#one day i hope polin does too

[dollypopup]

As a third party to this discussion, I have to say that you are coming off incredibly patronizing with this response. There is, of course, always hyperbole in what fans say they want, but it exacerbates in fandoms, and I don't know how long you've been in the Polin fandom, in a lot of ways it doesn't matter, but to give some context, I've been here for two years. And I have watched the way the fandom has changed.

The fans want a lot of things, but many of these things hinge on Colin's humiliation, and on rejecting an empathetic reading of his character. What you list out as a laundry list of desires from fans is not universal. I was writing stories around the time of 'god, I just want them to find each other, I love them so much' and, slowly, we boiled the frog. We went from 'Colin is the imperfect man of her heart' to 'Colin is a fucking idiot who needs to grovel for her forgiveness'. When you say 'no true fan of Polin' who makes that distinction? You? Me? The council of Polin fans? The archives? Nic and Newts? The fans themselves?

Because there are certainly a lot of fans in Polin spaces that insist they have more empathy for Debling, an external plot device we know nothing about, to be with Penelope than our own main lead. There are certainly many fans who absolutely mean it when they say 'Colin doesn't deserve Penelope'. The jokes start as jokes and then spiral and boulder their way into popular fan desires.

Look, I love angst as much as the next person, but the reality is that the angst needs to be rooted in some sort of character growth. The fandom only wants Colin to grow in the direction of Penelope, to make her his entire world, and that just isn't romance. His jealousy, his making amends, it is not for him to be a full character in this fandom, but for Penelope to get what the fandom feels she deserves.

I, for one, am here for a story of tenderness and forgiveness, a story of 'I spent a long time thinking I saw you, but I see you so much more clearly, now'. A story of 'I always loved you as a friend and now it's grown to more'

Will we be as quick to call her stupid, an idiot, a fool, that she doesn't deserve him when she slanders him, her friend, in her publication, and then continues to keep it from him as their relationship progresses? When she lies and continues lying? Will we be as harsh when her ills are taken into account in the scope of their romance?

We shouldn't be, because a scorecard isn't romance. We want romance, and the humiliation fans have wished upon Colin does not fit that bill.

EDIT: And I forgot to say that fans like you and opinions like this have made this fandom a hostile place to Colin fans. You come here talking down to your fellow fan. Refusing empathy. You are defending the majority opinion as if it has not been done a million times before. As if Antis haven't taken our own posts as proof we hate half our couple. As if my friends have not been bullied from Polin spaces by fellow Polin fans. You do not reach across the table, but immediately claim immaturity on their part. You do not seek to understand or listen to the context, but to argue as though our hesitations in a fandom that has called for suffering and groveling is somehow unfounded.

You assume this post is shaming instead of what it is: an exhaustion for the unbalanced fandom dynamics in Polin. And I think you need to consider why that is. Why our fandom is constantly calling for blood. Why posts about how Colin should have died out on his travels go by uncontested in his own tags, but posts about how we want romance and not suffering and jealousy is somehow a hot topic. Why the polin subreddit is FLOODED with love for an OC we know nothing about, and constant calls for seeing Colin miserable

Because be so real right now, we, his very own fandom, do not love and appreciate Colin. And we certainly don't love or welcome his fans, either

Nic & Luke: This season is soooo romantic

The fandom: Groveling Suffering Jealousy

Is that really what y’all think romance is?

[oliviasroses19]

Just thinking about how happy I am that we got a more complex, deeper friendship with show!polin. I did enjoy the book, don’t get me wrong. But at the start, book!polin was pretty one sided on Penelope’s part. We know she loves Colin literally from the first page, but Penelope was what feels like an afterthought for Colin. It’s only when he returns from his tour and spends more time with her that he starts seeing her as a friend. He said it himself, they were acquaintances, and only more recently does he consider them being friends. He went from liking her company to Colin “my wife” Bridgerton real quick (this form of Colin exists in both bridgerton universes, thank GOD). Their story feels more like acquaintances to lovers in my opinion.

What makes show!Polin so magical, and I’m sure is the true reason for the choke hold they have on us, is the fact that we got to see their history as childhood friends develop to best friends and then to lovers. We can see the love Pen has for Colin from the start, and while he hasn’t come to his senses yet, he clearly adores her in the beginning as well.

Then we have the letters. My dear, sweet, completely inappropriate letters (only in regard to the lack of propriety). Yet another contrast between show and book Polin. Their letters truly fortify their friendship to the viewer and add even more magic to their story. Penelope is eager to talk to the man she loves and she is elated that he wants to talk to her too. And Colin gets the space to be himself in these letters. Penelope has never once made him feel silly for his rambling about the places he’s visiting while his family doesn’t shy away from brushing him off or chastising him for talking about his travels. He knows that there is at least one person back home that is excited to hear from him. His heartache confusion over not hearing from her on his second tour only solidifies how dear her letters and friendship are to him. Penelope plays such a large part in his life, he spirals when he thinks he lost her friendship. “Is there something wrong, Pen? Between us, I mean” gets me every time 😭.

We see the yearning from Pen for two seasons, see her protect and love Colin in secret, and heartbreakingly see her give up hope that he will ever love her in that way. We also get to see Colin look for her at every social assembly, protect Pen multiple times, and when he FINALLY realizes his feelings aren’t completely platonic, we see his own yearning. This makes the entire journey all the more gratifying for the viewer.

I can’t believe it sometimes that we finally made it. We got our Polin endgame. It’s been a long few years but those years just made the reward all the more incredible. The boost of serotonin I get watching them finally end up together is truly unmatched and hasn’t diminished no matter the amount of rewatches/GIFs/fan edits I see.

It’s been 6 months and not a day has gone by that i haven’t thought about my babies finally getting their happily ever after. I cannot, will not, do not want to give up the choke hold these two have on me.

——————————————

This post ran away from me but are we really surprised? Thanks for letting me dump out the contents of my brain, y’all are real ones.

[theunsinkableship1]

This is no ordinary LOVE.

DISCLAIMER: This is LUKOLALAND only. Skip this if you're not a shipper. This is only my point of view. No harm intended

Amidst recent events and news, many in the Lukola fandom have started to reconsider their stance on this ship. While I understand the confusion these events have caused, I want to share why I still ship them and why I remain aboard.

Firstly, this is my first and only ship, and it will likely be the last one. I’ve witnessed many relationships unfold, I’ve been in relationships, attended beautiful weddings, and seen happy, healthy marriages and relationships endure the test of time. I’ve observed deep connections between people, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this. It might sound silly or even a bit offensive to the people in my life, but I’ve never seen love like what I see in Lukola, and I’ve fallen deeply for them.

Like many of us, I discovered Polin during the confinement days. I instantly loved their cute chemistry, as the friends-to-lovers trope is my favorite. I fell for Polin first, read the book, and was eager for their season. After the first season of Bridgerton, I started following  only Nicola, my favorite from the Derry Girls cast also. Then came Season 2, and I really liked Luke and the unique chemistry he and Nicola shared. There was something different about it, and I found myself watching their interviews. They were so adorable in "Amours ou Petits Fours" that I started following Luke Newton too.

I wasn’t shipping them yet because Luke was in a serious, real relationship at the time, one that was also worth rooting for. But when that ended, the idea of Nicola and Luke together began to grow in my heart. Their interactions were sweet, and their evident chemistry bled into everything they did together. I was a casual shipper until that photo of them after his play made me truly invested and hopeful. Then came the press tour in January, every interview, every interaction between them only strengthened what I was feeling. I fell for Lukola even harder.

