First time I heard her speech, I was like "That's it? Kinda...lame." And then I realised that I am too used to this big, extravagant speeches that ONLY work in movies/shows. 😅 So, yes, a good speech, but I'd say one that is a little more on the realistic side.
I love that this season essentially offered Penelope two equal and opposite choices: first with Lord Debling, the opportunity to pursue her career as Whistledown with complete freedom, but without the love she's always longed for. Then, marriage to the love of her life, but at the cost of her career. You can see her growing panic as Debling's proposal draws nearer, knowing she "should" accept him, but also knowing that she'd be resigning herself to a life without love, and giving up any chance of being with Colin. But then when everyone is trying to convince her that love and marriage to Colin must come at the cost of her personal dreams, there's the same feeling of loss. Fortunately, she realizes by the end that she wants and needs both (though of course she still has to "aim her quill" in a different/better way). I love where she ends up this season. The only thing that bothers me is part of Colin's amazing speech to her at the end, where he says that if his life's purpose is simply to love a woman as great as her, he will be very fulfilled. It's a beautiful sentiment, and it's lovely to see a man supporting his wife in a way that's traditionally been the other way around. But it does bug me that her whole arc was learning that she needs both love _and_ personal fulfillment, and she shouldn't have to settle for one or the other, but then they have the opposite message for Colin. I think it's a wonderful conclusion to his arc that he's realized he doesn't have to step in and save her, and that he can just support and admire her while she's up onstage being amazing! And it's wonderful that he no longer feels that he has to prove himself in any of those traditional ways in order to deserve her. But asking him to find fulfillment _only_ from loving her is just as unhealthy as when everyone was asking Penelope to do the same for him. I feel like this happened a few times this season, where they kind of threw Colin under the bus to make a point for Penelope
Yes! Absolutely agree. Plus, in the books Colin had his writing of his travels and it was such a big point that he was a writer, too. They took this away from ShowColin and it impacts his arc negatively. He looses a big part not only of himself, but of his connection to Penelope, too. It makes it even more strange for him to simply accept her writing as Whistledown.
He isn’t just fulfilled by loving her though. I think the “if” there is very important. He does end up publishing his book and presumably it’s very successful. Also the women on the show, like Daphne, are supposed to be fulfilled being just wives and mothers but it’s a problem when a man expresses a similar sentiment?
@@jennaj9671 No, that was actually my point. Women may have been _expected_ to be fulfilled only through their husbands, but this season and Penelope's arc were making the point that that expectation is unfair and unhealthy. As much as she loves Colin, she needs more than just him to be fulfilled and happy. If the writers had put those exact words in Penelope's mouth, there would have been justifiable outrage. Because we know that's incredibly unfair to her and all the women of the time who had that expectation put on them, and not how healthy relationships should function. My point was that, if we wouldn't accept that conclusion for Penelope (or Daphne), why should we celebrate it for Colin?
@@rbrainsop1 But we did accept that conclusion for Daphne. Her happy ending was being Simon’s wife and the mother of his children. And we didn’t accept that conclusion for Colin because we see in the epilogue that he wrote and published his book but he accepted Penelope’s help in accomplishing this, showing that he no longer felt like he had to do it on his own in order to prove he’s worthy of her.
It took me until my mid 30s to realize that me being ME - weird, neurospicy, outspoken, kind - was a feature, not a bug. And honesty and transparency is the key. This is a great reminder of that.
She was brave and I was in awe of the way she captivated the ton and spoke authentically. I loved her saying that no matter the outcome, everyone has worth. ❤
Pen - how did we not realize from the start that the mysterious writer was named for a writing implement?? - made an amazing defense for herself and I LOVED this outcome. Bridgerton feels like a soap opera but instead of the soap trope of always making the worst decision, its characters make the best decisions. And they give one another loving advice. It's such a brilliant show!!
This makes me think about some guidance I’ve received - when you’re a wife & mom, it can be a wonderful thing to have a job still, even if it’s not for the financials…. So that you have something of your own. No wonder Penelope is in such a dilemma - this is something of her own. She didn’t do this pass the time until she got married, she thought that dream may never work out for her … She made her own small business just because she wanted to!
