I don't know that stakes are everything in a story. I think this season in particular had a message to convey, around becoming yourself and in particular pointing out the shallowness of toxic masculinity (honestly I think this season and Barbie are great, gentle bookends to that conversation). Whatever stakes you need to get the message across is the stakes you use as a writer/showrunner.

I think there can be stakes for the character without those stakes being personally relatable to the audience (marriage then vs now has different stakes but that’s ok, we can live in their world for a minute - maybe if ppl are missing this aspect, that means there could be more of a set up in the narrative? Which may be a legitimate criticism). Another thought about stakes: the fantasy genre is all about invented stakes - magic etc and that is accepted as legitimate. Nobody complains that stranger things doesn’t have stakes haha.) I think ppl who dont like a guaranteed happy ending just arent the audience for romance, but i personally love a guaranteed happy ending. It’s about the journey! Also, the happy ending in a romance book is necessarily making a suggestion about real life love and happy endings. How did the characters get here? What is needed for a happy ending? What even is an ideal happy ending? What does love actually look like? These are philosophical questions posed every time a writer depicts a love story. The tension of the ending doesn’t exist on the pages of the book, it exists outside the book in the world where we live. (Lydia Bennet marrying Wickham is happy for her in the moment and arguably the happiest possible ending to her story in P&P, but it is still a devastating end for the reader bc of the real-life risk of marrying someone you think you know, but really dont)

Nothing will change your life more than the person you choose to marry, or whether to marry at all. It literally makes or breaks lives. I’d call that pretty high stakes.

First a very interesting video and topic. I think you bring up a lot of great points. I think some of the complaints about the "stakes" in Bridgerton, are two fold. And let me be clear, I'm not saying I agree with either of these completely, but the perception. One I think in today's era it's difficult to fully grasp the concept or how grave it would be for women who don't marry well in society on an emotional. I mean we had the scene in season 1 with Portia and Marina going into the "slums", so we understand it on a mental level of "okay they will be poor", but emotionally I think (not always), but sometimes it can be hard to connect with that. Even though sadly it can be a reality for many people. And second with everything going on in the world, Bridgerton/romance can be seen as "petty or first world problems" when the characters are rich people with no "real world" experience. Which is why I think a fair amount of people enjoyed the "Eliose/Theo" subplot last season. As you say it does dismiss the emotional lives of the characters, but I think those two I mentioned above are some of the reasons people may find historical romance hard to "get into". And I also think the big blockbusters that focus more on cool action/adventure scenes may also contribute to this idea that there has to be external forces at play rather than just the emotional lives of the characters. This was a great video and if I may make a request, I know/believe you are a pure Pollin shipper, but could you make a video about Lord Depbling and Penelope? Because to me (if Collin didn't exist) I think Pen and Lord Debling could have potential as aa main couple with love developing over time romance. Or just in a reply what are your thoughts on Pen and Lord Debling? Thank you :)

I would have to say that right now, a hit show like bridgerton is high stakes. But I can’t say if it will be long term and future. Depends on what is currently going on as you mentioned. With the height of the pandemic, it was the perfect escape for many. Just my observation, but the division I see primarily with men and women on the ideas of what that HEA looks like….it leaves many wondering and be enamored by stories like Bridgerton. Curious to see what others think. Love your takes! I’ve always loved the romances but I def get to learn more with your channel. Thanks so much for bringing up these discussions.

I have two things to say on this topic. I am primarily an epic fantasy reader, wars, life and death stakes and so on. And I rarely touch romance. But even then, I am here watching it with mom and enjoying it immensely. I do not think it has low stakes, I think it has adequate stakes for the type of story and context it is in. Characters may not face death as a consequence of failure, but their lives still can be ruined in a significant way. And for some reason, this season feels higher stakes than the others. Probably because I am the most emotionally invested in Penelope, having the two season buildup already. As for stakes in general, whether something is low stakes or high stakes is a bit subjective, but it is influenced a lot by genre, aka context. Also, I do not understand why people give "low stakes" as an insult. There is nothing wrong with a piece of media that has in general low stakes. We can see this in the rise of cosy fantasy as a genre, or games like stardew valley. In these crazy times, people crave stories that can be just enjoyed without the added worry and sit in the comfort that piece of media provides. That is Bridgerton for me. A comfort show. And I am able to appreciate it for what it is even as someone who usually is more into the other type of media. Bridgerton is a show that got me out of my worst anxiety in the pandemic times exactly because it promised love and happiness. The lack of "life and death" calmed me and did not further trigger my nerves. It brought a promise that everything can and will be okay, that getting a good life is still possible.