What I saw, I can’t unsee. This has taken up a significant and unexpected place in my life. It feels different from anything else; I don’t usually follow celebrities this closely. I have always maintained a respectful distance and never invested myself like this. I’m not sure how I got here, but I know it’s not meaningless. There’s a reason for this pull, and while I don’t know exactly what that reason is, I believe it’s because I sense the love between them, it transcends the screen and radiates in my heart, deep and intensely beautiful.

I consciously joined the fandom to see if I was the only one feeling this way, and it’s clear I’m not. My perception of the reality might be altered, but I believe in what I see. Even if they choose to identify as friends, I believe that what they have is love.

Real, pure, and rare love, a powerful force that transcends time and circumstances. It isn’t rushed or forced; instead, it unfolds naturally, growing deeper as both people learn and grow together. This kind of love is built on genuine connection, mutual respect, and shared values, creating a bond that withstands the ups and downs of life.

Why does it matter? Because pure love brings out the best in each person, allowing them to be their true selves without fear of judgment. It’s not about grand gestures but the quiet, consistent presence that reassures and supports. This love matters because it’s authentic and unwavering, offering comfort and joy that can't be easily shaken.

Such love, though rare, finds its way when the time is right. It doesn't conform to external pressures or expectations; it simply exists, patient and steadfast. When allowed to flourish in its own time, this kind of love creates something beautiful and lasting, reminding us that the best things in life are often worth waiting for. As someone who hopes to see Lukola flourish, there’s a special kind of joy in watching two people whose bond transcends their characters on screen, finding connection and harmony in real life. It’s about witnessing moments of genuine affection, support, and camaraderie that hint at something deeper, something real.

This kind of love is worth cherishing and believing in because it reminds us of the beauty that exists in a World that can feel harsh and cold, in a reality that is disheartening and disappointing. It’s the unspoken looks, the shared laughter, and the way they uplift each other in subtle, bold and meaningful ways.

Hoping for Lukola to come to fruition isn’t just about a fandom fantasy, it’s about rooting for a connection that feels authentic, organic, and rare. It’s about believing that what we see is not just a projection of our hopes but a reflection of something real and beautiful that can grow stronger with time.

True love doesn’t need to rush; it will come to fruition when both people are ready to embrace it fully.

If we choose to stay in this Fandom, we’ll have to act very demurely and very mindfully. If this love is meant to be, it will find its way, blossoming when the time is right, and that is a story worth waiting for.

[moirindeclermont]

How Bridgerton Men Stay Fit or Regency Era Exercise

For Day 2 Bonus Polin Week: Height differences (A brief explicit fic featuring wall sex, because why not?)

Something is so endearing in the way Pen realizes a little too late what he wants to do.

She is shy and nervous when he says he wants to take her standing on their feet. She claims she is too heavy and too short for that to work.

Reason one is classified as not true. As for their height difference, that is indeed true, but he has an easy solution to that.

Colin smirks as he starts to glaze with his finger on her lips and her lovely face, coming into her personal space and smiling when she takes a couple of steps back, ending up near the wall, exactly where he wants her.

“I’m strong enough to lift you for the time we need. My love, it’s the best way for me to exercise those muscles! Why lift and throw heavy things when I could hold and make love to my perfect wife?”

"I mean, if I can help you with your exercises... sure, why not?" Pen is almost wary about it but with a hint of malice in her looks. She likes the idea as much as he does.

He chuckles at her a bit. “Oh Pen, you help me with everything, I hope I’m not too much of a pain.”, he says, giving her those big puppy eyes that always work to get her turned on.

She loves it when he's cheeky with her: "You're never a pain for me... in fact, I recall only a lot of pleasure", and she starts touching her lips looking at him, watching his eyes becoming lustful. He watches as she removes the bodice, freeing her lovely bosom for him, knowing fully well that he drives him crazy with that move.

Now she has sparked his desire, and in a swift move, he captures her mouth in a scorching kiss as he lifts her and presses her against the wall. She laughs in shock and surprise “Colin, what are you doing? “

He looks at her. “What do you think I’m going to do next?” as he lifts her skirt and starts touching her core. She is already wet, but he wants her even wetter for him. He fingers her with two fingers at once, making her moan almost directly in his mouth. He could feel her growing wetter and it took him just a couple of minutes to make her ready for him.

“Unbutton me, Pen”, he says to her, making her moan. Her little hands go directly to his breeches and in moments he is free. She gives him a couple of pumps with her hand that are almost too much, but he resists the pull.

“Put your hands around my neck,” he grows at her, and in the next breath, he pushes into her in a single, deep thrust, his hand squeezing her lovely arse.

Gravity makes him go so deep inside her as he starts to thrust. Pen’s eyes just immediately roll back and she’s moaning and whimpering. She loves feeling his muscles as they’re flexed and all warm and flush from the activity.

“So strong!” She praises him and he just growls again into her ear, wanting to prove how strong he is by fucking her harder.

He loves the praise and can't get enough of how deep he is. He can feel her squeeze him as he fucks her harder. He doesn't even feel the strain of the muscles, just the incredible bliss. Especially when he can fuck her again a wall and kiss her at the same time.

He looks at her and as he watches her boobs going up and down as he pushes in her, his desire growing even more. He presses her harder on the wall, feeling her nipples hard against his chest and he knows he won’t last long.

He pushes even harder, her sounds close and close to the one she makes when she comes.

“I’m close Colin, I’m so close”, and he goes on her neck and then he captures a nipple with his mouth. He doesn’t think too much about it, just tease the tip with his tongue before sucking it.

She shrieks around him, a gush in between them as she comes hard around him. The rest is a blur: in three thrusts he is coming as well, and he almost collapses but he gathers his strength back and keeps her steady until she can stay on her feet without collapsing as well.

They breathe in each other spaces for a couple of minutes, until Pen feels stable enough to return with her feet on the ground.

Only then, Colin goes on his knees, kissing the top of her mound and making her shiver.

“You’re a Goddess, my love.”

She smiles at him, passing her hands through his hair and feeling him softly purr like always.

“Let’s go have a bath together, what do you say?” “You always have the best idea, wife!”

It took a while to find the balance to reach for the bath, and if the next day his arms were sore, it would be worth it just for the smile he put on Pen’s face that day.

The End

Thanks to my fandom spouse for half of the inspiration for this piece, and also for all our conversations

Ao3 Version

[easybrainrot34]

🖼️Lil Benedict Bridgerton Headcanons Pt 2🖼️

Woohoo part 2 baby!! Part 1 is right here! Some of these are modern!AU some of these are Regency era. As I said before I am truly a ✨slut✨ for this man. Hope y’all enjoy 😊

All r fluff and crack. Bonus Polin Headcanon ❤️

🎨= modern!AU

🎻= Renaissance era

🎨🎻= either

Also mentioned : Colin, Anthony, Kathony, Queer!Eloise, Gregory, and Polin

Ps, my ask and request r open :)

🎨 He went on a gap year before college to travel the world. He went kinda everywhere but he’s not one of those people that’s pretentious and has to talk about it all the time (no shade Colin, he’s more of an excited puppy about where he’s been anyway)

🎨 During cov!d he really honed in on his skills as an artist but also got really into skincare and hair care. Now he does a whole curly hair care routine because even though I can see him keeping his hair on the shorter side, he still likes it to have a little body.