Penelope is my favorite. Season 3 was my favorite because i love Colin and penelope, but also because it showed how someone who was bullied, even by her family, can find a way to survive and have a voice, exposing the facade of the TON, many times.
As a book lover, it was odd that Penelope was able to stay LW versus just becoming a novelist instead. They made Penelope more brutal as LW in the show. But I like how Colin came to the realization he was jealous because she found a purpose in the book and am in glad the book and show, he stood by her side. But it made no sense to keep the column when everyone found out considering how many enemies she made. Her becoming a novelist allowed her to still write and have a buisness while not harming other people. Not everything she wrote is bad, but that is the how the show portrayed it.
My favorite visual moment is how Penelope moves up to her speech and transforms from Featherington green, to Bridgerton blue. Thanks to the layered approach they took to dress design in this season, and lighting.
I apologize for being a timeline geek, but when Penelope gives this speech, she and Colin are already married. He has not been sleeping with her, though, because he’s still angry, or hurt, or confused about how he feels about discovering she is Lady Whistledown. He marries her because they have already been intimate, as he puts it. I think he really does love her but isn’t ready to forgive her yet. Right before this scene, he has taken out every letter she has written to him and read them. That’s what convinces him that she and Lady Whistledown are the same talented person. And she has praised his writing and encouraged him to publish his journals as travel tomes, which means she values his talent as well. I guess I can’t get away from my theatre background. I loved your analysis of Penelope and her actions and feelings.
As a German: Let's just not use the word "Nazi" in a casual manner please. It's too serious of a problem to this very day to use that word lightly. Thank you.
I so much would be glad to read Penelope’s letter to the Queen. I am absolutely sure that there were not only words of sorry but offer to let queen shine as great detective for the price of not punishing Penelope. I think that text was great abd Queen really enjoyed it abd decided that she wanted more of Whistledown column
I liked how she wrapped it up. The speech managed to show how she is accountable AND where she came from, how she plans to grow AND how people participated in the dynamic and may wanna reflect of aspects of it, too. I did not love how she went about her whole choices before that moment, but it still made sense for her as a character and that wrapped it up nicely. That said, Colin sure also has quite the growing to do. So I'm curious how their relationship will develop, if we get to see any more of it. The series has been a bit sad thus far by focusing on couples but then they kind of just vanish almost completely in the next season :'D
As someone who is like Penelope: heavyset, the younger child, sometimes overlooked, and not often given a smile by people, I understand where she’s coming from. I’m also a writer and it’s my passion. I don’t do gossip, I’m more of a novelist. But I love it and seeing Penelope bloom is so inspirational ❤
I do like your perspective here. However, even for an over the top drama, this confrontation and result really stretched believability for me. Everyone just let her off?The Queen you could make a case for; she’s also a woman with power. But the idea that the whole ton would forgive her was just too much of a stretch for me.
The ton didn't forgive her- they just couldn't openly say anything right after the queen pardoned her. Penelope told Colin that she knew people were still upset at Whistledown and there would be consequences to deal with later on when she offered him the option to have their marriage annulled. I fully expect to see her dealing with the aftermath of this in season 4
I agree with rbrainsop1, she is not forgiven. People can just see where she's coming from and not add drama in public as it would also mean to pull negative attention onto themselves, framing themselves publicly as "petty". Especially when many of them where gobbling up her cruelty and writing or pretending to be unaffected and cannot be seen to care now :'3 Taken the context of how many scandals they constantly have over the slightest things, people in such circles are also very used to publicly move on but then pull up the past as necessary in more private settings years down the line :'D
I think Eloise was coming from a place of being burned by her curiosity in previous seasons, and this time around she was more ready to embrace the role in society she was born into. Penelope on the other hand found success in her rebellion, so to now fall in line has to go against her entire being.
