#PENELOPE MANIPULATION FEATHERINGTON

[nostalgicmiscellaneous]

Season 3 - Colin & Penelope's Triumph

Stop listening to loud people in bubbles who want to bring down your enthusiasm and crumple your joy with how much we have to enjoy Penelope and Colin's season. There are some people with a clear agenda of hatred because of their own couples that will straight up lie, cherry pick and manipulate to try to get people turned off or to feel insecure about saying they love what they love. Sometimes, people with a weaker personality and herd mentality fall for that and start thinking oh, maybe it's not good or i shouldn't like. Some nonsenses that we read sometimes and some fall for it: Nonsense: "Polin is not popular, the show would be doomed by them. People wont watch" Reality:

Nonsense: "Polin is being dragged by negative reviews by public and fans who doesn't see chemistry" ( lol, i can't even with that one...) Reality:

At this moment, very near season 1 in critics ( 87%) and above in audience score and higher than season 2 in both aspects. Does it make anyone like or dislike more? because it sure wouldn't make me like more or less something. Nonsense: Only negative things go viral. Reality:

That tweet is from 13 hours ago. You read that right. 13 hours ago and look at views, look at 139K ( HOLY SHIT) that have liked and an insane 65K have already bookmarked. That's viral in a insane level by people loving their chemistry and them together. If anything they have too much chemistry. lol Artists, famous figures and all saying they watched and loved also on SNSs. The general audience loving it. We, from inside the fandom, might have our issues, things we wanted more or less, but it's glorious what we have and how much Nicola Coughlan & Luke Newton gave and are giving us. The hatred is being silenced by the simple truth and the enjoyment people are having. They tried to hate on their popularity, it didn't work. They tried with their chemistry, it didn't work. They tried telling us it was fast or forced even with all we have already got of their relationship ( a couple that actually has been developing from season 1 and that already had a bond and has a different personality and path from other couples) and with 4 episodes left. They tried with their acting. Were proved wrong and more and more people are realizing the characters paths and the acting choices and praising. They tried with their looks. Made them look bad instead. So they tried with lies and look what they got back on their faces...a glorious triumph. So, have a great time. Be a fan and just be happy, enjoy without worrying, without comparisons. Some people are so bitter that they just don't want to like anything. It's their loss.

[simplyalexeiofficial]

It’s been a while because I was Big Sad™️ (among other things) but here is a new Penedict edit to turn everyone to the dark side~

Previous edit highlights:

[capsiclesteebrogers]

the way some of you talk about penelope featherington is extremely disturbing and very telling. it reeks of fatphobia and it's clear you do not think fatphobia is "that bad" or how much it can impact someone's life.

[torchwood-99]

Kate and Anthony were friends to lovers masquerading as enemies to lovers.

Penelope and Colin are enemies to lovers masquerading as friends to lovers.

[rainybraindays]

Okay, apparently shutting the fuck up was never an option but the way no one likes to look at the marina situation and go "wow what the fuck is wrong with portia"? Crazy.

Like she immediately didn't like her, not because of anything she'd done, but because she took attention from her daughters no matter how bright she dressed them.

It didn’t matter that the main reason is that, honestly all 3 of her daughters are painfully awkward, and in ones case literally 17. It didn’t matter that Marina was only there at her fathers instance, or that theoretically through having someone thats clearly popular in her home she could have used it as a jump off mark to match her daughters, she was seen as her big hurdle to marrying them off. Marinas immediately othered, to the point that when shes being dressed the maids helping put on her shoes is enough to piss Portia off. She immediately puts Marina in the same ring as her daughters, fight for my attention and maybe maybe it'll be positive. But Marina doesn't do that because she doesn't want to even be there.

And then they find out she's pregnant and shes othered even more. She immediately tries to send her back, and when she's not allowed to do that shes locked away and the other girls aren't even allowed to talk to her. She literally tries to freeze her out, like Marina has any say in being there in the first place, before lying to her about her being abandoned by George.

She makes no attempt to find out if George has family, she doesn't care enough to try even though that would have been a way to get rid of her "problem". She tries to push Marina onto a man old enough to be her grandfather and slaps her across the fucking face when she tries to stand up for herself.

Theres no concern for her safety, for the babys safety, just getting her out of her house as fast as fucking possible, and I'm meant to be surprised that when Colin saves Marina from her elderly suitor she turns her attention to him?

Like the nicest guy, who everyone likes, who's attractive, who isn't multiple decades older than her and most importantly not going to literally assault her? Yeah not a big shocker. Should she have lied to him? No, but she wouldn't have had to or felt the need to if she wasn't in the most hostile fucking house. Even Penelope, who she likes, why does everyone forget that she fucking likes Penelope and viewed her as a friend, becomes aggressive towards her. Shes cornered, shes scared, and all of this could have been avoided if Portia was a slightly better person and said "hey soilder boys not written back, you're gonna have this kid, does he have any family?" instead of setting this entire mess in motion.

[flergblerg]

Show Penelope and show Portia Featherington are actually two sides of the same coin in many ways, just with a different belief on how to approach things 👀👀 👀

They are both doing the best to survive in a society where women have to rely on inheritance or men for money for a means for survival with the scarcity of resources they have.

They are both doing the best with what they have. Portia has her matchmaking efforts and her unrelenting belief in doing whatever she can to secure the best life she can give for her daughters with the only way she knows how to, which is social climbing or finding security through marriage. Like that’s how she shows her love, and in her eyes, Penelope is being ridiculous and delusional to hold out for love in a society like this where women of her social status are completely dependent on men for any chance of social mobility or security and that is completely realistic for that time period

Penelope on the other hand fully believes that she is a spinster and finding love and marriage is off the table. By her having and maintaining Whistledown, this is her chance to still be an unmarried woman while also gaining financial security independence away from having to stay with her mother for the rest of her life and remaining unmarried bc she truly believes she will never find someone, (this is actually more book Penelope) all while not having to be tied down to a man she doesn’t truly love for the rest of her life.