🎨🎻 He would never admit it to Anthony (at least sober) but he wants the love that Kate and Anthony have for each other. He is such a hopeless romantic and I think he wants nothing more in this world than to find someone he feels he truly can’t live without.

🎻 Now we all know Benedict goes to balls more out of family obligation than actually wanting to, but I truly feel like once he’s married, he wants you to throw balls every season. He loves being able to show you off and what better setting them a ball with you as the person of honor. I also feel like he would enjoy throwing balls/parties for his more artistic, not part of the ton friends.

🎨 Now let’s say this is a modern AU where Eloise is a lesbian and our dear Ben is bisexual. I feel like when Eloise came out to him and said “I’m gay” he said, with no hesitation “you too?” I feel like the next day this man would just barge into her place with a gift bag full of Girl in Red, Chappell Roan, and Raneé Rapp albums, a pride flag, and a Carabiner. She would give him the “these are all stereotypes” lecture, but truly she appreciates it.

🎨🎻 I feel like he is very weak willed when it comes to his nieces and nephews. Like he is the favorite uncle, yes it took him bribing the kiddos, and yes he has no shame about it. He would stay firm with them (respecting the majority of set rules) but he will let them get away with small things. It will take him having his own kiddos to understand where everyone is coming from. (trust & believe that the siblings take their revenge)

🎨 He’s weak for a sundress. Weather it’s a cute little flower print, or a simple solid color, he just loves a little flowy sundress. I can’t explain it. It’s just this man’s weakness. (Btw this is what I mean when I say sundress, because apparently the Internet is having a debate about this right now lol)

🎻 Y’all remember when people were painting on each other’s bodies during Covid? Yeah he would do that. I feel like he would very much use u as a canvas during yall’s honeymoon. I feel like it would also end in a little ✨spicy time✨

🎨 While I can really see this man not giving a fck about whether he is fit or not I feel like as he starts to get a little bit older (late 30s early 40s) he would sign up for the gym. I feel like this will be a combination of him wanting to, but also Anthony, Colin, and Gregory would tease him about getting a “dad bod”. He knows though that you love it so he wouldn’t try to get too fit, just enough to be a little toned.

🎨🎻BONUS🎻🎨

He has such a fondness for Pen. This man is in her corner, if her and Colin get into a fight he automatically is taking her side. If he sees Cressida doing some shady sh!t he’s calling her out right then and there. I also feel once Colin and Pen announce their engagement, he would go to her and say “I’m sorry it took him so long to realize what we all knew” AHHH I JUST KNOW HE SHIPS POLIN!!!

[lereadinggrinch]

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES MASTERLIST

You can find my Merlin fanfics here.

CRUSHES AND COFFEE | 1.1k words | payneland, minor palasaki

Summary: Charles has the biggest crush on Edwin Payne. The problem: Edwin has a boyfriend. Or does he?

Tags: Humor, Misunderstandings, Jealousy, Coffeeshop AU, First Meetings, Secret Crush, Barista Charles Rowland, implied Domestic Violence (but not really)

DEAD BOY DOCTORS | 0.8k words | payneland

Summary: A little insight into how Charles and Edwin became the Dead Boy Doctors.

Tags: First Meetings, Car Accidents, Angst with a Happy Ending, Blood and Injury, Medical Students, Dying Charles Rowland, Happy Ending

DEAD BOY MATCHMAKER | 1.5k words | payneland

Summary: Edwin is the best matchmaker in England and has brought many soulmates together. But why is it so difficult to find Charles' soulmate?

Tags: Soulmate AU, Matchmaking, Love Confessions, Friends to Lovers, Magic

HELL | 1.4k words | payneland

Summary: Each day, your arm reveals a different location where your soulmate will be that day. For Charles, however, it had always displayed only one word: Hell.

Tags: Soulmate AU, Hell, First Meetings, Happy Ending

I HOPE YOU KNOW CPR | 0.8k words | payneland

Summary: Edwin thought his whole life that his soulmate would be in danger when they first met. It turns out he couldn’t be more wrong.

Or: A Soulmate AU where the first sentence your soulmate says to you is tattooed on your arm.

Tags: Soulmate AU, Humor, First Meetings, Misunderstandings, Flirting, Pick-Up Lines

KISS ME. PLEASE. | 1.2k words | payneland

Summary: Edwin asks Charles to kiss him in case he can't escape hell and will never have his first kiss otherwise.

Or: Polin's first kiss but make it Payneland

Tags: First Kiss, Feelings Realization, Hell, Angst, Monty didn’t kiss Edwin, inspired by Bridgerton (but u don’t have to know it)

THE CASE OF EDWIN PAYNE | 1.1k words | payneland, one-sided montwin

Summary: Charles looks at Edwin, who seems to be sleeping peacefully. Too bad ghosts can't actually sleep.

Tags: Sleeping Beauty Elements, True Love’s Kiss, Feelings Realization, Friends to Lovers, True Love, Jealousy, Kissing, Hurt Edwin Payne, Happy Ending

THE CASE OF THE IRRESISTIBLE GHOST | 1.5k words | payneland

Summary: Charles accidentally spilled a love potion on himself, causing everyone around him to fall in love with him—except Edwin.

Tags: First Kiss, Love Confessions, Love Potion, Idiots in Love, Kissing, Jealousy, Hugs, Getting Together

THE CASE OF THE OBEDIENT GHOST | 1.5k words | payneland

Summary: The Cat King's bracelet doesn't keep Edwin in Port Townsend, but forces him to obey every command.

Tags: Ella Enchanted Fusion, True Love, True Love’s Kiss, First Kiss, kinda dubious consent, Getting Together, Love Confessions, Idiots in Love

[spaceorphan18]

The Lady Whistledown Papers : 1x08 After the Rain (Part 1)

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

For previous issues, follow tag : The Lady Whistledown Papers

Last episode of Season 1 - let's do this!

Family Time

These big family scenes are some of my favorite - mostly because there's usually so much going on during them, and everyone gets a beat. Anthony's sulking (and throwing groundwork for Season 2); Gregory and Hyacinth are bantering, Benedict and Eloise are hyping up the Lady Whistledown plot, and Colin's in the background pouring over his maps, because after all the drama he is peacing outta there.

Violet enters exclaiming that Francesca will be returning (because it's the finale and we should try to have all 8 in the same room again). Colin snarks that she can update them on how great not being in London is. Glad to see Colin's continuing to add humor back in his life, but oh man is he ready to be anywhere but there.

Also, Violet recounts all the drama of the season from Daphne and Simon to Anthony and Siena, though she fascinatingly does not mention Marina.

Penelope and Marina

Meanwhile, back at the Featherington Estate, Penelope goes to check in on Marina. She is fine after her bout with the tea -- but now thinks she's magically cured herself of pregnancy. Ah, the medical information of the 19th century. Poor girl.

Penelope isn't so sure, but she really knows nothing about medicine anyway, so she kind of just lets it go.

Penelope then remarks that Marina caused 'quite a flutter'. And it's interesting - despite some of the friction that was caused between the two of them, I still believe that Penelope still likes Marina, in general, and while it's clear Marina is anxious to return home, I do think Penelope will miss her being around - she did add a little spice to their day.