Jonathan would you consider doing Heartstopper? Such good examples of handling life with emotional maturity over there (and you linda look like Kit Connor lol)
I really struggled with this season. I didn’t like how the show was condoning Penelope being a gossiper. If she likes to write, she could use her talent to write novels or other things. But she chose to use her talent to ruin other people’s lives. And we were meant to praise her for this and consider it brave and root for her. I absolutely hated how long she lied to Colin, knowing that he was in love with her and intended to marry her. I felt like Eloise was absolutely justified in wanting to tell Colin the truth and giving Penelope an ultimatum. I would never allow my brother to marry someone under a false pretense. And the fandom hating Eloise so much for this just proves how skewed the portrayal of Penelope was. In general, Bridgerton has problematic elements in every season, but this wasn’t just a matter of doing something bad in a moment. Penelope held to a pervasive lie even to her loved ones and a lie that had an effect on other people’s lives and well being. I do not like that and I really struggled empathizing with such a morally gray protagonist. I am looking forward to Benedict’s season though!!!
She didn't lie at all, she told the truth in the column. People "ruined", they weren't even ruined, all them are thriving, themselves, and not even that, because even Marina who tried to trap Colin with kids not his and didn't care at all for his feelings and life, is a Baroness and has wealth and security. Eloise was all about LW and was irresponsibly chasing after her, putting LW at risk even when she knew LW could be punished and the workers who were there. Nobody else takes responsibilities for their own actions, she puts a mirror on their faces and their hypocritical society. Only Colin deserved to know the truth, on that i agree.
@@celinhabr1 She absolutely LIED. She lied to everyone, even the people she claimed to love and care about. She was no different than Marina and what Marina tried to do to Colin was equally as horrible. But the show never painted Marina as being in the right as they did with Penelope. Gossiping is WRONG and gossiping in a major publication is 10x worse. She did 100% expose people’s secrets, pass judgement on others, even almost ruining Eloise’s life!!! I’m sorry but I don’t understand how Eloise forgave her and if she did not marry Colin, it’s questionable if Eloise ever would have. Penelope had no right to talk about others the way she did. She became the thing she hated. She didn’t like to be ignored in society and to hear Colin talk lowly of her but she did the same to other people. I stand by my opinion!
@@signalfire15 I always understood both Marina and Penelope as grey characters... their actions were wrong, but their personal circumstances that led them to those actions were things we could sympathize with, even though they don't excuse them. Marina was wrong to lie to and try to entrap Colin, but we could feel for her in her struggles- not enough to want her to succeed in entrapping him, but enough that we were happy that things worked out okay for her in the end (not great, but nowhere near as bad as they could have been). Penelope is wrong to spread gossip, especially those things that ended up (or came close to) ruining people's lives. But we can also sympathize with her circumstances- again, not enough to want her to carry on doing what she's been doing, or escape all consequences for it, but enough that we can root for her to find a better way to "aim her quill," which she does by the end of the season. And she hasn't escaped all consequences for her actions. The queen has pardoned her, but as she herself said to Colin, people are still angry at Whistledown. Now that her identity is known, we're definitely going to see her dealing with the fallout from that, and hopefully continuing to grow from it, in season 4
@@signalfire15 the show did actually paint Marina in the right. She defended herself on multiple occasions, and the show did not diminish her for that.
What bothers me about people's reactions to Colin's (and Eloise's) reaction to Penelope is that they're making it all about "tHeY aRe HaTiNg On HeR cArEeR aNd InDePeNdEnCe AnD fUlFiLlMeNt AnD sElF" but the content of her writing does make it beyond that. At minimum, her writings about them illustrate disrespect and the negative stuff can be seen as "how she truly feels" behind the veneer of her "real life" identity, and I can't blame them for not getting behind her content enough to enthusiastically support the secrecy of her identity and also be willing to face the ramifications to their family of being found out. Like if I were a guy and marrying a woman who wanted to write, it'd be one thing if I were, as others have said, writing novels. Standing behind my wife if she were found out to be publishing novels and making money and a career that way is one thing, standing behind my wife if she's writing gossip outing people's drama (and having disrespected the family before) is another thing entirely. And sure, especially from the book, there probably are also elements of jealousy and sexism about the importance of a woman's career, but definitely from Eloise it was about the deception. If they reacted to her writing novels this way, the audience reaction to Colin and Eloise would seem more reasonable. But to expect them to get them on board Lady Whistledown and her content if they were to be found out? (Or putting them in a position where they have to effectively endorse her gossip writing by working to keep the secret so that their own reputation isn't ruined?). Idk, that'd be a tough pill to swallow for me, and I'm as career-oriented, financially-independent-minded a woman as they come. And I'd hate to be deceived into that position and realize after marriage. Ironically, Penelope is the reason Colin found out about Maria's deception BEFORE he married her, and so he had a choice to back out. But she robbed him of that same choice when it came to her own deception.
