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toutvatoujoursbien · 2 months

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A (relatively new-ish) fan’s perspective on Luke Newton

(I wrote my very first Tumblr post last month and now I think I’ve chosen the path of essayist/suffering. I’ve also been writing this on and off for four weeks because it seems like every other day, something new pops up or the fandom has a meltdown of some kind. I’m not even sure if it’s worth posting, but I think, like my first one, I needed to get this out of my system in order to TRY and return to being a normal person - which is still unlikely because Lukola has me in a chokehold. NOTE: I finished the majority of this on July 19, before all the weird-ass stuff happened over the weekend, and haven’t had the chance to post until now. Anyway, this is going to be long, full of ramblings that are hopefully organized in a cohesive manner, and all opinions and observations are my own. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings, okay?)

I’ve really struggled to understand why the whole Bridgerton S3 and Luke Newton PR stunt has embedded itself into my brain the way it has. Like, how could the actions of someone I don’t know still be lingering in my thoughts even now, weeks later? After my first post, I realized that there was more to the entire LN situation than I was previously unaware of - so I started digging. None of this information is hidden or secret, it was publicly available and therefore the fans picked up on it quickly. But I, personally, DID NOT KNOW ANY OF IT, going into S3, and I think that’s why everything has hit me like a ton of bricks. So I thought, surely I’m not the only new(ish) fan who has suffered from this emotional and mental whiplash?

I really, really, really loved Luke’s portrayal of Colin and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching all the interviews and behind-the-scenes from S3. I would also love to continue to support him as he builds his acting career. However, I didn’t have a full picture, which unfortunately includes a history of making - what I think are - poor and questionable decisions in his personal life that he also allowed to bleed into his professional one. And that’s how I find myself struggling with the dichotomy of everything I’ve seen him do during Bridgerton promo vs. lots of other actions he’s taken. So let’s talk about it, okay? (Importantly, I reserve the right to update my current opinions as more information comes to light.)

I want it to be clear that I am in no way hating on Luke. Part of my struggle with writing this post has been because I don’t want this to be misconstrued as more hate being thrown his way. That is not my intention, at all. Seeing “fans” over the past few weeks absolutely rip into him on social media has been heartbreaking and deeply unsettling. This type of behavior is ugly and nasty and no one should be subjected to it. Full stop. As others have said: it’s okay to have thoughts and criticisms (criticism ≠ hate), but please keep it to the appropriate corners of the Internet. I think you can admire/support a famous person, but you should also be able to call them out on their conduct, particularly the stuff that happens in public. Blind love/following and putting people on pedestals is never going to allow any room for reflection and/or growth. I think there is a LOT of nuance in the whole discussion around him, his past actions, his handling of things now, and what’s in store for the future.

Okay, deep breaths & continue after the cut (because this got… wordy).

Some brief background on how I got here: As noted previously, I’ve been a longtime fan of both Polin and Bridgerton, first with the book series and then with the tv show. But, for whatever reason, I never even thought about jumping into the fandom until earlier this year, in anticipation of Season 3. I will say that I have been delighted with Nicola and Luke and their work as Polin from the start, but with the nature of the show being what it is, I just didn’t pay as much attention until it was their turn to lead. I watched some behind the scenes and promos occasionally, but not consistently. It wasn’t until around the February/Valentine’s event that I started to take notice and then I fell down the rabbit hole in April (literally, figuratively, and spiritually 😅). I say all this to illustrate that up until the spring, I was part of the General Audience, though admittedly with a bias towards viewing Bridgerton favorably. Another factor is that I got most of my fandom content from Twitter (again, I’m never going to call it X), with the occasional peek into Instagram and Tumblr. Yes, Twitter is a hellscape. But I am also lazy and only have so much time to scroll online. And since everything seems to get cross-posted everywhere, it was easiest for me to keep mostly to one social media site to consume all my Bridgerton content. But I point this out because I now see this as an error on my part. Why? Because I wasn’t getting a well-rounded picture of the situation around L, N and S3. Remember my own self-admitted social media bubble? Sigh. The fast pace of tweets meant I could blink-and-miss something on Twitter, unless it trended (or really riled the fans up). It’s a breeding ground for the hyperbolic and for discourse, in general. Twitter also seems to be divided into the Luke Haters (let’s be real, most of their “reasoning” is just uncalled for, vile hate) and the Luke Apologists (who have the tendency to exhibit, imo, some gross-excuse-all-his-behaviors-he-never-does-anything-wrong rhetoric). So it wasn’t until I started noticing chatter of Luke’s past actions that it prompted me to start looking deeper into what others have witnessed and noted online, particularly on this platform. Again, it wasn’t like I was trying to find some sort of hush-hush subject matter. Instead, I rather got the impression that those established in the fandom had a sort of unspoken agreement to keep these discussions to DMs and group chats - mostly as to not detract from Polin’s upcoming season. (But seriously, great of y’all to keep it locked down, however it would have really helped a girl out all the times I was like, “why is everyone so mad?” 🤣) And a lot of things started clicking into place once I knew more of the details. So I’ve put together a list of high-level topics/points that I didn’t know before, being relatively new to the fandom. Perhaps this can help other fans who are trying to wrap their heads around the various discussions occurring now and may feel clueless.

