a love letter to polin-save a horse, ride a bridgerton!! | Bridgerton S3 Part 2 reaction & analysis
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
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If you are someone who has rewatched and swooned over Polin scenes an unhealthy amount of times like I have, this is the place for you. 🥳
In this video, I’m sharing some of my thoughts and feelings regarding Season 3, Part 2 of Bridgerton. I mainly talk about Colin and Penelope as they continue to be the highlights of the season for me! I also rewatch some of my favorite scenes-time stamps below-and share my reactions (and those of my sister and I during our first watch) and thoughts along the way.
I wanted to note as well since I forgot to mention in the video, but I have not read the books, so this is solely a non-book biased video.
I hope you enjoy and thank you for watching!
📖 Chapters
overview
00:00 intro
01:37 glad it was released in 2 parts
02:54 everything i wanted addressed, was!
03:57 pen’s identity & faults as whistledown
04:59 wish lord debling had stuck around
episode 5
06:51 pen & colin announce their engagement
11:58 colin stands up to portia
12:55 🪞💕
17:59 colin’s speech
episode 6
19:18 colin checks on pen
20:38 pen’s confession
22:08 colin finds out
episode 7
22:46 the aftermath
24:16 colin confronts eloise
25:57 planning for the wedding breakfast
28:04 the argument
32:28 the wedding
33:43 the wedding breakfast
episode 8
35:35 colin sleeps on the couch
35:59 cressida found out
37:27 colin’s plan failed
41:42 colin reads pen’s letters
42:05 pen tells colin what she wants from him
42:58 the featherington ball
47:29 BABIESSS
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the clips used from Bridgerton as they belong to Netflix.
Artwork shown in thumbnail and video is mine.
#bridgerton #polin #bridgertonseason3
I agree! Colin is one of the best male representations in these classic romances. A sensitive, soft guy who has his own insecurities and is not agressive. I love this season, i love the themes of self-love, self-worth and their gentle, tender love story.
This season made me realise why Pen is in love with Colin with all these years ever since she was child.
Colin is the sweet, sensitive lover boy who is so intune with his sensitivity that he can't help but tears up in anger when it comes to his love for his wife. Now show has ever given me man who is feeling inferior to the success of his wife and taking it upon himself to push down his ego and let himself love her. This why he is favourite Bridgerton man 💕
YESSSSS. How could she NOT love him?!
One thing i absolutely love about their dynamic as a couple is the mutual respect they have for each other's emotions and how they allow the other to process their emotions, like in part 1 Colin was never upset with the fact that she didn't respond to him ,he just took accountability and apologized and in part 2 Penelope does the same thing where shes not upset with how him distancing himself she just took accountability and apologized and what i love is that in those situations they knew the care is not going to change just because of their mistakes and one thing is that their relationship is also based on this deep emotional intimacy which allows them to have such a compassion and an understanding for each other no matter what they are going through 🩵
Pen walking down the aisle to “ Yellow “ was PERFECTION.
Agreed, Nic and Luke SMASHED it.
YASSSSS!!!! I agree with sooooo much of what you said...Colin is such an emotional lover boy. The fact that he does not display toxic masculinity and works through his ego issues and communicates with Pen, really shows how he is the most emotionally mature Bridgerton! LOL.
However, I don't think ego is Colin's driving force to ask Pen to give up LW. Yes, there are elements of ego and his own insecurities about not being good enough....but I think a major part of him wanting her to give up being LW is fear for his family. In every fight they had once he found out, he always mentions what Pen wrote about Eloise and his family....that was more hurtful and damaging to him I think than what she wrote about him. I think on some level he knew she was correct in her characterization of him, but the hurt he saw that she caused his family is what really hurt Colin. We have seen time and again that Colin adores his family and has put them before himself, so I think he had to deal with those feeling first. Once he spoke with Kate and had that argument with Pen in the street I think Colin realized he could forgive her for that , which is why he was happy to marry her because I think he believed if he can forgive her then they can figure the rest out later. And lets be honest, Colin has NEVER been good at holding a grudge! LOL
However, this issue of Pen hurting his family once again is brought back up in the worst way - as the Queen crashes their wedding breakfast and is now not only hunting for LW with even more vigor (putting Pen in even more danger) but she is now basically threatening his entire family. Pen's lies and secrecy have put the Bridgerton's directly into the path of the Queen's wrath. Before it was just Pen that was in danger and Colin made a point to tell her that he was scared about that during the street argument....but NOW....his entire family is in danger...and to him, it seems like Pen is placing herself and her own ego above the safety of him and his family. There is an element of ego and him wanting to take control of the situation to sort of assert his place in their relationship since he is really unsure of where he stands, but I truly think it comes more out of wanting to protect his family rather than wanting to tear Pen down. In the scene where Colin tells Pen that it isn't up to her to decide what they do, as harsh as that it, I understand where Colin is coming from....this is HIS family that is at risk of being ruined - his Bridgerton name. To Colin, he brought Pen into this family full of love and she is like spitting in their face by refusing to give up the 1 thing that is endangering them. I understand Pen not wanting to give up writing, but it is the secrecy and lying that is keeping the wedge and distance between her and Colin. Colin so much as told Pen after his sister's wedding that the secrecy is the main wedge between them....Pen letting LW go not only proves to Colin that he can trust Pen, but that she is willing to love and protect his family as well. Colin never asked Pen to give up her writing entirely, just the LW column...and while I understand Pen's need for that power that LW has provided, that is her own ego needing as much power of the Queen. She was seduced by the power. Her letting that power go, taking responsibility and owning up to her mistakes and offering to write more responsibility is what truly gives her power in her life and it is also what brings Colin around. Colin understands Pen has 1 voice....and now that she has merged herself with LW by revealing her identity and not allowing her misdeeds to hurt their family, Colin is beyond proud and supportive of her accomplishments. He truly sees his wife and understands her fully, which allows his to get over his ego and understand himself fully as well. They quite literally find themselves in each other by loving each other unconditionally. There is never a better love story than that!
