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The Lady Whistledown Papers : 2x08 The Viscount Who Loved Me (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

Here we go guys, the end of Season 2! This part kinda sucks, but it's exciting in that we're on the precipice of getting to Polin Season! :D

The Break Up

Ah, the last happy moment for Penelope.

What I kind of love about this scene is this private moment for Penelope in which she can revel in her own happiness. She just danced with Colin -- he told her how special she was to him and it's clear that she's replaying that moment, that dance over and over in her head. She can still feel him holding her, still see the light in his eyes when he speaks to her, and still sees him standing up for her as he takes down Jack. It's kind of a dream come true that she can hardly believe it.

And, she's just so happy and floaty and really does not even care about her family troubles. She just wants to indulge in her fantasies and soak in all the Colin she can get.

And, ooff, is the next hour really, really going to hurt.

And - I need to state up front that I find this scene incredibly brutal. It might be one of the nastiest scenes in the whole show. Even the stuff Penelope overhears with Colin doesn't seem as cutting as this scene. This one is just a hard watch.

Upon entering her room, Penelope finds Eloise going through all of her stuff. Eloise has found her secret stash in the floorboards and is incredibly pissed that Penelope has been keeping secrets. Penelope is calm to begin with -- trying to deflect by asking why Eloise is going through her stuff, and reminding Eloise that what she does isn't Eloise's business (and really, it isn't). But there's a personal invasiveness here that hits deeply, and Penelope is well aware that her life is about to fall apart.

Eloise explains that listening to Penelope gossip that evening felt very familiar -- and that she never noticed Penelope speak like that -- that it felt like the written word. (And, as an aside, I do feel slightly bad that Penelope's own best friend never really did listen to her before, because if she had she would have figured out ages ago that Penelope was Whistledown.)

And, I mean, I really do like Penelope and Eloise's friendship. It is the strongest friendship on the show, and this relationship is just as important as the relationship she has (had, will have?) with Colin. The theme of friendship is a part of Penelope's story. And their friendship does make sense -- in that they are similar in a lot of ways. They're both intelligent and clever and want more of a life than being a woman of this time period allows them.

But they're also very different in some ways, too. As I said ages ago -- Eloise is independent because she seeks to be. Because marriage and men feel like a prison to her. While Penelope is independent out of necessity -- because it's a way to escape her abusive home. Eloise is a realist and Penelope is a romantic when it comes to things like love, but when it comes to real world matters -- Penelope is pragmatic while Eloise lives in a land of privilege she doesn't understand that she's a part of.

And all of this was bound to catch up to them. And I think since the beginning of the series, really, you can see there are some cracks in the friendship. I don't think it diminishes the very real friendship that they have, and I do think they are good for one another, and one of the intriguing story lines of next season is how Penelope and Eloise grow up as they repair their friendship.

but, I guess I'm just reflecting on it here, because I think this split was inevitable. There was no easy way out of this one for Penelope. There are consequences to one's actions and Penelope has to face them head on. At the same time -- I think this is a learning moment for Eloise, too, though. She is not completely a victim here. There are some hard truths she has to learn -- as this whole ordeal is like a splash of cold water to her face.

So anyway, Penelope claims that Eloise has spending too much time with Whistledown, in an attempt to persuade Eloise into thinking that it isn't her. And -- there's this subtlest moment of acting from Nicola where, for a hot second, she almost seems, idk, devilish? It's actually kind of creepy -- and I find it fascinating. It devolves into Penelope trying to hold on before everything really blows up in her face, but idk, I don't know that we have ever up to this point, or after for that matter, see Nicola throw that look as Penelope, and I just find it interesting.

So then Eloise starts circling her -- and it's an interesting blocking move, because it's set up like an interrogation that you see in cop shows, where the detective is throwing out the truth against their perpetrator. We're hard wired from various media to recognize how this will play out, and that really adds to the tension.

Eloise continues on -- stating that at first, maybe she did have too much Whistledown on the brain. But then she starts giving examples of how Whistledown wrote things that only Penelope would know. The evidence is clear and plain to anyone paying attention.

Penelope breaks down the further Eloise goes on - because she can't deflect, she can't defend, and she can't lie anymore. And I have to imagine just the sheer guilt she's been carrying around for years now has finally caught up to her.