They both agree that they need to do everything they can to have a secure future for their family and have high ambitions and will do whatever they can to achieve it. For Portia, that involves a man and she still has hope for her daughter in that area and Penelope took men off the table completely

[juju-or-anya]

It's hard not to find irony in the criticisms directed towards Eloise Bridgerton and the elevation of Penelope Featherington as a more genuine and hardworking figure in contrast with Eloise's supposed privileged circumstances and her discourse on feminism. Indeed, some voices have pointed out Eloise's feminism as something white and privileged, and while this is not without merit, it's akin to rediscovering what others have already noticed, akin to Christopher Columbus "discovering" America.

Understanding the context in which "Bridgerton" unfolds is essential. The series is set in Regency England, between 1813 and 1825. This historical period is marked by a highly stratified and conservative society, where women, especially those of the upper class, were relegated to traditional roles and lacked basic legal rights. In this context, any discussion of feminism must consider the unique limitations and challenges of the time.

It is true that Eloise Bridgerton, being part of a respected family in English nobility, embodies many of the characteristics associated with the white and privileged feminism of the time. However, this should not diminish the value of her role in advancing feminist ideas in her historical context. It is thanks to women like Eloise, who challenged social expectations and dared to question the status quo, that doors were opened for future, more inclusive feminist movements.

On the other hand, when analyzing Penelope Featherington's role in contrast with Eloise Bridgerton's, intriguing nuances worthy of a more detailed critical exploration are revealed. Although both come from upper-class families, Penelope's experiences differ significantly from Eloise's. In the society depicted in "Bridgerton," Penelope is portrayed as a more marginal figure, overshadowed by the prominence and glamour of the Bridgerton family. She is often seen in the background, struggling to find her place in a world where her social status does not put her at the center of attention.

Throughout the series, Penelope exhibits a distressing lack of empathy and solidarity towards other women. Instead of fostering unity and support among her peers, her writings are propelled by feelings of envy, resentment, and desires for revenge. Striking examples of this include her actions to publicly reveal Marina Thompson's pregnancy, intending to undermine her relationship with Colin Bridgerton, or defaming individuals such as Daphne, Edwina, and Kate Sharma, often with no apparent reason other than personal gain.

Penelope's behavior as Lady Whistledown sheds light on her complex nature and motivations. While it may represent an attempt to find her voice in a world dominated by more powerful figures, it also reveals a tendency towards manipulation and selfishness. Ultimately, her role as the mysterious chronicler is more than just a quest for identity; it is a reflection of the moral and ethical complexities underlying the society of "Bridgerton."

In summary, asserting that Penelope is more feminist and hardworking than Eloise due to her role as Lady Whistledown is, at best, simplistic and, at worst, deeply misleading. Both women, while privileged in their own right, have chosen different paths in life and have faced their own challenges. However, the narrative of Penelope as a morally superior and more genuinely hardworking figure should be questioned in light of her actions and motivations, which often reveal a lack of integrity and empathy towards her peers.

It's important to note that when Theo confronts Eloise, questioning her understanding of the real world and her privileged position, Eloise doesn't reject this criticism but uses it as a catalyst to seek greater understanding. Recognizing the validity of Theo's observation, Eloise actively seeks to broaden her horizons. She engages in conversations with Theo and John, seeking to break free from the bubble of privilege in which she has lived so far.

On the other hand, Penelope takes a different stance towards her own privileged position. Instead of acknowledging her situation and seeking to understand the realities of those less privileged, Penelope vehemently denies any suggestion that she also benefits from the system. Rather than accepting her position of privilege, she portrays herself as a victim, despite her actions suggesting otherwise. Ultimately, this divergence in attitudes between Eloise and Penelope highlights the complexity of individual perceptions of privilege and personal responsibility in an unequal world.

PS: The comment: "Penelope saved Eloise by writing that she hung out with radicals, she doesn't know what it's like to be grateful" is shit. Whose fucking fault is it that the Queen is on a crusade with torches and pitchforks, looking for blood and a rolling head? From Penelope because she doesn't know when to keep her hand still and stop writing, if it weren't for Penelope, the queen wouldn't think that Eloise is Lady Whistledown, Penelope wasn't looking to help Eloise, she was looking to save her skin.

[greeneyessmize]

So, about Marina.

We need to talk this out. Let's go through her journey step by step.

Upon arrival, Marina thinks she may just be waiting on letters from George so they can run away together but she is losing hope. Then she realizes she is definitely pregnant. Then come the fake letters.

Desperation and survival instinct start to gnaw at her. She is looking out for not only herself. She does try to change that but fails, and accepts that the pregnancy is going forward.

So she decides to make the best of it and find a husband as soon as possible. Preferably a nice, naive, young man with decent enough money.

She has several, and I do mean several suitors, she could choose from. But she settles on Colin Bridgerton and his sweet puppy dog innocence.

She knows Pen is fond of him, but she blocks it out. She doesn't care. She focuses on Colin. The easy low, ripe hanging fruit. Who wouldn't?

Then she realizes Pen actually loves him. This will not stop her. She will stamp out this crush to ash if she has to. She's betting her life on this. Pen means nothing to her here.

She is not in this for love. Love betrayed her and put her in this mess. She wants an easy marriage with no uncomfortable questions. Right and wrong don't matter because she has already had wrong done to her.

Now Colin.

He's a young man. Hopeful, bright eyed, romantic, inexperienced.

He participates in the marriage mart because some of it is fun. There is not too much pressure on him as a 3rd son. He gets to dance and flirt, and chat with Pen. How is that not delightful?

Then along comes Marina. She is a glittery new addition to the ladies he has mostly seen here or there all his life. And everyone is interested in the shiny new toy.

Then she shows interest in him. She flirts with him. When she could seemingly have almost anyone, she lets her eyes brighten for him.

He is easily charmed. Marina, for all he and the other boys of the ton can tell, is an attractive young woman. When she decides to show him singular attention he believes it is love and his easygoing heart wants to return that, being a genuine and open person.

He is easily manipulated into an engagement, thinking that this is natural and right. But his passion never really shows, does it? He pulls back from kissing her when she is scandalously forward with him. He does not seek extra excuses to meet her in the market or at tea or at the garden entrance to the Featherington estate for example.

No. He just insists he is a gentleman.

Then he drops her as soon as her manipulations are revealed. He is angry. He is hurt. But it's like a betrayal of a new friend, not a truly wounded heart. A passionately in love man would try to justify her actions or find a way to get past this. But he just lets it drop and goes traveling to soothe his bruised ego.

