This is one of my favorite scenes too. The little subtleties in facial expression and nuance in language make it so endearing. At first, I was worried about how he was going to perceive an apology. Up to that point, he had been talking about her as an opponent and being at war with her. His character up to this point could have easily seen an apology as a weakness. His father definitely would have. Instead, she seems to disarm him. Maybe, it's the shock of the apology or the budding attraction or both. I doubt he is used to getting apologies, especially from someone he viewed as an opponent. I also really enjoyed when she said, "You can't win all the time." Again, up until then, you only got his father's view of winning (even out of James's mouth). A view that is basically take down your opposition at any cost and losing isn't an option (or its a disgrace). Her statement is nicely juxtaposed to the father's view. From his expression, James seemed to find it either shocking or refreshing too. It is probably this statement that gets him thinking, which led a few scenes later to him saying something like, "I never imagined the third option, a stalemate. When two kings bow to each other showing true power." I know I didn't get that exactly right, but it's the scene at the golf course.

@koalabear6089

11 күн бұрын

After multiple rewatches of certain scenes, I continue to be super impressed with Damian Hardung's ability to emote. It's very subtle and not over the top. Sometimes he looks like totally different people. Harriet also looks so different but honestly this scene was quite perfect. A lot of people have criticised the fact that he doesn't apologise in this scene but they are missing the point that this is a first step for him - he's disarmed and he is learning to be a better person after this moment

@edumed1704

11 күн бұрын

​@@koalabear6089He takes her to the flagship store. I think that's his way to apologize.

@faultynerd

11 күн бұрын

Wow. Brilliantly put. I have watched this scene a hundred times only becoz I wanted to note the exact point where he goes from arrogant James to the better one I realised that the first two episodes were building up to this newly changed now-in-love-with-Ruby James and the exact point where he finally melts off like wax was when Ruby says "you can't win all the time". but I couldn't understand why he melted off right at that moment only. With your explanation of how her dialogue is juxtaposition with his father's view explains(and how much he hates his father's expectations/views) why he changed at a whiplash speed . I think that subconsciously he has been waiting for her to prove him(and his father) wrong. And that's why we can see right after her "we can't win all the time" speech that he is already in love with her.

@Schirm08

10 күн бұрын

@@koalabear6089 Interesting that you say he sometimes looks like completely different people. That’s actually only in the role as James. In other roles, it’s not like that. Damian Hardung said in an interview that he read the book before the casting, and in the book, James is described as someone who wears masks for different situations. In his clique, he’s arrogant and bored, mainly friends with them because they’re as rich as he is and don’t want anything from him, like everyone else. Only Alistair is a real friend. In his family, he’s someone else again, and only with Ruby he can’t put on a mask. He tries at first, but quickly stops, which is super cute. 🥰

@koalabear6089

10 күн бұрын

@@Schirm08definitely. When I watched the trailer, i was thinking - urgh I don't like his look at all and when I started watching it, I definitely didn't like him but also wasn't really drawn to his appearance. But on the lacrosse field with the heart eyes .. that's when I started going ... oh .. and in the car after the pool scene .. perhaps I just like him with darker hair haha

I totally agree with you! The atmosphere in the morning. Beautiful. Quiet. Him alone on the field. The moment when she apologizes and he turns his head to her. His gaze so intense. He gets me in that moment. 🤩

@koalabear6089

11 күн бұрын

Definitely one of my favourite scenes - beautifully shot and composed and the body language and exchanges of glances is just lovely

@edumed1704

11 күн бұрын

I thought that was in the evening?

@Schirm08

11 күн бұрын

@@edumed1704 Oh, that could be 🙃. To me, it felt like Saturday morning. But maybe only because I always work out in the mornings. 😂

This is probably my favorite scene. You can see the exact moment that boy falls for her, it's so beautifully done. I do think the groundwork for this scene was done in episode one though, and very well at that: I think Ruby genuinely surprised him (and thus planted a seed of interest in him) earlier: When she told him she absolutely did not want to be seen with him, in the staircase, when he tried to "seduce" her into an adventure with the "hottest guy in school" (He was SUCH a jerk in the first episode). He has probably never in his life had someone say that and mean it. He looked annoyed but also somewhat intrigued. Plus, after the party in the headmasters office when she had the chance to throw him and Lydia under the bus and didn't. He was up to that point too far up his own *ss to realise it meant he could trust Ruby, but it did make him do a double take. You could clearly see all that in his face and eyes even before he realised it himself. Gosh the acting of these two leads is fantastic, isn't it?