One more thing, HUGE shout-out to @jack4132cf for giving me a concise timeline of… well, everything I apparently missed last year+ when I wasn’t part of the fandom 😆🙌🏼 They’ve really helped me fill in the blanks (of which I had many)! Also, darcytaylor has a great 3-part deep dive, and I’ve read (and backtracked) through most of herejusttosufferalong and allsortsofthingsmpov ’s blogs, among others. They’ve provided a place for differing opinions and perspectives to be voiced in a respectful manner (unless you’re a troll, in which any clap-back is justified). I may not agree with everyone’s take, but I firmly believe that hearing views from others has helped shape my own thought process.

Let’s begin, shall we?

The Hot Fuck Boy Summer™️ (which I’m trademarking as HFBS)

Bridgerton S3 wrapped up filming in March 2023 and then Luke starred in the play The Shape of Things, which was in production from around May-July 2023. At some point prior to all this, Luke and his previous gf broke up - this is reported on by several media outlets in March, as well as “news” that he joined the dating app Raya. This is where, I think, his questionable behavior starts to raise eyebrows. It’s not the fact that he’s dating - I feel like fans gave him a pass since he just ended a long-term relationship (Enter the mentality some had of “let him have his hot boy summer!”). No, I think the issue is that he was not at all private or discreet about it.

Remember when I said I think he let choices in his personal life bleed over into his professional one? Yeah, there were multiple glaring examples happening in real time last year, and the fandom took notice. He started publicly following certain users on IG and liking their posts, (unfortunately) many of whom were young, female models and dancers, under the age of 23. He (foolishly) followed his private account on his public profile, and then tried to backpedal. He engaged with some online flirtations that didn’t sit well with the fans (cough, E. Bear, cough), and then tried to backpedal. Mind you, all of this occurred and at some point later on, it’s then also decided that he’s going to move (aka, clean up) his social media presence to be more work-related. My point is:

Luke was digitally messy and left a trail (several, really).

In conjunction with the HFBS, we also have:

& That Friend Group

Ah yes, the “boys.” Look, clearly I don’t know his friend group in real life, so all I can speak on is the image they give off based on their public social media accounts. And I, personally, am very unimpressed with what they’ve chosen to share with the world. My general perception is that L’s group of friends love to have a good time and show it off; seem to have an large amount of influence over him, particularly R; and can been seen as reaping the benefits of his success. He has discussed before how he likes to be generous with his friend group. During HFBS, they posted all about their vacations, on public accounts, and tagged Luke in them. They posted thirst trap photos and tagged Luke in them. They took quite a few boat trips and, once again, tagged Luke in them. Are we sensing a pattern here?

His friend group was also digitally messy and left trails.

I am in no way saying his friends aren’t allowed to post whatever they want on their accounts. It’s totally within their rights to have a good time and capture it on their pages, and I completely understand the desire to only show the “memorable” and “fun” stuff on social media. I just think it was short-sighted to NOT consider that Luke’s fans would be interested in seeing what he was up to with his friends - and you know that people will always, always dig around on the Internet. Maybe this was some kind of fun game to them? Maybe they enjoyed the attention? Maybe they didn’t think it was that big a deal? Who knows? But I think, in hindsight, it would have been safer and smarter to not have all this documented and out in the open, imo.

My other understanding is that around the time the break up was “officially announced,” Luke’s ex began dating someone who was 22/23 at the time. His childhood friend R also ended a relationship last year and began dating a young woman around 22/23. Do I think R may have encouraged Luke in a certain direction dating-wise, especially considering that A was/is a friend of S, R’s new gf? Do I wonder if this was all to get back at J for starting a relationship with a new young thing, too? It seems likely, but of course this is all conjecture on my part. This is giving “high school drama” vibes, being played out in public, which is very, very unfortunate.

However, Luke was ultimately the person who did not ask his friends to refrain from posting him on social media, as well as publicly following young women on socials and not being very discreet about his dating life, which is what raises my eyebrows…

The Age Gap Thing

Let’s just address this here and now. Remember, these are my opinions, each individual is entitled to their own, and I hope everyone takes a moment to really think and evaluate how they feel about the matter! I’m going to be very transparent and upfront about this:

I do not like the age gap between L and many of the young women he was showing interest in last year.

I’m viewing this from the lens of someone who is an elder Millennial and female. For me, personally, my dislike has more to do with: 1) A's age when they started dating/the age she is now (22/23); but more specifically 2) the power dynamics at play.