Agreed. I think it's just a case of main character energy. People see Whistledown through Penelope's eyes, as her career, as power and a voice in a world that doesn't give her either, etc., and that's fair to a point. But they don't give the same treatment to other characters, seeing the topic through their eyes. Instead, they judge all their words/actions/choices only through the lens of how they impact Penelope. You can see the same thing happening a lot, with Colin especially. When he hurt her, they wanted him to grovel and suffer and beg for forgiveness. But when she hurt him, they're mad at him for not getting over it quickly enough.
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Her speech to the Queen is absolutely something that only works on a show, but was still an awesome speech. 🙂
First time I heard her speech, I was like "That's it? Kinda...lame."
And then I realised that I am too used to this big, extravagant speeches that ONLY work in movies/shows. 😅 So, yes, a good speech, but I'd say one that is a little more on the realistic side.
I love that this season essentially offered Penelope two equal and opposite choices: first with Lord Debling, the opportunity to pursue her career as Whistledown with complete freedom, but without the love she's always longed for. Then, marriage to the love of her life, but at the cost of her career. You can see her growing panic as Debling's proposal draws nearer, knowing she "should" accept him, but also knowing that she'd be resigning herself to a life without love, and giving up any chance of being with Colin. But then when everyone is trying to convince her that love and marriage to Colin must come at the cost of her personal dreams, there's the same feeling of loss. Fortunately, she realizes by the end that she wants and needs both (though of course she still has to "aim her quill" in a different/better way).
I love where she ends up this season. The only thing that bothers me is part of Colin's amazing speech to her at the end, where he says that if his life's purpose is simply to love a woman as great as her, he will be very fulfilled. It's a beautiful sentiment, and it's lovely to see a man supporting his wife in a way that's traditionally been the other way around. But it does bug me that her whole arc was learning that she needs both love _and_ personal fulfillment, and she shouldn't have to settle for one or the other, but then they have the opposite message for Colin. I think it's a wonderful conclusion to his arc that he's realized he doesn't have to step in and save her, and that he can just support and admire her while she's up onstage being amazing! And it's wonderful that he no longer feels that he has to prove himself in any of those traditional ways in order to deserve her. But asking him to find fulfillment _only_ from loving her is just as unhealthy as when everyone was asking Penelope to do the same for him. I feel like this happened a few times this season, where they kind of threw Colin under the bus to make a point for Penelope
Yes! Absolutely agree. Plus, in the books Colin had his writing of his travels and it was such a big point that he was a writer, too.
They took this away from ShowColin and it impacts his arc negatively. He looses a big part not only of himself, but of his connection to Penelope, too. It makes it even more strange for him to simply accept her writing as Whistledown.
@@michanone Colin in the show is a writer, he publishes his journal into a book called "Traveling with myself"
He isn’t just fulfilled by loving her though. I think the “if” there is very important. He does end up publishing his book and presumably it’s very successful. Also the women on the show, like Daphne, are supposed to be fulfilled being just wives and mothers but it’s a problem when a man expresses a similar sentiment?
@@jennaj9671 No, that was actually my point. Women may have been _expected_ to be fulfilled only through their husbands, but this season and Penelope's arc were making the point that that expectation is unfair and unhealthy. As much as she loves Colin, she needs more than just him to be fulfilled and happy. If the writers had put those exact words in Penelope's mouth, there would have been justifiable outrage. Because we know that's incredibly unfair to her and all the women of the time who had that expectation put on them, and not how healthy relationships should function. My point was that, if we wouldn't accept that conclusion for Penelope (or Daphne), why should we celebrate it for Colin?