I have to wonder, too, if Penelope does feels slight guilt for causing such a tizzy herself? But then, I don't think she does. I think she believes she did the right thing -- but still feels awkward about it with Marina.

Marina then apologies for the whole ordeal. And I do think she's sincere here. She did what she thought was best and in her own self interests to protect herself and an unborn child. And now that she thinks it's all over, she can go back to being her again.

Marina goes on to say that Penelope was right - that Colin is a good man with a good heart, and I mean -- the pride in Pen's eyes. She's almost bashful about it, but she's like - I know how good he is. I've seen it for years. Thank you for acknowledging that. It's a fascinating little look that isn't about her at all - but about someone else seeing what she does in him.

Marina then goes on to somewhat try to mend a cruelty. She doesn't have to say the next part, she could have left it at -- Colin is a good dude. But she makes it a point to acknowledge that not only is Penelope good to him, but that some day Colin will notice her. And, like, this is incredibly kind. Marina went out of her way to destroy all of Pen's hope for her own personal gain. And, maybe as an apology, or maybe as something she genuinely senses, she's restoring some of Pen's hope.

And, of course, this works as narrative foreshadowing. The show is taking a moment to say -- hey, the real love story is between these two idiots who are bumbling along on their road to each other. We're not there yet - but we're getting there. And I love that.

The scene ends with the arrival of Sir Phillip Crane, and this is where the narrative shifts. The story of Colin and Marina is done, and Marina is going to continue on with her own story into a new (and final) part. One in which Penelope really doesn't have anything to do - now that the Polin portion of the storyline is done (in relation to Marina).

Sir Phillip Crane

I really like how Penelope is kind of taking a caring and protective stance here. She and Marina are on the same side again, and while Penelope really doesn't have anything to do in this scene - she's poised as Marina's ally. She's holding Marina's hand, and has her back, and wants to make sure she's okay -- while also shooting Crane some very watchful looks.

Also, somewhat of an aside, since it isn't directly related to Penelope, we learn that George died on the battlefield, and Marina leaves -- and we get a genuinely emotional moment for Marina. And I think it helps frame her entire story, if you go back and watch it again. Marina encased her own feelings, her own heartache, her own heart. She did do everything she did out of self preservation, because she felt she was truly and utterly alone. And upon learning that George hadn't forsaken her -- she just breaks down and is able to grieve and it's a really powerful moment. I don't agree with Marina's choices, and I think it would have been a terrible thing if she and Colin had gotten married -- but I also understand her and her choices and I think she's a rather complicated character, too.

I do appreciate that this show does have more depth to it than just pretty people having sex on the stairs. There's a lot of emotional complexity in the Marina story line.

[This scene takes place six-ish minutes later, but I thought I'd lump it all together.]

Penelope is in the background here, so it gives me a minute to ponder about something... Phillip Crane is the male protagonist of book 5. Which is Eloise's book. And, I just wonder if this is really the show paying the long game here with Eloise's story? Or if they decided to just do something different? I have no idea! Marina dies from depression and attempts on her own life in the book -- and I would hate to see this character, whom we've grown to like meet that fate. Not to mention, show Eloise is sooo different than her book counterpart, it's hard to imagine her falling in love with this guy. It's all so weird. I really don't know what they're going to do with it.

Penelope has a couple of interesting reactions in this scene, however. The first being when Marina says that she cannot marry Crane because she does not love him. And Penelope is kind of nodding along in agreement here. Because she isn't there for her mother's assertion that you should just marry for the status and security of it. She does believe in love, and believes one should marry for that reason.

The other look, it's dark, and I can't quite get a read on it. But it's when Marina is telling Portia off -- stating that she's done with lies and deception and thinking that now that she's without a child she can be true to herself again. And I wonder if Penelope is somewhat envious of her gumption. How much would she like to stand up to her own mother but can't? But also - how much she feels she can't be her true self and has to use Lady Whistledown to express it? Idk what the intention of the look is supposed to be, but I do think it lends credence to the fact that Penelope is a deeply complex character, too, one whose motivations are not black or white, either.

And... that's where I'm stopping for now. :)

[darcytaylor]

Personally I don’t understand the big issue (which thankfully) seems to be fading away over Luke having a girlfriend. Yes the timing was hurtful, but that can’t be helped now. I’ve always enjoyed seeing what Luke has to say about Colin, he gets him so well! He comes across very well, and articulate in interviews, my favourite solo one he did on the Bridgerton press tour was the one for Instyle, and I’ve just read this one from the Polin subreddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PolinBridgerton/s/SCxWQ2gKbb

It’s good to see that he’s going to be busy with other projects and Bridgerton season 4.

At the end of the day it shouldn't matter that he has a girlfriend, but like I have said many times before it was the lead up to it. If they created a different narrative or she came off as a different type of person, I think ultimately they wouldn't be getting so much backlash.

It wasn't just the paparazzi pictures on premier night, it started well before that. It was him wanting to keep everything under wraps but then his friends and Antonia would post things that were very public. It was the lack of care to the situation as a whole. I think if it was only the premier night debacle, things would have been easier.

Then add to the fact that Antonia's actions have created a narrative around her that the fans do not like (giving off 'mean girl' vibes is an example of what people think, and I have to say I see it too), and this public persona isn't going to make their relationship liked.

Luke got himself into a situation where if he is ever seen with her, there will be some kind of outrage (for how long that will last, is still something I don't have a read on).

Luke really does understand Colin as a character, and that is something I can also really appreciate. You can tell that he takes a lot of time to understand every action that Colin does and look into every meaning of the things he says in the script. I can really appreciate that!

I just did a once over on that article from reddit and its very good! I'll take the time to read through it again because I'm sure I missed something having it be so in-depth!

I hope that he has other things lined up or in the works. Right now it doesn't seem like he has booked much. But the industry that he is in, it very hard! And with the drama that he has created for himself, I think finding another role would be the key for his career!

[penguinlife]

Just an observation.

Last Wednesday, we had our year-end braai (bbq) at the office. I don't follow reality shows, but some of my colleagues do. As we were sitting around making small talk, as one does as a work event. They told me that the reality stars get paid according to online buzz. I was shocked, and they came with receipts. Now, this is specific to South Africa as all the articles they could find were specific to South African versions of American shows, but something about that made me think. Netflix was in charge of the WT. They had all those fan events that have been unique to Bridgerton. Did they have a separate contract/bonus deal with Nic and Luke similar to the reality show actors? Remember what a fan of reality shows Nic are? Also, she met Andrew Garfield at that event that Amelia from the Chicken Shop Date also were at, and it was literally the next day that it was leaked that he and Florence didn't hear cut when filming a love scene. It didn't garner the same buzz that the carriage scene did, but it is suspicious none the less. Also, remember the insane buz Andrew and Amelia got for their Chicken Shop Date episode and also remember that Andrew is also Nics costar in The Magic Faraway Tree. I am not saying the WT was all fake. We, as a fandom, would have spotted it by now. I think they leaned into the unnatural chemistry, and it sparked real feelings again.

I always find it funny when people think they can control SM and manipulate 'viral' as the old people call it. Why is one cat video viral but not all? Because no one can truly control the SM machine. I have completed enough social media marketing courses to know that no one can control it. Authenticity always outsells. Think of "Who the fuck did I marry" viral 62 part TikTok series. Nic is also a fan, btw. So it comes down to money, Antonia had caused Luke to miss out on some of his bonus when the fans turned on him. Nic tried to save the situation with her posts. Because she thinks herself to be more Social Media wise. But when the WT ended, so did their contractual obligation. But social media and the fandon are not a switch you can turn on and off. Their real feelings have become collateral damage, in my opinion. I stand by that they hooked up between Brazil and Italy. My theory in that has not changed.