I don’t have a problem with age gaps overall, because I believe that love can find us at many stages in life. However, I’m also of the opinion that a person 30+ should not be dating a someone in their early 20s. I’m not going to use the whole “the brain hasn’t been fully developed” argument, though valid. My issue has more to do with where an individual is in terms of life experience, emotional and overall maturity, and (this ties in with #2) financial stability within age gaps. In general, I find, say, a 45-year-old dating a 37-year-old to be on more even footing, which becomes even more so as you age. But a 22-year-old, presumably fresh out of college/university and about to embark on their next steps into adulthood, is just not in a position to date someone in their 30s. To me, your early 20s are the time for you to gain all the things I mentioned above (life experience, maturity, financial stability that is independently your own) as well as make plenty of mistakes. And that’s not to say any of that stops once you hit 30, or beyond! I know I’m constantly evolving and learning more about myself and my place in the world as each year passes.

My deeper discomfort comes from the inherent power dynamics and power imbalance between L/A. Of course L has lot more of the power in terms of money, resources and status; they are not equal partners. This article here (https://jill.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-men-who-date-much) illustrates these points much better than I can; I think it’s worth the read.

Is he allowed to date whomever he so chooses? Yes. Are people allowed to feel the ick with the current choice/choices he made last year? Also yes. Does it entitle anyone to post nasty comments on his social media? Absolutely not. I may not personally like his choice, but it’s ultimately his to make.

NOTE: I also want to address right here that, to me, his behavior isn’t “predatory” or whatever twisted narrative some folks are trying to push. Honestly, I think he’s gone the complete opposite direction from the type of women his ex and N are because it might be less complex/more simple both in terms of emotions and permanence. But obviously, pure speculation on my part.

Antagonistic A

At some point during HFBS, L meets A and she becomes a part of That Friend Group. During Fall 2023, there are many trips to Soho Farmhouse and other posts made to R/S/A’s social media accounts. A in particular made quite a few posts that could be interpreted as her wanting to show she was with L, but never actually including him fully (these are the arms/legs photos that fans talk about and side-eye). Some of these types of posts have since been conveniently deleted. L and That Friend Group celebrate NYE24 at Soho Farmhouse, where everyone but him share photos and videos. On Jan 2, a photo of L and A kissing was circulated on social media - they got caught in the video of the band playing. Also at the beginning of this year, A - for whatever fucking reason - started tagging along on various work trips and had a tendency to post TikTok’s from various hotel bathrooms. Again, insinuating that she’s with L but not outright showing it.

The “InStyle stunt” - end of March/early April, there is a trip to Los Angeles which A posted stories and photos on IG. It’s later revealed that L was going to be featured in InStyle Magazine’s “This Guy” series, which included an interview, video and photoshoot, as well as an IG post that consisted of several polaroid, “boyfriend-style” pictures. The Instyle polariods were released three weeks after A’s posts, and let’s just say that A’s are a little too on the nose to be coincidence (also cue more hand/leg reveals…) Please note, again, that some of these photos on A’s account have been conveniently deleted/removed.

These are only a few examples of how… messy this all is and how it can be viewed as her antagonizing the fans. There is a lot of back and forth debate between “just leave her alone, she’s allowed to post what she wants” against “she’s clearly using social media to taunt the fandom/get attention/chase clout/etc.” When I finally learned about all the social media games being played, I just felt really unsettled for a few reasons.

Luke has stated that he wishes to keep his private life more private (see: social media clean-up from last fall). But, and this is my big issue here, A and That Friend Group don’t seem to WANT to be private. So to me, that can push people to question how much does he know what’s actually going on (he admits to not being online much) and, more importantly, how complicit is he with all of their postings? I personally feel like the narrative being pushed by his friends is very self-serving, and doesn’t seem like it’s in L’s best interest or protecting his privacy. Because I think we all know and understand that if a celebrity wants to keep certain things private, they have the money and resources to do so - some good examples that come to mind are Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dolly Parton, and our girl Nicola herself.

A has made it a pattern to post shortly after either Nicola or the main Bridgerton account posts something, usually on IG or TT; there is timely evidence of this. So much so that the fandom jokes about how obsessed she must be with N. And these posts don’t really have much substance - other than to show off her body or her latest vacation. It just all comes off as very insecure and seeking attention, whether it’s from L or from the public in general. Again, why do we feel the need to play social media games? But this does not mean she deserves hateful comments either. I personally don’t care for her or her actions, but as an older female, I also can’t help but be saddened by the fact that she’s making many, many poor choices in a very public forum. I can’t help but wonder if she’s going to have regrets later on when/if she reflects back on this time.