Then, there is Penelope.

Sweet, shy Pen.

She is so happy to have a friend in her very own home who is kind to her. It seems like a dream come true at first. She says lovely things about Marina in LW.

Then she realizes Colin is truly interested in Marina. She hates it, but doesn't fight it at first. Penelope has already in many ways given up on Colin ever looking at her the way he looks at Marina. So she bites her tongue. She doesn't discourage the two from becoming closer, but she is not doing much to stop it either.

Then she finds out Marina's secret. She learns about George and cake and that Marina must marry in one way or another. Pen wants to help. She really does.

But she just can't stand that Marina would trick Colin. Her love for Marina is enough to ignore her tricking anyone else. Her love for Colin is so much that she wants him to be happy any way possible.

And she knows figuring out the first child is not his and then duplicity of Marina's affections would not make Colin Bridgerton happy. Unlike most men in the Ton, he knows what love is. His parents were a love match. He would understand eventually that Marina was just placating him whenever he engaged with her emotionally.

So. Having appealed to both Marina, who crushed her heart into bits efficiently, and Colin, who metaphorically ruffled her hair and told her to run along... what options were left to Pen?

Directly tell someone like her mother? She already knew and approved. Violet? Well isn't that terrifying to a shy young woman who still wants Colin's friendship? Eloise? Too mercurial, she might support the match or at least loudmouth that it was Pen who told her. Again potentially ending her friendship with Colin.

Remember, her friendship with Marina was already over, Marina just did not know it yet. You can't brutally crush someone's most treasured, secret desire (realistic or not) and have them continue to love you like nothing happened.

So, Pen uses her last resort when she learns of the pending elopement. The one thing she can do to save Colin from unhappiness and to keep her one small shred of her own happiness: being Colin's friend. She revealed Marina's secrets to the Ton.

Did this maximize damage to Marina? Yes. Did it also damage Colin? Fractionally, both compared to what was dealt to Marina and compared to the damage he would have suffered in a marriage where Marina came to merely tolerate him. (As evidenced by her entire unamusement at his olive oil joke in Season 2.)

Don't forget that Penelope also hurt herself in this. You don't sob in your best friend's arms in celebration. She broke a part of herself to do this to Marina and to Colin. She probably doubted every second of everything and a part of her always will. Her price was not public, it was not outwardly devastating, but she took damage too.

----------

In conclusion, Marina and Penelope were both some level of wrong and Colin was the blind fool in the middle. The flavors of wrong were very different, and so were the levels of damningness.

In their own ways, I can forgive each of them. Admittedly, I forgive Pen more. But that has to do with my life experiences. Former wallflower here, married to a man who is now her best friend. I have never gotten pregnant and been abandoned (though being dead is hardly George's fault here). But I can understand how desperate, how calculating that could have made me, at least in that era. Especially with people like Portia Featherington as your primary caretaker and maternal figure.

I really hope that Pen and Marina both get a chance a chance to gain closure over this peacably before Marina dies. I don't think Pen deserves to feel guilt over Marina's death. Especially as book Marina seemed to have severe depression and well, Marina is likely to have depression too considering her loss of George.

Now, if part 2 of Season 3 could just be here already, that would be absolutely lovely!

[i-am-trying-my-best-okay]

Season Three Bridgerton Predictions (Mostly Just Stuff I Want To Happen)

With Charithra Chandran not coming back in season three, they're going to excuse Edwina's absence by saying she married the prince and is living with him in Prussia.

We get flashbacks of Colin and Penelope as kids, where they were closer, but then we see them get distant because of ✨️society✨️ sending them on different paths.

Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth start having a few relevant and independent character moments and actions other than just being 'the younger ones' and have a greater impact on the story.

So. Much. Jealousy. From. Colin. And he doesn't even know it. He sees all their lessons paying off, and he gets jealous, but then he has no idea what he's even feeling. He'll act so passive aggressive with a potential suitor and Penelope's will be like, "What's wrong with you; we had a plan?" And he's like, "I don't know??" "Well stop." "I can't????" He'll land to the conclusion that he just think these men aren't good enough for Penelope for so long. It'll come up in a big argument and she's all like, "Well whose good enough for me? Someone like you?" And then he's like "Yes! Oh." And Penelope is so annoyed because NOW this guy likes her? Just as she was trying to move on? But the thing is she still likes him, so things progress.

Eloise and Penelope avoid each other like the plague, but when Eloise finds out Penelope and Colin are kind of having a thing, and she flips out. She doesn't want Colin to get hurt, so she tells Penelope to steer clear from Colin or she'll tell everyone she's Lady Whistledown. So she does and Colin is very confused and hurt. Then Penelope and Eloise go through some sort of shenanigan and end up having a deep conversation, making up and are once again friends. But then Colin accidently does find out Penelope is Lady Whistledown and is hurt, and Eloise becomes Penelope's #1 defender.

Kate's pregnant, and has the baby within the season. Anthony is freaking out about this; about being a dad, about the baby being okay, about Kate being okay, and how difficult the birthing process will be (trauma from Hyacinth being born). Meanwhile, while Kate is worried about the baby, she's more so focused on what responsibilities she now has as a Viscountess.

They don't reveal the Whistledown secret, at least not to the general public. I think the Bridgerton's will find out, as well as the Featherington's; so when Portia finds out, she sees Penelope in a completely different light, and they have a bonding moment. Maybe in lieu of a big reveal like in the book, at the end of the season the Queen finds out, and instead of exposing her, now she and Penelope sort of work together, aligning their agendas. This elevates the importance of Penelope's work, low key spying for the Queen and reporting on things to manipulate general society. BUT I think Eloise is leaning more to the politically radical side of things, and Penelope's work is now sort of leaning in the opposite direction of that. Despite this, they still find a way to be close friends, despite their very different agendas.

Colin does a big gesture on how he's proud of being with Penelope, that he'll flaunt it in public for all to know.

[spaceorphan18]

The Lady Whistledown Papers : 1x07 Ocean's Apart (Part 2)

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

Ocean's Apart

It just occurred to me that this scene does not take place in the normal Bridgerton drawing room. Is this Hastings House? Or another room in the Bridgerton home? I haven't paid enough attention to Daphne's story line to notice.