A comment on Luke and A: Do you remember that friend post of them at the table at a wedding? Luke ran his hand up her arm in that very loveable way in June/July, if I remember correctly? That sold their relationship for me. But in my theory above, it was also before he found out how much papgate cost him. A knows about the bonus contract, and that is why Luke is still liking her posts. To give the illusion that they are still together. They definitely broke up in August/September. This all being said, we should be kind to them and not judge them too harshly. They were still mostly struggling actors until before the WT. It wasn't a normal press tour. Their relationship is more real and authentic than what any marketing team can come up with. My hope is still that they will rekindle what they had during the fliming of S3 and the WT.

As I am typing the next part, I realise this is going to infuriate some. Nic used JD at the festival to try and stop the Lukola train. He is a willing participant and friend, trying to catch some rays. But this is where Nic missed the authenticity part. Only a very small part of the fandom fell for it. She wanted the heat off of her and Luke before S4 filming started. I bet the end of the WT was super uncomfortable.

Now the sad part is, I have read some Benophie fan comments who are saying Polin is going to overshadow S4. Well, for the record. What Jess and her team did with Benedicts' story in S3 is to blame for it. Unless Paul is joining their love story in a throuple, what was the point.

[myfairstarlight]

Matter Of The Heart

AO3 Link.

Rated: G

Length: 11k, divided in 2 parts

Pairings: polin + peneloise (and very implied creloise)

Spoiler heavy for part 1 (duh), and speculations for part 2 (but beware of book spoilers)

Summary:

The truth of the matter is, Eloise misses Penelope in a way she never expected to. A throbbing pain, stabbing at her heart with every beat spent away from her. A nasty, vengeful, part of her thought, as she endeavoured in an unlikely friendship with Cressida Cowper and paraded in the superficiality of the ton, that Penelope would be just as miserable without her. The satisfaction did not last long, because Colin is now the one constantly chasing Penelope around and laughing with her at the corner of balls. Watching them ignites a new kind of pain within her, one that renders her breathless and dizzy. It turns out, being blind to one’s feelings is a family trait. Or. Season 3 through Eloise’s eyes

*additional notes on ao3. Only an excerpt under the cut!

The truth of the matter is, Eloise misses Penelope. Despite the anger, the betrayal and the hurt, there is care, worry and longing. Penelope has always been a constant in her life, a shoulder to rely on whenever her family would nag her about her reading, and she had thought they would get to spend the rest of their lives together as spinsters. Now, that promise seems like a distant memory, as she watches, from the corner of the room, Penelope trying to talk to a suitor.

She’s aware the other debutantes around her are deep in their conversation, she can even feel Cressida’s gaze upon her back, wondering why she is not even pretending to listen, yet her eyes remain on her former friend.

When she heard of Colin helping Penelope find a husband, Eloise was assaulted by a foreign feeling in her loins. One not so different from the one that took her heart when she saw Penelope in their house earlier that day.

“She’s not seeking a husband in you, I hope?” she had asked, unsure which party she felt that uncomfortable ball of nerve in her stomach for.

“No, I’m merely helping her find one,” Colin had replied, oh so casually, Eloise may be obtuse in other circumstances, but she could read her siblings like a book, and Colin had gulped ever so slightly at the end of his sentence, as if doubting his answer.

So she simply asks him not to bring Penelope to the house, to spare them both the struggle.

She has never paid much attention before, to the way Colin seems so acutely eager for Penelope’s attention. She sometimes caught Penelope’s lingering looks on Colin, and although she simply refused to look deeper into it, she never truly stopped to see if Colin ever returned the looks. To be fair, Colin has been either away at Eton, or out of the country when Eloise found the time to ponder over their friendship.

But now that Eloise no longer actively searches for Penelope, monopolising her attention with an arm intertwined with her, she is all too aware of Colin excitedly filling up the space she has left behind. With the way they behave, in the corner of balls, giggling to themselves, Eloise suddenly wonders why no rumours of courtship have ever travelled across the ton. 

She also wonders why Penelope has never used Lady Whistledown to her advantage, to nudge any suitor she would have set her eyes upon. She could. And yet she does not, in fact, she never misses an opportunity to talk herself or her own family down. If she is so desperate to secure a husband, why not use her greatest weapon? But truly, no matter how close Penelope and Colin behave, no whispers about the scandalous nature of their friendship ever rise, and so naturally, Whistledown does not report on it, Eloise supposes.

Not that it stopped her from exposing her secrets last season when no one else in the Ton was privy to them, she reminds herself bitterly.

“How desperate one must be to enlist the help of an eligible bachelor!” Eloise suddenly hears next to her. She stiffens.

“Surely, it must have been a seduction plan gone wrong,” someone else replies, barely trying to keep it a whisper, “How laughable! He must have taken pity on her.”

Eloise tightens her fists, almost about to argue by sheer instinct, when she catches a head of red curls running for the exit, so she whirls around instead and tries to run after her… friend? Former friend?

… Well, her Penelope.

Only for Colin to catch her first, and she flinches at the way he shouts her name.

She has never seen him like this before, the ire in his eyes as he glares at her, and the fire on his tongue as he scolds her as if she were a child. Eloise has never been one to be at a loss for words, and yet faced with such an unfamiliar sight, she crumbles. She could argue:

You don't know Penelope. The real Penelope. You have no idea what she's capable of. You would not defend her so vehemently if you knew. Especially when it comes to being honest. Even Cressida is more honest than she could ever be.

And yet she keeps it all in, because a part of her doubts it now, seeing the passion in her brother's face and then action as he runs after Penelope's carriage without a second thought (only to dejectedly walk back and call for another carriage to leave). If he knew the truth, she reckons, he would be the same.

Because she recognises that devotion. Anthony was much the same after Kathani Bridgerton, née Sharma, fell ill and almost died.

Read the rest on ao3! x

[theroundbartable]

I think when we talk about Polin scenes we don't talk enough about the "courage" scene.

Colin has just been the hero of the day with the whole baloon disaster and is asked how he found the courage to react so fast and I think there are a couple things we keep overlooking:

1. He's about to talk, then sees Penelope, then he stutters and he changes direction. He looks at her and only her. Because the message is for her alone. But he says it in front of many, MANY people who should have clear sight of his focus on Pen. He can't get out of that position yet, but he will never be too ashamed to talk to her. He's signifying that he'll always make space for her in some way.

2. He makes a full on throwback to season 1, when Pen told him: " if one finds oneself in love. One should declare so loudly, fervently and bravely." Colin chooses that moment to give her a hint. Multiple hints, in fact.

A) Colin: " I did that for you. To protect you from that baloon." His eyes are on her, because when people ask where he found his courage, she is the true answer.

B) Colin: "You were the one who taught me how to be brave. Because you told me not to be afraid to chase after my dreams. (Travels, love, etc.)"

C) Colin: "I'm quoting you from when you were about to confess, maybe, I think, hopefully, because I love you, look at me! Do you hear me?!?! Thats why I did that. I was brave because I love you!"

D) he's telling her that she's brave and should take what she WANTS. And perhaps hoping that she'll come confess to HIM because she might want HIM too, alas she turns around and goes to Debling and it breaks his heart.

