And wastes the chance every time. This is not my first go around with Shonda rhimes and I’m sure I’ve said this about damn near every show she produces. But this one really got to me. The triad that was Benidict, Tilley and Paul could’ve really been a huge part of developing his character past the spoiled hedonist he’s devolved into. There is not a single reason that should have been so underwhelming.
It wants to be polyamorous so bad
SpoilerSPOILERS S3They literally could've done anything else with Benedict this season and I would've been cool with it; made him experiment then think about committing, commit to multiple people in a poly way, etc.
But turning him into a walking "bisexuals can't commit" stereotype and just leaving it at that for the next 2 years got on my nerves as a bi person.
I’m a little surprised that your takeaway is the trope “bisexuals can’t commit” because I thought it was very clearly “Benedict can’t commit”. Season 1 and 2, there were a couple of women and his art to which he couldn’t commit—at least, not enough to overcome the obstacles. This time, it was Tilley to whom he couldn’t commit. His lack of commitment doesn’t seem to be related to his sexuality at all. In fact, I think it might be more related to his ability to fall back on his family. Eloise is similarly without direction.
Regardless of their intention, it perpetuates an incredibly common negative stereotype about bi people.
There are many Bridgerton viewers who are anti-LGBT and I guarantee their takeway isn't going to be "Benedict can't commit". You are severely overestimating the intelligence and good-faith nature of the general public.
What about all the rakes? It's not like people are saying all heteros are whores because of them. People aren't their sexual preferences, they are so much more. I don't think many people are gleefully out there like "tsk... typical bi guy" about Benedict. He's just a fuckboy and he's barely even bi lmao. Not everyone who experiments would label themselves as such anyway
I guess it's more like heterosexual characters can behave in any way and heterosexuality still won't get seen as bad, because it's a majority of the population. Minorities are held to higher standards. That of course doesn't mean that characters that represent minorities have to be perfect, they shouldn't have to be!
But I can definitely see homophobic people thinking that it's totally fine that Anthony or Simon sleeps with half of the women in London and don't want to settle down without that making them less wholesome, but Benedict not wanting to commit is another sign of bisexuals being "whores". That's just how bigoted people sometimes think. There's no logic in it.
Being a minority means you are dependent on the majority's support of you. It means you can be constantly anxious that if you don't behave exactly like the majority wants you to, and play by their rules of what's respectable for you, they will stop accepting you. I still don't think all of this means the show needs to portray Benedict in a certain way, but I can understand that bi people aren't exactly happy of another bisexual character who is not monogamous, because they are stereotyped as "greedy", "whorish", non committal, and of bad character and morals.
they are saying he is more prone to cheat too. i want the writers to show next season his love for art and as a faithful partner to sophie and show that violet appreciates his work towards the family, the unselfish son. stop portraying bi /pan people as cheaters, people who can't commit and only into threesomes challenge.
To say storylines should be changed, or simplified, so that the general (heteronormative) audience understands them makes no sense.
They are clearly never perpetuating a "bisexuals cannot commit" stereotype. They are showing a character who is open to being poly and there is nothing bad about it, especially since poly identities are barely ever realistically depicted in media or actually misrepresented as being unfaithful.
It has become much more common that many visual media becomes "easy entertainment" that requires no media literacy. But if every show and every film would absolutely only cater to a general (heteronormative) audience the quality of entertainment would be absolutely gone now.
It makes no sense to say that storylines should be simplified to reduce harm towards the marginalized communities they claim to be giving representation to? Okay lol, sure, whatever.
And like I said in my original comment, this is not good poly representation either, but I would've been happy if it was.
As a queer person, pls stop putting the onus on queer people or characters to correct society’s presiding mindset. If that happens by osmosis, great but it’s not the show’s job or the character pf Ben to address that. Queer people deserve to represented as fully realised complex individuals not as a tool to finger-wag at bigots.