Anyway... Daphne makes good on her promise and has arranged a meeting between Colin and Marina. And I should note the title of the episode -- ocean's apart. It is, of course, a nod to Daphne and Simon's issues, but also to Colin and Marina. And... as I brought up in the previous post -- a nod to the Leander and Hero myth, where the two lovers are split by the ocean. Simon and Daphne, obviously, will find their way back to each other. But Colin and Marina truly are ocean's apart. They are just not meant for each other, and this scene is going to close the book on their romantic story.

Colin starts out by asking for confirmation about the pregnancy. But his wording of it is interesting -- Lady Whistledown cannot be true. Right? Right??? He's so deeply in denial, despite everyone around him telling him otherwise. There was an ounce of hope he had in the faith he had in his own love that the pregnancy was a made up lie to scorn him (them).

Marina is done with the lying. She didn't even want to be there, and is only there because Daphne requested her and she can't really say no to a duchess. She tells Colin the pregnancy is real, and Colin's whole world shifts in that moment (and a nice bit of physicality as Colin himself shifts).

He kind of stutters, asking her really - you're with child? He looks her up and down, too, as if wanting physical proof of this.

Then he says something that is very telling -- 'I do not understand, we were to be wed. You said you loved me.'

And this is where Colin's romantic nature is his undoing. First of all, marriage and love are inextricably linked. You agree to marriage than you agree that love is its basis. In a time where it really was rare, that is one of the values that is at Colin's core. And it shakes him to his very core that Marina lied to him.

Marina tells him - I hold you in the highest regard. Admitting, though, that she does not love him. And that is when Colin's heart is truly breaking. If she had been pregnant and still wanted to get married, was actually in love with him, he could continue playing the romantic hero, could continue drowning in his own love. But she's ripping the mask of the rouse now. She used him, yes manipulated him, and yes used his own love to her advantage.

He gets angry, but it's retrained but emotional. Colin isn't a lash out kind of guy, not like Simon or Anthony. But he does show his hurt visibly, and the words come pouring out as he tries to sort out the situation. He is at an utter loss that she doesn't feel the same way, he's processing all the lies, and claims she's committed a great sin - and it's funny, that yes, the sin is being with child out of wedlock and using someone to cover it up... yes, the sin is, in general, lying. But what it is the most for Colin -- what hurts him the deepest, is lying about love him back.

Colin lives for love. He feels love deeply. He wants to be loved back just as deeply. And for Marina to cast that all aside, to claim she was not there in it with him, feels like the biggest part of the betrayal.

Marina lays down a huge dose of reality though. She stands up for herself, claiming she's not going to allow herself to be shamed by either Colin or Daphne (who isn't really reading in the corner). And while they may think she's a villain, the situation just isn't black and white like that. She takes a moment for herself, when she says that no one ever led her in the right direction, and no one taught her any better - so she's been trying to do what's best for herself.

And it's important to note that Marina did like Colin as a person. She picked him because he was kind and empathetic. That she does appreciate the depth of how he loves. But in all of this, not only was she needing to look after herself and her unborn child, her heart had been utterly broken. And she just cannot with the idyllic love. She cannot with how Colin lives in the clouds with his fantasies. Her reality is a much, much darker place.

The more she talks, the more his heart breaks, and you can see him start to well up. And this is when the emotion, the betrayal, the hurt, the anger really come out. He mocks her a bit when starts saying that he should feel lucky that she chose him? And, it's interesting, as he yells at her, it gets more emotional and for a moment slightly unhinged, and then he immediately pulls himself back and recomposes himself. Another reminder that even at the height of emotion, Colin always pulls inward.

After he collects himself, he tells her, basically, that he's done with her. (It's deliciously dramatic, lol)

She doesn't really have anything else to say, either. But she's upset, too. It's an emotional confrontation. She's sad for herself and her situation. But she truly never really wanted him to be hurt by any of it either. She wasn't being malicious. She was looking out for herself. And now it's all unraveling and she's alone again.

As Colin moves to leave, he pauses and turns one more time to her to say -- the ironic thing is that if she had told him about her situation, he'd have still married her. Because he loves her that much.

And here's my thing about that....

First of all, note the present tense when he says 'that is how in love I believe myself to be'. His heart is shattered, but that love he (thinks he) feels is still very real and still very present. And it's going to take going to Greece to get over it (and even then he won't really be over it until she again firmly shuts the door on him a second time).

Colin loves love and wants love so badly that he's holding onto things that aren't good for him because the alternative is not having that love at all, and he really just doesn't know what to do with it.

The second thing is that hero complex that's coming into play -- the fact that saving her from her predicament means that he'd have self worth. He places a lot of his self worth on his ability to help others, and it's reiterated in this sentiment. If you hadn't deceived me, I would have helped you, I would have been your hero, I would have done anything and everything for you. Because Colin seems to believe that is conditional - and if he isn't helping you, isn't saving you, well then, what good is he? (ah, we will be revisiting this later...)

But here's the thing, the thing that really gets me. As romantic as this sounds? It's TERRIBLE.

If Colin had married Marina, either knowing or not knowing of the pregnancy, he would have ended up utterly miserable. His love would always be unmatched. Even if she did grow affection for him -- and who knows, maybe she would have, but I kind of doubted it. Colin is a bit smothering when in love. And he really needs a partner that not only can cope with that, but doesn't mind getting lost in that themselves.

Not only are Marina's feet a bit too firmly on the ground (she is a practical realistic, who would always burst Colin's bubble) her heart belonged to another and it got shattered. And I don't know that she'd ever really allow anyone to hurt her in that way again, so there'd always be something between them.

Their marriage would end up being incredibly cold. Marina would push him away. Colin would become resentful. And he'd probably throw himself at his kid or traveling or whatever work he could find. But would never really feel that sense of connection that he so desperately desires.

Marina only sees him for her use to him, not for who he is himself. And he may not realize it yet - but he does need someone who likes him for him, not someone who needs him.

But... (I say because I can't shut up about this scene) Colin needed to go through this. It's not a bad thing that he's dosed with reality every once in a while. It's not a bad thing that he gains the experienced of not having been loved back. It's not a bad thing that he learns the difference between infatuation and real love - because he'll be able to recognize real love for what it is when it finally presents itself.