On another note... I also love how Colin is never aggressive in his anger or insecurity, he is emotional and assertive in his feelings, which to me is an incredibly healthy and emotionally intelligent response. When Colin is upset (in every season) it seems like he needs to shut down, be alone and internalize everything and process his emotions.....which is why I think he sleeps on the sofa. He can't allow himself to give into his desires of being with Pen, further confusing his own heart and mind. He needs to understand his true feelings and come to a healthy decision before allowing himself to go to that emotional and intimate space with her. I find it so sad that the audience won't allow Colin the grace to feel his emotions and be angry and hurt for a few days, basically telling him to "get over it," all the while it took Eloise over a year to forgive Pen and they were all on her side for her aggressive anger towards Pen. I feel like it really shows that gender norms and stereotypes of what a typical male lead should act like are still so prevalent in our culture. So many people are angry that Colin was upset and didn't just sleep with Pen on their wedding night, but if you reversed the scenario - if it was Pen that was lied to then they would have wanted her to leave Colin and never look back. It is sad that a man's feelings and emotions are not as validated or understood, and are at times ridiculed.
In an interview, Luke & Nic said that when he discovered Pen is LW, he was supposed to be much more angry & yelling at her. And by happy accident because he had had a long & tiring day, Luke ended up crying during that scene & they decided to keep it. That reaction makes SOOOO much more sense for his character! Anthony would totally yell but Colin is more emotional. It actually concerned me that the director/writers gave that reaction to Colin and definitely let me know that Luke & Nic REALLY did the heavy lifting for providing nuance to their characters. Luke ATE that revelation scene! He was able to convey his heartbreak more than his anger. Also, when they're arguing outside of the modiste, someone pointed out that Colin is angry but he never interrupts Pen or raises his voice at her. At worst, he steps on the sidewalk to tower over her when he says that Pen is putting herself in danger which is actually more of a protective body language than dominating.
I also really got annoyed at ppl saying that Colin just needed to "get over it." The revelation of LW probably reminded him of what happened with Marina. Arguably, it's WORSE because the person who lied was someone he had known for much longer, truly loved, & had now been physically connected to. Not to mention someone who almost destroyed his sister. Another reason why I totally understood why Colin made the entrapment comment. Obviously it was hurtful but ppl were acting like it was the WORST thing he could've said & that it was out-of-character, which was insane to me. Finally, this society shits on women but men who don't fit the mold of what a man is "supposed to be" also get hurt. Pen doesn't need his financial/titular support (not even because her family is wealthy but because she has her OWN money) or physical protection so in this world, Colin WOULD be considered "useless."
Colin "getting over" ALLLLLL of this is in what, two weeks, is the most unrealistic aspect. People are tripping!
@CKeel88 I just have one question: How long did it take to type this😂😂😂I'm so impressed 🩵🩵🩵and honestly, I agree with what you've said ,I've honestly never understood the hate towards Colin as a character cause my thing is the only thing his ever done that's wrong is not be himself and to accuse Pen of entrapment and even that is understandable as to why he does thosr things cause Firstly he lives in a society where being a kind ,sensitive ,compassionate man is not accepted and also being a man who actually wants love and who doesn't see why being a man whose admired by so many should celebrated or considered a good thing and then the one person who encouraged him to be himself and saw him for who he was wasn't speaking to him so of course that brought loneliness and he started building this false confidence and then with the entrapment thing it's trauma from the dishonesty and embarrassment that Marina put him through so of course finding out the love of his life has lied to him and literally humiliated his family of course his gonna think that it was all a plan. But what I do love about polin as a couple is that there's such a desire to understand each other. Hence, that conversation in the street and the love confession in episode 8. With the conversation in the street, although his angry everything he asked was from a point to try understand her and why she did what she did and with the love confession when his talking about his envy shes just listening ,they've both never judged each other even if judgement was justified. I could just go on and on about the many things I love about the both of them as individuals, and as a couple, honestly 🥺🩵
@user-mk9bs3ml8i haha it didn't take too long to type. I'm a quick typer! Haha I agree so much with what you said. It's so sad how primarily American audiences are so down on Colin and this season, maybe that says something about our culture? I spoke to a friend I have in France and in Brazil who love this show and they said all they hear from their message boards and their friends is how much Colin is like beloved and they are finding this season and the Polin romance amongst their favorite. Pretty interesting shifts in attitudes for the show based on different cultures!
@CKeel88 I'm from south africa and we just love the show in general, I've never heard or seen anything negative from a south African about s3 its either we're laughing at the funny moments or just eating up the romantic moments, perhaps it's because a very small audience of have know the books and even if we do we'll still love the show, like the new character Michaela a few of us were disappointed that we won't get Michael but trust and believe that we defended her because she's south African,thatI think one thing that American culture doesn't have when you guys are disappointed you see no need to support the cast and look for the good in what they did and I mean no disrespect by what I'm saying at all it's just an observation 🩵
@user-mk9bs3ml8i I totally agree! I think just because an adaptation chooses to go another way with the story or an actor has a different idea of how a character will be portrayed, Americans in general have a snap reaction that whatever was presented to us was bad and should be ridiculed. Like Colin, people hated how he came back with a false persona of being a flirt and that he was at brothels, so they started making fun of the actor and then complained that the actor ruined the show. To me, that's just ridiculous. Just because an audience member doesn't agree or understand a motivation right away, they choose to label it as bad and make fun of it. But if the audience just listened and paid attention to the actual story they would have seen how sad and lonely Colin really was and that it was all an act to try and find an emotional connection to someone.