Anyone familiar with Shonda’s brand knows her leanings. She’s not trying to appeal to homophobe.
As another queer person, I care more about the living, breathing people that get affected by homophobia on a daily basis than random fictional characters. If a plot line being altered makes the life of even one queer person easier, I’d rather do that.
Perpetuating stereotypically negative storylines hurts these real queer people and opens them up to judgement. We live in a flawed world. People still get killed, raped, disowned or broken up with for being queer. We could do with less of stereotypes with negative implications in media.
And how is commenting on the Bridgerton reddit sub bettering the lives of people facing homophobia?
It’s not privilege, it’s perspective. As a creative myself, it’s stifling and sets a dangerous rhetoric when people project and prescribe onto queer characters as if their queerness dictates their entire persona. This conversation alone is proof that queer people are not a monolith.
That's such a ridiculous, bad-faith question to ask them. Obviously our bickering is for our own entertainment and it has no impact on society as a whole, positive or negative. That's entirely unrelated to the point of their comment.
You have responded to nothing in my comment, or the previous conversation. You said that there shouldn’t be an onus on queer characters to pander to society, I said that the actual real queer people matter more than these “burdened” queer characters. If these storylines mean actual real queer people have to defend themselves from even more stereotypes, I don’t want them.
You are speaking from a very privileged position.
That's your opinion, but it is not mine. I believe writers need to be mindful of the cultural context in which they write, because imo, it is irresponsible to intentionally be inclusive without thinking about the way in which it will be perceived.
In my opinion we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place in the ways we conduct ourselves both creatively and otherwise by being mindful of how others view our actions, and that includes writers, but you clearly don't believe that, so we are never going to agree and any further argument on this subject would be fruitless.
I think perhaps your problem is that you're seeing him as only bisexual and missing out the part where he's potentially polyamorous. The "bisexuals people can't commit" stereotype isn't only harmful to bisexual people but also the poly community, who are seen as cheaters when they have multiple committed relationships. Benedicts story doesn't represent only you.
His story doesn't only represnt bi people, but it's very obviously not good poly representation either. That's literally the entire point of OPs post. There was no showcasing of a healthy poly relationship here, instead, there was the whole "jealousy" aspect thrown in.
Like my original comment said, if they had shown him in a committed, healthy, poly relationship, that would've been super cool.
They did a huge disservice to both bi and poly people by showing a bisexual person toying with the idea of a poly relationship that instantly unravels due to jealousy.
I don't understand why they couldn't bring back Granville. He was already intro'd. Everyone liked him and wanted Benedict to be gay from s1 (I felt the trailer def gay baited the HELL out the audience), never felt that Benedict (as depicted on s1 and 2 was bisexual or gay, just bored af but whatever, representation). BUT. He's a white man who is from a wealthy family. HOW IS HE NOT FREE? As he told Tilley. It's lazy AF writing that is bringing down the whole series.
Read (I have linked it) Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by AMANDA FOREMAN. I've been obsessed with this bio since I was 13, am currently turning 30 this year. Georgiana Cavendish ( the 6x great aunt of Diana, Lady Spencer - do not acknowledge Charles Windsor, that fucking groomer creep), was a fucking DUCHESS in the 1700s and had to give up her child for "society rules", Benedict not being free to have...threesomes (something he had in s1) is fucking ridiculous.
I liked Granville a lot and would love to see him in Ben’s art story. However, having him break with Lord Wetherby for Benedict might actually play into the negative narrative about gay or bi characters. And I like the HEA he, his wife, and Wetherby have established.
Honestly I wanted Granville back, with him being the one to realize that Benedict was bi/pansexual/whatever ~ when he gets jealous that his new (male) friend spends time with other people.
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Hard agree! Hate it hate it. Also the stereotype that bisexuals just have threesomes. 🙄 dear Shonda & the world, bisexuals can be 100 % monogamous
Simon, Anthony & Colin all whored around. Why does the “bisexual” have to be an angel? It’s not like they did a 180 on Ben’s personality, he wasnt a relationship-type before the male-male encounter, and he remained the same after. Forced virtue-signalling is not any better than stereotyping.