The PR Stunt/Papgate

This has been dissected by the fandom to death and there are a plethora of theories on who exactly was responsible for calling the paparazzi, who knew what was actually going to happen, WHY did this occur, and how much did this impact the season and the press tour overall. It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin - hell, I’ve changed my opinion at least a dozen times over the past several weeks. Regardless, the thing that aggravates me the most about the whole thing is the absolutely terrible and suspicious timing of it. As stated in my previous post: Here’s my point: I think what should have been a moment of triumph and a joyous occasion for Nic, Luke, and Bridgerton season 3, was sadly overshadowed by the aforementioned shitstorm. And that’s a damn shame. Too many cast and crew put in a lot of time, effort, and blood sweat and tears, to pull this all together.

I’m still personally stuck on a few things: 1) How did paps know when L was leaving the official after party? Additionally, how did they know which hotel L was going to for his after-after party? Because that’s where we got the super awkward handhold attempt photos. 2) Did L know about the first location but not the second one - which ties into was this an attempt by his PR team to distance himself from Bridgerton and Nicola now that promo was almost done? Because the way he looks from location 1 to 2 is vastly different. 3) If paps were there, why was literally NO ONE else from the cast also photographed??? 4) Why has DM double (and tripled) down over the past few weeks on how she got those exclusive photos in the first place? And 5) Who ultimately has benefited the most from this whole PR stunt 🤔??? (Because I sure as hell don’t think it’s Luke…)

The Cinnamon Roll vs The Bad Boy

Luke has stated in several interviews that he’s interested in going for edgier, darker roles. I think that’s great that he wants to try something new and diversify; I would love to see him in whichever type of role interests him! However, he’s also spent 4-5 years playing Colin, a character that is quirky, kind and lovable (much more so on the show, thanks to Luke’s portrayal) and known for being the ultimate “wife guy” amongst the fandom. It’s also been mentioned time and time again that Luke is most like his character (by Luke himself and his Bridgerton cast mates). Nic speaks so highly of him, and the way he presented himself during the 6 months of press was really wonderful; I think he has a deep understanding and love for his role, and he was a genuinely supportive partner to his co-lead during filming. Think golden retriever energy - which is NOT a bad thing, at all!

If there is any truth to the PR stunt being organized by his team (and I’m in no way saying this is fact) as a way to differentiate/disassociate him from Bridgerton/Nicola, then I think this was a miscalculation on their part. We know that Luke did a lot of editorial photoshoots during the promo tour; and looking at the pictures now, it seems like there was definitely a narrative/aesthetic that was trying to be pushed of a more intense, moody and provocative L. Which is also fine! I don’t think he must be one personality or the other; humans are multi-faceted and complex, it’s what makes us so interesting.

The (Ongoing) Fallout

This is really difficult to write about because, honestly, I feel like we’re still witnessing it happening in real time, bit by agonizing bit. What we do know is that at this moment, he hasn’t announced any new projects other than returning for Bridgerton Season 4. He hasn’t announced any major brand deals and we don’t know what his next steps are career-wise. Which is completely baffling to me because I would think he and his team would want to capitalize on the momentum of a very successful season of a Netflix/Shondaland production. However, this is his life and his job, so until he comes forward with literally anything to say (a statement, an announcement, hell, he hasn’t even publicly claimed to have a gf FFS), then everything else is just noise and speculation. As much as I hope he’s not taking another HFBS, I also wouldn’t blame him for wanting to step away from the spotlight. He’s been unfairly dragged and smeared since the Part 2 premiere. Do I think he and his team/friend group have made a some missteps along the way? Yes, but again, no one deserves the nasty comments and vitriol that has been flung his way.

So How Do We Move Forward?

I keep thinking back to the adage: When someone shows you who they are, believe them.*

And isn’t this the root of my (and perhaps others’) struggle? Because it’s been really difficult to reconcile someone Nicola calls “a true gentleman, the kindest friend, a dream costar” with a man who seemingly (?) goes along with pap walks, Instagram subterfuge, and appears to be distancing himself from the very project and costars that helped propel him into the leading man spotlight. For me personally, I go back to my point that people are multi-faceted and deeply complex. I think Luke can be all of those things; I also think he might be struggling right now to figure out who he is and what he wants next after being scrutinized so heavily.

Also from my first post: We have to remember, though, that what we’re shown is only a fraction of their true selves, carefully and deliberately curated to accommodate their status as actors/celebrities/those in the public eye.

I choose to believe that we saw glimpses of the real Luke throughout the press tour. (ColinBridgey is a rockstar and compiled everything into a master list for our enjoyment!) I choose to believe Nicola knows Luke a hell of a lot better than almost everyone else yapping in this conversation. I choose to believe that his anxiety and quietness could be perceived as standoffish, and unfortunately he wasn’t able to shine as much as Nicola during the press tour, but they are a team and have each other’s backs - there is genuine love there, after all. I choose to believe that social media posting and likes are not indicative of the actual friendship and relationship between L and N. I would love to see him post more, or be more vocal in publicly thanking Bridgerton and Nicola - however, I realize those are expectations I have/desire and he does not owe me anything.