As someone who has found herself ridiculously obsessed with this couple, I needed to see your analysis. LOL. Thank you. I loved it.
Thank you so much for watching!! Beyond happy to have this community of Polin stans.
23:33 Even though I wanted Pen to reveal herself as whistledown I am glad that Post whistledown reveal showed us how strong is thier love for eachother, they communicated, shared their insecurities and fear,accepted each other flaws and still at end CHOSE TO LOVE EACHOTHER. I think at end it makes their love all the healthiest because they have seen each other good, bad and ugly and still persevered against all odds just goes on to show how deep is their love for each other.
Such a joy to see some Polin love in these youtube streets. So many haters out here. Even with all of its flaws, this season has been my favorite. I rewatch the Polin scenes over and over again. Penelope and Colin and the most fleshed out, relatable characters. I didn't have to sit through yet another season of toxic brooding and aggression. A very refreshing change.
I am so glad to have found you! So glad you are celebrating what we did get instead of complaining about what we didnt!! What we did get was amazing ❤
I agree 💯
Thank you this! There has been so much hate for this season, and it’s my absolute favorite season, and I mean it’s not even close. I knew I was going to love this season because of love Polin. I have loved them from the beginning. I read all the books, and their book is my favorite. They are my two favorite characters, Colin being my favorite Bridgerton. I was able to separate the book from the show knowing it was going to be different, just because how season two ended. I am so happy to find a video that has praised this season! So thank you for this, because this has just about everything I have felt and thought about this season!
I'm so glad you enjoyed! Making the video was fun in itself, but hearing that the Polin love resonates with so many people despite the hate this season is getting makes my heart so happy!
Colin has such a hero complex from the start of season 1 . It seems like it was one of the only ways he could feel validated. This season, I think he was on a journey to realize he didn't have to be a hero and save the day in order to be valued and loved by others. I believe the writers wrote the failure to stop Cressida as a way for him to start to learn that (along with seeing that Pen could "save" herself) . The hero complex was at an all time high in the episode 8 Bridgerton drawing room scene where he barreled ahead and ignored Pen when trying to come up with a plan.
1000% agree! 🙌Colin's hero complex is something I wish I'd expanded upon, but it also just goes to show that we could talk about the nuances to Colin's character for hours on end and still have more to say!
Just started this video but any Polin video that is 50 minutes long talking about how much you loved it is going to be good. ❤
Honestly thought this was going to be shorter but oh well.🤣Gotta make up for all the Polin hate that's going around!
I know it seems like he gave her "multiple chances" to tell him about whistledown, but they were almost all in circumstances where it wasn't feasible to have the deep private conversation necessary. When he gave her the ring, her mom was in the room spying on/chaperoning them. When they were at the engagement party, they were surrounded by everyone and the focus of attention, so if they had an emotional exchange everyone would see, hear, and comment about it. If they excused themselves to an empty room together during the party, that would have caused uproar, too. She knows he's going to be angry and won't be able to contain it behind a polite social mask anymore than he's ever hidden his feelings. She can't tell him without figuring out how to explain it, how to apologize and defend herself without giving her voice entirely over to someone else again. She's spent her time working on that defense she gives the queen, the ton, and Colin at the ball pretty much all season. She basically tells Colin this when she says that he's taught her how to hold her own and find her confidence to speak her truth. This defense of Whistledown is her truth that she has been learning how to own and share with him since episode 2. He wasn't really teaching her "charm" because she didn't need to be taught that. She already charmed him years ago. He was teaching her that she could be the centre of attention, that she could share her opinions openly and not be attacked or defenseless. Colin shared himself and his whole family with her and that gave her the support to be able to finally confront how much Whistledown damage was a product of her insecurities and lack of support, rather than purposeful misdeeds. The fun part for me was how much of her defense he figures out himself along the way, through his interactions with other people, like Eloise and Cressida. So instead of him being blindsided by her revelations, he just nods encouragingly for her to continue. Basically, "I understand, my love, I get it - and if I do, then they will eventually, too." Mirrors, exposure, revealing layers of truth, are so much a part of the story of each character this season that I think it really hasn't sunk in with a lot of people yet. This is rich, deep, subtle filmmaking that I think people miss with the casual superficial watching that they tend to do now. I'm so glad that you are the sort who rewatches things to let it all sink in. I bet a lot of reviews are going to get more measured and eventually more positive as people rewatch this season.
You're absolutely correct, none of those chances were in the right timeframe or setting for it to have been a "successful" conversation between them. And truly this season has nuances sooo many people have missed! If you put this season on in the background or even just go for a casual watch, you'll end up missing basically all subtleties that make it so memorable.
24:40 When he says “I think you should consider yourself uncommonly lucky you have never been in love”
I think Colin is saying he is struggling because he is very aware that forgiveness is inevitable in his situation.
He is very aware of how much he loves Pen, that there is no scenario where he doesn’t eventually forgive her. And that makes him feel trapped and tormented. Because right now his feelings don’t match, he is still angry. So he hates the fact that he knows he will forgive her.
Exactly this. When you love someone that much, the hurt feelings are much more difficult to deal with because you can't just shut that person out and cut them off. Working through being hurt by someone you love is one of the toughest things you can do, but its also the true test of a relationship.
10000% so true. Gosh I love hearing about the deeper meanings behind their lines. Because you're right, in that sense it would be so much easier if he didn't love her. The complex and opposing emotions he's feeling make it all the harder!
this was how I read it too! it really is so interesting interpreting this season
47:18 take my crumbs and run with them. LMFAO!! An anthem!😂❤❤❤ I love Polin ❤💒🩷
So glad to find myself in Polin appreciation territory. The negative rhetoric around this season is so annoying and disheartening whilst I'm over here like a lovesick puppy!! I love these characters and I think Luke Newton in particular was astounding in this role. I love the nuance. The writers depend on nuance and the visual a lot more than just telling us what's happening, and I personally love that approach. Just YES to this story.
