My heart has moved into Benophie's cottage

BRIDGERTON (2020-)

He’s developed this exterior that’s very amenable. [He] doesn’t feel like anything bothers him, yet clearly, in the middle of him, there is this side that is running away from something. Even with the mistress offer, it’s sort of quite a neurotic thing to do. It’s like trying to compartmentalize your life, this reluctance to give someone everything. It’s quite refreshing because he has a very soft exterior, and then there’s actually this center that is a bit more controlling, which is a surprise. — Luke Thompson

And oh, if only that dismal rain would stop pouring down as if the whole world were weeping over summer vanished and joys departed!

period drama + rain

CRIMSON PEAK (2015)

EMMA. (2020)

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995)

LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER (2022)

HOWARDS END (1992)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005)

BRIGHT STAR (2009)

I'm not going to claim that the past few seasons have been perfect, but there's still so much to enjoy and appreciate. It's still a special mixture of heart and humor, it still presents an interesting and subtly thought-provoking view of both life and the afterlife, and even my least favorite episodes have great lines and individual scenes. The show still sends the message that as screwed up as we all are, we can still find moments of humor, connection, love and happiness - if not in this life, then maybe in the afterlife :)

I know that for some people shipping makes fandom a lot more enjoyable, but in this case my total indifference towards the show's romances seems to have been a blessing. Because even a Ghosts stan like I am can admit that the show doesn't generally do romantic relationships very well, so being less invested in the canon and potential romances from the start means that I don't get as upset when ships are dropped or just not written well.

I still love basically every character and their bonds with one another. The show still makes me smile. And, hey, Nancy is a princess! The cast is awesome, and the writers can still entertain me, surprise me, and sometimes even inspire me :)

I basically love it too. In an odd way, I've become...comfortable with it, and I think that's a good thing I used to love it SO much that I was always checking viewing numbers and constantly worrying if it would get cancelled, but now..now its been on long enough that I can just...go along for the ride.

And even though there are things that have frustrated me, there's always something that I can focus on instead that I like. Sam and Jay's money problems dragging me down? wave shiny ghost shenanigans in front of my face and everything is cool. Like, at this point, they would have to take the ghosts out entirely and just make it the Sam and Jay show to make me drop it completely.

benophie + forehead touches

FREDERIC LEIGHTON — “Wedded” (1882)

I’m giving Luke all the credit for that ‘I love you’ moment. That little arm gesture just did me in. That’s saying, “I’m here. I’m surrendering. But now it’s up to you.” Seeing her then make the full walk back to him, I had full-body chills on the day. And I have chills when I watch it, because it’s a chemistry and an understanding of character that you can’t direct. You just have to stay out of the way of it. — Dir. Gia-Rayne Harris

It’s a seminal moment. It’s a beautiful speech. I wanted it to honor the fact that there is that expectation, but also to make it true to the character. It’s infused by how Benedict feels about love and feels about really, really saying to someone, “I love you.” I feel like he’s never said it to anyone. Benedict is very good at big gestures and big sentiment. The thing that always trips him up is what happens the next day, or what happens afterwards. — Luke Thompson

A world. Just for us.

It really was love at first sight, but she didn’t go to the ball hoping to find love. She just wanted a night of fantasy and to be in that world. She didn’t even know his name. She just saw a gentleman and actually fell in love with him for who he is … But I think after that, it was a little bit unlucky, in the sense that that night forever changes her and actually makes her yearn for love even more, that she never asked for. — Yerin Ha