really enjoyed the conversation and I can't wait to have you on for Book 2 Season 2.
01:00:28
Speaker
Yes, of course. I'm so happy to be here. um And you can find me on the interwebs mainly on Instagram um at Megan, M-E-G-A-N underscore Lachowski, L-A-C-H-O-W-S-K-I.
01:00:42
Speaker
And um normally I would say I have all other projects that you can follow from there, but my main other thing that I'm doing is dance, teaching dance, and that's local. So if you want to watch anything to do with that, that is linked in my page. But otherwise,
01:00:58
Speaker
I'm not really doing any other interweb creative projects at the moment. Well, you definitely want to check out her dance stuff because she's amazing at what she does. um So go follow her and listeners. Thank you for joining us for another page to screen adaptation episode. It was a lot of fun and we will see you next week.
01:01:18
Speaker
That's a wrap for today's episode of book watch. I hope you enjoyed this journey into the world of page to screen adaptations. If you love today's episode, don't forget to subscribe, review wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with your fellow book and movie lovers.
01:01:32
Speaker
If you'd prefer to watch along, you can check the show out on YouTube. You can follow the show on Instagram at book watch podcast, and you can follow me Sarah day on Instagram at captain.mcd. That's M C D E E.
01:01:43
Speaker
You can also join the conversation in the Book Watch Lounge on Facebook at www.facebook.com slash groups slash Book Watch Lounge. If you would like to support the podcast, you can join the Patreon at www.patreon.com slash Book Watch Podcast.
01:01:58
Speaker
Tiers start at only $4 a month and I'd love to have you over there. If you have a favorite adaptation you'd like to cover with me, I'd love for you to apply to be on the show with the contact form on our website at www.bookwatchpodcast.com.
01:02:12
Speaker
Until next time, keep reading, keep watching, and I'll see you next week.