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spaceorphan18 · 3 months ago

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The Lady Whistledown Papers: 1x06 - Swish (Part 1)

Welcome back, Gentle Readers, to The Lady Whistledown Papers, where I’m taking an in-depth look at Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton’s character arcs and romance within the show Bridgerton!

For previous issues, follow tag : The Lady Whistledown Papers

I actually really like this episode... well, the Polin parts of this episode. There's so much to sink into!

Announcement

Before I jump into what's going to really occupy our time during this episode, I need to mention Simon and Daphne. Because there's this whole Whistledown commentary that sets the episode up, and the narrative talks a lot about how much Simon and Daphne are going to be missed now that they're married and hanging out in the country.

And I think it's a little funny -- in that the Daphne and Marina stories, until Daphne gets involved a little in the next episode, really have zero to do with each other. Colin ends up a little bit intertwined with stuff during the whole duel thing. But does Penelope ever have a conversation with Daphne? ...or the Duke? And I mean, I know we get Penelope watching with interest a little off in the sidelines, and we learn next season how much she loves being a part of society. But there is a real disconnect, sometimes, when it comes to what Lady Whistledown is saying and what is going on with Penelope.

It makes it a shame that Daphne didn't come back for Season 3. I would have loved to have seen Daphne's reaction. And I can't help but wonder what Penelope's relationship to Daphne actually is. She and Eloise are bffs -- and Daphne is the next closest in age. There are so many holes to fill in here.

That said, their stories are going to converge, at least thematically, at the end of this episode.

Anyway...

Interesting that Penelope is in wearing pink here -- when Marina is the one in Featherington yellow. Her sisters are, too, so I assumed it's a Portia mandate. But she looks so different here. (Also, Colin is in his solid Bridgerton Blue.)

Penelope is, as always, looking on from the sidelines. It's kind of hard to really pinpoint who she's looking at due the the cuts -- on one side, there's Colin and Marina, and Pen knows. She just knows stuff is going on that's going to make her sick. And then there's Eloise. Pen and Eloise have not made up yet. But Eloise is dying to talk to Pen. Because the Queen has asked her to find Whistledown. There's all of this news and speculation to be had. And it's hard for Eloise to be this on her own. She and Penelope have been inseparable for so long, and unmasking Whistledown is supposed to be both of their thing. But I mean, now is not the right place or the right time.

Colin gets everyone's attention to make a 'small' but 'rather important' announcement. It's just an interesting way to phrase it. It's important to him and his life and his dreams but isn't necessarily there to draw attention to himself (or Marina). Engagements are a really huge deal in this society, but I don't think Colin thinks his news is all that worthy of everything else that's going on. (Also, it's a literally short announcement, so maybe I'm reaching a little here.)

It's also interesting how contained he is here. It is a more formal setting. He's doing this whole announcement somewhat by the books, and therefor he does need to show some restraint. But also, while he is definitely happy, he doesn't necessarily understand the depths of joy he'll feel when he truly understands what love means.

Meanwhile, Marina is... fine. She's playing the part she's supposed to play and sells it as she should, but she's not over doing it. She's happy for her the fortune of her situation. But beyond fondness for Colin, there's no real affection, which makes this whole interaction feel so much more performative than genuine. (And it's supposed to feel that way. We, the audience, know this isn't going to work - and that slight edge of discomfort is there for a reason!)

(Also, quick note -- it is calculated that he does this out in public. It's so that it can't be rebutted. It's out there. People know. It's happening. And to suggest otherwise, especially in public, would be somewhat scandalous. And Colin knows this -- which is why he handles it this way.)

The Featheringtons are all overjoyed. Except, you know, the one who is going to break down crying. Notice Penelope is standing far away from the rest of her family? She is not a part of them. Nor is she a Bridgerton. She's on her own and absolutely devastated. (But she is not without power. She's having her emotional reaction now -- but this just pushes her further to figure out a way to stop it from happening.)

She's not the only one who isn't happy. Neither Violet or Anthony are thrilled by this news either. But they're both older and wiser and probably understand that Colin's youth is perhaps a reason for such a hasty announcement. (One that wasn't communicated to either one of them before, so it feels like a shock when they hear about it now.)

Which leads us straight into the next scene, which might be one of my favorites in all of Season 1...

Anthony

So, I really love this argument, it's so rich with stuff to break down.

Alright, so, Anthony hauls Colin into his study, and notice the first thing is their stances? The first thing Colin does is go to his chair and slouch down -- like a child being hauled into the principal's office, waiting to be yelled at. It also speaks to the fact that Anthony has probably been, and felt like, a father to the rest of his siblings. Anthony might be going through his own things, but he does still care, and he does feel responsibility for all of them.

This is probably not the first time Anthony's brought him in there to scold him, either. And in fact, Colin was waiting for it. When Anthony asks what he was thinking the first thing Colin does is play it off flippantly, stating he knew Anthony wouldn't care to hear it. And Anthony calls him out on not taking it seriously. Because as much as Colin thinks he is being serious (and more on that in a moment), his attitude and demeanor suggest otherwise, and Anthony knows this.