I choose to believe that despite the mistakes and missteps, he’s a decent human being who deserves to live his life on his own terms and at his own speed. I really, really hope that whenever he announces his next project, I can be joyful and supportive. There’s a lot of talk about giving him grace, which I agree with. I cannot imagine, nor do I desire to be in the public eye this way; it’s easy for us and others to feel entitled to say things behind our screens and keyboards, but these are real, actual people with lives and feelings.

I do think that it is for the best interest of the fandom to try and ignore A and That Friend Group (and DM) as much as possible. And I will be the first to admit that it is really fucking hard to do so. Like I’ve said before, I try to ignore toxicity and hate, but I am also human and therefore imperfect and capable of pettiness. There is just something about this situation (probably how much Lukola captivated me and how much disdain I have for his friend group) that makes me watch everything play out like it’s a train on fire, careening towards an unfinished bridge, over a ravine. Sometimes I feel bad because I wonder if I’m adding to the entire spectacle with my continued interest. But then I remember that I specifically keep it to this corner of the internet, and I’ve found a nice little community where we can gossip and discuss and dissect it all.

If you’ve made it to the end, thank you. This is just everything I’ve been ruminating over the past month, put into word vomit form. I would looove to hear your thoughts and takes on everything/anything discussed above. Maybe you have a different perspective or noticed something that I missed.

*Fun fact: In my research, I learned that this saying comes from Maya Angelou’s “A Song Flung Up to Heaven” and is actually "Believe people when they tell you who they are. They know themselves better than you.” The more well-known version comes out of an Oprah Winfrey interview with Angelou in 1997, where they were discussing life lessons. Okay, I’ll stop being a nerd now.

#luke newton #nicola coughlan #lukola #bridgerton season 3 #bridgerton #luke newton get your shit together #but also please take care of your mental health #all these thoughts are ever evolving #because every day some new piece of drama occurs #like I've said before #strap in this is gonna be a roller coaster #wheeeeeee 🎢

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gleefullypolin · 24 days

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You know that flop everyone expected in S3

How about just bite me, everyone that keeps talking about what a big failure Season 3 was or how much everything except for Polin made anything about Season 3 a success.

Season 3 was was the hit of the summer. You can pretend and make up whatever trash you want to. The show was a smashing hit. It succeeded beyond our wildest imaginations and you can scream and make up whatever stories you want to.

Polin was in the Top 30's for Summer AO3 stats and Top 50's for 2024 AO3 stats. No other Bridgerton ship even made the list. Let me repeat that NO OTHER BRIDGERTON ship made the list. I read all the nonsense, I see all the BS, NO ONE LIKES Polin, and I say, fuck off.

Your lies and stories you tell yourself to make your narrative work in your head do not the truth make. Our ship is strong, and we are not going anywhere.

Love, Polin Nation

#bridgerton season 3 #bridgerton s3 #polin #Polin Nation #Ship of Dreams

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herejusttosufferalong · 3 months

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Okay, so here is what I think. I never really cared about Bridgerton that deeply when the seasons came out, just enjoyed them very objectively and moved on with my life. S3 hit me like a brick and it’s crazy! Most of it I will say is because of the promo tour, I loved how Nic and Luke interacted with each other. I’m not one to ship actors by all means, I used to be very against it and I actually hated it when QC came out, because I could tell the main actors were very uncomfortable with the shipping. But these two? Yeah no, If even I, someone who isn’t really as deep into the fandom and never really cared about the show and the actors that much, can pick up their vibe, there must be something there. I don’t know what exactly, but something. When I found out Luke broke up with his long term girlfriend during the filming for S3, thats all I needed to know.

The long term gf couldn't make through S3 filming.

A doesn't stand a chance

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eerna · 4 months

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eerna what's going on in s3 bridgerton your posts and answers making me scared to watch on my life lmao

pls don't hate me, Colin lovers, but I was told by a friend who read the series that he's more fun and chill in the books and also i just....find Polin from even s1 is kinda uhhhhh?awkward?? cuz he's kind of unnecessarily serious and so not chill in the previous seasons?? maybe i don't see his appeal because I'm no Penny but i do not see his appeal in the show

so rn i haven't even watched it and seeing your posts is making me moreeeeeee 😶‍🌫️ it's okay give us the cringey details

Nsbysbbsb NO WORRIES!!! I have a weirdly big amount to say about this show bc I am no longer suffering as much as I did in s1 and 2. Prepare for an essay on my feelings on Polin and thank you for enabling me.

Ok so Colin. Not saying your friend is wrong bc I didn't read the book, but p much everyone I saw talking about it said Colin was very angry and aggressive in it, and for NO REASON since he's supposed to be the "calm brother". I'm glad that the show let him get upset, but never the way he was in the books/Anthony was in s2, where I legit worried about Kate's safety sometimes. Colin was my fav Bridgerton brother bc he was totally different from all the other men on the show, calm and silly and romantic.