-> he's looking for signs for Pen's feelings for him and finds himself rejected as soon as she turns around and looks at someone else.

3. Penelope sees him, does not understand the reference for what it is, but for something else because she has been publically rejected by him and has accepted that fact as such.

A) Colin is telling her to be brave. He's telling her that she IS brave, like he told her that she already knows how to do society.

B) He's encouraging her to go after Debling. Because Colin cannot know who her real feelings are for, and she must assume that Colin believes she has feelings for Debling, so that's the conclusion she draws.

C) he's making himself look even more heroic in front of so many ladies who all like him and to her, it's another public rejection because Colin is popular with the ton despite LW, while she is not and never will be. She can see, plain as day, that she'll never belong like he does and it's a reminder for her that she cannot hold on to Colin any longer. If she'd had hope for them until then, she's giving it up at that moment and decides to go after Debling.

Do you realize how insane that is that they conveyed ALL of that in two minutes?! With one scene?!?!

So much was communicated, so much was miscommunicated, and ya'all go feral over the every other scene instead (not that that's a bad thing, I just want to sound obsessed).

You can see where the tether between them breaks. How Colin finally dares to reach out and Pen lets go for good and how it destroys them both! Can't you see it? Can't you see how their entire personalities are driven to that moment? How this is the height of the tension? The last moment they are as they had been? Their last chance at conveying their true feelings before every attempt is doomed to be a scandal?!? And there is no going back to the friendship they'd had?

Am I the only one?!?!

[sea-owl]

Your Yandere Bridgerton and ABO AUs inspired this idea.

Can you imagine modern day Polin where Colin just happens to stop by Penelope and Eloise's apartment only to find Penelope in heat. Long story short it sets off Colin's rut and the two are mated. Colin of course hugs Penelope afterwards and promises to take responsibility. Little does Penelope know that Colin knew very well that she would be in heat (his sister had hissed at him to stay away from their apartment for the next few days) and decided to take his chances.

Of course, little does he know that Penelope had been scheming as well.

Ooooh, it's been a minute since we've done a new au. Yanderes and ABO, this should be fun. We should come up with one for Regency era as well.

Wait I have an idea.

Colin was growing agitated. How long was he expected to wait? It's been years since he found his mate again, and he can't even claim her? Daphne, Anthony, and Benedict can all claim their mates, or at least attempt to the moment they meet again, but Colin has to watch other alphas try to seduce his omega? (Not that any of those interlopers lived long enough to see those seeds that planted bear any fruit.) All because Colin took too damn long to sort through his feelings in their past life? He knows his feelings now so why would he cause both himself and, more importantly, his omega any further pain?

It does not help that Eloise has assigned herself as Penelope's gaurd dog. Colin can't kill her like he could with any outsider that would try to take his Pen. Any attempt Colin has made of turning his and Penelope's relationship away from friendly feelings Eloise was there to ruin the moment. If Colin didnt know better, and he has truly checked, he would believed Eloise was somehow tracking Penelope.

Colin is half tempted to find Phillip again so he can throw the passive alpha at Eloise in hopes he'll unknowingly distract her once more. Just long enough for Colin to place his bite on Penelope's mating gland.

Thoughts of where Phillip could be were interrupted when the driver pulled up to the apartment building. Colin was not in the country much, which he full blames Anthony for. His elder brother insists that they all have a similar lifestyle as their past lives in the Regency era to help with their mates' past memories. So there was no need to really keep a residence. In an effort to calm Colin from doing anything too crazy it was agreed that when he was in the country, he would stay at Eloise and Penelope's place. That way Colin can make sure no other unworthy scum was trying to take away his omega.

Colin tiped the driver and ignored the vibration in his pocket. He had no energy nor patience to deal with his siblings until he got a Penelope recharge. Twice, he was delayed on this trip from returning home. That put him at three months with nothing but emails and phone conversations with Penelope. He needed to see her in person and wrap his arms around her. Thankfully, this lifetime is more friendly to physical affection.

Stepping inside, a wave of pheromones rushed over Colin, almost sending him to his knees.

His alpha purred.

Pomegranate and lotus

Colin wanted to bury his nose in that scent.

Omega in heat

Colin let out a growl, his body was starting to grow warm.

Find omega!

Another vibration in his pocket and Colin finally looked at his phone. He had several missed calls and texts from his siblings, mostly from Eloise. He was careful to read the notifications and not open the messages.

Eloise: Colin don't go to the flat. Come to mothers and I shall explain there.

So this heat was not Eloise. Colin wasn't surprised, Eloise's sent was that of honeysuckle, rather than the one he was smelling now.

Eloise:Penelope's birth control failed and now she's in heat. We need to stay away for a few days.

Colin's heart sped up, and his cock went hard. His Penelope, his omega mate was in heat. He let out a moan has he once again took in that delicious scent.

Find omega!

Colin had to find his omega. None of his siblings could stop him now that his omega is in heat and needs him. He has to find her, breed her, and most importantly mark her as his.

Letting his senses lead him he found himself not outside of Penelope's bedroom but his own. His omega was surrounded by him. In her heat addled brain she had chosen him. Colin couldn't wait to sink into her.

Opening the door Colin couldn't help but gasp at the most beautiful sight before him. In his bed his omega had created her nest. Penelope laid there naked as she worked her fingers on herself, moaning and searching for release.

Colin was burning, he had to get to Penelope.

Penelope turned her head, eyes glazed over with heat lust. "Alpha," she moaned.

"Yes Pen, it's your alpha," Colin said as he walked over to her.

As soon as he was close enough Penelope sat up and grabbed his shirt.

"Alpha," Penelope panted. "Alpha I need . . .

"Shh, I got you omega," Colin whispered. Pulling Penelope close so her he could feel her breasts pressed against him, Colin began to suck on her mating gland. A smile formed when Penelope dropped her head to give him better access. He could feel her hands working at his belt.

"Colin!" Penelope gasped.

With great strength Colin pulled himself just enough to look at Penelope, but still held her perfect body to his. Her eyes were now clearer from that lust fog as she stared up at him.

"Hello Penelope," Colin said.

A blush began to form on his goddess of an omega. Colin wanted nothing more than to lay her back down and finish what she started of ridding his clothes. "Colin, I'm in heat."

"Yes," Colin agreed. The need to claim her getting stronger. His alpha growling at him.

Omega's mating gland it right there! Claim omega!

Colin began sucking on the very edge of Penelope's mating gland.

Penelope gripped Colin tighter, letting out a moan. Her sensitive nipples rubbing against the fabric of his shirt.

"Can I stay?" Colin whispered in Penelope's ear. "Pretty please Pen?"

Colin traveled higher on her mating gland. Penelope tried laying down and pulling Colin with her. Colin easily followed his mate.

"Please let me stay," Colin whispered, now above Penelope and rubbing his covered erection against her dripping folds.

Colin could feel Penelope nod.

"Stay," she said.

Colin bit Penelope's mating gland.

-

Penelope smiled as she played with her sleeping mate's hair. They were both currently temporarily relieved of their heat and rut. Colin had taken this time to sleep, exhausted from his travel and regained mate. Penelope took the time to reflect on how well their plan went. It had taken some time and careful moves but she finally was back with her mate.

