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I feel like a lot of people dont get that Colin trying to be different is not only about others liking him, it is about him trying to feel less. It is less about convincing others and more about convincing himself.

Violet tells him that she gets why he is doing it. He put on an armour because he felt too much, we have seen it over two seasons. He even goes back to Marina to check on her because he feels guilty and she insults him again, he hurts his own feelings once more. He legit uncovers a whole ass ruby scheme because his brain is constantly picking up on things. He feels so much, we never see Colin just sitting still. And then Pen stops writing to him. He states it outright that he attempted to harden himself because of it. And how do the men in the Ton do this, how has he seen his brothers do it? The same brothers who despite having this rakish behaviour got the woman they wanted or are living carefrew like Benedict? They flirt, they act mysterious, they go to brothels, etc. I get no one wanted to see Colin in that situation but they do make sense. Colin was told the notion of wanting to wait for marriage was childish and nonsensical, it is no mystery why when everyone including Pen who always believed in him leaves him, he does what all men in that time did. And, as we know, it does not work.

LW calling him out in front of everyone is not what bothers him, is that she is right. He is mad that it gets to him, so he goes to the brothel, acts like any other man. Maybe, he thinks, the more I try, the better I will get at it. That is whd there is such a difference between that scene and the mirror scene. In the first scene, it is rough and only physical. That is not Colin, we know this. In the mirror scene, that is him, it means something, it means everything to him.

It is no wonder he spirals after the kiss. He is feeling so much and for the one person he can never hide from, Pen. And then Pen tells him to keep away. He is probably thinking, what an idiot, feeling too much again. Combined with his hero complex, who wants to respect Pen‘s wishes, the man was a mess. So he tries again but now there is not even the fake it til you make it of the first brothel scene.

I get no one wanted to see Colin there but saying it ruins his character because he is being to a brothel or is not a virgin is just wrong. Colin is not a rake, he is not sharing facts about stuff with anyone, not really and he outright says that he hates that men do this instead of holding it sacred as he wants to. He claims he does not see a gentleman among them and he includes himself.

He loses the will to try cause he wants to feel the torture of loving Pen, that is why he even sleeps outside their bedroom while they are arguing. He does not sleep with her because it is sacred to him, sex for Colin is only a joyous thing. All of it is in character so people saying the brothel scenes ruin his season 1 and 2 arc is weird to me. It is a natural progression. He literally explains why he did it. Maybe they could have been shot differently, and I get people dont like seeing sex workers on screen, but yall gotta stop with the modern lense. That thing existed back then, period.

Colin is trying to numb himself but Pen is the key back to the feeling Colin. He might even be mad at her for that during the entrapment comment, he went back to feeling so much and it was all because of her and now there is no turning back again. That is why he tells Eloise that she is lucky she has never been in love because he is so mad at Pen but also loves her. It is a conundrum and it is eating him alive. It is easier to forgive someone you do not love as much.

So yeah my rant here is that, in my opinion and while I skip them, Colin going to a brothel does not ruin anything, it makes sense. It is like the kid in high school who gets recruited by the popular kids and tries to fit in. Only he cant and Colin becomes aware of it even before the kiss. Pen is the key. We all need someone who sees us and Colin only ever wanted to be seen. Pen telling him that she loves his feeling self is the best thing he could have ever heard.

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Listen we can all debate whether we wished Luke booked more projects or type of roles or brand deals etc, but the man hasn’t been jobless in years. I think people forget how hard it is to get to his level of being a series regular on a confirmed 6 season show. And I do blame this ridiculous concept of putting out one season of 8 episodes every 2 years, and letting it be swallowed up whole like cotton candy due to the binge watch model, for the perception that the cast has all the time in the world to take on multiple projects, but the 8 hours we see is literally months of filming.

Luke has spoken about how he’s had to couch surf and bartend in pursuit of this career. The fact that he feels secure enough to take a little time for himself is a sign that he’s GAINFULLY employed now. Do I wish he booked more things for my sake as a fan who thinks he’s too good for Bridgerton and would like to see his talents used better, used more, and used preferably faster than 2026? Hell yeah! But is he unemployed? Obviously not!!!!