But before I go on, I need to mention Theo. Because this is an important part as to why Eloise feels this betrayal so deeply. Because Eloise was starting to understand romance -- starting to understand what it was like to have feelings for someone, and just as she was starting to explore those feelings, they're ripped away from her because of the Whistledown business.

I have to wonder -- if Theo was not involved, would Eloise feel as hurt and betrayed by Penelope as she does here? Maybe - maybe not. Of course, the lying is hard. Of course, having your friend do and be successful while not telling you is hard. Of course, the fact that Penelope excelling in gossip can feel like a slap in the face. I do think Eloise would be mad -- and rightfully so -- at Penelope without Theo's involvement. But the fact that Theo was involved, the fact that she lost the first guy who has ever interested her makes it so much worse.

Penelope quickly explains that the only reason she wrote about Eloise was to protect her from the queen, it was the only way. And Eloise shoots back that Penelope has been selfish -- that she's making money off other's pain and turmoil.

And. Hmmm. I don't think Eloise is wrong here. I don't think Eloise is wrong for feeling hurt that her trust had been betrayed. And I think it is a moment for Eloise to hold up a mirror to Penelope to say -- hey, me, my family, Marina, we all went through shit because of your gossip column. Not that Penelope hasn't already struggled with this and has been concerned about these very things.

And it's interesting, Eloise accuses Penelope of being selfish. That's not entirely true - it's really not. But Penelope's reasons for starting Whistledown were selfish. But I don't think it was necessarily a bad thing? And, I mean, in the sad thing is that during the heat of an emotional argument -- Penelope's side just isn't going to come out or come through rationally.

I will say - the point where Eloise is wrong is the accusation that Penelope was in it for the money. (And, I mean, it's an interesting juxtaposition against her mother, who is scamming people out of their money -- but while clearly wrong, that is also done out of self preservation.) Penelope wasn't in it for money. She was in it for freedom and self expression. But again, we're in emotional rationalization territory, so these accusations are going to sting.

Penelope is finally given a moment to speak, but she kind of stumbles through her explanation. She states that it's been hard lying, and that Whistledown was all she had, but she's given it all up because it while she was indeed trying to protect Eloise, she knew it was hurtful, and she's giving it up because she no longer wants that kind of responsibility to bear.

Penelope breaks down -- and again I have to complement Nicola's acting, because she seems so childlike in this moment. I think it's easy to forget that she's only around 20 here, still very childlike indeed.

Despite Penelope's complete break down, Eloise keeps screwing in the knife. She states that she pities Penelope -- because instead of living and having any kind of self confidence or self worth, she hides behind a mask of animosity; that because she finds it hard to live in the real world, she only comments from the sidelines. And, first, ooff, ouch. Second, this one really hurts Penelope, because she knows she struggles with this stuff, and Eloise isn't really wrong here. (And it's interesting how these themes are actually going to be addressed in full next season.)

Eloise ends her little speech by calling Penelope 'insipid wallflower' -- what Cressida had called her at the beginning of the season. A final last punch from Eloise to Penelope.

As Eloise turns to leave, Penelope is given a moment to fight back. And -- it's interesting that the argument she makes against Eloise is that all she did was talk while Penelope is the one who actually accomplished something. And, I don't know how I feel about that argument. There are a lot of things Penelope could have stuck Eloise with -- the fact that she often steamrolled her best friend, the fact that she lives a fanciful life really little worries.

But Eloise did go out and do things, so I find Penelope's arguments a tad weak. And I have to wonder if it's a bit of self reflection on Penelope's part. Because Penelope doesn't really live in the real world, she lives on the outskirts of it. Which is her biggest problem.

Eloise doesn't respond, not really, and ends it on the whole -- I'm never speaking to you again -- thing. Which, emotions are high, and this bond goes deeper than this argument, and this is a narrative drama, so we all know that won't last. But it is a hard thing to end the season on.

Penelope just stands there, deeply in shadow (a coincidence? I think not), unsure of how her future is going to pan out. I don't even think she's all that worried about her identity. Her heart is broken that's devastating on its own.

Penelope and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

So, a scene later, Penelope is running around the ball searching for Eloise (why? because she doesn't want Eloise to share her secret? unclear) when Penelope runs into one of the most infamous Polin moments of Season 2. And... you know, I've struggled with this moment for a long time. Because while it serves a very important narrative function, I don't think it's in character for the Colin we've come to know. Let's break it down...