Contrary to what the Bridgertons believed their mates remembered like them. But unlike the Bridgertons, Penelope and her fellow in-laws knew they had to be careful. The world has advanced and things that were allowed or looked over before couldn't be so easily disguised now.

The Bridgertons had burned London before for their mates, and would do so again. Penelope and her in-laws are determined that the Bridgertons don't burn in that same fire.

Her and her in-laws had agreed that they would mate in the same order as they did before, pretend to not have the memories as it was easier to manage their Bridgertons when they thought their mates were "innocent."

They may have sped up the timeline though.

It was honestly quite easy to plan as Penelope looked back on it. Penelope had stopped taking her actual birth control and replaced it with placebo pills supplied to her by an associate of Phillip. So when Eloise was spying on her to take her birth control she would be none the wiser. Three months of taking those pills and Penelope's body had righted itself for heat.

Simon helped with pushing back Colin's return home. He easily had access to Anthony's work computer where he could push back dates on Colin's travel tickets and then delete emails about the travel changes before Anthony could see them.

Kate and Sophie greatly helped Penelope by keeping Anthony and Benedict distracted. The only two alphas strong enough to stop Colin at this point.

Penelope smiled and traced the mark on her neck, all according to plan.

Now onto the next two. Penelope's childhood friends Phillip and Michale should be coming for a visit soon.

[lookingfts]

hello!!! do you already watch the bridgerton 4 episodes??? what are your thoughts on polin??? did you like it or not??? only if you want to answer of course, i will totally understand if you prefer not to

I have! I watched all four episodes on the day they aired. I did a short version of my thoughts on the season, but I'll do a bit of a deeper dive here. (Some spoilers below)

To set the stage: I had no real expectations for Polin. I've never read any of the books, and I didn't find myself particularly drawn to them in S1 and S2. So I figured I would watch the season, and if I didn't fall in love with them, that's fine - there are eight love stories, and people will feel different levels of investment in all of them. And if I did enjoy it, then I would be happy with that too! I try to go into everything with a mindset of hoping to enjoy it - otherwise, I wouldn't watch it. I simply don't hate watch things, I don't have time.

I'll probably need a rewatch to catch more moments that I've missed, but my initial thoughts are: I'm rooting for Polin! One of my issues throughout the last two seasons was that the show didn't give us enough of their friendship dynamic. It told us that they were friends, but we didn't see them spend much time together. I felt more like they had been friends growing up, and she was clinging to that while he had started to move on to a new phase of his life. I never got the feeling that they were friends in the present, or understood what particularly they were drawn to about each other.

In this season, I finally saw their chemistry as friends, rather than just Pen pining after Colin and him being oblivious. As Pen's confidence grew and she focused less on Colin, their relationship felt more equal and I enjoyed watching that. I also think that some of the qualities that bothered me about Penelope in previous seasons were smoothed out in S3. She was able to stand up for herself more in her real life, and thus wasn't "hiding" behind Lady Whistledown as much. She used LW to lift up the debutantes, and in general it felt like she had taken her fight with Eloise to heart and was attempting to fix things.

(I do also love Pen and Eloise's arc this season - it feels so genuine. They both truly care about each other, but they need time to work through all the hurt.)

Colin is fun this season. I've always liked him, in previous seasons, when he was interacting with his siblings. He does show real interest in them and they can confide in him. Unfortunately, he doesn't have as fleshed out of a personality as Anthony or Benedict, and I truly don't think that Luke Newton has the same acting range as Nicola, so they're a bit mismatched in that way. Nicola is obviously very talented and she looks insanely gorgeous this season.

But for the most part, I was having fun watching their story, and I wanted them to work it out. I don't think they needed to make Colin a rake; him being less experienced would have made a nice contrast to Anthony's story, I think. I also think the pacing was off; they haven't spent much time together so far, so the ending feels fast. I think they wasted a lot of opportunities to better build up their story in previous seasons so they could have hit the ground running this season.

(Ngl I really loved Lord Debling and would have been okay with Penelope ending up with him, but I know that wasn't really the marriage she wanted, so that's fine.)

So long story short: I've warmed up to Penelope, I think Colin is still a bit generic to really get invested in him, the season as a whole has been fun, and I want them to work things out. I am looking forward to the LW drama in part 2 and seeing how they get out of that mess.

[abovethemists]

Theories for season 3 of Bridgerton

We're 3 days out from the Bridgerton season 3 part 1 premiere so here's my guesses on what will happen based on spoilers, official sneak peeks, and vibes. There's nothing groundbreaking here.

Polin

Part 1 will mainly focus on Colin realizing he's in love with Penelope. I think it'll happen pretty quickly. He's upset by the fact that Penelope hasn't written to him. He's more upset when she blows him off at the ball. He finally talks to her as she's leaving and finds out why she's mad at him and immediately tries to set it right. She ends up attracting Debling fairly quickly and Colin realizes he's made a horrible mistake. I think the scene with Portia telling Penelope that she has done well is after Debling has asked Portia's permission to propose so Pen knows it's coming the night of the ball in the 4th episode. She sees Colin there, realizes she still loves him and can't lie to herself and Debling by accepting him, and runs off. Colin follows her and we get the carriage scene and a marriage proposal to end the half. I think we'll be left in suspense over Penelope's answer.

Part 2 will obviously deal with Whistledown. Colin has much stronger feelings about Whistledown in the show compared to the books so it should be a bigger deal to their relationship. If Pen accepts his proposal before he finds out I can imagine Eloise pressuring Penelope to tell him, or she will. I'm sure we'll get an episode of angst between them before alls well that ends well. I actually like that angst better than the book's "Colin is jealous of Penelope's success as a writer" angle.

Eloise and Cressida

Eloise is feeling lost and adrift without Penelope. Her brush with scandal in season 2 has her afraid to step out of line too much so she decides to actually participate in the season. She befriends Cressida and keeps an eye on Penelope/Colin. Cressida is in her third season, just like Penelope, and her parents are desperate to marry her off. When it appears she's going to be forced to marry some 70 year old man, she formulates a plan to get out of it.

Either the Queen or Lady Danbury issues the bounty for Lady Whistledown. Cressida claims it's her. She may suspect Penelope and try to intimidate/blackmail her into letting Cressida take credit. Cressida hopes it'll get her out of her engagement to the old man. Queer Cressida truthers rise! I imagine the Cowpers' reaction to Cressida being the center of a scandal will make Eloise realize how incredibly privileged she is to have the family she has. I think Eloise will also grow up a bit and realize not all women think like her and that doesn't make them stupid or insipid. I'd like to see Eloise and Francesca together since they're close in the books. I'd also like to see Eloise have scenes with Kate who she looked up to in season 2 for still being single at 26. She can see that not all marriages strip a woman of their identity and happiness in marriage is possible.

Kate and Anthony

Wedded bliss and babies. By the end of the season, Violet will move out with the younger kids and they'll take over Bridgerton House. The flash forward at the end of the season will probably show baby Edmund, securing the future of the Bridgerton family.

Benedict

Gets his heart broken by Lady Tilley, similar to Anthony/Siena in season 1. I imagine their affair starts as something fun and Benedict wants something more while Lady Tilley is happy to be a merry widow and has no desire to shackle herself to one man ever again. Perhaps this makes Benedict realize he does want something more than his heretofore flighty existence. Perhaps he secures his own estate by the end of the season... Ready for more responsibilities and maybe even love.

