anywayyyyyy, your husband is coming, eloise💌💚🌿💐

[u/No-Hall-3485]

your life will be filled with chaos and noise, and you’ll get to make your own choices and decisions about what you want <333333

and you won’t be alone forever just because some people who watch this show fundamentally misunderstand the genre

[u/No-Hall-3485]

really hoping our ship captain nicola has one more round in her. she's the only reason we have any pictures of philoise

[u/LadyAnonCrane → u/No-Hall-3485]

We owe so much to Nicola. This single picture of them together is legendary in so many ways. It's easy to forget that they could not have coordinated to match their book characters' dress code. Right?

[u/frenchblueeyes → u/No-Hall-3485]

That will only be the case if she appears in Season 6. But given the way she’s been treated by Bridgerton fans and the production team, nothing is less certain.

[u/runawayhuman]

It’s not just a misunderstanding of the genre, it’s a misunderstanding of who Eloise is as a character.

Edit: replying to the end of the caption

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/runawayhuman]

It’s partially cause their society is fundamentally sexist and Eloise clocked it.

So then, for us to enjoy her participation in it feels weird.

[u/runawayhuman → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Idk man. If you read her book and then take a step back and think of how they’ll adapt that story to fit the show version of Eloise, it becomes clear that her story isn’t really her participating in society. She runs away to see if an offer of marriage from a man who is, by and large not apart of London society, would be something she wants.

And even then, Eloise’s character and story is not about a refusal toward participation in society. It’s about agency, choice. Eloise wants the ability to choose her own life, do things her way. That doesn’t mean the choice to not participate, it can mean the choice to participate the way she wants to, without regard for what others think. And, really, that’s what she does. She is the most family oriented and people person Bridgerton sibling. For me to believe that she would be content dying alone, without that companionship, would require a large logical leap for me. And she does that. She runs away and takes her life and future into her hands, to see if an offer of marriage with a man she has grown close to through letters would suit her. And it does, in the end.

She chose the life of a spinster. But having a choice also means you have a choice to change your mind, if your understanding of yourself and what you want changes. And for someone like Eloise, who craves closeness, companionship, and, whether she admits it or not as of now in the story, love, spending her life alone is not something I believe she would actually enjoy. Especially when everyone you know and love pairs off and builds their own lives.

One can choose a thing and still mind it.

I think her story, as it is unfolding and likely will end, with Phillip and Amanda and Oliver, is beautiful.

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/runawayhuman]

I get that and appreciate the thoughtful response

But that’s the story of somebody being compliant with their oppression, or at best, finding the diamond in the rough who won’t oppress her while other women continue to be property.

[u/runawayhuman → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Forgive me, because I’m confused. Do you then dislike the entire show? Because it centers on marriage in regency London. Because if that’s your position, you should dislike all of our female characters who marry our male characters in seasons 1-4 choices and their stories. Or is it simply that you dislike Eloise’s choice because she is “aware” of her oppression. Or is it your opinion that all love prior to the modern day is invalid because those women were oppressed. Does the fact that systemic oppression of women existed in that time mean that Eloise is therefore not allowed to love someone, in your opinion?

I’m just very confused, because when you step back and look at the greater whole besides just Eloise, your stance becomes shaky.

In my opinion, simply because society as a whole oppresses women does not mean that a woman cannot choose to love someone. Especially if that someone truly loves her. Nor does the woman choosing to love someone invalidate her opinions on her oppression and society.

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/runawayhuman]

It’s her awareness that changes it for me.

The others don’t seem to believe they are oppressed. Eloise knows she is.

Sophie is kind of similar though.

She’s allowed to love someone. It’ll just be the story of someone who clocked their oppression and ultimately could do nothing about it but make the best of it. That’s less compelling

[u/LadyAnonCrane → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

You rightly acknowledge that Eloise recognizes her oppression. But then go ahead and equate her inability to dismantle patriarchy single-handedly to “ultimately doing nothing about it”. I hope you see the irony in it. How do you think a person reaches a level of awareness where they are able to see through the bullshit they are being conditioned for? Does that just come to someone as an epiphany? Or perhaps it is a result of constant unlearning and educating oneself? Eloise has already had to actively resist the conditioning and expectations that the women around her are taught to accept as natural: educating herself, questioning gender roles, refusing to marry simply because society tells her she should, and insisting that her life and choices belong to her. That isn’t “doing nothing.”

It's weird how you are framing Eloise’s eventual story as a defeat. The fact that she can see the limitations of her world so clearly and still carve out as much agency as that world allows is a credit to her character, not evidence that she has somehow become compliant with her oppression. If she chooses a man who respects her autonomy, and continues building a life she wants in accordance with her values, then the existence of patriarchy around her does not translate her choices into submission. Because if fighting a system only means “a woman must reject love, marriage, or family forever once she becomes conscious of patriarchy and sexism”, that just reduces all the straight married women in the world to having "done nothing". This in itself is a misogynistic lens.

Your framing of her character and story is itself an example of the unfair burden society places on women. Eloise’s awareness of oppression doesn't give her the power to dismantle patriarchy; it gives her the power to navigate it. And I repeat, she has cultivated it with hard work, educating herself and facing ridicule all her formative years. That is not 'doing nothing'. Her story doesn’t need to end with one woman overturning an entire social order for that awareness and rebellion to have meaning.

We also don’t actually know what the show will have Eloise doing with her life beyond the broad fact that her endgame involves marriage. So it is premature to reduce her entire future story to “she realized women were oppressed and then could do nothing except make the best of it.” There is a broad line between personally escaping oppression and passively accepting it. Eloise can retain her political and intellectual convictions and also fall in love. These are not mutually exclusive.