@Eleonoor

26 күн бұрын

Oh and also, I personally LOVE these scene discussions. I really really appreciate you making them.

@maureen2703

25 күн бұрын

I totally agree with you. I loved his face when she looked at him thought for a minute and then said no nothing! He could not believe it. Someone first did not want to take something from the Beaufort s and after being so arrogant she still didn’t!

@koalabear6089

11 күн бұрын

I agree with you. I think people think he was attracted from the first encounter - I think he was puzzled and intrigued from the first encounter and the more he knows about her the more puzzled and intrigued he is - but this scene is the moment when he essentially surrenders to himself if not to her and then things can Happen :)

I love this scene too!! ❤

@koalabear6089

10 күн бұрын

I think it's a favourite scene for many. I'm always a little surprised when people like the Beaufort collection scene the most because in my mind, it's beautiful but a lot more ... cliched?

I agree this was one of my favorite scenes! It is a pivotal moment in their relationship. There are a few really good scenes. Another one I like is when he draws her and is remember her face.

@koalabear6089

Ай бұрын

Yes.. it's such a powerful scene but it's so quiet and beautiful. Not flashy at all - and that's why it's so nice. they barely say anything but they say so much

@maureen2703

28 күн бұрын

@@koalabear6089 I also feel like James has really been trying to figure Ruby out since he tried to buy her off. He really does not understand why she wants nothing from the Beaufort when he is used to people always wanting something from them. She has something that could destroy their reputation but chooses to not use and it or want anything. Even in Lexingtons office she had an opportunity to tell Lexington about Lydia and she doesn’t and James doesn’t understand. She is an enigma to him and when she apologizes even after he had been such an arrogant ass she is genuine and it throws him off!

@Marie10199

28 күн бұрын

@@maureen2703I agree. Even in episode 3 he asks her to tell him something about her she’s never told anyone before and questions why there hasn’t been any rumors about her lol.

@koalabear6089

28 күн бұрын

@@maureen2703 you've reminded me that I want to do the Lexington office scene. It's often overlooked but it's pretty pivotal as it's definitely one of those moments you can see James is startled by Ruby. As I mentioned in another one of my videos, the antagonistic exchanges serve two purposes - they allow the characters to learn more about one another so that as the barriers do come down - they already know one another although through the lens of antipathy. The battle of wits is designed to heighten sexual tension but also make the stakes even higher when they do eventually surrender to one another and fall in love. So it's not as 'sudden' as people sometimes think when they comment how 'quickly' James falls. This has been building from the start. I think it's also been building from the beginning for Ruby, too but she's probably less obvious about it :D

@Marie10199

27 күн бұрын

@@koalabear6089 Oh interesting so I probably have to rewatch. In your opinion do you think there’s undertones of tension between their scenes when they were in their enemies phase? It would make sense how Ruby’s already infected by him at episode 3.

I Luv this scene too❤❤❤

Can someone just agree/disagree and tell me if I’m being delusional or not. When she tells him “oh well you can’t win all the time” I think that breaks the ice for him a little bit because that’s literally how we started the episode with his father showing him how to win every game I just found that interesting and wonder if there’s a parallel there. I’m probably just overthinking here but I’ll like to throw the thought out there.

@koalabear6089

28 күн бұрын

It's definitely not you being delusional. It makes wheels turn in his head for sure - the voiceover during the golf scene is even him saying - he'd always been taught that someone had to win and someone had to win and someone had to lose but what if both kings surrender to one another i.e. which is kind of what he and Ruby are doing. His father essentially said you have to win at all costs and Ruby reminded him taht there was another way ...

Three things to add to your commentary that I observed: 1) James' surprise at the apology make me think that he doesn't often have people in his life (other than maybe Lydia) who apologize to him for the way they behaved towards him. 2) When Ruby says that you can't win all the time and accepts that as just a part of life, this is likely the first time James has ever had that notion presented to him. The flash back to this scene when James' is playing golf only reinforces this for me. 3) There are indications in James relationships with Alastair, Lydia, Percy, and even the servants in his home that he is not really such a jerk. That the arrogant, entitled jerk is really his protective persona. Those make this scene more real and believable.

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.

@koalabear6089

Ай бұрын

Thank you so much for listening

This was a surprisingly beautiful scene. I didnt exoect it. In my opinion, this was a pivotal scene in character development and the moment she really touches his heart.

@koalabear6089

11 күн бұрын

One of the directors lists this as his favourite scene, too. Some people love the visit to London trip which is quite Cindarella - but for some reason I love this moment the most... not meaning that I don't love the others. I have too many favourite scenes