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sophiefahey's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
annelives's review against another edition
1.0
No one would read this and think it's anything special if someone other than Shakespeare had written it. I hated this even more than Romeo and Juliet. At least the writing in Romeo and Juliet had substance.
readstamara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
alexdibo's review against another edition
4.0
I have absolutely no idea why I enjoyed this RIDICULOUS play as much as I did. It is so...anti-women, but yet the plot was so hilariously wonky that it was intriguing and the dialogue was very interesting. I will also say that this is one of the easiest to understand/follow of Shakespeare's plays, so there may be that, too.
benjfleck's review against another edition
3.0
All's Well That Ends Well: Or, All's Thous't Catfishing Ends... Meh
Oh, William Shakespeare, what happened here? For I did not enjoy this as much as I thought. So for me, no, all did not end well unfortunately. It's odd because the scheming is there, the trickery is there, the confusion and hijinks -- all there. So, why was this not fun but a slog?
Perhaps it was the characters not popping. Or Paroles and his stupid rant. Or just the general plot of poor Helena trying to catfish a guy who clearly doesn't want to get with her. There are other fish in the sea, Helena, come on now.
Out of all of Willy's plays, this so far is probably one of the least memorable, but check back in with me when I read "Love's Labour Lost". EXEUNT.
Oh, William Shakespeare, what happened here? For I did not enjoy this as much as I thought. So for me, no, all did not end well unfortunately. It's odd because the scheming is there, the trickery is there, the confusion and hijinks -- all there. So, why was this not fun but a slog?
Perhaps it was the characters not popping. Or Paroles and his stupid rant. Or just the general plot of poor Helena trying to catfish a guy who clearly doesn't want to get with her. There are other fish in the sea, Helena, come on now.
Out of all of Willy's plays, this so far is probably one of the least memorable, but check back in with me when I read "Love's Labour Lost". EXEUNT.
bellatora's review against another edition
3.0
HELENA: I am hopelessly in love with Bertram! But he is a count and I am but a lowly physician's daughter and the ward of his mother the Countess! Woe!
RANDOM GUY: Hey, the king's sick!
HELENA: Well, I am a physician's daughter...
KING: You have cured me, Helena! I'll give you anything you want. What would that be? Gold? Pretty baubles? A new dress?
HELENA: Bertram.
KING: Well, I am king. So be it!
BETRAM: AH HELL NO. *runs away to fight with the Duke of Florence*
HELENA: Woe! Bertram will never be my true spouse unless I get the ring from his finger and his child in my belly! But he won't even get within eyesight of me! I am so hopelessly in love with him despite all this. Guess it's stalking time!
BERTRAM: Ha! Good thing I outran that weirdo Helena. That Diana chick is pretty hot, though.
HELENA: Hey, Diana! Let me pretend to be you so I can trick my husband into sleeping with me and giving me his ring.
DIANA:... 'k.
MESSENGER: Helena is dead. Safe to return to France, dude.
BERTRAM: Sweet.
HELENA: I AM TOTALLY ALIVE AND TOTALLY TRICKED YOU INTO SLEEPING WITH ME AND GIVING YOU MY RING. I WIN. NOW YOU HAVE TO BE MY TRUE HUSBAND.
BERTRAM: ....
KING: Excellent! I'm so happy for you both.
BERTRAM: Yes...happy. So...very...happy.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER SHAKESPEARE STYLE.
I am at a loss to how this was a comedy considering how very, very stupid Helena was to blindly pursue Bertram despite lack of all interest from him. Helena is supposed to be pretty awesome--the King likes her, and the Countess likes her more than her own son (for pretty obvious reasons). So why is Helena's self-worth tied to Bertram? I think the guy fleeing the country is a pretty good sign that He's Just Not That Into You. And no way is he that hot. There has to be other attractive guys the King or Countess can set Helena up with.
RANDOM GUY: Hey, the king's sick!
HELENA: Well, I am a physician's daughter...
KING: You have cured me, Helena! I'll give you anything you want. What would that be? Gold? Pretty baubles? A new dress?
HELENA: Bertram.
KING: Well, I am king. So be it!
BETRAM: AH HELL NO. *runs away to fight with the Duke of Florence*
HELENA: Woe! Bertram will never be my true spouse unless I get the ring from his finger and his child in my belly! But he won't even get within eyesight of me! I am so hopelessly in love with him despite all this. Guess it's stalking time!
BERTRAM: Ha! Good thing I outran that weirdo Helena. That Diana chick is pretty hot, though.
HELENA: Hey, Diana! Let me pretend to be you so I can trick my husband into sleeping with me and giving me his ring.
DIANA:... 'k.
MESSENGER: Helena is dead. Safe to return to France, dude.
BERTRAM: Sweet.
HELENA: I AM TOTALLY ALIVE AND TOTALLY TRICKED YOU INTO SLEEPING WITH ME AND GIVING YOU MY RING. I WIN. NOW YOU HAVE TO BE MY TRUE HUSBAND.
BERTRAM: ....
KING: Excellent! I'm so happy for you both.
BERTRAM: Yes...happy. So...very...happy.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER SHAKESPEARE STYLE.
I am at a loss to how this was a comedy considering how very, very stupid Helena was to blindly pursue Bertram despite lack of all interest from him. Helena is supposed to be pretty awesome--the King likes her, and the Countess likes her more than her own son (for pretty obvious reasons). So why is Helena's self-worth tied to Bertram? I think the guy fleeing the country is a pretty good sign that He's Just Not That Into You. And no way is he that hot. There has to be other attractive guys the King or Countess can set Helena up with.
maroonie's review against another edition
2.5
This 'problem-play' really is one especially from a modern point of view. I really liked the switch of the tropes and the female agency of Helena in it but her actions? Let's just say that in the end I didn't like Bertram or Helena and they deserve each other - so all's well that ends well indeed. Points for Lafeu and his funny one-liners.
bibliowhore's review against another edition
2.0
bertram is a digusting POS but that doesn’t mean he deserve to be raped — i wouldn’t wish that upon my worst enemy. at first i admired helena’s cunning and manipulation but she has gone too far