#We are living our best life in the Polin fandom

[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.

[biancadoes1]

Hello! I've been in fandoms for over 20 years, and I honestly thought I'd seen it all. But then, while watching the promo tour for Bridgerton Season 3, I fell into the Polin rabbit hole. The chemistry between Luke and Nicola was undeniable, and it hooked me in quickly. However, as I explored more of the fandom, I was surprised to see how toxic things could get.

In my previous fandoms, I shipped characters, not the actors portraying them—except for Harry and Louis from One Direction (and that experience brought its own share of hurt: matching tattoos, song lyrics, all those signs…we truly thought “Larry” was endgame). This fandom feels similar. Many fans wish Luke and Nic could be together in real life, but at what cost? Our own sanity?

Let’s be real: the odds of them being in a real-life relationship are incredibly slim. The obsession with “Easter eggs” that supposedly hint at something more? I’ve been down that road, and it’s unhealthy. Years have passed, and that Harry/Louis relationship confirmation we hoped for never came. I see the same patterns here with Luke and Nic, and it’s disappointing to see fans clinging to these little hints instead of simply enjoying the incredible work they put into their characters.

A critical point to consider: would anyone be comfortable with a 29-year-old dating a 16-year-old? Of course not. So why is it suddenly okay now, just because they’re older? When JD became legal in the UK at 16, Nicola was nearly 30—an adult, while he was still in his teens. Even now, he’s still significantly younger than she is. If she truly is dating someone this young, it’s disappointing. It brings into question the kind of person she actually is, and maybe that’s why many fans resist admitting she could be in a relationship with JD. It’s easier for fans to uphold the idea that Nicola is perfect than to accept that she might be making choices that don’t align with the values we thought she stood for.

Nicola has long appeared to be a woman of strong character who took charge of her career and made independent decisions. Ignoring what’s happening now could hurt her public image and even her integrity. It’s one thing to admire the professionalism and maturity she’s shown on screen and in interviews, but it’s another to look the other way when things don’t add up.

So, what would it take for fans to accept that she might actually be dating JD and not Luke? The recent photos of her with JD in a residential neighborhood, having dinner with no reason to expect paparazzi, seem like a pretty clear indication that this might be a real relationship. It’s time for fans to face the possibility that Nicola isn’t as flawless as we might want her to be.

Part of the reason we might all want Luke and Nic together is because they have undeniable chemistry. But maybe it’s also because Nicola doesn’t fit the stereotypical “attractive” mold that society pushes, and we like the idea of her getting the handsome, tall guy. It’s possible we’re projecting our own insecurities, hoping to manifest a romance between them—and that’s not fair to either of them.

And yes, as much as I’d love to see Luke and Nic together in real life, the truth is, they’re actors. Their job is to bring their characters to life so we want to watch the show, so they can succeed, gain visibility, and open doors to new acting opportunities. Maybe we haven’t considered that their chemistry is simply the result of them doing their jobs well. If they’ve done their part so convincingly that they’ve made fans believe in their on-screen romance, isn’t that proof of their talent as actors? They’ve played their roles beautifully, and it might be time to let that fantasy go.

If we don’t want to end up with heartbreak, frustration, and sleepless nights, it might be best to step back and enjoy Polin as they are in Bridgerton. Let’s appreciate Luke and Nic’s talent without digging into their personal lives. And where are all these so-called “anon experts” even coming from? The way they hype up every little “clue” is exhausting. For your own sanity, take a step back from the speculation—don’t put yourselves through what we Larry shippers went through.

For all of our sakes, let’s step back, enjoy the characters, and leave Luke and Nic’s personal lives out of it.

Thank you for your thoughts, anon.

But I disagree heavily on multiple points you make and that's fine.

I like to leave these topics open for thoughtful discussion.

[darcytaylor]

We're screaming into the void, babe. This is all about people trying to meet their own unmet emotional needs through strangers because their lives look more important or glamorous than their own. It isn't rational, it never was. I've given up on this fandom.

I agree - there’s a lot of truth in how unmet emotional needs can lead people to project onto celebrities, especially when they bring relatable characters to life. Nicola and Luke took their characters and created something very relatable that it feels almost tangible, like something that could happen to anyone. That connection is a big part of what makes storytelling so powerful, and I understand why people find comfort and inspiration in it. It just gets tricky when people become so deeply invested that they start to demand certain narratives and believe things about others. We must remember that we don’t know them personally.

I stopped being a silent observer of the fandom after my long-term relationship ended - I was looking for a place to connect with others and write about things that made me happy. Bridgerton/Polin/Nicola/Luke, became that space for me. But then the 'papgate' situation with Luke happened, and I saw the intense emotions it stirred up. People were upset, and emotions were all over the place. I wanted people to know that some of those feelings may be valid, and I shared my perspective on why I thought people were disappointed and frustrated. My hope was to let people know they weren’t alone in feeling this way, while also gently encouraging everyone to take a step back and consider the situation with a bit more calm.

I say this all of the time (I even said it in a previous paragraph), but it’s important to remember that we don’t truly know Nicola or Luke - what we know best are the characters they play. Even though we’ve seen months of promo and their authentic chemistry and enjoyment of each other’s company, that’s still work, and they’re surrounded by their characters the entire time. I don’t think the promo tour was all just PR - I personally think it’s clear they have a genuine bond, make each other laugh, and enjoy being around each other. But that doesn’t mean we know who they are privately - we just have a basic, public-facing idea of them as individuals.