When Penelope finds Colin, he's talking to a bunch of shitheads his peers. They've all been watching his actions in the evening - noticing that he danced, somewhat romantically, with Penelope. Colin brushes this off as nothing and when asked if he's courting her, Colin replies with his infamous line : 'I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest dreams, Fife.'

Which. Ouch, Colin. It's funny, it actually feels tame compared to the Eloise fight five seconds ago, but it's still heartbreaking for Penelope to hear -- especially coming off the dance where he admitted how special she is to him. Talk about getting a two-one punch that evening.

This particular scene is here for 2-ish solid reasons. The first is that it's in the book. Sort of. The context of the book is incredibly different. Book Colin is just... different than Show Colin. He's more of himbo, actually. But the way this scene plays out is in a different context. Book Colin and Book Penelope don't have the well established friendship their show counterparts have. Sure, they know each other -- but she very much is just his sister's bff.

And in the book, it's a moment where it's just with the Bridgerton brothers, where Colin is complaining that Violet wants Penelope to dance with him, and he makes an offhand comment -- to only his brothers -- that he isn't going to marry her. She overhears and calls him out on it right then, too -- stating plainly that she never asked him to says it's not offensive in the way her stating she isn't marrying Benedict isn't offensive. (She's hurt, but she's also resigned, and then, idk, ten years go by before the actual plot gets going?)

But my point is the Colin of the book would say this because he does look at her like a sister, and he's shooting his mouth off casually with his brothers. Show Colin... well, I'll get there in a sec.

The second reason this is here is for narrative tension. The show is built around Penelope (it is - that's a whole other discussion but it is). And her feature season is next season and we've already destroyed the Penloise relationship, time to wreck the Polin one because she needs to be at her lowest point to kick off Season 3.

Penelope is alone at the end of this season, but in doing so, it not only makes narrative sense to start to build her character up again going into Season 3, it allows for her character to grow up some. Colin's been on this pedestal for a long time -- and while she does truly love him for him, she also is kind of in love with this idea of him. Colin isn't (and shouldn't be) a perfect person. He needs to fuck up and make mistakes. And Penelope needs to see and know that. Love isn't a perfect thing, and people you love, people who love you are going to hurt you. Penelope getting heartbroken here isn't a bad thing for the character.

So, I'm not against this line being here. I'm really not because it drives the narrative and makes sense. And it adds an interesting tension to the Polin story right before their season. This is the last time they're together until Season 3.

My problem, though, is that it doesn't make sense for the Colin we've built up through the first two seasons to say it. And reconciling that has been an interesting journey. One of the biggest issues (that does continue into Season 3 unfortunately) is that we really aren't getting Colin's POV. It's all Penelope, and I feel like contextualizing with Colin's POV would help a lot.

Colin's been on this journey to (essentially) make a man for himself this entire season. Find his purpose, figure himself out, and taking down Jack is a step into being seen as a guy who stands up and does something. Colin's riding a high and feeling on top of the world (even if he hasn't told anyone else in the Ton about it yet.)

One of the aspects about Colin's character going into Season 3 is that in an attempt to figure his shit out, he wants to be seen more as a part of society. He wants to blend in more. He often feels disjointed within their society, and he's going to make an attempt to rectify that. Only - we don't really get to hear about it. We don't even hear that he's going off traveling again (which would have been a nice set up). We just get things through Penelope's POV, which leaves everything up in the air.

Anyway, the bits of analysis I've heard from others that seems to fit best for me about this line is the idea that Colin is brushing off Fife's interest in his romantic life and downplaying the Featherington connection because it is uncool, and Colin wants to fit in. He's trying - as he'll say in Season 3 - to be the man society expects him to be. And society doesn't really think much of Penelope (or any of the Featheringtons really). So of course, in an offhand comment to try to fit in, Colin is going to brush aside any romantic intentions towards Penelope.

And, I mean, I'm going to allow Colin the moment to fuck up. He's not a terrible person for the line. In a moment of pressure he caved and that's human. It also doesn't negate everything else of this episode or this season. Penelope is still special to him. He does have a very close friendship with her. She is incredibly important to him -- and not even knowing that he does it, this line is going to set off a chain of consequences where he learns what life is like when she's not in it. And it's going to suck.

