Colin Bridgerton: Overcoming Toxic Masculinity
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
- Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 is just hours away but I figured I’d squeeze one more video essay in just before the premiere. Today our video is about this season’s leading man Colin Bridgerton and about a few grievances that some fans (including myself) had of his character as of late, and how on a rewatch his actions actually kind of made sense and actually made for more interesting writing. Enjoy.
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You're exactly right! Luke Newton (Colin) has confirmed in a few interviews that Colin's rake tendencies are supposed to kinda give you the ick, because he's not being himself.
Something that's also notable is that he was corresponding often with Penelope during his trip to Greece, he says she's the only person responding to his letters. She encourages his romanticism and his "true self" through writing, a passion they both share. He says something along the lines of; "if Penelope thinks of me this way I must be doing something right" in season 2.
But during his trip to Europe she's not responding to his letters anymore, and I think this heavily contributed to this loss of identity he experiences. He's himself around Penelope, he has a purpose and she encourages it. So much of their romance is about finding somebody who accepts and loves you for every part of you, and breaking the mold that this society has placed on them.
I totally agree. I couldn't have said it better myself! 🎉
Yes, but to expand on what you just said "If Pen likes me I must be doing something right", then conversely when he rakes it up in his last Tour and she stops writing, and then calls him cruel and breaks off with him, it's a huge wakeup call that he's doing something entirely wrong. Whether or not he's in love with her at that point, she's kind of his conscience. And his conscience is telling him he done f'd up, and better 180 asap.
Yes, it is pointed out in at least three or four instances. When Eloise calls him out for putting on a new persona, then Lady Whistledown (aka, Pen), then his mother talking to him about his true self and putting on armor, and finally when he tells Pen that he thought he had become the man SOCIETY expected him to be for a brief moment. It wasn't who he wanted to be. But someone else said it, he is always himself around Pen, no matter which season (their only encounter when he wasn't at ease in his own skin was the one after the kiss). She brings out his best and his true self.
Thus the time he spends with the most important person, himself. And no Pen letters means more journaling.
@@Marialla. and he gets angry with her for writing about him in Lady Whistledown, when he knew he was acting unlike his true self all along. She didn’t tell a lie.
There is hardly any overanalyzing. His confession to Pen starts with the acceptance that he has been desperately trying to be someone he's not and can not be. This is why I felt this confession stood at par as Anthony's final one in the garden. It might not be as passionate or poetic, but it has same self-humbling streak. The desperation in Anthony's voice is literally paralled with Colin being on his knees! Partly why I love this season so much is because both the leading love interests are nuanced. It is not as much the plot, but the unfolding of character layers, that has made the experience so fulfilling.
When you mention it, this one seems to be more character driven than plot driven.
Maybe it is my bias, but while the other seasons were character driven too, you see more nuance and evolution of the characters in season three, in my opinion.
I truly hope we see more of his sweeter side again like in season 1 in part 2
@@gabrielleduplessis7388 I agree. The reason I love this season so much is because it's the culmination of 3 years of growth and change.
Finally someone who noticed what I noticed. Colin was just putting up an act for most of season 3 so far. We're meant to be uncomfortable with what Colin is doing.
Yess exactly! Idk what some people aren’t understanding
Yeah, but they conveyed too much cringe... To the point that the amount of ladies who canonically fell for it look dumb.
Luke did a great job, because I was uncomfortable
See, this guy gets it.
Colin is actually the nicest Bridgerton Man
The writers, show runners and Luke Newton himself did confirm that this was what his arc was leading to so no, it’s not overanalysing. And this was even before the 3rd season itself had come out, so they weren’t trying to cover up for “bad writing” of Colin like some people have suggested when I say this.
I don't think you're overanalysing anything. I'd rewatched two previous seasons before I watched the season 3 part 1 and it was quite clear to me that they didn't make Colin a 'true rake' but rather a man, who desperately wants to fit in.