Since Bridgerton frost came out I’ve desperately wanted to see Spindle Cove adapted, I love that town and it’s distinctive and different enough to hold up as a separate entry in historical romance

The HEA is the same as the hero’s journey. Do NOT tell me you go into a superhero movie/series of movies and assume by the end (of either the single film or the series of films) the superhero will LOSE. You do NOT. We all assume the good guy will win in the end. Does that ruin the story for you?? It shouldn’t!! Very very VERY few franchises have the guts to just red wedding their cast of characters. For the most part as consumers of media we know our main characters are safe from death, they’ll solve their issues, they’ll defeat the bad guy, and then (drumroll please!) have a HAPPILY EVER AFTER just not a romantic one necessarily. It’s very reductive and honestly ignorant to act like romance is the only genre with set endings. I’m sorry would you enjoy unsolved mystery stories? I sure wouldn’t. I know going into a mystery novel that the ending will SOLVE THE MYSTERY. Now to be fair that’s a touch less specific than HEA but it’s still a built in ending convention. People need to just get over the idea that their media isn’t predetermined because it is. No one likes an unexplained plot hole (PLL cough cough) it drives viewers crazy. The point is we like the JOURNEY of media not necessarily the ending (cough GoT). So get over the “low stakes” or “ruined ending” of a HEA. Irl real stakes can be low. We all get angsty over stuff others roll their eyes at! That’s life. Not everyone wants wild crazy GoT level stakes. I don’t! It makes me anxious!!! I like chill low stakes shows that will end happy and I’m not the only one. Edit: I commented before finishing the video if you couldn’t tell lol you do mention mystery

Intelligent men can enjoy it. The first time my boyfriend saw a Bridgerton episode was the premier weekend of S2, the one Kantony kissed at the altar, I remember I told him, ok let’s watch something you enjoy, I’ll finish this later. His response was, “are you kidding w? want to know what happens.next. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

You mentioning stakes made me think of the themes we learned in elementary/middle school where stakes come from. Man v. Man Man v. Self Man v. Environment Sometimes I wonder if the dueling moments with couples are man v. Man, but the one I wanted to talk about is the man v. Self. What is nice about bridgerton is we are constantly seeing multiple perspectives and why the characters do what they do. All the Bridgertons are figuring out their place and duty on the show which is another major theme, but in order to see that struggle, we see private moments like Anthony in his study reflecting on something. Daphne worries her only place is to marry. Anthony’s duty is as the viscount, but wants more than that, but don’t think he is allowed to. Eloise constantly worries about not being confined in this role her family has while not seeing her privilege compared to the rest of the ton. Colin longs for travel and to explore the world around him and finds passion in writing which becomes a shared purpose between him and Penelope. I can go on and on. But that is where the stakes come from. They come from the constant internal struggles of the characters and how they need to evolve to finally know they deserve the happy ending they want and earn. With season 3, we see Colin having to go through what Penelope did with him. He is pining for her from afar because they feel distance will absolve their reputations. Colin has repressed feelings he is not allowed to bring out until Violet gives him permission to be selfish for once because being with Penelope will make both of them happy. That is what makes the happy ending feel earned. The journey, if written well.

Undermining the genre of the romantic novel for the simple fact of following the central scoop that characterizes it, the "happily ever after", is like criticizing the genre of epic stories of heroes who achieve their goal by saving the world at the end of their story. If we accompany the hero on his adventure throughout the journey, we expect the reward of seeing him triumph despite the challenges he faces. The payoff in a romance novel IS the "and they lived happily ever after." They saved their relationship, despite the difficulties they faced.

I feel like people have “stakes” as defined as situational stakes…but in romance the emotional stakes are far more important to the story

The stakes feel so low to me! I still love the show and the season but i miss being on the edge of my seat!

This is something I come across within ttrpg (white wolf, d&d and such) spaces a lot. There is this idea, that taking character death out of the equation renders everything a mute point, because if you know that your character won't die, there are no stakes anymore. I however experience it the other way around. If my character can die, I don't get emotionally invested in the story anymore and while objectively the stakes are much higher, when you risk your live to save the world, subjectively they feel much higher for me, when it's about the inner emotional experience of my character. I love collaborative story telling, but it frustrates me, that the hobby is kinda limited in the types of stories that can be told, by this stupid idea, that the stakes always have to be objectively high. What's wrong with personal, emotional stakes?

Off topic, but your voice sounds like Harper from Wizards of Waverly Place :)