It's all, really, a part of growing up. And Colin is, after all, a young man in that awkward stage between child and adult, where you do go through all of this stuff.

So, we end the scene with a heartbroken Colin rushing away. This is the last time they'll see each other (until Season 2), and it closes the book on the Colin side of this story. (Marina's story will go on without him now...)

But this whole experience not only gives great insight into the type of character he is, but it's going to shape his world in a fundamental way, and have effects to his stories in later seasons.

And... that's where I'm going to stop for now.

[locke-esque-monster]

Let's talk for a sec about the dynamic of the Featherington household for a moment. Because Portia has created such a unique dynamic in that household, I don't know what to do with it.

First, there's the fact that Portia is determined to succeed in society, but specifically for her daughters' security (understandably after what they've been through). See how she spent 2 seasons trying to get husbands for her daughters. But when Phillipa and Prudence complain they don't have a good of a cook, Portia reminds them it's their fault they didn't find a better marriage. It also is reflected later when Penelope questions if her mother only cares for her if she's engaged/married, since she seems to care more for that than if she's emotionally okay after the break with Lord Debling.

But within that household, it seems like Portia is forever focused on Phillipa and Prudence. Now, Penelope is both self-sufficient to a degree and perfectly happy to entertain herself, so Portia may tend to more naturally focus on the other two.

but this seems to partially have manifested in Prudence and Phillipa expecting their mother's focus. The Featheringtons can be a bit rude to each, cutting each other off or scoffing at statements. But it's to the point where Prudence cuts off a clearly upset Penelope in 3x4. While the news from Prudence isn't nothing, it's also not concrete and didn't need to be addressed that second. It's like it never occurred to her not to interrupt her mother and upset sister, let alone check on or comfort her upset sister herself.

Then there's the fact that Portia, nor her other 2 daughters, ever really considered Penelope viable on the marriage mart. Watch how in season 1, Portia asks the suitors to bid farewell to her other daughters. Phillipa and Prudence are listed by name to consider saying goodbye to, and then it's "even Penelope". Or how Portia thinks Penelope is naïve to think she'd find a husband in season 3, after all this time. Despite this, Portia has put no serious or separate effort into finding a husband for Penelope. It's like she was a lost cause from the start.

So the end result almost gives off a Cinderella vibe. The two less bright stepsisters following around a manipulative mother who never cares or supports the third daughter, who doesn't fit the rest of the family.

And with that in mind, it's even more interesting when you consider that Penelope is the most like her mother of the 3 girls. Prudence and Phillipa either gained or learned their mother's love for security and nice things. But they lack more than a few brain cells to rub together. I assume they take after their father that way, as he didn't make the smartest financial decisions.

At the same time Portia is forging letters and hocking counterfeit rubies, Penelope is writing the most popular gossip sheet in London. And the best part is, neither of them have a clue the majority of what the other is up to. Penelope is also the one capable of adjusting and tweaking Portia's plans to help Marina (from pointing out the problem with tricking Violet at dinner to making a very valid point about Marina wasting her time on Colin vs an older more desperate suitor). And Portia can recognize similarities to herself in others. Season 1 leans into the parallels of Portia and Marina - both in how they view life and how they treat Penelope - as Marina is nice until Penelope gets in her way, and she's ready to dish some harsh critiques her way.

But perhaps it's because Portia never really sees herself in Penelope in part because Penelope is used to hiding bits of herself from her critical mother. And in part because Portia sees Penelope's kindness and treats it as naivety. Because for Portia, she's willing to take the cruel path if not first, pretty early on. See how she immediately decided to trick Marina into think George Crane didn't love her anymore. But she'll consider kindness if someone suggests it and it'll accomplish the same goal - see how she was willing to give Marina a few days for Colin to propose before she sent her off to an older husband. Penelope will pick kindness first, in trying to convince either Colin or Eloise to change their minds when they're making a potentially serious mistake. Only when they won't listen, does she use the last resort of Lady Whistledown. Can you imagine that kind of restraint with Portia if she had the LW access?

That said - for all that I'm critical of Portia, I still enjoy her character a lot. She's not all good or all bad - I think we need parents like that in tv. She loves her daughters, but she doesn't treat them equally and she isn't loving them in a positive way all the time. I think of a callback to a discussion during my Shakespeare class in college that basically went like "You love to read about Lady Macbeth, but you wouldn't want to be friends with her in real life."

I'd like to think in this season Portia and Penelope have it out about how Portia has treated her. Based on previous seasons, I'd be surprised if they don't delve a little into how Penelope was hurt by Portia's parenting. That set up of a line about only caring about Penelope with a ring o her finger is too good to ignore. But it's also Bridgerton, and it's 8 episodes - this will be an acknowledgement or a conversation, not a deep-delve. I'm also betting it's later in the season, since the part 2 trailer seems to suggest that at least some of her family (her sisters) find out at breakfast. Though from what I know of the original text and the way Portia grabs the pamphlet, she seems to already know. With the assumption Eloise gives her deadline to be honest with Colin in episode 5, I can't imagine a full confrontation with Portia in the same episode.

But maybe as much as a parenting confrontation with Portia, I'd kill to see Portia's reaction to finding out Penelope is LW. Would she be angry all the drama Penelope wrought? Impressed or concerned that Penelope pulled off such a thing without Portia even suspecting? Or upset that Penelope had all the solutions to their money problems hidden in her room? No matter how it starts - it always ends with Portia trying to use LW to her own influence. It's why I suspect as much as I love and think it's possible the "what about my dreams" conversation is post-LW reveal to Portia, it's more likely not. Because after the initial reaction, Portia will go from knee-jerk reaction to "how can I use LW to my advantage". And that would be the death of LW (because the slanted writing would get the secret out).

[simplyalexeiofficial]

This little edit was actually super easy to throw together and only took 5-10 minutes total! We love easy things!

Prior edit highlights:

[neewtmas]

Finally watching bridgerton season 3 and I have bever despised a character as much as I despise Penelope Featherington. What a cruel, lying, manipulative, narcissistic bitch oh my god I have no words for how much she irritates me whenever I have to see her stupid face on screen.

And let's not talk about the fact that there is literally negative chemistry between her and Colin, it is difficult to watch their interactions to the point I had to skip some of them.