He's a man. How the fuck is he not FREE? Lies. It's the 19th century. He's the 2nd son. Give me a fucking break. Why. Just Why.
I don't see that as a '"bisexuals can't commit" stereotype.'
The thing is the end game.
Do we really want the story to be "he was Polly until he found 'the one'"
As a proud frog myself I read it as "he has just discovered this side of his sexuality and wants to explore it more before committing to Tilly
Honestly, yes I would much prefer that. His antics took up way too much Polin screentime this season anyways. I think it could've waited for his season.
I didn’t like the threesome because of the stereotype against Bi people. I hope they don’t do that next season regardless of who’s story is next.
all of the men in bridgerton are rakes and can’t commit.
I would love for someone to enlighten me as to what the point of his story was this season. I don't even think it could be considered an arch because his character ended in the exact same position he began in.
benedict at the end of season 2: confused, aimless, sleeping around. benedict at the end of season 3: confused, aimless, sleeping around, except there's threesomes now too
Was also him at the end of season 1 (including the threesome). If nothing else, this shows makes sure Benedict gets laid onscreen every season.
And makes sure I hate him. How am I supposed to like a character without any growth or character development? All the man does is have sex!
I actually really loved his art plot. It made me crazy excited for the first time for his character to see him drop out and close his art kit. Then they didn’t do anything with it. I’ll only watch season 4 for the other characters honestly, unless reviews come out that they actually managed to do a great job developing his character.
And if it’s his season next I’m like what are we working with here? Am I supposed to like him? (I did like him with his siblings though. That was sweet)
It's really no different than an entire season of him discovering he likes strawberry jam as well as grape jelly.
I would’ve preferred that. At least that would’ve been funny.
This season's version of that was him fighting with Hyacinth and Gregory over macaroons on the sofa. I think there were different colors/flavors and he was half jokingly pretending to swat their hands away from the ones he wanted?
I like Benedict but in so many ways he's a big kid. He's Peter Pan but with sex. The definitely need to give him some character growth next season, whether he is leading it or not.
He had a threesome in season 1… And he doesn’t really sleep around he has one consistent FWB every season. (Gen, Tessa, Tilley/Paul)
I would call that sleeping around. Also you forgot Granville’s wife, Lucy.
We see more in his body language how he doesn’t want to only be known/recognized as one of the Bridgerton brothers. We see he does in fact miss his art when Paul brings it up. The main thing is he embraces his pansexuality. And this is the first time we see someone interested in him for him and not just for sex/FWB (all his FWBs thus far) or for his last name (the eligible ladies of the ton).
See, I didn't see someone who missed his art at all when it was brought up. It's possible that was what they were trying to convey but if that were the case, they never touched on why he couldn't be painting.
I never understand the reason for ben as a person who has only see the show. I understand he is a brother so he has to be there but his art arc was better than this. I feel like he would have bennifited better from a trip away more than colin
Agreed!! He needs to explore and see outside his bubble.
I don’t understand why they just didn’t give that time to Anthony and Kate…The show strayed from the book so I thought they’d give us some of what was in that. They’re interesting! I want to see them be happy! Why do I need to see Benedict doing the same exact thing he always has? I was bored in season 1. I have no patience for that man. Give that time to Penelope and Colin…It was wasted on Benedict. Why not send him overseas instead of Anthony and Kate? Or just not show much of him? They didn’t show much of Eloise this season.
My honest thought is that Benedict is going to end up in a polyamorous relationship for his season. Either that or they are going to pull a Mulan + Midsummer Night’s Dream+ Cinderella amalgamation rather than a straight Cinderella.