Colin, being the third child, is trying to find his place, and trying to assert some independence by not only asking Marina to marry him without consulting anyone else, but by announcing it the same way. He doesn't want Anthony's permission because he doesn't feel like he needs it. He wants to establish himself on his own, away from his family.

Anthony also brings up that Violet didn't take it that well. It's funny that Colin says that his mother was fine, and accepts whatever kind congratulations Violet gave them while they were out in society. But Anthony knows Violet isn't thrilled, not matter how much is wanting to accept her kindness.

But all this conversation about what is and isn't good for the family is somewhat besides the point...

Anthony states at the beginning of this conversation that Colin barely knows her. And that is true - despite Colin's protests otherwise. Sure, they've been courting for some weeks, but Colin is only seeing what he wants to see. He doesn't really know Marina (and she's really fine with that).

Anthony then asks, basically, if he's fooled around with her and this is why they need to get married and we get one of my favorite Colin lines "certainly not, I'm a gentleman". He's so cocky and smug about it. It cracks me up every time.

But this whole following argument I just love, because not only does it show the differences between Anthony and Colin, and how Colin feels differently from his brothers (and probably a lot of the rest of the young men of the ton) but Anthony is speaking truths here as well -- in that Colin's inexperience is going to be his downfall.

Anthony asks if she isn't compromised, why is he doing this, and Colin simply states -- for love. The interesting part is that he frames it as if everyone just marries for love. Because that's what his mother has been drilling into him for forever. Because that's the type of guy he is, love is the most important thing, and why would anyone not marry if not for love? It's a simple thing to Colin.

And that is one thing that does make him different from his brothers and from his 'friends'. He has no desire to do what Anthony (or Simon, or Benedict, or Fife...) is doing, fooling around with girls, not having any desire for real attachment. It's something that Colin craves. The basis of his romantic fantasies is a grounded love.

However, Anthony is going to have a valid point coming up. He calls Colin green. And he is. He's inexperienced with relationships. He doesn't really know what love is yet. He is young, and full of fantasies, and while eager to settle down and have a family the way his parents did is very much a goal, Anthony isn't wrong when in his commentary. It is important for Colin to gain some experience when it comes to matters of the heart.

(And honestly, this is why I do love the developments of Season 3 Colin. This is why I think it is important that he got to have those experiences, and learned what he really does and doesn't want. It's also why I think it's important he's going to get his heart smashed here soon. Because he's going to gain both growth and perspective through it.)

The thing about Anthony, though, is that he's crude when dealing with his brothers. Mentioning brothels, calling sex 'wetting your wick' and sowing wild oats has Colin rolling his eyes hard. But then outright calling Marina a chit is really the last straw. Anthony's also not wrong that in his warning that marrying the first girl you have feelings for isn't the best choice. But the way he dismissively goes about it is why Colin gets so angry, and why it's going to backfire on Anthony.

Colin wants to be respected. He wants to be taken seriously. He wants his feelings to be taken seriously. And Anthony isn't doing any of that. On top of that, Colin has seen how Anthony is with women, and calls Anthony out on some of his own shit -- claiming he can't fathom true attachment. Obviously, that's not entirely true -- Anthony's issues are a bit more complicated than basic commitment issues. But it is an observation that can get under Anthony's skin and Colin knows this.

Anthony calls Coin a child. Colin throws back that Daphne is younger and she's married now, but Anthony claims that it is different. And it is. Daphne is more emotionally mature at that point, and probably does understand matters of the heart on a more realistic level. (That's even ignoring all the societal differences between men and women, too.)

And I want to mention how the power dynamics of the scene have shifted. Colin gets up, he's been flippant and chill up until Anthony calls Marina a 'chit' but then Colin is up in arms in anger. He is very protective about those he cares about. But then Anthony is the one to sit and stay calm. Anthony is the one firmly in control, while Colin is the one being over emotional.

But Anthony does get in a heated moment back at Colin -- calling him immature. And the two of them realize they've reached an impasse in the conversation.

Notice, after Anthony raises his voice, they both settle into a more formal speech pattern, and adhere to more formal roles. Colin apologizes for not doing things properly, and wishes for his brother's blessing. Anthony won't give it, and Colin states he's disappointed. They both knew this is how the conversation would go, but they're going through the polite formalities of it now.

Colin is truly disappointed, though. He does wish his brother would see him as his own independent person. He does wish that people would recognize he sees the world in another way. And he does feel different than the other men in his world. And reconciling that is sometimes hard.

Ah man, this is such a great scene, and I love it to pieces. It sets up so much about Colin (and Anthony) as a character, and is a great starting point, in a lot of ways, as we're going to see it develop. Colin's going to change, but the basis of who he is -- his drive to find his place in life, his big, romantic heart, those are a part of who he is. He just... as Anthony is somewhat stating in this scene, needs to grow up to really figure it out.

#bridgerton #polin #colin bridgerton #penelope featherington #penelope bridgerton #polination #the lady whistledown papers #i think this is the first time i've talked more about colin than penelope?#such great stuff here though -- love digging into colin's psyche #i wish i didn't hve to run to work - i may have spent more time on this one #ah well #i'll have to come back to it

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