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A good Polin take:

NO THIRD PARTY SHIT

True Polin jealousy is Pen being jealous that Colin is likable and Colin being jealous that Penelope is successful.

He doesn’t want to use his popularity to cheat his way into success like publishing under the Bridgerton name.

And she knows her success isn’t a shortcut to popularity because once people know it’s her they’ll undercut her and accuse her of being petty and jealous.

And they need each other to give each other what they’re missing. Penelope’s belief in Colin’s writing makes him think he can be successful on his own merits. Colin’s support of Penelope helps her find her place in society. They mutually help each other get what the other has.

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Somehow I think the Polin community has never encountered the Hilda pin-up art from the 1950s and I’m here to correct that.

This is 1950s Pin-up Penelope inspiration for all who need it.

Artwork by Duane Bryers

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Speaking my truth- that idea people had about Penelope being the “Emerald of the season” before S3 aired is dumb as hell and I’m glad it never happened.

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One month anniversary of the Lover’s Guide Casting rumor. I’m going to celebrate like crazy if this is finally confirmed, the Luke fans NEED this.

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Are you sure?

I've just realized that these two moments are almost exactly the same, except for the fact that, at the wedding, Penelope can't verbally ask the question, so instead, she does it silently.

I love it, because it illustrates their growth perfectly. In both moments, Penelope is laying all her flaws bare for him to see -- she is being honest, in the first, about her insecurities, and in the second, about her faults. She cedes any power, any claim she might have on his duty as a gentleman, and offers him a choice (both times). And, in both moments, Colin decides that he loves her, regardless. He is consistent, but more than that, he expresses his agency in this, despite any hurt words hurled to the contrary. It's not default or duty-bound, for him, and he makes sure she knows it -- makes sure that, regardless of what it looks like on the outside, she knows he has chosen her. Both times he makes a vow -- to her, and only her -- and both times, he keeps it. This is particularly touching when you realize that, in Seasons 1 & 2, the theme of duty is so strong. In contrast, Season 3 highlights the theme of choice. I also think it speaks to Penelope's trust in him that she only ever asks him once, each time. She doesn't argue, she doesn't make excuses. There's no exchange. She only asks, and takes whatever answer he gives seriously.

It ties into Colin's larger question: "Then what good am I to you?" because this perfectly illustrates just how much Penelope needs him -- and only him -- to decide. Despite what anyone in the ton or their families might want/say, if Colin is sure, if Colin wants this, if Colin wants her, then that's enough.

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And then he spent the rest of the season proving he meant that with his whole heart because our Colin didn’t even think he was good enough for her!!!! 😭😭😭😭

People go “Colin doesn’t deserve her” and Colin is the first one agreeing that he doesn’t, that man loves her like crazy.

And you are Penelope Featherington, do not forget that.

Pen, you are a stronger woman than me cause I would have jumped Colin that instant. That is one of the most adorable, hottest things ever said on Bridgerton. AND THEY HAD NOT EVEN KISSED YET

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Friendly reminder for the Polin fandom:

🚨 Both Show and Book Colin Accuse Penelope of Entrapment 🚨

I need people to READ and REMEMBER the books before they speak on book Colin vs show Colin.

I love that book Colin is loved, because I think the book got a lot of things right that the show got wrong, but there is no reason to pit them against each other in a way that pretty much confirms Colin’s POV isn’t important to you in either medium. I like both versions of Colin and both versions accuse Penelope of entrapment, but yikes the people still going after show Colin for it wouldn’t be able to handle book Colin at all, even if they pretend they could.

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The thin skin from the fandoms who built themselves up in their heads as fan favorites is SO different from my mindset as a Luke Newton fan 🤣

They can’t take 5% of the energy they give out, meanwhile I saw someone write “You guys have to accept that Luke Newton can’t act, he’s just a pretty face” and my first thought (before disagreeing about his acting obviously) was “War is over!!! FINALLY a hater admits he’s hot!!!🥹🥹🥹”

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There’s something about Colin being the most efficient baby-maker in Bridgerton… hip roll putting in the WORK, thank you king, happy Father’s Day.