[summerpearlgirl]

Analysis of the Shared Character Traits of Colin & Penelope Bridgerton

I love how Bridgerton explores both the strengths and challenges of Colin and Penelope's character traits. Spoilers throughout.

My personal viewpoint is that all character traits have strengths and challenges. And that good storytelling explores both aspects.

I believe that if you find only the positive aspects of a person's character trait acceptable, you're likely to become frustrated over time. We all make mistakes from time to time. The challenging aspects of character traits will inevitably show up.

A key takeaway from Bridgerton S3 is that a long-term relationship is strongest when both parties appreciate and accept their partners' character traits in their entirety.

In this post I will discuss character traits Colin and Penelope share: spontaneity and romantic natures.

Sidenote: I am a romance girlie with ADHD. I empathise with their struggles and indulgently revel in their triumphs

1. Spontaneity

Strengths:

Adventurous: Both are risk-takers. Colin enjoys his travels. Penelope earns her own money, which is unusual for a noble lady during the Regency period.

Creative: Both have innovative ideas. Colin pilfers Cressida's necklace to prove Lord Featherington's rubies are fake. Penelope writes the Whistledown pamphlet to discredit Cressida in a single carriage ride S3E6.

Quick Decision-Making: Both don't faff around. Colin decides on a wife, house, and baby-making within 24 hours in S3E4-5.

Challenges:

Regret: Impulsive actions can lead to regret. Colin regrets going to see Cressida without making a better plan first with Eloise and Penelope in S3E8. Penelope regrets writing about Marina and Eloise.

Relationship Issues: Impulsive behaviour can strain relationships due to a lack of consideration and time given to others. I believe that if Penelope was aware of Colin's intent to marry her and they had had a longer courtship with more opportunities for safe communication, she would have told him about Whistledown before the engagement.

Difficulty Planning: Impulsive people may struggle with long-term planning and goal-setting. Colin often expresses his struggle to find a purpose, such as when he was feeding the ducks S2E5. Penelope did not plan for the long-term when she started writing Lady Whistledown and finds herself being hunted by the Queen.

2. Romantic Nature

Strengths:

Imagination: Both possess a vivid imagination. Colin's dream about Penelope at the start of S3E3 is epic. Penelope's writing about Cressida being a succubus is hilarious.

Resilience: Despite the Lady Whistledown conflict, both maintain their determination to marry. Colin's talk with Kate is enlightening on this aspect too S3E7.

Challenges:

Unrealistic expectations: Both have idealised visions of love, which leads to misunderstandings. Colin is blind to his love for Penelope because he expected it to feel like a thunderbolt striking him. Penelope thinks Colin has romantic intentions towards her when he says he will always look out for her and is heartbroken when she hears he does not want to court her in S2E8.

Vulnerability: Romantic individuals may be more susceptible to manipulation because of how powerfully they feel love. Colin is manipulated by Marina's exaggerations and love bombing in S1. Penelope is manipulated by Portia to give up her dreams because Portia says that ladies do not have dreams and serve their husband's dreams S3E6.

Difficulty with casual relationships: Romantic individuals may find it challenging to navigate casual or less romantic intimacy. Colin forlornly describes a casual encounter in his journal as “distant”. Penelope looks disappointed when Portia tells her that Debling will propose because Penelope desires a love match.

Loneliness: Without love, they experience feelings of loneliness. Colin exclaims at the Lord Squad, "Do you not find it lonely?" regarding their shallow relationships. Penelope looks very lonely when sitting at her bedroom window after the Lady Whistledown article about Colin tutoring her was published S3E4.

Quote of Pen appreciating Colin's spontaneity and romantic nature S1E8:

Colin: “I must apologise. I did not see it at first, but I know you were only trying to prevent me from heartache with Miss Thompson…But I was a fool.”

Penelope: “You were not a fool. You merely believed yourself in love. One should never apologise for that. If one finds themselves in such an incredible position. One should declare it: assuredly, fervently, loudly.”

It is beautiful that they understand and appreciate these aspects of each other 💛💙💚

[degreedummy]

Bridgerton Astrology- Part 4: LADY P. FEATHERINGTON

Aquarius Ascendant-

Starting off with her Ascendant, I believe we see a strong representation of Saturnian rulership. More than the other Ladies, there was a distinct separation between her public image and her personal feelings. What speaks to her being an Aquarius Ascendant, in my opinion, is how it's so easy to lose who she really is in the decisions she makes. Easily, she can be cast as manipulative, a user, but you notice that she never takes more than she needs to feed her kids. Sure, the dresses are fancy, the jewelry ornamental, but every cent spent was toward her daughters' futures. To me, there are two big points that speak to her Ascendant, the first being her relationship with her husband. Similar to [Capricorn Ascendant] Lady Agatha, she never looked to marriage for love, for fantasy, she was looking for a man who could provide her security and give her opportunities. The difference between Lady Danbury and Lady Featherington is, Lady Agatha found hers. Past a name, the only benefit to being with Lord Featherington was the three daughters that came from their marriage. She speaks about this too, how she realized she had to take the head of the house, building a path forward for her daughters on her own, and that life would not give her anything she didn't take. For Lady Featherington, even making demands isn't enough, she is forced to take hold of a sword by the blade to stop it from swinging at her. This leads into the second big point that I think identifies her Aquarius Ascendant: the way she takes control of the difficult decisions, understanding that the world may look at her as an aggrieved old woman. This shows in the way she deals with Jack, the way she works with him. She's willing to lie at every turn, up until the point she realizes that he doesn't care about her daughters. Every hard decision she makes in the show is to their benefit, and for him to lure her into running away shows, to her, that he completely misunderstands what her goals are. I think there is a quieter, third way that her Ascendant is expressed: in the stressed responses she shows toward her children, and the moment of 'clarity' she has when it comes to how she speaks to them. In truth, there is absolutely no way we could expect Lady Featherington's children to understand most of her struggles through the show, she does everything she can to keep it out of their sight, but she does a questionable job of filtering her behavior toward them. She doesn't tell people that she's stressed, that she's worried, but her tone of voice gives off the idea that their family is always fighting off an impending doom. We see this in the Lady Whistledown reveal, the way Penelope and her discover each others' secrets at the same time, they so quickly come together because they both understand their decision were what they believed to be best for the family. Though it continues to be misunderstood, we see the reasons for Penelope trashing her own family, Eloise, just like we see the reasons for Lady Featherington helping Cousin Jack lie and steal money from the ton, and I think that's why... when dealing with Saturn-ruled individuals, we have to be very careful about writing them off as villains. Just because they're willing to cross lines that most people wouldn't doesn't mean they're evil, it just goes to show how far Lady Featherington will go for the people she loves, even if that means lying to them about it.

