#You like Kate Bridgerton you WILL like her

[spaceorphan18]

The Lady Whistledown Papers : 2x04 Victory (Part 4)

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

Bridgerton Ball

The Bridgertons are hosting a ball in their very large country home. (It's kind of amazing they can accommodate for the nine hundred families attending - just how big is that mansion??) And Penelope and Eloise remain the wallflowers that they are.

It's a shame Colin decides to sit this one out -- look how gorgeous this girl is! Her hair is beautiful in this scene, and her dress isn't that bad. I'm really appreciating Season 2 Penelope a lot more through doing this meta. The dresses might still be not the greatest, but her hair and make up have been A+. Colin is a dope for not seeing her sooner.

Anyway, one detail I love about this scene is how much Penelope and Eloise are close physically. They're literally clinging to each other for support.

Violet is on her way, bringing over a suitor for Eloise, and Eloise begins freaking out. Penelope is rather calm -- wanting Eloise to dance because she (sadly) knows she's not going to. (And, the girl really would love to dance.) I do love that Penelope teases her a little -- wanting to hear gossip about a possible love life for her friend instead of Eloise going on about pamphlets.

I also kind of love that she slips in there a question about Colin - and if she's heard about his trip to Marina. Like, girl you are not subtle in your inquiries. If Eloise hadn't been so wrapped up in her own, little world, there's no way she couldn't have noticed Pen's Colin obsession. But Eloise doesn't get to answer - her new suitor awaits.

I love that during this awkward exchange between Eloise and the guy, Penelope's off in the background, pretending to mind her own business while secretly listening in, and giggling about how terrible Eloise is with a suitor. Honestly, Penelope isn't much better but at least she's getting amusement from Eloise's antics.

There's this cute little moment, as Eloise goes off to dance... Eloise sarcastically jokes that Penelope is going to get that entertainment she asked for, as Eloise is dragged onto the dance floor. But then Violet looks back at her, and they share a knowing grin. I said it last time but -- man, I do wish Penelope and Violet had had more interactions. But there is some small groundwork here that Violet is comfortable with Penelope, and seems to enjoy her presence.

Well... so much for Eloise dancing with some guy. He turns out to be an asshat, and Eloise won't stand for it! Penelope is worried for her friend as things heat up. Penelope does run after her, but Eloise wants to be alone... Which gives Penelope plenty of time, now, to watch everyone else -- including her own family, where things are going to get a bit screwy.

Penelope has her own little perch to watch the entire ball -- surely there's some Lady Whistledown noteworthy things going down... But she's distracted by the fact that her mother is pushing Prudence out of the ballroom. Penelope isn't dumb, and she's well aware that Portia has been up to things -- what, she doesn't know exactly, but she's definitely aware that something doesn't feel right.

Well, Portia, upon freaking out that Jack is interested in Cressida, puts her plan into action and has Prudence go out into the garden when she just sent Jack out there. And then has everyone come out and catch them... not doing a thing. Penelope is scandalized!

And, I mean, I realize they need this for plot purposes (and - in a way, this is a nod to the Viscount Who Loved Me, in which Kate and Anthony are forced into marriage because of a beesting), but it feels so forced. Just, Idk. With the amount of shenanigans that Colin and Penelope get into... (I mean, does anyone care that Colin is off visiting a married woman, and she had been alone for some time?). And for the amount of 'alone' time both Simon and Daphne and Kate and Anthony have managed thus far, this whole sequence is so farfetched.

Whatever, they need it for plot reasons.

Anyway, while Prudence is thrilled about being married, and Jack is horrified, Penelope is simply perplexed. She knows a set up when she sees one, and she knows things are right about this. On top of that, she absolutely is going to have to report this as Lady Whistledown, and while her column may have started out to throw shade at her own family, she isn't really interested in getting them into scandal -- especially when her family doesn't need the extra drama in their direction.

Later, Penelope confronts her sister (I assume on their way back to their rooms?). Prudence tells Penelope not to be jealous, and I love how dismissive Pen is of it -- like, god, no, totally not jealous of you marrying someone actually related to us.

Quick sidebar, look at the detailing of Penelope's necklace and hairpiece. It's absolutely gorgeous. Shame Colin wasn't there to see that...