So, I do like this moment for Colin, too, in that it is going to drive his narrative going forward, too. He won't be at his lowest point in the same way Penelope is, but he going to come back somewhat a shell of the warm, goofy, ridiculous Colin that we know him as. Because traveling changes him. Because Penelope's silence changes him. And because when you're the lead of a romance, you no longer are just the witty, pithy side character. ;)

So, yeah, this like does feel out of character for Colin -- who is one of the gentlest and kindest characters on the show. Who has spent all season doing nothing but talking to Penelope - adoring her and admiring her. But, I suppose that's okay. Because humans do have moments that are out of character, too, in moments of weakness. And -- as I said above, this adds a layer of tension to the Polin relationship before it's focus.

It's such a small but impactful moment, and Penelope runs away not wanting to hear anymore. She's kind of had it, and probably can't take anymore emotional upheaval.

Epilogues

The end of the ball is wrapping up with a Kanthany union and a delightful firework display. As one door closes, another one opens. It's Polin season, my friends! :)

Penelope takes the narrative -- because right now she's her and not Lady Whistledown, talking about the power of silence, and commenting on the fact that because she's been silent about her identity, and because she's been silent with her words, it's really brought turmoil into her life. Season 3 is going to be about Penelope finding her voice -- her true voice. But also stepping out of the shadows to do so.

Notice again that Penelope is hiding away from the ball, sequestered in her room, lit in shadow as the world moves forward without her? It's completely intentional! Because right now the darkness consumes her. And the themes of dark vs light are going to be central to her narrative moving forward.

Meanwhile, we have Colin going to see Will -- and apologizing about the stuff with Jack, admitting that he needed to gain Jack's trust in order to take him down. And as an apology, he's brought patrons to Will's bar and claims that he owes Will one. Colin is so happy with himself here, though, and I do kind of love to see it. Throwaway fuck ups aside, he is a good guy.

This is so interesting because -- between Season 2 and 3, while the writing teams (for the most part) stay the same, the show runners change, and I kind of wonder if there was a different story that was set up here.

We really get nothing about Colin's future -- nothing is ever mentioned about going off to travel again. Nothing really sets up a narrative for him at all (outside of the Penelope drama). And Will owes him now? I wonder what they were setting up with that line. And it's a shame -- they knew early in Season 2 that Polin season would be next. I only wish they had given more space for Colin's narrative.

Also, 2 side notes. 1. Colin brings the Fife crew to Will's place as a thank you and apology to Will. I think the brushing off of Penelope was also a way to get (more?) into Fife's circle for this moment to land. 2. I really liked having Will as a bar owner, and I wish they hadn't changed that, but ah well.

Penelope's narrative continues -- claiming that in silence, you find truth (and you do! Colin's definitely going to find it...). But she also notes that sometimes you have to have a voice -- and be heard. Her devastation of the evening has (apparently) taught her that there is power in her words, and she won't be silenced. So she picks herself up again, and smiles at the camera, because you can kick Penelope down, but she'll always get back up again.

And, this is Penelope's last shot of the season -- we see her, amidst personal tragedy, as seeming hopeful. That she knows she can do good with her words instead of the trauma she has caused. And she's going to attempt to right those wrongs, even if it's to no avail.

Hold your head up high, Penelope Featherington, your time to shine is coming!

And then... we get the actual epilogue.

The end of the book The Viscount Who Loved Me has the absolute best epilogue of all of them (better than Romancing Mister Bridgerton - which is kind of a letdown, tbh, because it's all about the Eloise story). It has the entire family playing Pall Mall again -- and it's honestly delightful (Penelope is there! It's set a way in the future).

I'm glad they brought this back for the epilogue of Season 2. According to the narrative, it's been six months since the Featherington Ball. (Time... makes little sense to me in the Bridgerton world.) But Colin's sideburns are beginning to grow in!

Colin and Benedict are still ribbing each other -- and Colin's still taking potshots at Anthony. And it's the Bridgerton family fun we all know and love (and it's great).

And I have to say -- I love this final shot of Colin as Anthony and Kate wrap themselves up in each other. As the music swells, and we get the couple's final kiss, Colin looks on -- amused and happy and ready for his own narrative to start.

It's been a journey, but the book closes on Season 2.

I do love this season - and I stand by my thoughts that the Polin in it is often underrated, but it's a very solid foundation for what we'll get in Season 3. One of the best aspects of the Polin story is that it's allowed to grow and change and develop over a long period of time. And that just makes it all the more delicious.

Season 3 - here we come! :)

Until then, gentle readers….. ;) <3

#polin #analysis

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