(3H) Aries Sun-

I think her Sun placement is the most obvious, speaking directly to the way she immediately regrets things she's said and done, waiting for other people to turn away so she could really feel the pain of it. I don't think she rushes into decisions, but like many Aries, she feels it's a weakness to show any kind of hesitation. It's an 'always forward' mentality, again, expressed through the way that she turns on Cousin Jack and tells him that she's keeping the fortune. Personally, I find that Aries influences share many similarities with Aquarius, so I don't believe there's much I can say here that differentiates the influence, but when it comes to having a 3H Sun, I think this shows the way she is truly trying to stay on everyone's [Aries Sun sextile Ascendant] 'good side', continuing to smile in their face hoping that they won't hate her for it. I think her 3H Sun shows in the way that she always motivates people to get right back out into the world, trying to stop them from being alienated completely, and it's an urgency that does end up working out for her daughters. Though they may have fumbled at every step, continuing to apply consistent pressure led to Lady Featherington having three married daughters, and three grandchildren by the end of the third season. In trying to differentiate her Sun from her Ascendant, it would be easier to what happens in her social life, the way that applying her chaos always seems to bring things together, at some point. In researching about her, I even saw an article that says 'Lady Featherington, not the true villain of Bridgerton?', and I was half surprised, because in my eyes I never looked at her as one. I agree completely that she makes decisions worth criticism, that she plays to her own selfishness and appears to care more about her reputation than anyone else, but being a monarch takes getting your hands dirty. Being a monarch of her family took the strength of Mars, not just physically, but mentally. Being the leader of her home, after realizing no man was good enough to be, meant sometimes becoming as evil as a man can be. I don't think that's something... that defines her character, but shows the range of it. The range of a mother who will do anything for her daughters.

(10H) Scorpio Moon-

This is one of those influences that is specific to its house placement, and I think a 10H Scorpio Moon in its entirety shows her understanding the value of keeping a secret, keeping quiet, and standing strong in the face of people who doubt you. In my opinion, I think her Moon is also present in the way... I think some people could question her turnaround, the way she 'realized' she was being mean to her daughters, but I do believe some part of that was completely honest. She, as a Scorpio Moon, resists admitting fault, but she instantly started correcting the way people spoke to Penelope after realizing she was wrong for enabling it. She may not be consistent herself, but she's strong on holding other people to changing. I think this Scorpio Moon also speaks to... it being her own daughter that brought on her downfall. Of course, we can reflect on the reasoning for Penelope slandering the Featherington name, but when we're talking about Astrological influences, her daughter was the one to drive the knife. Bringing it back to house placement, where was the knife driven? [10H] Into her reputation.

(2H) Pisces Mercury-

When it comes to her Mercury, I think a Pisces 2H placement would more be represented through her marriage, where, rather than obtaining money, she found herself bearing the debt and repercussions of everyone around her. Lord Featherington, Penelope, Cousin Jack, no matter how you may criticize her, she has always been abandoned and left to deal with a storm, completely alone. In a way, I could see her Mercury being why she's so well known to be a liar and thief, having people look past any good she's done to condemn her for the decisions she's made. This Mercury placement is why I've been open about her deserving some criticism, but it's also why [Mercury square Mars] I think it's important to lose perspective of her entire identity. I think her Pisces Mercury does also come out in the way she tries to be... maliciously honest with Penelope in the first seasons, trying to smack her back down to earth so she can focus on something more 'realistic'. Like I said before, even with all of her inconsistencies, even with all the lies she tells, she refuses to allow other people to lie, because she knows what it means to get completely lost. I think her chart is laid out in a way that is very hypocritical, but playing both sides works for her.

(1H) Aquarius Venus-

I think having her Venus in Aquarius contributes to much of what I was saying before, specifically about how, throughout the show, Lady Featherington never has the opportunity to rely on a man for support like everyone is taught to believe in. For all she can be criticized for, she already tried the methods that were taught to her. For any way you could criticize her decisions now, she wouldn't be at the head of these risks if she lived a safe life, supported by the people she was 'supposed to be'. This Venus is why I'm pretty lax when it comes to how hypocritical the influences can be in her chart, because personally, I do believe in her intentions. For as extreme as she may be toward them, I never doubted the love she has for her daughters. For as intense as she can be, I don't think she's unfit for love or marriage in any way. Aquarius can bring on extreme change, or identify someone held to adapting to extreme change, and I think she's done exactly that. I think learning more about her backstory would help us understand her more, I think we would see someone more gentle and almost naive, falling into believing every lie she's told until she realizes that won't work anymore. Her Aquarius Venus is why I have a respect for the person she's turned into, because still, her focus is not revenge. As I said before, she lies, but she doesn't take any more than she needs. As soon as she lost out on one dream, she was onto the next, which was trying to give her daughters the best chance at a future as she can.

(11H) Sagittarius Mars-

To close off with her Mars, I think this 11H Sagittarius rulership highlights the way... as I said before, as long as she continues applying pressure, something will happen. Good or bad, any movement at all gives her an opportunity to put her foot in, and she finds a way forward no matter what's against her. I think something that easily identifies this Mars placement is the way that a planned lie is what threatens her entire family. At every other step, she's making things up as she goes, reacting in the moment, but it's when she has time to plan a lie that it becomes too big, and too noticeable. As we see, she holds to the lie about her aunt leaving her money in a will, but the investigator [11H] is as dedicated, enough to explore the actual history of her family. I've refrained from calling her a 'good liar', but what else would you call the best skill of saleswoman? I think Lady Featherington [Sagittarius Mars sextile Venus] is someone who is skilled at employing illusion, selectively withholding information, feeding hints to lure people in another direction, and as far as she tried to run, she ended up in a room with Penelope. Staring at her while realizing that Lady Whistledown had become the same woman Lady Featherington shaped herself to be. Another reason I'd cast her as a Sagittarius Mars is specifically because I don't believe her story is done yet, that there is no hope for her or no dream to achieve past having grandchildren. I think someone so accustomed to working with intricate pieces will quickly get bored after realizing she achieved all she wanted.