I've been doing really well in not clicking on anything Polin-negative. But seeing how much of it there is breaks my heart. :( Beyond glad to have found this community of Polin lovers because life is too short to not enjoy the hell out of the things that make us happy!
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing. I feel the exact same way you do and it's nice to hear someone else say it! I've been so touched by them in a way that no other on-screen romance has. They fill my cup.
For the mirror scene, I think it was just an edit/artistic choice to have him saying/not saying those things in the moment. I think it was supposed to be montage-esque - like her hair is back up after he took it down so I think it's meant to be a longer moment that is then pieced back together for the audience. They didn't do a great job of making that obvious though. Still a beautiful moment, just and odd editing choice.
I loved that Pen wasn't mad at him when he failed with Cressida after not listening to her. She knows he has a bit of a hero complex and knocking him down at that moment wouldn't have helped matters - and she loves him regardless - and it's good for him to see that he doesn't always have to save her to be worthy of her love. I feel like they touch back on this in her LW speech as well... The camera is on him when she states "To honor one's weaknesses publicly for all to see and to know, regardless of the outcome, one always has worth." To me, she's almost directing this at him as a way of saying that she loves all of him completely - even the flaws.
Also, I love how dramatic Colin can be when he's in his own feelings. Like when he needs space from Pen to process his emotions but has to sleep on the couch to be near her. When she gives him his space ("I'll save you the confines of a shared carriage.") He's instantly like "wait.. that's not what I want" and goes to read her letters to be close to her again.
I find it funny that Colin was so worried about finding a purpose this whole show and in the last 2 minutes of this season he is now a husband, father, writer and the caretaker of the Featherington estate until his son comes of age. He's got a hell of a lot to give him purpose now! :)
I can't wait to see their story continue in season 4!
Oh my goodness you are so right about that part of the mirror scene being montage-esque! I'm so glad you mentioned it, it makes sense now but for some reason I couldn't wrap my head around it in the moment. Colin's hero complex is another great point and something I wished I'd expanded upon-truly I feel like you could talk for hours about all the interpersonal nuances between the two of them that make them such a special couple. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! They were a blast to read. :)
I don't think Colin's ego is nearly as big of a part of his reactions as you give it credit for. It's not that he can't accept her awesomeness, or her being further along in her writing career than him. It's that he already felt like he needed to prove himself to her, to prove himself worthy of her. That's the reason he gave for wanting to edit his book on his own. And now he suddenly feels like a joke next to her, which scares him- not because he can't handle her being great, or even being greater than him. But because he already felt she was out of his league, and now he sees her as even further above him. The same goes with all the other things people attribute to his "fragile male ego"- things like wanting to protect and provide for her. If she doesn't need him, if he can't take care of her, or provide for her, or prove himself to her with his writing, why would she ever love him? He has such low self-worth, and such an ingrained belief that he needs to DO something to earn/deserve her love. And what could he possibly do to deserve her now that she is not only the amazing woman he already knew and loved, but also a renowned writer with her own personal fortune and no apparent need for him at all?
It's the same thing when he takes over the conversation of what to do about Cressida's blackmail. He absolutely shouldn't have done that, no arguments there. But it wasn't his ego being out of control. It was him trying to do the thing his society expected of him, and the only thing he could do (in his mind) to earn and deserve her love... providing for and protecting her.
Colin kind of gets a raw deal when it comes to reactions to this story. We see Penelope's story (and Eloise's, Francesca's, even Cressida's) in light of their specific circumstances.... their personalities, their family dynamics, their dreams, their past experiences, and their individual struggles. But we tend to see Colin's story through a simple and reductive lens of rose colored glasses (the handsome, charming, popular, rich boy) and male privilege. We see all the nuances of Penelope's growth and struggles with identity and self worth and unrequited love, and trying to do the right thing even if her attempts are misguided. But Colin just has a male ego that needs to be taken down a peg or two, no nuance required. It's really unfortunate. Is he flawed? Absolutely! But if anyone treated Penelope's flaws and character arc the way Colin's are talked about, we'd be up in arms defending her.
Honestly, the line Penelope says to him after the wedding breakfast, the one that everyone seems to love so much, is the only line of hers that I cannot stand. He cannot possibly know what it's like to not feel like he can be himself in society, because he's not a woman? I'm sorry, is this not the same man she confronted literally the night before, and called out at the beginning of the season, for putting on a front? For "trying to be the kind of man society expects" in his own words, and "hiding the parts of [himself] that the world will not accept" to borrow hers?
No lie, being a woman in that world was tough. They faced pressures and issues that men didn't have to deal with. But that doesn't mean men didn't have their own pressures and issues to deal with (both in general, and in their individual personal lives). There is an unfortunate tendency to assume that if someone doesn't have the same struggles they do, that means their life is fundamentally better and easier, and it's simply not true. Colin was dealing with all his own trauma, and the pressures and expectations society placed on him, too. Of course they weren't the same as Pen faced. But to say he couldn't possibly understand societal pressures and expectations because he's not a woman is straight up nonsense. It felt more like the writers saying it to elicit a stand-up-and-cheer moment from the audience, than Penelope.
This is a story of two people with their own personal traumas, both struggling with self worth in their own unique ways. Both loving the other desperately and being proud of them. Neither one feeling like they are worthy of the other (we literally hear each of them express this in so many words in part 2). The problem was never loving or respecting each other- it was loving and respecting themselves. And I love that their story is building each other up, and reassuring each other, and teaching the other that they are worthy of love- that they don't have to do or be anything but themselves to be loved. It's beautiful! Absolutely my favorite season so far, and I honestly can't imagine any of the others topping it.