Benedict now knows he’s attracted to men, he meets Sophie who has disguised herself as a man to run away from her family, is attracted to her in , and then finds out she was in disguise to get away from her family. Then he will be angry she hid it from him but they will ultimately end up together.
I think a poly relationship is unlikely. They would have to add too many changes to the show, create an entirely new main character and develop their relationship with Benedict as well as with Sophie.
But a trans / non-binary Sophie would work really well and I think it elevates Benedict's contemplation about his queer identity much better than another season of sleeping around the ton.
Hence my Mulan/Midsummer Night’s Dream thought (which is my gut instinct). I truly think they will go full She’s the Man combined with the angle of Shang being more upset Mulan was a woman than her sneaking into the army. I could also see that role play being a huge part of their relationship.
But the show is clearly not following cannon at all anymore. Pen is still a gossip columnist. Michael is Michaela. Kate and Anthony begged off to India. Eloise is going to Scotland. Colin writes smut instead of memoirs of his travels. Daphne and Simon have dropped off the face of the Earth. So I could easily see them keeping his male love interest from this season and adding Sophie into their relationship if they wanted to try out polyamory.
Hold up, you’ve got something with this idea for Sophie…I like it.
I love this idea with my whole heart
Please post spoilers over the spoiler text from the books. Thank you ☺️
No true spoilers 🙂 just my musings over what I think might happen. They’ve veered so far off from Benedict’s story in the books that I don’t think we have any hope beyond a shadow/allusion to the book.
I can see them using a disguise, a mix of Cinderella and Twelfth Night
we are getting cinderella and not poly anything
I, frankly, would love them to adapt the book with fidelity. But Idk. They gave us a Cinderella of sorts with Penelope. I am not sure they’ll follow the same storyline.
cinderella is white feminism self made millionaire girl boss? where is the poor working class girl?
Cinderella was mistreated by her family and had two “ugly” stepsisters. They mirrored that a bit with Pen.
But, again, I think Ben’s adaptation will be an amalgamation of Mulan and Cinderella. But given the change to his sexuality and his threesomes, I highly doubt they will erase that part of him as thoroughly as they erased his interest in art. I also wouldn’t be surprised if there was a love triangle next season with Sophie and a male love interest. Or a poly relationship.
At this point, with Brownell at the helm, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a strong adaptation. Your demand doesn’t change that Netflix only cares about numbers.
I think Shondaland secretly hates the books.
No I just think Brownell hates them 😂
He’s a gigolo and he should have stayed in the painter hedonistic world. I was so sick of his character line this season. He needs to be like Anthony at the tree. I love his bond with Eloise though. Close brother-sister is a great storyline.
The only times I’ve liked Benedict have been when he’s with Eloise
I didn’t like what they did to his character this season. The storyline or directing was all wrong
This might just be the way I watch tv but i’m basically hoping at all times that all of the hot people kiss, anyone who’s not related or very age/story inappropriate should go ahead and kiss! So i’m 100% with you on this one!
Ugh god, I'm already dreading the probable quality of the 4th season, a poly plot would shoot it in the head and bury the corpse in a vegetable patch
I don’t even think I’m going to watch season 4 unless they fire Jess
At the end of it, Benedict basically said it could’ve been anyone in that bed and he would have enjoyed himself. It just listed off random names.
Spoiled hedonist?! How very dare you.
You just sparked a wild idea in my very high mind. What if this season was setting up the basis for Benedict being poly long term? What if Sophie ends up being Cressida’s ladies maid and they all end up falling in love with each other? I could be thinking complete nonsense but your post really made me think 🤔
I would kill for some good poly rep at this level of exposure. The bait-and-switch they pulled with Lady Arnold really upset me. The fact that they have a functional triad, and they even have the very real (even to this day) conversation of "what would happen if we showed up as a triad in the public," and then it dies the death of "I got jealous 😢😢😢" … I wanted to throw something.
I’d rather Bridgerton be more historically accurate.
Yes! I wanted this so bad!! I was all for it !
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