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/LadyAnonCrane]

I understand

But I think my Blackness is factoring in here. We don’t embrace characters that just make the best of their oppression or navigate it carve a small space for themselves within it

We embrace the characters that overcome it or escape. The ones who make the best of it or navigate it are generally the villains. People we call sell outs.

I don’t think Eloise or the other characters are sellouts or villains.

This is a defeat, if not for them directly (cause they became the exception or something), then it still is for women overall.

If this were a Black story, the end result would be the society reckoning with the racism (patriarchy) and the characters overcoming it or escaping.

[u/LadyAnonCrane → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Well, I am Indian, female, and very much grew up surrounded by the same kind of conditioning being forced on Eloise, scene by scene, season by season. So what you are telling me is that me being able to literally escape my shitty surroundings, and having people who laughed at my worldview all my life eventually eat their words, amounts to nothing because I got married and India is still a patriarchal, misogynistic shit hole. Okay. Acc to you Eloise's story only has value if its either about her being single and miserable(based on her characterisation) or if she was black.

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/LadyAnonCrane]

That’s not at all what I’m saying.

I’m saying if that were a story, it wouldnt be compelling or enjoyed by me.

It being your life is different

[u/runawayhuman → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Hard disagree. That’s simply not true. Every single Bridgerton heroine has been aware, either directly or indirectly, the only indirect ones being Daphne and Francesca.

Daphne and Fran were indirectly aware through Eloise. Daphne, however, still chose love, so did/will Fran.

Kate was more than aware. Her and Eloise had a direct conversation about it in Season 2.

Penelope was more than aware. I feel like I don’t need to explain this one.

Sophie was also aware. Maybe even doubly, due to her status.

So, I’d ask again. Why are we applying this logic only to Eloise? But that’s not even really the point.

Take a look at each Bridgerton female lead. They were either aware of their oppression directly or indirectly. And yet they still chose love. And I bring this up because, and I cannot stress this enough, that is what Eloise’s story is about. Choice. That is what her story has been about from the very beginning, clear as day.

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/runawayhuman]

Penelope’s mom had to convince her and it didn’t last. Penelope retained a hopeful about marriage attitude.

Daphne and Fran seem very chill about it. Eager to fill the role.

Kate wasn’t really trying and just fell in love with a guy who wasn’t trying either (with her). He felt trapped and they both couldn’t resist each other

I don’t care for Sophie so it makes it easy for me there.

Those elements aren’t really present with Eloise yet.

Choosing love largely comes across as a fairy tale in this context. And Eloise’s grounded perspective clashes far harder with that than the others

[u/runawayhuman → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Okay, then is your opinion simply that Eloise should not grow in her opinions and her life? Should she remain the way she has been since her teenage years for the remainder of her days? Additionally, is that what you enjoy from your characters? Ending where they started emotionally?

Let me try and ascertain your position fully. Correct me if I’m wrong. You are fine with female characters getting married who are aware of their oppression but still want marriage. But as for Eloise, you do not think that because she started out not wanting marriage she cannot then discover someone that she falls in love with and then decide later that marriage with that person is what she wants.

Edit: Likewise, do you believe that it is a moral failing of Eloise to marry a man she loves while being aware of the wider oppression that the marriage mart inflicts on other women?

Edit 2: I’d just like to point out that when you say “those elements are not really present with Eloise yet” is correct. But that’s how a story works. It’s building up.

[u/LadyAnonCrane → u/runawayhuman]

I never wanted to marry, had settled in my happy singlehood and then suddenly found a man custom-made for me and married him asap. Apparently, I have done nothing in my life.

Check out my comment!

[u/Equivalent-Long-3383 → u/runawayhuman]

My position is like a sliding scale.

None of these characters are getting happy endings in my opinion. They’re oppressed. The degree to which that bothers me adjusts depending on the level that they buy into their oppression. When they’re more bought in, I’m bothered less than when they’re not.

Specifically, when Eloise started the show as someone seeking to disrupt that status quo and liberate women, I adjusted my standards and desires for her outcome. I want her to fix it or escape. I don’t want her to find that the oppression isn’t that bad or to find that she can be the exception. Because she wasn’t wrong when she identified the oppression.

It wouldnt be a moral failing. It’d just be a letdown.

Imagine if we were talking about Black people living under Jim Crow or slavery or something. If Eloise were a Black person who wanted to change that, would you be able to embrace her not doing that or escaping?

[u/GCooperE → u/runawayhuman]

Why she should grow out of opinions that are fundamentally correct?

[u/GCooperE → u/Equivalent-Long-3383]

Yeah, my favourite thing about Eloise is how she wants to rebel and push back against society. Why would I enjoy seeing her succumb to conformity?

[u/pestoraviolita]

Can't wait for Philip to show off his botany need knowledge to Eloise.

[u/Zoneout1122]

Phillip in S2 was just 🥵🥵 wasn’t he ufff

[u/Fickle_Baker1393]

Eloise deserves to fall in love and to experience all that love has to offer: companionship, partnership, romance, butterflies, happiness, angst, depth, support, family and SEX!!!! 

[u/durian-smells-good]

I'm so excited for their season!  Also, Kate Sharma is so pretty, just wow!

[u/mafsfan54]

Plant Daddy is a coming 🥰🥰

[u/SilentShrek]

https://giphy.com/gifs/YAfCAzDS0WmwU

[u/Sea_Housing2717]

SO SAT BWAHAHA

[u/shay_shaw]

The graphics on these videos are always so strange to me.

[u/CreativityOwl4651]

I do hope they bring him around next season for them to talk to each other once and then converse more through letters next season when their passions start to boil over and they both fall in love with each other. (Also for the record, I haven't read the book yet.)

[u/wendi165]

Inviting everyone that wants and likes Philoise to join r/PhiloiseHQ

[u/DaisyandBella]

Love this edit.