Oh my God...this...thank you. You hit the nail on the head with this one. Colin to me is such a good guy..(show Colin as I have not read the books).He has his flaws like everyone else but I feel like most people miss how awesome he is because they have decided before hand what they think of him and put him in a box. It is sad really. This season will be hard to top for me as well.
This is my favorite season. And yes, I wish we could have gotten more of them.
I think you have such a lovely and sweet and romantic reaction to this story❤ it's so wonderful to hear your opinion
Thank you for the kind words and for watching! Your comment made me smile. 😊
You and your sisters squeals, same.
I really enjoyed this season too! I'm glad I found your channel and heard your thoughts on it, it was nice to hear someone else who enjoyed it as much as I did! I recently started a rewatch and took the suggestion to turn on the audio description for the visually impared. It points out some great details in the characters' reactions and it amped up the spicy stuff more than I expected, lol! Thanks for a great video! Subbed!
Oh good idea 🥰
I now have plans for today LOLLLL. Thank you for the suggestion!
@@shannonrudder keep a fan handy, you’ll need to fan yourself, lol!
There are legal and social consequences to the whistledown reveal after the wedding that are not the same as before the wedding. In that time, if I am not mistaken, the man was financially and legally responsible for everything, even things his wife did. So when the blackmail plot occurs, Colin is literally correct when he says it's not up to Pen what they do. We might not like it, but that's the way it was then. Colin might be a different kind of leading man, but he is still a man constrained by the laws and social tenets of the time he lives in - even when he thinks they're wrong. Legally, it is up to him. Financially, it is up to him. Women weren't allowed to earn or keep their own money. When they married, everything she had became legally his responsibility, even if he didn't know about it beforehand. When they married, Penelope's crimes became his responsibility, too. I think, if the queen wanted to, she could actually have him arrested as well as Pen, should she decide Whistledown is treason. This blackmail plot risks a lot more than a few pounds sterling. That's on him, not her. He knows that, even if she hasn't clued in on it yet. Of course, neither has this modern audience that doesn't really get Regency era law and ethics. We look at this through a modern lens and see him taking something from her and pushing her out of the way. But legally and financially in this time, the threat to her is actually his responsibility. She doesn't have rights as a separate adult - she is a wife and legal chattel of her husband. I hate writing that, even knowing that it's true. Thank goodness we eventually changed those laws and it didn't stay this way. But context is important. Also, this is finally something that Colin can do, can fix for her, "knight in shining armor" that he aspires to be. To his mind, he isn't so much pushing her out or taking over as he is taking up the challenge to defend his lady's honor and slay the dragon to save his princess. It's all he's ever wanted and needed to prove himself worthy of her. Particularly because the threat is not just Cressida, it's also the Queen. That makes it his duty and not hers. Not at that time. Emotionally, it is Penelope's fight, but legally and financially, it is all on him. He is simply her champion, representing her in this contest. There are times in a relationship when we have to let our partner fight on our behalf. Penelope learning to let someone help her when she's always had to do everything herself is just as hard as Colin learning to let Penelope stand up for herself and take both credit and responsibility with the queen and the ton at the end. I know people think it's terrible that he wasn't right there beside her through it, but I think that's part of the plan they hatched together and agreed to right before she wrote her letter to the queen. We didn't get to see the whole conversation, but I bet a big part of it was them hashing out the staging of it all and where he would be. He had to get his whole family on the right page so they could be supportive without stealing her thunder or undermining the message. The queen could not know that she was being played the whole time, nor could the ton. So they were all positioned carefully on the chessboard to support their pawn in her bid to be crowned in this living chess game she had been playing with the queen through the whole series. Too close and it feels like an ambush. Too far, and they can't help at all. The only reason he is third to speak to her afterwards is because she needed to have those affirmations from her mom and Agatha to solidify the success of her speech in her mind. To prove that it wasn't just Colin who understood and forgave her, but that others did, too (Mom = her family, and Agatha = the ton and the queen). Even her sister's timely butterfly distraction was a kind of peacemaker between siblings. It was a masterful way of guiding the ton to focus on the positive of the situation, rather than spewing venom like some of them probably wanted to do. They still might next season, but they'll have to be more careful about it now that Penelope got recognized this way publicly by the queen. I bet staying that far from her while she bared her soul on trial before the court was agony for Colin. Just as hard as Pen letting him deal with Cressida alone. But they both had to learn to trust each other to represent them both as a couple. Each is so used to doing things for themselves by themselves and not being understood even by those they love. So, to trust each other to do for them and stand by them (even if not literally beside them) and to watch them stand up for each other separately as well as together was a huge growth moment. It just might take a while for people to catch on to these nuances, since they weren't spelled out in detail. Sad that we've become so lazy as an audience that we need it all hammered at us to make these points. Would it have been lovely to see it all spelled out in detail for us over the course of a much longer season? Of course. But we had only 8 episodes to tell a story that could have really been two whole seasons long, so I'm not going to quibble much about them implying and inferring some stuff. It makes rewatches so rewarding!
Explained perfectly :)
Wow! You should do your own analysis videos!
@@ReadingandWritingRedhead I agree!!
I enjoyed your commentary and analysis immensely. So on point. It took me rewatching Polin scenes over before I gave up being angry that their screen time was limited. Too much side story. But their story shines. Just wish there was more. I have to also say Luke’s acting (esp nonverbal) was amazing.
I LOVE your reactions and your analysis. I have seen mostly vastly negative reviews from people, as well as reactions to the series (especially part 2).