Anyway, Penelope wants details and gets confirmation that Portia had set it all up. Prudence is thrilled that Lady Whistledown has something to write about concerning her, but Penelope is fearful of that. Whatever the gossip may be -- it'll be a scandal, and that could ruin their family, and be a huge ordeal. Prudence accuses Penelope of being jealous of her, to which Penelope is deeply offended. (Penelope could never imagine being jealous of Prudence -- but it's another thing her sister can attempt to rub in her face)

Prudence goes on to say that there's no possible way that Lady Whistledown would know that it was a set-up, and will just report the basic news of the engagement. She also takes a moment to throw in Penelope's face that she is now engaged, and Penelope is still... Penelope. Also, Prudence can't help but throw at her that she is now going to be the new Lady Featherington, a fact that does grate on Penelope. She's left there to stew as Prudence marches away, seeming victorious.

Stairway

I wanted to include this shot from farther away just to see their full profiles. He's standing four steps down to meet her eyeline. Yes. I counted. I just had to point that out. Also, oooff, that unflinchingly hard yellow is back. But most importantly -- can we talk about the fact that they all spent the night at in the same house? Where are my Season 2 AU fics, they've got to be out there, right??? I mean think about the shenanigans.

Alright, so let's dig into this one. Penelope is thrilled to catch him. What an odd coincidence that there are, like, 500 people in that house and the two of them cross paths without anyone else in sight. (I mean, I know, I get it, I understand how filming works, I just think it's funny - especially after all of the shenanigans with Jack and Prudence.)

Anyway - she completely lights up when she sees him. This is one of the few times, however, that Colin doesn't light up when he sees her. (I'm going to have to go back and take a look - because he usually is just as happy to see her whenever their paths cross.) But Colin didn't go to the ball for the same reason he's in a morose mood at the moment. He's lost in his own thoughts and emotions, and he's still kind of dealing with the aftermath of his time with Marina.

Colin says he stayed in because he wasn't feeling up to the ball, and I do have some questions -- like, Violet is insistent on Eloise being there, but doesn't seem to push Colin in the same way (the difference between sons and daughters? and, btw, was Benedict there - where is Benedict, he always seems to be getting out of these things). But I also wonder -- I assume Colin just left for Marina's without telling anyone (except El and Pen). Does no one care what he's up to? Colin honestly could get away with murder based on how little anyone pays attention to what he's up to. (I feel the same way about Benedict.)

Penelope asks how Marina is doing. Colin simply responds that she's content. Which isn't wrong. Penelope takes it as a good thing, and it's a nice reminder moment that Penelope does and did care for Marina's well being. Penelope wasn't set out to ruin anyone's life. She just wanted Colin to make decisions on all the facts, and not have his own life ruined by a lie.

Anyway... while Penelope is glad to hear of Marina's contentness, it's clear that Colin is, I suppose, unhappy that Marina is doing fine. It's clear, really, that Marina didn't need Colin's help - and he's still rectifying that in his head.

Penelope goes on to say that maybe seeing Marina is what he needed, for closure... She states specifically 'to leave the past behind' which is an echo of what Marina told him. Colin, however, has a hard time letting things go... but first, Penelope, not really reading him in the moment, goes on to suggest that maybe he doesn't really need to swear off women. It's a slightly sad attempt to get him to notice that she is a woman.

The two of them, however, are really not on the same page. Penelope's somewhat missing the fact that there's more going on with Colin than just his sense of heartbreak -- that Colin's still trying to figure out what his place in this world is. Meanwhile, Colin is truly missing that the answer to that question is standing in front of him.

Next we get a section that... does feel a little like clunky writing. Colin's next thoughts are that he still feels bad about how everyone, including himself, was hard on her for hiding her pregnancy, and chastises Lady Whistledown for printing the gossip. And that if LW hadn't, things would have turned out differently (and in Colin's mind - for the better).

The purpose of the statement, I believe, is less about Colin (I'll get to that in a sec) and more about making Penelope feel guilty for being LW and having that happen. It's a moment that's supposed to add tension to the Polin narrative -- reminding us that even if we do want these two together, there is something that hangs over them... the LW secret, and the fact that Colin does not have a high opinion of her.

But the way Colin presents it makes it seem like he thinks that had LW not printed, he'd be happily married and so would Marina. Which... just would not be true. In fact, Colin, babe, you'd be miserable because your wife would not love you and she'd be merely 'content' with you. And, honestly, her life is for the better after the LW reveal, because Sir Philip respects her back but isn't in love with her -- and Colin would be miserable being in love and not feeling it back, so Marina kinda lucked out there. It's kind of weird that Colin doesn't seem to recognize it.

Also, as an aside, I kind of, sort of wonder if any of this was/is supposed to be a small set up for things to come way down the road. Were they trying to acknowledge things that happen in Eloise's book, with the mental health issues, etc? Idk - I just don't think they were thinking that far in advance, but still.

Anyway, Penelope looks understandably guilty about it -- though Colin doesn't notice this at all.