There are too many scenes, which prove that it was all an act, to consider it a happy coincidence: Eloise questioning his sudden change ("Or is it truly the new you?"), LW pointing out that his new personality "is simply a ploy for attention", his journal ("I marvel at how one can feel such intimacy, but also such great distance"), him being influenced by other men to "persue some revelry" which leads to his second time in a brothel ("I'm afraid my enthusiasm is elsewhere this evening"), him opening up to those gentlemen ("But it is tiring, is it not? The neccesity imposed on us to remain cavalier about one thing in life that holds genuine meaning... Do you not find it lonely?"), his talk with Violet about putting on an armour... I could go on and talk about all those little details (such as expressions, voice change, wardrobe... how at the beginning whenever he notices someone looking at him he's straightening up and faking a smile, but with Pen he starts to forget all about it, making silly puns as he used to do, a real smile creeping in 'cause she has always accepted him as he is...) I was actually surprised so many people seem to miss the point and think that they made him a rake for real. Maybe they should've given us obvious flashbacks or sth, so people could let the idea sink in instead of getting mad at Colin for the same things Simon and Anthony had done. Idk.
I really liked the video, take care x
Colin was always my most beloved Bridgerton. This is likely unpopular take, but I do not care.
I think it is because... he is very realistic. Funny, but awkward. Clueless and bright. He was called dumb for not realizing that Pen loves him and Marina is using him, yet he figured Jack in 0,5 seconds, realized that Anthony, Daf and Ben are feeling down. There is always double irony with people looking down on him, even though I would not be suprised if he was the best manipulater in the whole family. He certainly seems to pick up on things.
It is also heartwarming how he is able to vibe with any of his siblings. He will be Daphne's confidant, he will tease Anthony, he will exchange jokes with Ben, he will be El's punching bag, he shall just smile at silent Fran, he shall be childish with Greg and Hy. And he shall accompany drunk Violet, because why the hell not.
I did not get why people had problem with him. He was 20 in season 1, and he is supposed to have it all figured out? They are obviously loaded, so of course he feels lack of direction.
You beautifully summarized his entire arc. I would say that in season 2, he was trying to shield himself at first, trying to connect more to his family via the stories about his travels... only to find out no one much cares.
Going into the season 3, I was worried that his entire thing would be just about him falling for Pen. Do not get me wrong, I love them, but I wanted for Colin to be more than "Pen's love interest".
And I was in love. I enjoyed previous leads, but I was never as invested and heartbroken as beforehand. You cringe at his flirting, but on the other hand, he just makes the young nervous debutantes smile. He does not lead any of them on. He drinks with toxic buddies, but rarely does anything questionable himself. And even when they act like asses, he tells them off nicely. Damn, he barely raises his voice on Violet and you get the impression he feels ashamed, even though he is hangover, sleep-deprived and depressed. That moment when Violet talks to him about the armor... damn, it was great.
I have read the book(s), if you are interested, scroll.
In the books, he is basically the same as Anthony and Benedict. He is the rake, but we do not hear about it in his book. He is quite hot-headed, which I suppose was the what the readers found attractive?
What fans complain a lot is that Colin is the jokester in the books, not Benedict. They often say that they mixed them up. Personally, I shall give credit that he is funny in the books... but enjoyed him much more in other books than his own. And I do not really see book Benedict = show Colin.
Someone called book Colin a "manchild", and I can kinda see it 😅. Basically has the same issue as he does in season 2 about feeling like he lacks purpose and does not know what to do with life... and complains to unmarried 28-year-old Penelope living with Portia out of everyone... so yeah, definitely an improvement for me 😅
Wow! You pointed out his emotional intelligence and listed examples I did not pick up on.
To add to it.
I do see what you said when he gives gifts to his family. He picked something that suits them perfectly. Violet’s watch (that I now know represents Edmund as well. Did not know that), Francesca’s sheet music, and Eloise’s book. They all resulted from how well he knows and listens to them. And that comes from his emotional intelligence. Very good eye.