[audiblehush]

I know this isn’t really relevant to the recent promo we’ve gotten (which I’m still swooning over, for the record), but I’ve been thinking about how some people in this fandom have been fussing over Pen having a potential suitor (or suitorS, we don’t really know) this season, and I don’t understand their complaints, I guess?

… like, I’m pretty sure that it’s meant to MIRROR Season 1.

(…see what I did there? ;)

There are multiple ways in which Colin and Penelope’s stories / situations have mirrored the other. They are not perfect mirrors (that would be dull), but they ARE similar and I truly believe that it’s intentional to reinforce both Polin’s compatibility and ultimately their empathy for the other.

A few examples:

—

Colin: is viewed as the “one-dimensional” easy-going, un-serious, charming brother who never rocks the boat; never gets angry.

Pen: is viewed as a shy, quiet, harmless wallflower who never steps out of line and is kind of a doormat.

—

As a result of the above perceptions:

Colin: is desperate for something to fill his time and energy the way his brothers have something, SO he impulsively courts and proposes marriage to a girl he barely knows to feel needed and wanted in a way that makes him feel mature; and he gets the validation he seeks from Marina, as it suits her needs (I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, she genuinely needed him to be desperate for validation to get a quick marriage). A heady feeling, someone relying on you and telling you that you are desperately needed…

Penelope: is desperate to feel a part of the ton in any way she can, because her and her family are tolerated at best, and heavily criticized at worst. So rather than suffering through the season, crushed, and always on the sidelines against her will, after choosing to start LW —perhaps on a whim, perhaps it was discovered and encouraged by chance like in the books— she “chooses” to hug the wall and not be noticed… (not at all a coping mechanism and a fear of rejection, amirite??) …and she eventually gets the acceptance and validation she seeks by having the ton hang off her every word as LW…. Again, a heady thing for a lonely 17-18 year old who wants to be heard and who craves acceptance, however she can get it.

—

Penelope: has to watch the man she’s in love with, one of the few people who listens to her and who she shows aspects of her true, (sometimes cutting self) with, court and eventually propose to a girl she knows is actively manipulating him.

She then (quickly, imperfectly and messily) interferes to spare Colin from the plot… without his input (after a failed first attempt to appeal to him, in her defense… and then the time limit became a problem).

Colin: quickly and imperfectly interferes in Jack’s ruby scheme in order to fix his own rashness, but also to spare the Featherington family… (without their input, it must be noted, even though he says he does it for them).

…And now in season 3, Colin will need to watch as Pen attempts to attract suitors, possibly while he watches with feelings of jealously if she has some success (Edit: Though I doubt it will get all the way to an engagement; too redundant)

(And this is nothing but speculation, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Colin either discovers something about one of the suitors, or about another plot entirely and is forced to make a difficult decision regarding it, that impacts Penelope).

—

Penelope: writes things that can have a negative impact on or hurt people, sometimes for her own own comfort (LW), even if it’s not intentional.

Colin: says and does things that hurt others or that are misleading / obliviously harmful, sometimes for his own comfort (avoiding the needling of those men at the end of S2), even if it’s not intentional.

—

Penelope: has self esteem that has been in the TRASH since the beginning of the series - this poor girl hates herself, and has had it reinforced often (and likely from a young age) that her thoughts and opinions aren’t worth hearing, and that she is never enough (and is one of a few reasons why I find the “she wanted Colin for herself!” takes about the end of S1 pretty laughable)… so she hides behind LW. Colin is one of the only people she’s hinted to that she can be biting (Eloise gets glimpses of it), and I think the ONLY one she has hinted at that she has “grand dreams”

Colin: ALSO has self esteem that is pretty low, desperately seeking something that he thinks will make him feel whole and complete, the forgotten middle child (same, bro…), and he masks this uncertainty by flaunting a fake confidence and hiding behind his hobbies and being what everyone wants him to be… also he he can keep people from looking deeper… while simultaneously desperate to be seen by those around him. Pen is the only person he’s really hinted at that he’s unhappy when they discuss purpose.

—

EDIT: How could I forget?! BOTH are the third children in their family. Colin is the forgotten middle child, and Pen is the youngest, but both are criticized by their acting heads of their household (Anthony for Colin, Portia for Penelope), and criticized by their siblings. Penelope’s sisters brutally mock her often: her weight, her skin, her letter-writing, etc. Colin’s siblings clearly mean to just tease him, but it’s obvious how much their lack of interest in him as a person hurts him and makes him feel invisible and unwanted (my poor boy 🥺…)

—

Mirrors, mirrors, and more mirrors. Sometimes they are funhouse mirrors, the situations aren’t ever exact, there are nuances and specific context to each, but imo the similarities are very intentional.

The show is going out of its way to put these characters on more equal footing, and to have each of them make blunders in their lives and in the lives of others, knocked off their respective pedestals, to set them up to be like “wow, I get it, I get YOU and I choose YOU, with all the highs and all the lows” … and I LOVE it!! 🥹

People in this fandom tend to relate to either Penelope, Colin, (or sometimes both), and that’s awesome… but that doesn’t mean they don’t each have flaws. It also doesn’t have to become a “who hurt who more, who is more right?” - I am so uninterested in that: pain isn’t a competition.

What I AM interested and invested in is their growth, seperetly and together, and the removal of their masks to truly see and accept the other.

So yeah, y’all. It’s called a parallel, and I really hope we get loads of them in S3. 🥰

I honestly really welcome conversation and thoughts about this; I’m pretty new to the fandom, but unfortunately I have seen a lot of people (on tumblr in particular) be very “holier than thou” if they don’t agree on an interpretation, and it makes the fandom seem very unwelcoming and makes me nervous to even post things, which is pretty ridiculous. :/

Fandom gonna fandom, I guess. 🤷‍♀️ I just really love this show and this pairing and I’m dying for S3.