Thar being said!!! I never ever thought of him as a GOOD love interest, and s3 only made it worse. First off, yeah, s1 and 2 do NOT show him and Pen as friends nearly enough to warrant the speed of their connection in s3. I blocked s2 from my memory bc I hated it So Damn Much so I can't 100% stand behind my words, but I don't really remember many friendly scenes with the two of them that didn't feel like he was just entertaining his sister's bestie? I remember he once danced with her, and he sent her letters from his travels, and that's it. Then in s3 we are supposed to believe Pen knows him soooo well, she sees through his tricks when no one else does, he can't stand losing her friendship when she stops talking to him. How, when the impression I got from their relationship was "oh she is clearly silly in love and he doesn't care about her enough to notice"!!!

And s3... Oh boy. Colin gets his "glowup" and becomes a rake bc Bridgerton writers would probably spontaneously combust if they wrote a virgin male lead. We see him flirt and smash other women and it is always so so so awkward. I've seen people trying to rationalize it as "Oh he is supposed to be pretending, oh we are supposed to find it cringe" but NO, he is objectified the exact same way Simon and Anthony were, and we as the audience are supposes to think it is sexy. To be fair, Pen finds it concerning but I think that has more to do with the amount of silly, vapid women constantly swarming around him. So now we are even FURTHER away from seeing any reasons why the two of them would be friends. And then we get hit with the "Colin teaches Pen how to find a husband" plot, and oh my god it is so bad, IT IS SO BAD, they have like 2 lessons across 1 episode before they are busted and stop and he literally taught her NOTHING she IGNORED HIS ADVICE AND FIGURED IT OUT BY HERSELF but everyone treats him like a war hero for taking one for the team and teaching the poor unlikeable social reject how to act. We also have the stupid scene where she is criyng begging him to kiss her because she is convinced otherwise she would die without being kissed, and he is trying to elegantly avoid it, and oh my god, I hated this, it is framed as cute and romantic but it is so uncomfortable and bad. AAAAAAAA. Anyway. Then there is this hilariously horrible incident where he saves her from a feral balloon, and if you are wondering wtf am I talking about, its because it is really bad and written like a Scary Movie slasher scene. There are exactly 3 moments that I liked, and ALL of them were bc Colin seemed very lost and desperate. First was when Pen told him they should stay away from each other after the scandal of them hanging out came out (which I liked bc if it were any other girl, some unhinged character would force them to marry, but since it was Pen they were like "Well obviously it's true there was nothing untowards happening it is just cringe haha loserrr"), and he looked like he stopped comprehending English. The second was when he was confessing his feelings, he got on his knees and looked like he was about to cry and I thought that was sweet! Well, he did mention torture which is a very ugly word to use in such a speech, but whatever. The third was after the Infamous Carriage Scene when he says something silly and the two giggle together and I was like PLEASE WHERE WAS THIS ENERGY IN S1 AND 2!!

And may I just say!! The actual Bridgerton Glowup one was PEN and NOT COLIN. In s1 and 2 you could tell she was pretty, but in s3 they made her so damn beautiful that my friends and I would go "Oh wow" several times per episode. And it's not only the clothes, they would put her in rooms where she pops out and sparkles and frame her in shots just perfectly. Idk why they only gave her 1 alternate love interest and then shot her Like That, there should have been at LEAST one more guy following in Debling's trail. Now she's the hot one in the relationship so I can't buy her desperation for Colin's approval or society's perception of Colin as a charity in any way.

With all that said. I think this is the best season of Bridgerton proper. It still isn't something I'd enjoy unironically, but at least it is neither a horrible age gap dynamic feat. SA nor a horrible disgusting juggling of sisters feat. murderer vibes. The only thing I'd say is worse than it used to be is the clothes, which are slowly creeping towards The Reign level of ahistorical and bad.

#eernask #petratherrock #eernask talk bridgerton #bridgerton spoilers

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bekkachaos · 3 months

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Okay, imo, bridgerton could go this way for the next few seasons (assuming they're renewed which, surely). Spoilers for the books obviously:

S4 is Benedict. I don't think we can go right into Francesca's because it's a bit longer and Eloise is absolutely not ready. Yes Benedict just opened his world up but I don't think we can keep meandering around with him for another season, or, we can kind of do that while also playing out his story. He is very rakish after all. Plus we got the mention of the masquerade ball at the end of S3. I just think that for it to be him makes the most sense. Plus it will make the effect of seeing Sophie and being hit with that "love at first sight" stick more impactful because he thinks he doesn't want to settle yet.

During S4, we see snippets of John and Francesca being happy in their marriage as well as her getting to know Michaela. We either need to end S4 with John's death or for it to happen in episode one of S5 (which will be Francesca's season).