He does go on to say that there is no use dwelling on the past -- echoing Marina and now Penelope. And I do get a sense that Colin is trying to move on and forward, even if he doesn't know what direction that might exactly be. (Despite might stern looking screencap) Colin is actually a bit lighter when he says he's thinking of the future. It's such a subtle facial shift, where he slightly smiles when he thinks about it. He may be in a mood about Marina but I think he's okay, and genuinely open to pursuing the next phase in his life.

Penelope is left on the stairs with the weight of her secret and how it effects other people's lives hanging over her.

And, I mean, now that I've sat and watched this scene closely about fifteen times - I don't necessarily think that Colin is still stuck in his broken heartedness about Marina. I think this scene is more about Penelope, and having to face consequences for being Lady Whistledown. But also, to a lesser extent, that she just can't wishful think Colin into liking her back. There's still very much distance between them that isn't going away any time soon.

Proposal

As the episode closes, we get the Lady Whistledown narration stating that there is a tiny bit of gossip she can speak about that not everyone knows... And, I mean, had everyone else left already? why is Penelope there but not the rest of the ton - or even her own family? Idk, I shouldn't think too hard about logistics here. The point is that Penelope has a front row seat to Anthony's actions.

I want to mention the scoring here, which is kind of interesting. I do believe the music was heard in Season 1 (though I can't remember when). But... a shorter version of this material will be used in 3x04... at the end of the carriage scene... when we get another proposal. But more on that later...

Okay, so Penelope is waving to people as they leave. Also, it seems like Prudence, Jack, and Portia are all in a carriage - so is Penelope dragging her feet getting in? Oh, the logistics!

Meanwhile, the Bridgertons are all standing in one pack as they are the hosts. It's very Christmas Card-ish of them.

Anthony runs out to go propose to Edwina. The Bridgertons look on shocked at the development. Colin and Benedict share a great look of -- wtf, Anthony?? They... really haven't been a part of the plot lately. At all, lol. None of the Bridgertons really seem like this is a good idea. (And we all know it's not...)

Okay, so Pen was dragging her feet getting into her carriage...

Unlike the Bridgertons, half of whom had an inkling that there are Kate and Anthony shenanigans that are unresolved, Penelope had not been around, and has no idea. She just gets to witness a proposal, and omg does her romantic little heart get caught up in it -- not to mention that she'll have this salacious detail to write about later. She is probably the happiest person there, after Edwina.

Victory indeed, the narration ends with. Meh, Pen, i don't think anyone has won here...

We still have four more episodes of Season 2 left!! ;)

[rosellerivers19]

Did you LOVE Kate Bridgerton? Then you might like my character. She’s a feminist, who lives in the rural outskirts of India and has a high education but isn’t afraid to get dirty. She’s also a bit fruity but she doesn’t know that yet.

Thank you @simoneashley for teaching me to draw beautiful dark skinned Indian women.

Introducing my new character Lalitha she lives in a village in India with a living family she’s very close with her family including aunts and cousins.She helps her father with the farming land they own and is a very hard worker and has a high education.Despite her dad pushing prospects of arranged marriage on her she’s rejected every one, she’s very stubborn .She’s also a Lesbian but she doesn’t know that yet ✨.

Despite growing up in a semi traditional house hold she will take NO BS from a man something her dad is forced to accept however her being lesbian might bring up some problems later in the story.

Do you want to see how she deals with it?

[sukibenders]

CLOCK IT!

[zipadeea]

Still not over book!Anthony Bridgerton because my boy literally came home early one afternoon, whilst in the middle of his angsty "i don't love my wife but also she's beautiful and she's literally my favorite person to spend time with hmm what does that mean" phase, and listened to Kate play the flute, very badly, during her lesson, for like a whole hour. My boy didn't come in and just listen to her play a song, he literally sat with her for the whole lesson, just because he wanted to. And then, in the epilogue, Anthony Bridgerton spends his 39th birthday forcing his extended family to listen to him and his wife performing a concert, again badly, because my dude literally learned how to play the trumpet so he could accompany his wife and they could learn new things together.

[rainbow-sunshine-unicorn]

This is actually an accurate summary of what happened in this scene

[tulipsandcorgis]

anthony for the next few months: oooooh, sorry. can’t do that, my wife is pregnant.

benedict: …anthony, you do know YOU’RE still allowed to drink.

[sunfortune]

CHERYL DUNYE WORKED ON BRIDGERTON??????? this is crazy. kanthony has the lesbian gaze fr <— hasn’t watched bridgerton

worked on it? she directed the gazebo sex episodes. we literally have FINGERS IN HIS MOUTH bc of HER!! i owe her everything !!!