@@rbrainsop1 But we did accept that conclusion for Daphne. Her happy ending was being Simon’s wife and the mother of his children. And we didn’t accept that conclusion for Colin because we see in the epilogue that he wrote and published his book but he accepted Penelope’s help in accomplishing this, showing that he no longer felt like he had to do it on his own in order to prove he’s worthy of her.
I love that while everyone else bows to the queen, lady Danbury bows to Penelope. Such a good entertaining season!
It took me until my mid 30s to realize that me being ME - weird, neurospicy, outspoken, kind - was a feature, not a bug. And honesty and transparency is the key. This is a great reminder of that.
She was brave and I was in awe of the way she captivated the ton and spoke authentically. I loved her saying that no matter the outcome, everyone has worth. ❤
I love this scene when Penelope walks out and says that she is Whistledown. It was so brave, so couriagous. So vulnerable. She grew. So emotional .
The scene is a rare case of the series being better than the book. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is a favorite from that book series.
Pen - how did we not realize from the start that the mysterious writer was named for a writing implement?? - made an amazing defense for herself and I LOVED this outcome.
Bridgerton feels like a soap opera but instead of the soap trope of always making the worst decision, its characters make the best decisions. And they give one another loving advice. It's such a brilliant show!!
Penelope and Collin were already married at this point. It wouldn't be calling off the wedding, but annulling the marriage.
This makes me think about some guidance I’ve received - when you’re a wife & mom, it can be a wonderful thing to have a job still, even if it’s not for the financials…. So that you have something of your own.
No wonder Penelope is in such a dilemma - this is something of her own. She didn’t do this pass the time until she got married, she thought that dream may never work out for her … She made her own small business just because she wanted to!
Penelope is my favorite. Season 3 was my favorite because i love Colin and penelope, but also because it showed how someone who was bullied, even by her family, can find a way to survive and have a voice, exposing the facade of the TON, many times.
As a book lover, it was odd that Penelope was able to stay LW versus just becoming a novelist instead.
They made Penelope more brutal as LW in the show.
But I like how Colin came to the realization he was jealous because she found a purpose in the book and am in glad the book and show, he stood by her side.
But it made no sense to keep the column when everyone found out considering how many enemies she made.
Her becoming a novelist allowed her to still write and have a buisness while not harming other people. Not everything she wrote is bad, but that is the how the show portrayed it.
My favorite visual moment is how Penelope moves up to her speech and transforms from Featherington green, to Bridgerton blue. Thanks to the layered approach they took to dress design in this season, and lighting.
That was a beautiful choice! The cinematography was wonderful this season. What other details did you notice or love this season?
Greatest unofficial ads for Bridgerton
Penelope is so interesting. i love her character, so many layers and depth.
I apologize for being a timeline geek, but when Penelope gives this speech, she and Colin are already married. He has not been sleeping with her, though, because he’s still angry, or hurt, or confused about how he feels about discovering she is Lady Whistledown. He marries her because they have already been intimate, as he puts it. I think he really does love her but isn’t ready to forgive her yet. Right before this scene, he has taken out every letter she has written to him and read them. That’s what convinces him that she and Lady Whistledown are the same talented person. And she has praised his writing and encouraged him to publish his journals as travel tomes, which means she values his talent as well. I guess I can’t get away from my theatre background. I loved your analysis of Penelope and her actions and feelings.
As a German: Let's just not use the word "Nazi" in a casual manner please. It's too serious of a problem to this very day to use that word lightly. Thank you.
@@KxNOxUTAI apologize. You are right. I edited my comment.
I so much would be glad to read Penelope’s letter to the Queen. I am absolutely sure that there were not only words of sorry but offer to let queen shine as great detective for the price of not punishing Penelope. I think that text was great abd Queen really enjoyed it abd decided that she wanted more of Whistledown column
That's a great idea! I think you're on to something with how the Queen might have reacted.
I liked how she wrapped it up. The speech managed to show how she is accountable AND where she came from, how she plans to grow AND how people participated in the dynamic and may wanna reflect of aspects of it, too.