The reason I keep posting the things I do is because I believe that even if I can get one person to look at this whole situation and celebrity culture from a slightly different angle, it’s worth it. I don’t think my word is the end-all-be-all, but I do think I have a healthy mindset in all of this (I hope so anyway).

Nicola and Luke are real people, with lives and experiences beyond the storylines and press tours. By letting go of any expectations or assumptions about how they should live their lives and how they do live their lives, we allow them to be fully human. This gives us the space to appreciate them without boxing them into our own narratives.

[herejusttosufferalong]

Hey, as much as I enjoy your blog I just want to warn you that there are trolls and A’s supporters on tumblr who have been targeting popular Polin blogs. I fear that after unsuccessfully provoking you with negative messages in previous anon asks they might have changed their strategy to bringing up any reason to mention A’s name, hence making her live rent-free in our heads. We don’t want that, do we?

Personally I have no interest in her life and whatever she does with Luke. If Luke is meant to appear somewhere he will, and us speculating about A’s whereabouts means we are just gradually making her a minor celebrity whose every move is followed and discussed among a big fandom.

I love your blog very much because it is so entertaining to read, but I really REALLY don’t want to keep seeing discussion about A please, I don’t see how it might help much shipping Polin/Lukola. However, your blog, your choice.

I get it anon but what you fail to realize you don't even see a tenth of the shit I see.

Be glad I don't post all the BS I get.

Also if you are looking to avoid adjacent discussion to L and N I suggest following BocceGoHawks on TT she is literally the best.

This is the Wild Wild West of topic discussion, respectfully 💜🥃

[thisislittlerunaway]

To all Polin fans,

Remember that we are here for Nic, Luke, and Polin.

Anything beyond them should be ignored instead of being let to live rent free in our minds.

It is tough, but doable, and I appreciate that it might take quite a bit of compartmentalising.

Like you, I find it frustrating that we got hooked in by their chemistry but now suddenly have to tolerate Luke’s whatever life choices. We fucking have no other options, because we love Nic and Luke. Well I guess that’s PR well done.

Given that we are now completely at their mercy with no power or entitlement whatsoever, we just have to figure out the best way to keep supporting Nic, Luke and Polin without having our interest hijacked for any other purposes, that is if you still want to remain in the fandom. The more you dig and discuss and speculate the more hype is given to the wrong party. Don’t become pawns in their game.

I hope you stay calm and reasonable, and somehow can still find joy in Polin, and even Lukola. What they have given us so far is amazing, don’t ever forget that.

Have a good day!

[gleefullypolin]

I hate that Shondaland is encouraging the fans shipping Nicola and Luke after the actors finally got them to stop after MONTHS of harassment because they're seemingly dating other people. And even if they weren't why would anyone ship two people and want them to marry? Can't Nic and Luke just have an incredible friendship like Kate and Leonardo? Shondaland doesn't care about its actors and it is so obvious. Now everyone on Twitter and Tumblr are shipping the actors again and I feel so bad for Nic and Luke.

Oh boy....

Well I have done my best to stay out of this discourse in our fandom but you caught me on an early morning work day and I'm hating work so I guess I'm gonna answer this.

First let me put this out there, there is nothing wrong with shipping. In fact, I got caught up in it myself during the World Tour as come on, Nic/Luke are adorable and they play our couple well and they have insane natural chemistry and well the WT was off the charts insane.

What I do have issue with, is taking shipping to the actors. Oof. That should always stay in fandom and never leave the brain rot of fandom. Tagging them, talking about it, doxxing, being crazy to one or the other about the other, stalking, the stuff I see out there....yeah that makes me nuts because it alters their behavior toward fandom. It causes them to withdraw or post differently and then fandom loses out and that's sad.

The other part is just personal respect for their lives, while I know they asked for this. They basically signed up for it by becoming actors, that signature only goes so far and we should respect that. When they choose to even mildly associate with other people in their personal life, that's a line I don't cross.

And look, I get it, while not trying to age myself, I come as an OG Glee fandom member. I was a day one Finchel shipper and I was there when Monchel was created. My friends and I followed every scrap there was of "where is Cory Monteith and Lea Michelle today" I was there when the Christmas Choir scene photo was posted by Kevin McHale and everyone in the world lost their fucking minds. I know how to follow a bread trail. I know who Perez Hilton is because he caught them eating dinner together and blew the whole thing open. I followed Cory Monteith from show to show like a fucking groupie and met him multiple times. So I get shipping real life and it almost broke me in two when he died.

So my point with that embarrassing detail about my past is that I'm not about to judge anyone for shipping Lukola, but maybe just dial it back people. It's not worth the heartache it causes when it either doesn't end up working out or it just ends up not being true. Shipping should be enjoyable, not a fight.

It wouldn't hurt to learn to tag properly tho. Lukola isn't polin and vice versa, the tags are a fucking mess and I get why those not on the train truly hate going to the Polin tag to see the discourse. Myself included. Sometimes you just want to enjoy the fictional couple in peace. That's the piece everyone signed on for with Polin in their username.

Anyway, just my two cents, I don't normally comment on this at all because I hate all the fighting so you caught me on a good day, or maybe a bad one, who knows.