[biodead-on-the-biobed]

I see people talking about “oh Phillipa and Prudence are racing to produce an heir, and so far Penelope is winning” and “what if Prudence and Phillipa both have daughters and Penelope is the one to have a son” and I raise you:

Penelope has twins.

Because THINK abt it. Bridgerton has messed with birth order/child names before (see Daphne and August) so it’s possible for this case (ie: making Agatha and Thomas twins instead)

But just. Imagine the chaos. Imagine Penelope’s family brushing aside the idea that Pen is even pregnant, or telling her “you’re so sick because you’re having a girl” or some other nonsense. Imagine her sisters still haven’t had their children. Imagine Penelope gives birth and of course half the Bridgertons are there in support and Penelope’s own family arrive late after the birth. And Portia gets told that Yes, you do have a granddaughter.

And a grandson.

And then you cut to Colin and Pen holding their girl and boy respectively (I refuse to believe Agatha wont have Colin wrapped around her little finger within 5 minutes of her being born, and you know sweet boy Thomas has Pens entire heart) and Portia, Prudence, and Phillipa have to come to terms with the fact that not only did Penelope beat them in the race to have a child, she had TWO

[myficprompts]

what about a s2 kanthony au where it’s near the start of the season (maybe before the races?) anthony intends to send flowers to edwina to show how he’s a great suitor to consider but as he’s advising what to put on the card (either himself writing it at the florist or what he’s telling his butler or whoever), he’s distracted because he’s thinking of kate and how to best her or something and because he’s distracted, he advises the flowers are to be for Miss Kate Sharma.

And it’s the first bouquet that Kate ever received and she’s confused because isn’t he trying to court her sister but he put such a sweet note and she’s softened by it. She assumes it’s purpose was to soften her to garner favor with Edwina but she still appreciates her first bouquet and it’s proper that she thanks him regardless. then at the races, Kate approaches him and thanks him for them and Anthony is just like ???? Flowers?

And Kate’s like “yes my lord, the bouquet you sent to me at lady danbury’s house this morning? The Lillies and tulips?”

And he’s like “oh! Oh yes. Yes. Those flowers. That I sent to you. Yes. Of course. You’re welcome.”

And that’s when his plans for the season change.

[lukealvezhimboextraordinaire]

Anthony *attempts to cockblock his mother*

Kate: how about not, darling?

[itspileofgoodthings]

okay but just thinking about how dark it is that Anthony’s kind of ultimate fantasy isn’t marrying Kate —it’s being married to her sister while lusting after Kate, his honor about to SNAP

[inthethickofbleeding]

Thoughts on Bridgerton S3

I'M JUST RANTING OKAY I've only seen part 2 once and these are just my thoughts and feelings I am gonna throw here and delete later when I probably change my mind after rewatching?? I just gotta rant😭

Penelope was so gracious and understanding and forgiving and I felt she deserved, in many moments, to be rightfully more upset, more vindictive, more fiercely witty and proud. Though I do LOVE all the things getting resolved and solved and brought to light and happy endings (I actually do love it), the journey there for me was missing a healthy and (imo) realistic dose of female rage. Just for the dramaaa come on. All the other drama going on here and Penelope is 'grateful for your counsel?' bfr. I'll show you grateful for your counsel by hating on it! She can show everyone her heart AND her teeth. She is more than capable and I thought that her character was reduced too much in the last four episodes. Penelope I want you to have everything, including your full range of emotion and humor and wit. Drink more w/ Madame Delacroix okay?? And with Lady Danbury.

I feel like my husbandColin was weirdly sidelined? I'm actually quite grateful for Part1 Colin, because I haven't landed anywhere yet with Part2 Colin. I knew he was jealous, I knew he was always going to forgive her...and we all knew he loved her....so the conflict/tension between them was not as interesting- for me! Just for meee. And stupidly drawn out. FOR MEEEEE. He had taken so many 'gallant' steps in his relationship with Penelope so when their wedding day and night and subsequent honeymoon days arrived and he was stuck in that attitude I was so unmoved. Don't play with me, Colin. Go worship your wife.

I JUST WANTED ANOTHER PURE VIOLET MOMENT! OF ANY KIND! Like before/about her dance with Marcus come oonnn! This is Violet! Please for the love. Also give me a convo with her and Penelope! Just one real one?? Damn. Her resolution with Francesca was alright? I guess. I do love that she isn't perfect with all of her kids, esp her daughters. But I feel they planted a lot of stuff for her as a mother and as a woman wanting to 'tend to her garden' you know? And it fell awkwardly for me. My favorite Bridgerton forever though.