I did not love how she went about her whole choices before that moment, but it still made sense for her as a character and that wrapped it up nicely. That said, Colin sure also has quite the growing to do. So I'm curious how their relationship will develop, if we get to see any more of it. The series has been a bit sad thus far by focusing on couples but then they kind of just vanish almost completely in the next season :'D
Love you Jonathan, love Mended Light and Cinema Therapy. And of course, I love Bridgerton. Thanks for another lovely video.
As someone who is like Penelope: heavyset, the younger child, sometimes overlooked, and not often given a smile by people, I understand where she’s coming from. I’m also a writer and it’s my passion. I don’t do gossip, I’m more of a novelist. But I love it and seeing Penelope bloom is so inspirational ❤
You will love her immensely in the book because she does become a novelist in the end.
@@gabrielleduplessis7388 I loved reading the books, I will have to reread them
I do like your perspective here. However, even for an over the top drama, this confrontation and result really stretched believability for me. Everyone just let her off?The Queen you could make a case for; she’s also a woman with power. But the idea that the whole ton would forgive her was just too much of a stretch for me.
The ton didn't forgive her- they just couldn't openly say anything right after the queen pardoned her. Penelope told Colin that she knew people were still upset at Whistledown and there would be consequences to deal with later on when she offered him the option to have their marriage annulled. I fully expect to see her dealing with the aftermath of this in season 4
I agree with rbrainsop1, she is not forgiven. People can just see where she's coming from and not add drama in public as it would also mean to pull negative attention onto themselves, framing themselves publicly as "petty". Especially when many of them where gobbling up her cruelty and writing or pretending to be unaffected and cannot be seen to care now :'3
Taken the context of how many scandals they constantly have over the slightest things, people in such circles are also very used to publicly move on but then pull up the past as necessary in more private settings years down the line :'D
@@rbrainsop1 thanks for clarifying!
I think Eloise was coming from a place of being burned by her curiosity in previous seasons, and this time around she was more ready to embrace the role in society she was born into. Penelope on the other hand found success in her rebellion, so to now fall in line has to go against her entire being.
How do you think that will affect future seasons for them? Any thing you want to see?
We eating good tonight 🤤🪰🪰
In the books she had been writing for ten years instead of only a few.
I love your videos!!
Request: Therapize Jessica Jones!!!!! 🙏🏾🥹
That will be SO PAINFUL.
@@daniellekazemzadeh7886 I knowwww 😭
@@sashajobe I hate how good David Tennant is at being really really sinister and Evil
@@daniellekazemzadeh7886 hahahha i completely agree
Jonathan would you consider doing Heartstopper? Such good examples of handling life with emotional maturity over there (and you linda look like Kit Connor lol)
I've done a few videos on it here :) Maybe I should do more...
@@MendedLight oh I'm gonna go look for them, then! And yes, season 3 has great moments to talk about
I really struggled with this season. I didn’t like how the show was condoning Penelope being a gossiper. If she likes to write, she could use her talent to write novels or other things. But she chose to use her talent to ruin other people’s lives. And we were meant to praise her for this and consider it brave and root for her. I absolutely hated how long she lied to Colin, knowing that he was in love with her and intended to marry her. I felt like Eloise was absolutely justified in wanting to tell Colin the truth and giving Penelope an ultimatum. I would never allow my brother to marry someone under a false pretense. And the fandom hating Eloise so much for this just proves how skewed the portrayal of Penelope was. In general, Bridgerton has problematic elements in every season, but this wasn’t just a matter of doing something bad in a moment. Penelope held to a pervasive lie even to her loved ones and a lie that had an effect on other people’s lives and well being. I do not like that and I really struggled empathizing with such a morally gray protagonist. I am looking forward to Benedict’s season though!!!
She didn't lie at all, she told the truth in the column. People "ruined", they weren't even ruined, all them are thriving, themselves, and not even that, because even Marina who tried to trap Colin with kids not his and didn't care at all for his feelings and life, is a Baroness and has wealth and security. Eloise was all about LW and was irresponsibly chasing after her, putting LW at risk even when she knew LW could be punished and the workers who were there. Nobody else takes responsibilities for their own actions, she puts a mirror on their faces and their hypocritical society. Only Colin deserved to know the truth, on that i agree.