And I admit, I understand it to an extent. I really feel like we were not given enough of the couple, in scenes and spiciness. I really wished we got more character development in an extra episode at least. But oh well. This season seems so divided and it was nice to see a neutral to overall positive reaction/ review. I really enjoyed the actors and while I wished the writers made some different decisions and gave us overall more polin, I enjoyed the series. Loved your take
Yes yes yes!! I feel like so many people let their wishing for more Polin scenes take away from their love for the season overall. I think it's totally fine to wish for more character development and scenes (and even be disappointed in their lack) and still have a lot of love for the season. It doesn't always have to be black and white for sure. 😇
And the wedding dance took my breath away!!!! Loved it!
I looooveed your review ❤ there were some many beautiful and wholesome moments even where the season was lacking I still fully enjoyed it.
Good bye Mr. Darcy! We have a new lova, Mr. Colin Bridgerton
That cake analogy was poetic as hell. ❤
People think he was too mean to her and took too long to forgive her but if you consider how he must have felt like such a fool when everything with Marina went down, this was just a reminder of that and him being more in love with Pen probably hurt so much more. Why do the women he loves lie to him. I felt bad for him and understood his pain.
Loveeee your review. Agree with you! Polin is my favourite. 🥰
I saw someone say, goodbye Mr Darcy, because we now have Mr Colin Bridgerton. I say, never because for true romance lovers, Mr Darcy showed us what it looks like to love a great woman. He is the blueprint, but Colin Bridgerton and a select few share this space.🦋
I absolutely love love love Pen and Colin's story. Nicola and Luke were born for these roles. This is my favorite season although I agree with comments of many that side plots as Mondrich family or Benedict's were boring and overwhelming. Now when I rewatch season I fast forward thru their plots and I enjoy more. I LOVE your review, so clever. Great Job!
It's my favorite season of all of them, hands down!😍🤩😊
I just love your analysis! ❤❤ I will be a Polin fan forever lol. When he said he will always stand up for her, I believe him because it's so true. I love how he is so protective of her. I was really getting anxious after he found out she was LW and he said they will get through the wedding first and see what their marriage will be, ugh i hated that but I understand he is upset but that hurt him saying she entrapped him. It was the other way around but I knew they will overcome this. Their wedding was the most beautiful wedding and when they played Yellow ❤❤. I also really loved their first dance ugh my heart was bursting lol. The mirror scene was so beautiful and it was so intimate that I felt like I was intruding. I really felt his emotions with that tear running down his face when he found out about LW. I love how Colin was very patient with what she wanted to tell him. I have been on a season 3 binge since Season 3 premier until now, I can't get enough of them. I loved Season 3 and how they got their happy ever after. I have been rooting for them siince Season 1!
Keep these videos coming! I've been rewatching season 3 and skipping to the polin parts so these videos are so great for me!
Yes, in episode 3, we see Pen staring at Colin as he stares back and speaks of courage and being honest with yourself. She nods to herself and then turns her back on Colin and towards Lord Debling in a literal and symbolic effort to close the door on any hope of her and Colin. That moment was heartbreaking to me and I felt anger and sadness in equal measure. We also never got to see Penelope say yes, and I think it was a massive missed romantic opportunity. Colin’s professing that he will always stand up for her however lands so hollow for me now, since viewing episode 8 when he didn’t stand with his wife when she confessed that she was in fact Lady Whistledown. The writers did him dirty and made Colin into a coward! The writers had him standing in the crowd during Pen’s speech to the ton to see how it goes before he decides whether to have her back? If Pen were my wife I would have rushed to her side the minute the queen fingered her as Whistledown. If she turned to me and said, “I got this” and walked forward to the center by herself then I would have respected her wish and waited there. But if she gave me a nod to go with her or held my hand and it was clear she wanted me up there to stand behind or beside her, you bet your ass I would have. Instead he waits till TWO other people go talk to her first (Lady Danbury, then Pen’s mom) then decides that people are okay with it enough to talk to her…. REALLY? Pen literally says earlier in the episode that all she wishes is for him to stand by her side! He needed to stand next to her his wife, not to overshadow her, but to let her know that regardless of the repercussions he will be with her no matter the outcome, they will face it together. I love Polin and wish there was so much more of them. They have the least on screen time of the three main couples of each season, (SN 1-113 min, SN 2-89 min, SN 3-78 min), and a that of 16.1% of the total screen time from this season, The Duke and Daphne had 22%. Now, all of this needs to be taken with a grain of salt since I have to admit that in my eyes Nicola Coughlan is the most talented, intelligent, beautiful, and attractive woman on the show. Nicola & Luke need extended screen time together in season 4 to make up for this.