HATE HATE HATE that Colin went to Cressida's house to make things worse trope. Seen it before. Didn't like it then and I don't like it now. AND he was forgiven so quickly. Absolutely not. DO NOT GO INTO ROOMS ALONE WITH ANYONE ANYMORE COLIN BRIDGERTON UNLESS IT IS UR WIFE PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME SLASH MY SCREEN. Go home to your wife and fix it there before you try to be all heroic outside of it okay. I will shave your head. I think I need Daphne.

Dear Eloise, you don't know what it is to be a friend, to have a friend, or even to lose a friend. Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong, maybe I don't care idk. But we start the show humanizing Cressida, bully since season 1 episode 1, THROUGH Eloise. BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE FRIENDSHIP TO MEAN SOMETHING TO EITHER OF THEM Eloise willfully gave up, walked away, ran to the comfort of her privilege with her family and way-too-understanding friend. HOW DID WE CHAMPION SO MANY WOMEN ONLY TO ABANDON THIS THING W/ Cressida at the end as she was literally sent away alone.

Lady Danbury complaints similar to Violet. She is usually a more prominent player, so when she wasn't this season, well, I missed her and wanted anything more about her. But! Love her all the same.

HOW DARE THEY throw Kanthony back and forth all weirdy like that. Kate is here, just let us have Kate. And her lil loving husband. Come oooonnn. Three babies at the end and none of them Kate's😭 And Violet was overwhelmed and they didn't get to have another moment?? A lot of off-screen moments are told to us and we just get to believe whoever says whatever. Every actor here has shown they have skills for show-don't-tell productions! All those beautiful eyes! I just am feeling upset about the random use of this gorgeous couple. EVEN ANTHONY, Viscount and eldest brother of them all just walks away at one point when Colin is obviously needing more of him. Whatever.

Why why why did we have an original song PLUS an orchestral cover of it for both to be so unused??? Tori Kelly's song is so wedding-coded and so romantic and earnest. But it didn't make an appearance for Polin at all. Not at their wedding, not in their home, not in the carriage, not anywhere...

Maybe unpopular opinion but I hated "Yellow" being the wedding song. First see the point above and then please please just remember how much Penelope did to distance herself from that fucking color and the horrible memories of it. NOW! IF COLIN HAD MENTIONED IT SOME WAY OR WHATEVER THEN SUUUURRREEE keep the song. HOWEVER. EVEN THE WEDDING WAS NOT YELLOW, HER FAMILY WASN'T IN YELLOW, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL WHY IS IT THE FUCKING WEDDING SONG WHEN THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONNNNSSSSS WHYYYYY (idc why, I just hated it, even if I did cry).

Benedict has been cute and boring for far too long and that did not change for me in this season. TWO BRIDGERTONS with queer representation in an already huge season with so many storylines going on, I wish we could've celebrated it better. Amongst the thousands of other things that were being celebrated, Benedict has still been separated from them in weird ways.

Not a big point, just an interesting one. But where did Debling go? He just effed off to the wilderness? We spent a lot of time with him (and Cressida) in the first four eps.....and then he was gone.....okay.

Charlotte, I love you. You should know that first. But man you love to crash a party, and a wedding, and I just feel like you should've at least killed someone by now with all these theatrics. Even for Charlotte, I felt she was strangely incorporated into this last half of the season. She and Penelope are technically equals in many many ways- BUT WE NEVER GOT TO SEE THAT WIT AND BANTER PLAY OUT MORE WHYYYY

All in all. It's just my rantings. I was absolutely in love with the first four episodes. There was something so fairytale about it and it was so romantic. So, yes, I was disappointed in part 2 on the initial watch, despite the many things I loved about it. There was a lot going on and, sadly, most did not land for me. Yet.

It's a good show, I still love the show. I will be watching the show. Give me more of the show lol.

[sukibenders]

Bridgerton states from season one, through Simon and Lady Danbury, to season two, with the Sharmas, to Queen Charlotte, from the beginning episode to the end spelled out clear as day, that racism exists in this world and many of the characters of colors have been impacted by it in some way. And, supposedly, I'm supposed to believe that Marina, that Kate and Edwina, that they all had more privilege and power than Penelope? No, I don't think so, a lot of things aren't right with that statement.

[colinfeatherington]

I haven’t seen any posts about this but poor baby pen using whistledown to write about women who were spinsters and still got married and made good matches to try and give herself a little bit of a chance

[rainbow-sunshine-unicorn]

He was doing all this because his wife got out of bed to get dressed

[sidhewrites]

I’m gonna be level babes, I don’t care about Penelope’s romance at all but my god did they do the actress absolute justice with her makeover. I’d watch Bridgerton for her costumes alone.