I'm not sure I am following what distinctions you are making.

I didn't think Simon was trying imply he was infertile as much as he considered having children so unequivocally not an option that "I can't" was the natural expression. I actually think he was more deliberately misleading in the book, although there may have been more said on screen than I remember.

Daphne's motivation, well, I don't think it can be boiled down to just she wanted a baby.

Both of them big murky messes.

I guess you probably have to be listening to the podcasts, but they seem to explain the plot as “Simon lies to her saying he is infertile and when she figures it out, she rapes him so she can have a baby.”

Well, I’d call that oversimplified but I suppose one could make a case for it.

Yeah, I don’t think he was lying. I think he expected her to have slightly more understanding of reproduction than she did. Even by the standards of the time her mom’s version of “the talk” was vague and unhelpful—part of the expectations for women in that time and class was to provide heirs. And this as also pre-Victoria, so I think some of the prudishness was a tad ahistorical. Yes, women were expected to be virgins on their wedding night, but that didn’t mean they didn’t know where babies came from.

they seem to explain the plot as “Simon lies to her saying he is infertile and when she figures it out, she rapes him so she can have a baby.”

I haven't read the books, and I more or less hated everything about Daphne/Simon (normally I am ALL ABOUT the pretend partner trope but this level of contrived miscommunication makes my skin crawl) but my interpretation is he just didn't think she was owed any explanation.

I think some of the prudishness was a tad ahistorical. Yes, women were expected to be virgins on their wedding night, but that didn’t mean they didn’t know where babies came from.

Ugggggh, this bothered me so much. People didn't talk about sex in public in the 1800s but that doesn't mean nobody knew how it worked!

A lot of women were kept ignorant, on the theory that ignorance would keep them "innocent." When I was in school, 1960s, all we got was that sex was bad (for girls) and not to have sex (for girls) and the repercussions (for girls) were harsh.

Interesting thoughts. Until I was listening to these podcasts (which all seem to be by folks who are quite a bit younger than I am and also more Jane Austenites than romance novel fans), none of that had even occured to me. It clearly wasn't my favorite book ever, because I didn't even remember it. I think when/if they do Penny/Colin I will be more on board. (I actually think I have read most of them after I read the synopses). I will be interested to see if they do something with a gay romance.

The books hadn't been on my radar at all until the show was announced, and I just read the first one in the last few days. I got the second one and am in the process of deciding whether I want to go ahead and read it now or wait until the next season is coming out.

I like the bits that have been added to the show more than what has strictly been adapted from the book so far - Queen Charlotte and the boxing and Marina's storyline (although TV Colin is very different from how Book Colin is described, I'm curious how that will play out when it's time for him to get a season so I will probably read through his book at least, I suppose). The show is quite a bit sexier than the book, too, in my opinion.

I'm not too bothered about how historically accurate the sexual ignorance is as long as it's making an interesting point which I do think it is.

I would say the show is better than the books, mostly because there are costumes! And I love them! And I didn't do super research into how accurate they are, but I remember English Regency as being was more like the Featheringtons than French Empire. Those fashion plates looked like the ladies were wearing cakes! But, I seriously barely remember the books.

IIRC, the Anthony book (next) had a Taming of the Shrew/Kiss me Kate vibe, which will be interesting to see if they go with.

And how much will we see of Daphne and Simon after this first one?

Always an issue with romances, isn't it? But Simon is still Anthony's best friend, and I would imagine Daphne will help when her sisters come out. Will they settle into the background and be the boring happily married couple? I don't know that I want to see any more of their drama, however if they are kind of ongoing working on their their communication issues amidst everyone else's drama that might be interesting.