S5 we get to see her grief but also where she relies on Michaela to help her through. I don't want to see any feelings realisation on her end until S5, if they want to tease Michaela's affections earlier that's fine. Somewhere during this season it is revealed that Marina has died and Eloise, for one reason or another, reaches out with a letter to her late husband (Sir Phillip Crane) to offer her condolences and they begin corresponding. This sets us up for S6 where Eloise goes to meet Phillip after his proposal.

I just think this makes the most sense for where the characters are now and where they could be! Feel free to agree or disagree or tell me your thoughts!

#bridgerton #bridgerton speculation #benedict bridgerton #eloise bridgerton #francesca bridgerton #bridgerton thoughts #bridgerton theory

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rosessndri · 4 months

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i think the reason s3 of bridgerton didn't hit was because it's been so long since the first two seasons. i binged it raw on Thursday, was left feeling eh about it. So I binged on Friday s1 and started s2 Friday night, finished s2 today morning, and am on episode 2 of s3 already and i can feel a great difference. since pen and colin are regulars, it's hard for them to tell a new story you know? it's not like when we get introduced to Simone in s1 or Kate in s2, it's two characters we have already seen and there really isn't much to tell us in a way? you get what im saying? so i rewatched all of bridgerton and picked up on the few but very strong and telling moments of their story throughly s1 and s2 and at least for me it, this feels a little different. it feels more fresh and raw in a way? idk if that makes sense.

point is: i don't recommend watching it off the bat, i recommend trying to recap their specific moments throughout the whole series and then watching s3 and it feels just a little different with a lot more oomph.

#bridgerton #bridgerton season 3 #colin bridgerton #penelope featherington #polin #luke newton #nicola coughlan

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favichanwriter · 4 months

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If the Season 3 of Bridgerton has taught me something is "never judge a book by its cover". And the most unexpected character taught me that.

No, but really. Cressida in the first two seasons was like a Regency Era Bully™. Throwing lemonade at Penelope. Trying to blackmail Daphne with the fact that she saw her in the garden with Simon. In Season 2 she picked on our Penny girl again, and Eloise put her back into place.

In short, she was like the Regina George from Regency England.

It's not until S3 that we see her sensitive side, that there's good inside of her, and that her "bully" attitude was somehow like an armor for her due to the marriage market. And we see all that thanks to her friendship with Eloise.

The best part of it is that Cressida acknowledges her attitude wasn't the best towards other girls her age. And she's willing to change in order to become a better person.

It's canon she shows her kinder side to Eloise after they become friends. And the line:

"I've never been called on by a friend before".

Dang, it hits HARD.

And then, her father coming in and telling her she's not allowed to see "that Bridgerton girl" (meaning, Eloise) again? I felt for her.

So I wanna give a shoutout to Cressida Cowper for teaching me not everything is as it seems. And I hope she gets to marry Debling in the end and become a better version of herself.

#bridgerton 3 #bridgerton #bridgerton season three #bridgerton season 3 #cressida cowper #character development

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gemstone-ruby · 4 months

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Bridgerton S3 (part 1)

*** WARNING: WALL OF TEXT ***

I had this sitting in my drafts since the first release day but I wanted to hold onto it to see how feelings change after part 2. Full disclosure: these are my thoughts on everybody BUT Penelope. I think I'll give her her own stream of consciousness post after her story is complete.

~ Spoilers after the break ~

Cressida Cowper: I was pleasantly surprised that we got to see Cressida as a growing person instead of a just an airheaded mean girl. It's well known that all debutantes are under an immense pressure to marry and marry well. This season puts Cressida's pressure on full display while also showing how she's realizing that being a shark trying to catch a man can only do so much. Whether she finds a match or one is forced on her, she cannot continue this way if she wishes to have actual friends when all is said and done. This especially shows when she decided to not rat out Eloise for a quick piece of gossip like she might have done in the past. I hope she catches Lord Debling so they can both be put out of their societal misery. Now, speaking of Eloise....