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Luke and Charithra in a summer romcom filmed on location someplace hot and sexy PLEASE

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This write up is my contribution to the Luke Newton hype.

FYC pic courtesy of:

Luke Newton is being snubbed.

I don’t need to be a journalist from an industry publication to call it out. It goes beyond this one nomination, it’s how he’s been downplayed since the season dropped. So I’ll say it. He is being snubbed.

So let’s talk about Luke’s portrayal of Colin, and why it does him a disservice to not acknowledge his work.

Colin, as written for the show, shines in the hands of Luke Newton. A lesser actor would not be able to create the layered performance that Luke developed with both the brilliant authenticity of our Colin (Penelope’s Colin) and the cloying insincerity of Rake Colin back from his adventures and ready to flirt his insecurities away. He’s a deeply endearing performer, playing up Colin’s doubts, confusions and hurt in a way that makes you root for him, and cheer when he returns to himself fully in the carriage scene. That his character is so well defined over the seasons that the show was able to create a sense of longing for the “old” Colin right alongside Penelope’s longing for him, is a testament to Luke’s deep understanding of his character. He plays the discomfort Colin has with the persona he’s created, capped off by his frustrated monologue about the loneliness of playing the part.

His nuanced use of emotions stack together, turning moments that could be intimidating anger towards Penelope in the hands of a lesser actor into disbelief, pain, grief, and pleading all rolled into one. Colin was a character that is in his own head a lot, and STILL Luke managed to give us a window into what he was thinking every time.

He makes Colin Bridgerton seem like a real person, walking through life as it comes at him, in the most naturalistic acting performances in the entire series. He doesn’t chew scenery, he isn’t performative or flashy. He just IS Colin, which is such a difficult thing to achieve in Bridgerton’s heightened reality with its heightened stakes.

As a romantic lead, Luke delivers. His memetic “suicidal” jealousy and yearning, his comedic descent into awkwardness around Pen and his well earned praise for turning a controversial moment from the book into a perfectly delivered “Will you marry me or not?” that made people swoon with giddiness rather than roll their eyes at his presumption. He approached every intimate scene with a reckless disregard for his own ego, acting fully in the moment and allowing such vulnerability to come across on screens that people felt like they were intruding on a real encounter between two people going at it.

And Luke had an important role to play. The romance of each season of Bridgerton really hinges on these love declarations and he NAILS the carriage scene. The buildup of his desperate begging, his confession and then his brief despair and return to politeness when he’s told he’s just a friend was MASTERFUL. Luke goes through every emotion the heart and mind can create in the carriage scene, and he nails every single one of them, and the scene would fall apart if he didn’t, that scene was built around his emoting. And then he follows it up with the final love confession, where Luke pulls out the biggest puppy dog eyes, filled to the brim with love and pride and a quiet confidence that makes it stick the landing.

The season simply would not be the romantic season it is without Luke Newton’s Colin Bridgerton. Because Penelope was in love with Colin since episode 1 of season 1, Polin’s storyline for S3 is so dependent on Colin’s emotional development, and Luke’s ability to portray those changes and highly anticipated moments when his world flips upside down. We watch him fall in love in season 3, and we watch him pursue that love proactively. He is a major driving force of what makes Bridgerton S3 a romance rather than just a drama.

It’s beyond time to respect his contribution to such a popular season and such a popular couple.

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A new article for Forbes Portugal talking about how Luke trained his voice for two weeks before going to do his recording of Viana and how he already had many ideas for the film upon arrival. I translated that part for you guys🥹

Note that they say release in 2026 but the director said in 2025 so who knows.

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The fans always doing for Luke more than Shondaland and Netflix ever will. As powerless as fans are, he is SO loved 🥹🥹🥹

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I want to know which fan forum you avoid at all costs. Like if you see something reposted from there on the forum you use, you just know it’s going to be bullshit:

Some people I see in fandom spaces, their only contribution seems to be reposting rage bait or bad takes on different platforms so people there can talk about how bad it is wherever the take came from. So I’m trying to see where we all think the worst- avoid for your own sanity- Bridgerton fandom takes are.

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The way the Luke-less stills simply do not matter is so frickin funny.

A couple of new bts stills from Ryan Wheeler ✨