@@celinhabr1 She absolutely LIED. She lied to everyone, even the people she claimed to love and care about. She was no different than Marina and what Marina tried to do to Colin was equally as horrible. But the show never painted Marina as being in the right as they did with Penelope. Gossiping is WRONG and gossiping in a major publication is 10x worse. She did 100% expose people’s secrets, pass judgement on others, even almost ruining Eloise’s life!!! I’m sorry but I don’t understand how Eloise forgave her and if she did not marry Colin, it’s questionable if Eloise ever would have. Penelope had no right to talk about others the way she did. She became the thing she hated. She didn’t like to be ignored in society and to hear Colin talk lowly of her but she did the same to other people. I stand by my opinion!
@@signalfire15 I always understood both Marina and Penelope as grey characters... their actions were wrong, but their personal circumstances that led them to those actions were things we could sympathize with, even though they don't excuse them. Marina was wrong to lie to and try to entrap Colin, but we could feel for her in her struggles- not enough to want her to succeed in entrapping him, but enough that we were happy that things worked out okay for her in the end (not great, but nowhere near as bad as they could have been). Penelope is wrong to spread gossip, especially those things that ended up (or came close to) ruining people's lives. But we can also sympathize with her circumstances- again, not enough to want her to carry on doing what she's been doing, or escape all consequences for it, but enough that we can root for her to find a better way to "aim her quill," which she does by the end of the season. And she hasn't escaped all consequences for her actions. The queen has pardoned her, but as she herself said to Colin, people are still angry at Whistledown. Now that her identity is known, we're definitely going to see her dealing with the fallout from that, and hopefully continuing to grow from it, in season 4
@@signalfire15 the show did actually paint Marina in the right. She defended herself on multiple occasions, and the show did not diminish her for that.
@@MorganHyde-ie5ru They didn’t because they had Penelope in opposition to her. We were meant to side with Penelope.
What bothers me about people's reactions to Colin's (and Eloise's) reaction to Penelope is that they're making it all about "tHeY aRe HaTiNg On HeR cArEeR aNd InDePeNdEnCe AnD fUlFiLlMeNt AnD sElF" but the content of her writing does make it beyond that. At minimum, her writings about them illustrate disrespect and the negative stuff can be seen as "how she truly feels" behind the veneer of her "real life" identity, and I can't blame them for not getting behind her content enough to enthusiastically support the secrecy of her identity and also be willing to face the ramifications to their family of being found out. Like if I were a guy and marrying a woman who wanted to write, it'd be one thing if I were, as others have said, writing novels. Standing behind my wife if she were found out to be publishing novels and making money and a career that way is one thing, standing behind my wife if she's writing gossip outing people's drama (and having disrespected the family before) is another thing entirely.
And sure, especially from the book, there probably are also elements of jealousy and sexism about the importance of a woman's career, but definitely from Eloise it was about the deception. If they reacted to her writing novels this way, the audience reaction to Colin and Eloise would seem more reasonable. But to expect them to get them on board Lady Whistledown and her content if they were to be found out? (Or putting them in a position where they have to effectively endorse her gossip writing by working to keep the secret so that their own reputation isn't ruined?). Idk, that'd be a tough pill to swallow for me, and I'm as career-oriented, financially-independent-minded a woman as they come. And I'd hate to be deceived into that position and realize after marriage. Ironically, Penelope is the reason Colin found out about Maria's deception BEFORE he married her, and so he had a choice to back out. But she robbed him of that same choice when it came to her own deception.
Agreed. I think it's just a case of main character energy. People see Whistledown through Penelope's eyes, as her career, as power and a voice in a world that doesn't give her either, etc., and that's fair to a point. But they don't give the same treatment to other characters, seeing the topic through their eyes. Instead, they judge all their words/actions/choices only through the lens of how they impact Penelope. You can see the same thing happening a lot, with Colin especially. When he hurt her, they wanted him to grovel and suffer and beg for forgiveness. But when she hurt him, they're mad at him for not getting over it quickly enough.