Eloise Bridgerton: You are getting on my fucking nerves. She spends two seasons turning her nose up at society and complaining about achieving something of substance and does absolutely nothing about it expect play Sherlock Holmes so badly that the Queen nearly publicly crucified her. Yes, I understand why she is mad at Penelope for writing the article; it is an extremely valid reason to be upset. But if you ask me, Eloise is being a better friend to Cressida, a bully she supposedly can't stand, than she ever was to her oldest fucking friend. The friend who was always encouraging, always gave her an ear to complain, always ready, happy, willing, and able to be by her side even if that meant they were on the outskirts of society while doing so. At the end of Season 2, I came to the conclusion that Eloise is more hurt by the fact the Penelope did what she couldn't/can't bring herself to do, which is showing society a woman can achieve "real" accomplishment without being attached to a man. Eloise would bitch and moan about attending university but notice how she never said what for. She never gave a solid aspiration like doctor, lawyer, writer, etc. (if she did please correct me). She was just pissed she wasn't handed the option like her brothers were for simply being born male. If Eloise WAS a man, I think that man would be a mix of Season 1 Anthony and Season 1&2 Colin: Traveling to big named places under some noble guise only to laze around with all the money lining his pockets. Even if Pen is writing in secret, she's still doing it; Lady Whistledown is a hit. Penelope has found something she is so passionate about that she's risking everything and she's so skilled at it that she's actually succeeding and Eloise can't stand it. She can't handle the fact that while she was complaining and then being used as a pawn by the Queen (almost to the determent of her reputation), her best friend was living out her own dreams, outsmarting everyone while doing so. And in all honesty, with the witch hunt the Queen was on and the way their society works, I don't think there was any other way of 'clearing' Eloise of being Lady Whistledown than what Penelope did. Nothing short of turning herself in anyways. And I think that if Eloise truly cared for Penelope as a person, she probably would have came to that conclusion on her own had she taken that time to think of anyone other than herself. Up until then, Lady Whistledown never really "targeted" anyone; she just reported things as they happened no matter how good or bad they made someone look. Unfortunately, I feel like Eloise liked being 'the smarter friend' to the 'wallflower' more than she actually liked Penelope as a person.

Colin Bridgerton: This is going to come off a little harsher than I mean it to but I still think Colin is a fickle man who just used his last trip abroad to master the art of manipulation with a soft smile and pretty words. I am not truly heartless; I can empathize with the reason why when his mother called out the people pleaser in him. I just feel he's suffering a little from what Eloise is going through; he wants the dopamine hit of achieving something but he has no ultimate goal. All he really had up until this point was the loaming reputation of being a Bridgerton boy that he felt he had to uphold for the longest time. I think his soul searching only really truly began on his last trip because Marina finally 'set him free'. I don't think he really loved her; liked her and could see a nice future with her? Yes. But loved her? No. There was some small part of Colin that was still attached to the idea that everything could/would turn of perfectly with Marina as they were playing that game of society so well together when in reality, she was essentially playing him to save her own life. Hell, he didn't even acknowledge the fact the Marina basically outright told him Penelope was in love with him and all homie heard was "I don't want you, stop coming here".

Francesca Bridgerton: Poor sweet neurospicy girl!!!!!! Francesca Bridgerton is a girl who grew up in a house full of noise (probably with sensory issues) and all she wants now is peace. She just wants a quiet home to practice her music; She'll pop out a baby or two for her husband cuz she knows that's what's expected of her but a large family? NO. You can see it as she moves through society: she has no desire to be there. I think her story hurts my heart a little more because she's stoic struggling in silence. The Bridgertons are a giant family with the reputation that they LOVE their giant family. Which means she can't verbalize that they make her uncomfortable sometimes without hurting their feelings because they will never understand. That isn't to say she doesn't love her family, she just needs space without them. So she's stays quiet. She adjusts her mask while playing a funeral march to regulate her emotions before stepping out into the bustling world. Francesca's only hope of escape is if she goes through society's games; once that's accomplished, I know for a fact the only people who will ever she that girl again is her family, their staff, and a special few music prodigies that make their way into her circle. I wish her and her equally neurospicy suitor all the best! (If the Queen fucks with this I'm going to be pissed off)

~ Additional Thoughts ~

THAT CARRAGE SENCE What a hell of a cliffhanger to leave us on half through the season!

I was absolutely dying when Lady Featherington had to go home from a ball early to give the birds and bees talk to her daughters. Like this lady had the audacity to ask if they expected a baby to just appear in the womb? PROBABLY BITCH! WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING???? All you rich assholes go through life sealing your daughters away from the world, telling them the only point to their time is to make themselves perfect in the art of "sit still, look pretty"; They are then peacocked around and pitted against one another to be sold to the highest bidder. They will either (and most likely) get to the end of the 'marriage' season, because this is just 3 months out of the year BTW, alone and in tears thinking themselves not good enough OR get married to a man they do not know at all and hope he's gentle in giving the lesson that their parents purposely censor from them.

I love the Violet Bridgerton is getting herself back out there but I hope she doesn't get played. We obviously don't know what caused Lady Danbury to come to dislike her brother so much but I hope she spills before Violet gets in too deep. I know Violet is a grown woman who can make her own choices but I also feel like it takes her just a second too long to take off the rose-tinted glasses she wears 24/7.

Benedict is a bleeding heart looking for a MILF to simp over but he keeps getting screwed, first in the way he wants and then in a way he doesn't. (Yes, I know how insane that sentence is. No, I will not re-polish it.)

#bridgerton #bridgerton season 3 #bridgerton s3 spoilers #colin bridgerton #eloise bridgerton #cressida cowper #francesca bridgerton #violet bridgerton

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