Violet

Violet is adjusting to no longer being the Viscountess. Kate is now the female head of the household and it frees up time for her to think about her future. Enter Marcus Anderson. I look forward to seeing Violet in bloom. There absolutely must be an acknowledgment from Violet about Lady Danbury/Lord Ledger if Lady D gets in a huff about Violet and her brother.

Francesca

Sweet, introverted, baby girl. She's beautiful and wealthy and connected so will attract a lot of attention she's not comfortable with. She finds a like mind in John and leaves for Scotland (or just the countryside they might leave out Scotland) by the end of the season.

I think this will mark the end of Bridgerton as we know it. Benedict, Eloise and Francesca's stories all take place away from the ballrooms and garden parties we've been used to. After seeing Jess Brownell talk about that distinction, it actually does make sense they did Colin before Benedict. I'm curious to see how they format the show going forward, if they end the Whistledown framing and move outside of London.

I am unsure if we'll see any other future love interests this season. I was pretty certain we'd get a hint of Sophie in season 3, but I don't know. I think it'll be obvious who season 4 is about (Benedict!) by the end of the season though. I don't think we'll see Michael yet. I'm 50/50 on if Philip will show up again. I can't really see where he'd fit in but it's kind of fun how he keeps having run ins with Eloise's family. Maybe he'll encounter Benedict while he's looking at My Cottage since they're neighbors.

[pensbridgrton]

Thoughts of the S3 Polin? I love them and I'm so excited

i'm clearing out this inbox of mine... and i haven't properly ranted about this in a while, so... yeah. So if you're excited about S3 and don't want to hear anything negative, this may not be the post for you. (I'd classify it as bittersweet, maybe.)

I still HATE the idea of Polin being S3. I hated it when it was rumored, I hated it when it was announced, and even if I've now accepted that it's happening, I still think it was a TERRIBLE decision and actively ruins some of the elements of Polin I love the most (Namely: two characters growing up individually until they're in the right time and space to fall in love and grow together; the spinster and the bachelor; Penelope being successful for a DECADE at LW before being ready to move on; Colin enjoying his travels but being ready to settle down.)

But here we are.

Ignoring the past two weeks, I've been pretty pessimistic about S3. For me, in order to LOVE a romance I need to LOVE both individual characters. I can still like and enjoy a romance if that isn't the case, but with Polin - a book ship that is one of my all time favorites - I had high expectations in S1. My expectations post-S2 were pretty much on the floor because Show!Pen and Show!Colin - while not terrible characters in any way - are not MY characters, or at least not the ones I would die on a hill defending. In addition, while I do not care about plot in the slightest (and therefore do not care about the - frankly, sparse - RMB plot being done away with) I DO care about vibes and keeping characters in character. I love fic, obviously, but I love IN CHARACTER fic... and the show is wildly OOC fic right now. Not my cup of tea. So... really, in the end, I'm just here to support Nicola and Newts. I have always believed that S3 would be wildly popular, eaten up by the casual audience, and generally well-loved... I just felt that S3 wouldn't be my all time favorite season with my all time favorite couple as Show!Polin had the potential to be (especially if it had been S4 and had gone through with the actual slowburn, individual character development route).

Now, ever since TUDUM and some of the interviews that have come out... I wouldn't say I'm cautiously optimistic, but I am choosing to have more of an open mind and be open to the possibility that I might enjoy the main romance without having to turn my brain off. I know there are probably going to be things I dislike/despise (jealous/possessive Colin, Pen not apologizing to Marina, Marina dying, an overemphasis on the sex and not enough on the friendship, Colin's costuming, etc. who knows what else) but I know I will enjoy watching Nicola and Newts play these characters on my screen (the stills had me giddy!)

More importantly, while I try not to read TOO much into interviews, everything Nicola and Newts have said about the season so far does give me hope about Penelope and Colin as individuals. Again, I don't care about the plot. The quotes? Are fun! I'm definitely really happy about "you're my mess" and any other book quotes/scenes were get. But hearing Nicola talk about how Penelope needs to grow up, how she's terrible with men, how she's made mistakes.... hearing Newts talk about how S3 is basically a different Colin... THAT is what gives me hope. Because for me, I am always drawn to character-driven romances but it's hard to be invested in that romance if you're not invested in the characters. And again while Show!Pen and Show!Colin are fine, I really miss their book characters and hearing that they both might be GROWING into their book selves (especially Colin, imo, bc Show!Pen just needs to grow in general and I'll be happy whereas I really didn't like the writing for S2 Colin) does, actually, get me a little excited.

But yeah, I'm still here. I'll watch. I'll keep an open mind because Nicola and Newts clearly care about these characters and the romance and I do appreciate that and at the end of the day, it's an adaptation of the show and if I hate it (wouldn't be the first time!), I'll always have the book.

[petalsmooth]

I haven't watched all of part 2 through first time because I had so many issues with decisions THAT staff made in the story but I have watched bits and pieces at a time trying to reconcile it into something more palatable. so I can one day watch it since we'll never get a re-do. Nor do they take the opportunity of a next season to give the prior couple a good subplot that can maybe resolve messes they made in the season. Witness Anthony/Kate who I had hoped would have a good subplot to make up for the trinagle.

Anyway, I am almost decided I, if not love,...could at least accept the change in book plot where Colin feels if not useful to his family or loved ones in some way he has no inherent value to them. And maybe accept as a plot point her giving the speech with him NO WHERE by her side (even if I STILL hate the speech itself) as a necessity in him accepting he can be loved just for who he is without having to offer something in return. I could see the beauty in that type of messaging and acceptance (although not the necessity to have the scene where fails with Cressida, that was pointless dumping on the character and his inner most thoughts should NOT have been confided to her).

If not for the lines about being lucky to just stand in her light and have no purpose but loving her. It's one thing if you want to send a message that with Pen he can be himself and know he is loved as himself. It is quite another to strip him of personal ambition. They have Pen fight for her right to be ambitious and have purpose, but Colin is to just be ok with being her husband? I'm never ok with that imbalance. If that was his DREAM the way it was Daphne's to be a wife and mother it would be fine. It is not. The show even knows it's not because they throw in the epilogue brief shot of his book...but then they still have him attribute the credit to Pen. And you know even that part I could be fine with because the book character would have done the same, but the book character also got to make that speech at the ball. If you want to have Pen go it all alone on HER dream, then Colin should go it alone on his. Personally I wanted them both doing all together but that is apparently not "empowering" for women to have their husbands be so proud, in love and in awe of their work they'd defy the ton not to feel the same.

I guess what I need the show to do and know they WON'T do to make it better for me is a subplot in next season where Colin DOES get to give that speech to the ton because people didn't accept her after that speech. And btw, the lines they had Pen and Colin say about the ton accepting her? SO out of place. They clapped for butterflies. Prior to that they were dead silent. No one accepted anything.

Anyway...I want that speech AND to recite the REAL love speech from the book that's better then what they threw out. I think if they did a mini-plot where this could happen it would make it much easier to look at part 2 with more fondness. That and Colin being allowed a career too, not just her. Otherwise just going to have same dissatisfaction with 3 as 2 and if you screw up season 4 as well good luck with future seasons. I mean Eloise and Benedict are getting one imo but no one else locked in if they keep betraying the expectations of their audience. Triangle most of season 2 was a bad choice. Misery, little screentime, last few eps season 3 with controversial revision...also not good. And no not talking Michael, talking changes from Polin's book