I see it a different way the day of his sister wedding when she says she doesn’t need him to save her but stand by her he is doing just that he doesn’t need to be physically next to her he took a step back and let her handle it like she asked when he says as long as you live with this secret there will be always something between us and she replays I know perhaps that is the key and he replays what are you saying for me it is clearly that she has a idea and when she reached for his hands and looks at him she is about to tell him what she plans to do and we see that when she goes in to action when Colin mother says I received a letter from your wife he doesn’t acts surprised for me another indication that they have plan he knows what pen is about to do they knew the queen if she accepted her request about pleading her case publicly it would be at that ball because it was the last ball of the season so also assume her arriving early with her mother and him with his mother and him standing back is apart of her plan like she asked she can save herself and during her speech where at certain times she specifically address certain people her mother Eloise Colin you can see that because she and the camera turn to them when she is looking at Colin look at his facial expressions his is so proud of her and about to people speaking to her first 1 it became to crowded I know when the queen left he did not come to the stage she was probably waiting for the reaction of the ton but look how he looks at her at that moment the camera goes back to him when his mother is stroking his arm again he looks so proud and she is looking straight at him and the moment on stage after the queen left wasn’t even that long and the stage became crowded when je look at Penelope back when she says time to do better to her mother he is already standing there you see his shadow if you look closely you realize it a moment later when her mother looks up at then you see him again behind her his shadow again and when she turns around you see him clearly so he was there just waiting and also he didn’t not wait if everyone is ok with it when she begins to ask for it that annulment his facial expression quickly change to surprise before she even finished explaining that when she says whistledown has hurt many who will not quickly forget you see his facial expressions again change he knows she is also talking about him and he looks shocked and quickly wants to reassure her and explains his feelings he even admits that he was envious of her that to me is a hard thing to admit and he did
@@darla1204 The ONLY thing I agree with you about is that Colin knew what her plan was about sending a letter to his mother and the queen. After that I completely disagree with you on basically everything because all of what you have stated is based on assumptions. But regardless of the plan, you are completely incorrect about him not being able to get to her due to the crowd. FIRST: If you watch the episode, at time mark 19:21 you see the Colin, Violet, and Lord Anderson at the edge of the dance floor with on one in between Colin and Penelope on stage. And in fact, at 4 seconds later the camera angle changes to shooting over Colin’s right shoulder as he is watching Penelope give her speech. SECONDLY: once the queen left Penelope stood there on the stage for over 20 seconds with people murmuring in the crowd, with another full 30 seconds before anyone other than Penelope and her sister steps foot on the dance floor after the butterflies are released. That is 50 seconds of her standing there on the dance floor alone!!! THIRD: her sister Philippa runs from the far end of the room over the entire length of the dance floor to the complete other end of the room to order the release of the butterflies in a grand total of 7 seconds. The distance she covered in the run was at least 3 to four times the distance that Colin was standing away from Penelope on stage, with again, on one to block his path. FORTH: keeping all this on mind, it would have taken Colin at a walking pace, not running in high heels approximately 5, to at most 10 seconds to get to Penelope if he wished to be with her. Not to mention that Colin and Penelope have never followed societies rules when it comes to one another, and that Colin is very emotional and very passionate about Penelope so if the writers were writing him to his character, he like me, would have rushed to her side immediately. But they, instead wrote him in a way that makes him out to be a coward, and he doesn’t deserve Penelope in that moment. Your saying he couldn’t get to her because of the crowd is preposterous to say the least. ANY REAL MAN would have rushed to her side even if people were in his way (which no one was) and got to his wife to show the ton that he loves and supports his wife and to congratulate her on her speech. Period. There is no excuse for his behavior in this moment. The wring was lazy and thoughtless towards what I viewed as the best love story so far on the show. If I were Luke Newton I would have done everything I could to talk them out of their folly.
@@johnjoy6374 to me it is obvious that he is not waiting to see if she is worthy but if he is worthy to her he says what good am I to you how am I meant to help you and even before he knew of lw he was expressing that but also envy when he said he felt humiliated when he was talking about his writing and she is a great writer Al along and to admit that to her at the end a lot of men don’t to that. I think it’s a great thing that he took a step back and let her handle it because from previous seasons he does have a hero complex but that the thing is we all see things differently and that is ok. If you would like to see a character analysis of Colin or a analysis of polin relationship in season 1 and 2 there is a great video( in my opinion) by Sammy bates on here
@@darla1204 I completely agree that he did have a hero complex to overcome. Again however you are missing the point. She said on several occasions that all she wished from him is to be the man she has always known and to “Stand by her side.” It isn’t him being a hero and running in to rescue her for him to go up to her AFTER her speech. For him to be the third person to talk to her instead of the first, for her to stand there ALONE for for almost a minute without him even coming up to her and standing by her side symbolically supporting her, and for more than 3 minutes of time elapsing between the end of her speech and him actually approaching her is unforgivable. To be a good partner romantically or otherwise is to be there for the other person in good times and bad. Colin’s Character through the first two season and most of the way through season three was consistently supportive of those he loved. That is until the last two episodes. They wanted to increase the drama, to keep them apart artificially, and to dial back on the romance. To do so they what they had to do was completely change Colin’s personality to do that, and it is upsetting because until this he was a great yet flawed character. In the end he went against his own character, and how book Colin and show Colin (before the ball) would have handled things.
Thank you for your positive commentary! It's exhausting seeing all the hate
I know that technically, Colin could have called off the wedding, but not without a huge scandal and not without ruining her and her whole family forever. First, it's too close to the wedding and they have been allowed to break all kinds of rules (esp. about being alone together) during their relationship partly because she was already considered unmarriageable, so doing it now would ruin every chance of anyone ever offering for her again. Second, they have been intimate, so she can't ever secure another match without first telling them man she's not a virgin anymore, which means effectively that she can't marry an upstanding man within the ton (like Marina). Third, they had sex more than once, so there's a good probability that she's pregnant (Bridgerton genes). Fourth, only the intervention of the queen saved the Bridgertons censure after the botched wedding last year, so the idea that the Featheringtons would survive this reputation intact is laughable. Fifth, everyone would know that there was something more to ending this wedding in particular and the whistledown secret might get out. If it got revealed that way, Pen and her whole family would be screwed both with the ton and with the queen (which has legal and not just social consequences). Nope, while people hate the "entrapment" comment, in this case it is literally true even while being terribly untrue -and he knows it. It won't matter if she didn't mean for this to happen. It won't matter if he didn't, either. By them making the choice to have sex before marriage, they have both effectively trapped each other in this marriage, regardless. He did it to her, too. He knew he shouldn't. He knew what he planned when he took her alone to the unstaffed house and closed the door to the master's suite, complete with settee and mirror. She didn't. He knows even in his anger, that she couldn't have planned anything like that. It's not the same as with Marina. But in his pain and trauma, it feels the same. And, in the eyes of the ton, it would play out even worse. Plus, could you really see Colin Bridgerton ruin his best friend forever and jilt her, leaving her alone, cast out of society, possibly disowned by her family, penniless, and possibly pregnant with his child? Yeah, not for all the hurt feelings in the world. He's like, a billionaire, who can hare off on adventures around the world and never have to deal with the aftermath, but Penelope and her whole family would be stuck bearing the sole focus of everyone's hurt feelings right there in England. Forever. Nope. They are definitely getting married, no matter what. Worse case, he sets her up in a house of her own and travels a lot (basically, Debling). It's been done before in the ton and no one would bat an eye. They'd assume it was a practical match and let it be. Sad, but true.
