so we're okay with daphne essentially raping simon? ok then .
This episode should have a big disclaimer at the beginning.
The problem is not what she does, but the fact that it's never acknowledged for what that is and we never have a moment to see how he feels about it. The show takes so many liberties with respect to historical reality, that it has no excuses, regarding the absence of Simon's point of view here.
«The ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars. For what thing is more fragile than the human heart?
Desperate times may call for desperate measures, but I would wager many will think her actions beyond the pale. [...] can the ends ever justify such wretched means?».
«Coloro che amiamo sono quelli che ci infliggono le ferite più profonde. Vi è infatti qualcosa di più fragile del cuore umano?
[...] Può mai il fine giustificare un così deprecabile mezzo?»
i took some time to watch this episode given the other comments but i'm bothered by the fact that a number hide the comments behind spoiler warnings. if you genuinely want a trigger warning on a scene in this episode, then provide it to other viewers independent of spoilers: there is a scene that, depending on your understanding and opinion of consent in this particular period, can qualify as sexual assault.
i personally do not qualify it as rape, though it may be considered coercion to some degree. i would however consider the book's scene to be rape as consent is not provided. i do agree that the writers of the show, in changing the circumstances but not taking the time to have the characters fully discuss the issues of betrayal and consent in the context of sex rather than conception, did a disservice to all viewers.
i think a very important point WAS made by daphne, however briefly in the greater context of her wanting children—the assumption on simon's part that she understood how children were conceived, when he had earlier in the series been the one to tell daphne that she was able to pleasure herself, was not an acceptable argument. she was right in saying that he took advantage of her lack of knowledge. that doesn't make her behavior any more appropriate, but it also contextualizes the scene enough for me, personally, as a viewer. if the final sex scene makes you uncomfortable due to the issue of consent, i strongly encourage you to re-examine the other sex scenes earlier on, as well; after all, daphne not fully comprehending intercourse puts her at an inherently different level of consent than simon.
should use a trigger warning at times like this.
Poor Penelope. She honestly deserves better from her mother yes, her sisters, sure but Marina, definitely!
What Daphne did is so so so wrong. Simon made it clear from the start that he couldn't have children and yes, he should've been more up front of the 'couldn't' but he assumed Daphne knew how babies where made and that is an honest mistake on his part. He shouldn't have assumed, he should've had that conversation with her but he didn't mean to 'trick' her into anything and Daphne did. She tricked him good. Conversation could've been key in this entire situation. The way Daphne went about it makes me think very little of her and I used to be fond of that naive girl.
Eloise needs to provide both Penelope and Daphne with some feminist books. In a historical context they are both victims of a patriarchy that never taught them any better, but as fictional characters I'm disgusted by their actions. Disgusted by Penelope for betraying a fellow woman who has no choice but to do what needs to be done in order to survive, and disgusted by Daphne for having absolutely no respect for her husband's wishes so she decides to rape him in order to get what she wants instead of having an honest conversation with him. This episode is definitely a huge disappointment in what could have been a good show.
Wait, what? She's seriously being the righteous one right now?
Review by TagougaVIP 7BlockedParentSpoilers2020-12-26T15:48:44Z
SPOILERS ahead for non-book readers:
- I know Penelope wants to protect Colin but she will never resort to shaming anyone. So Marina’s pregnancy reveal kind of disappoints me. I feel the whole idea behind Lady Whistledown is taking a different turn. Penelope should have gone to Eloise or Lady Bridgerton with the truth, I just think this will have major repercussions once we get to the reveal in the future
- Now to the problematic scene. It is not as awful as it was in the book, however, that is not say it was not wrong. Simon was not drunk here and even his reaction and the stuttering was a bit tamer, I thought there would be more emphasis on it. At this point, Daphne doesn’t even know about his stutter! Also, being in Daphne’s mind in the book, knowing her thoughts, and the fact that this happens after she learns all the truth about his father and his stutter makes it even worse. God, I hated this scene in the book, and what made me resent it even more was how the aftermath was handled. Daphne didn't really regret what happened, she thought it was good that she took advantage of the situation as this might be her only chance to get pregnant. For me, Daphne's character never redeemed herself and Simon forgave her (without her even apologizing) and went along with it too easily. So I want to see how the aftermath will be handled in the show because even if this scene wasn’t as messy, it was still very uncomfortable.