Have loved listening to your reaction… I agree with all of it!
I have totally loved this season… and have lost count of how many times I’ve watched it 😜😜 …
I feel you!! About to sit down for another rewatch of my favorite scenes as we speak. 😂
Just discovered your videos last night and watched them both. I’m exactly the same as you. Completely captivated by Polin. I’ve absolutely loved their season and wished we’d been given a few more happy moments at the end of part two. I enjoyed your analysis of all the Pen & Colin scenes. I said to my husband, this girl is just like me 😂. He thinks I’m going crazy because I keep rewatching season three 😂 I think I probably will for the next 2 years 😂😂😂
I would hunker down for a solid hour-long rewatch of Polin scenes every night (especially with Part 1). I absolutely get you. 🤣 Tell your husband it's normal for the fandom LOL.
Your review was empathetic and graceful. ❤
26:05 I love your perspective on when Colin said that perhaps Pen planned entrapment! I never connected that until you pointed it out how Marina did try to entrap him and the trauma he went through after that. That makes a lot of sense now why he said that because it always felt a bit out of character for him until now
I loved this, I feel like I’m in a book club with you ❤️ well done
Love your video! Love your analysis ! Love Polin, heart eyes and butterflies 😊❤👀🦋. Looking forward to more of your content.
I do have my criticisms of S3 but I contend that if you watch only the Polin scenes, I think their story as a couple is great! It's sweet, nuanced, & way more realistic of the feelings being dealt w/in a relationship compared to the other Bridgerton couples. And a lot of the criticisms of their relationship make me suspect that these people have never been in a serious relationship or never ever had a serious argument w/their partner. Given the society of this show & their characters, nothing Colin or Pen said seemed way out of left field. Throughout the episodes I would just nod my head and be like "Yep, yall just gotta work through it," "Give yourself some space," "It'll be alright," etc.
Regarding Colin's behavior when they were trying to figure out what to do with Cressida, I still think it made sense given his character. Obviously this does not mean it was right (I cocked my head at the "it's not up to you" part because given my personality, there's no way I would've stayed quiet), but it reminds me of the argument outside the modiste. Colin was staying at her literal eye-level but when he says she is putting herself in danger, THAT'S when he steps on the sidewalk & towers over her, which to me, that means he is being protective or trying to shield her with his body language. Also, in S1 when the Marina stuff hit the fan, there's a scene where everyone was discussing damage control, Colin said something about everything is being worked on without his input. So now we have a crisis that involves HIS WIFE and he's trying to jump in there to solve it and he genuinely probably doesn't realize he's overstepping. Kind of funny that he's now doing what his family was doing because they love & wanted to protect him too.
However, I do think the writers did Colin dirty by not giving him a "win" during the blackmail situation by actually doing something that would help. If the writers wanted Colin to only be the support for Pen, I think they should've had him stand beside Pen (or at least visibly inside the main area) in the final episode before the queen since this story is being told through a visual medium. I understand they wanted to give Pen her girlboss and 100% accountability moment but yea....to me, that was the thing I think the writers messed up on the most given their story.
thank you for putting into words what I've been struggling to express for weeks now, especially the last part! this scene itched so bad!!!
Thank you so much for your lovely and positive videos. We need this energy!!
Also, the mirror scene. I don't look @ this as a voiceover, it's a scene device, he is still speaking to her, they just showed you what he was stating directly toward her. This has been mentioned by other content creators and I was confused when they stated that about the voiceover in that scene in which to me, was not a voiceover.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! I loved your insights and hope you do more videos (Bridgerton or otherwise)! While I was watching I kept thinking I’d love to hear you break down scenes from the BBC Pride and Prejudice. So many inscrutable stares and subtle interactions!! Thanks again!
Ooooh I've never seen it! Perhaps I'll have to check it out. 👀 Thank you for the recommendation!
@@shannonrudder Oh, I highly recommend it! Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are exquisite. It's a miniseries from 1995 and a very faithful adaptation of the book.
Love the Bridgerton family scenes, Featheringtons where soo beautifully draw. Cressida, she has to come back. Would love Pen & Eloise to rescue her as I feel El was not as attentive as she should be. Love the scenes between El & Ben. Golly Luke Thompson could be feeling rather intimidated; although, I’m sure he will rise. But holding it together N&L, no wonder so many can’t quite let go of Polin it has kind of swamped N&L. Golly what a worldwide phenomenon.
Netflix membership isn't cheap but that 5 courses meal is Michelin star status ... soo worth?
Say it with your chest then!! Yessssss
I love this. You and your sister reacting to it was also me 😂 I’m in love with Colin and Penelope’s love story and also needed more of them after they made up in the last episode. I too, took the crumbs we were given and RAN 🥰👏🏻🥵 This 2 year wait until season 4 better feckin FLY BY 🥹
If I blink and we're not at season 4 yet I'm gonna RIOT.
Well done, Thank You
Colin and Penelope best couple ❤❤
That mitrror scene when his lips are not moving her hair is different too. Maybe it is from the others perspective?
Please consider reacting to S1, 2, and Queen Charlotte.
Yes! would also love to see you do reactions to how the p & C relationship changes over the course of seasons 1 and 2!
Re Colin in episode 8 being bullish. He is related to Anthony.
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