People talk about Bendetict’s emotional labor and I feel this what he and Colin have in common. Trying to do for others and out their selfish needs to the side. But I feel Bendetict is putting himself more this season after what happened with art school.
I liked how Violet encouraged Colin to be selfish for once. He backed off because he thought that is what Penelope wanted and he was trying to respect his wishes. But as soon as she Violet said Penelope was getting engaged, he knew he loved her and couldn’t lose her.
I also feel he smiles brightly and more when he is around Pen.
More than half of achievements written here never achieved by him in books nor the show.
I love your comment! So if I am correct you like him better than in the books?
: colin is my favorite too. Don't worry, there are lots of us
@@gabrielleduplessis7388yes! I love love love their moments of laughter and inside jokes. I only wish the second half had more of that rather than angst.
Spot on. Interesting thing about Colin in the books (and hopefully the show) is the struggle for purpose, the internal torment/guilt he feels about Pen begging him for the first kiss (when he wanted it and liked it too), being jealous of the fact that Pen has forged her own path as a writer and cultural phenomenon, and overcoming those insecurities as a man.
FINALLY SOME COLIN APPRECIATION!
Honestly all of the hate Colin gets is annoying and unfair
Thank you. You nailed it on the head. And in 11 minutes, no less.
A) the show runners and the actors and many of the fans know he is supposed to be cringe at first. That is the point. And the line where he is declaring his love for pen was “i have spent so long trying to be what society wanted me to be”. Everything you pointed out in the 2 seasons proves that.
I liked how someone caught that in the first brothel scene, he kept track of the time so he wouldn’t miss his meeting with Penelope. Penelope was where his heart was.
B) i don’t understand why people felt this was rushed. We saw it progress for two seasons.
C) i loved that Penelope and Colin did not change, but evolved. They grew up and matured but stayed themselves.
D) for those who think Colin didn’t suffer, he did. Smarty pants and people in Bridgerton groups kept pointing out how he was different than his brothers and degraded for it. Him traveling to find himself allowed him to escape the peer pressure of society and their expectations for him. He found a new purpose.
When he came home, he had to jump right back into that role again, but the one person that kept him grounded aside from Violet wad Penelope. He was honest with her and his true self with her. He did not need to act around her.
And while he had his fake charm with the other women of the ton, I felt his natural charm and his down to earth side naturally showed with his conversations with Penelope.
E) god, when she wanted to keep distance from each other, he looked like he was being punched in the stomach. If that is not suffering, I don’t know what is.
F) People feel there was more tell not show when Violet said, “you have always been one of my most sensitive children…”. It was shown throughout every season. He feels things deeply. He proposed to Marina because he confused infatuation for love. The role he has to play hits more than the other brothers at time. Words affect him as we saw with Anthony and when LW nailed him on the head.
G) the fact that many fans are writing dissertations and analyzing every scene, every detail, even Luke Newton in his interviews shows how compelling this character is.
Same with Penelope.
I read a comment on youtube that said that Colin changed so much this season because he did not have Penelope write to him which in turn did not ground him. At the start of season 2 we hear that they exchanged lettres regulary, but since Penelope is (rightfully) mad at him he did not have that. And we hear from Violet in part 1 that Colin always has been the most sensitive of her childeren. (It has probably to do with the fact that he is the third son.) Trying to please everyone and that is what he did at the end of season 2 when he talked about Penelope. (I saw a comment once that said that even those men saw that he treated Penelope differently from the other women he interacted with and that is why Fife commented on it.)
Great catch re: his lack of grounding once Pen has stopped writing letters to him, and indeed it gives an extra dimension to his journals, because he seems to have started writing them because he missed writing to her. That she of all people finds and reads them is completely necessary to the plot, because it shows her that the sensitive man she thought he was no longer, was still there underneath it all.
Colin was like "I don't need her to fix me I'll fix myself"
I agree with absolutely everything you said and I wish everyone criticizing his character would watch this. They did a great job making us feel weird in the first part of the season - that wink was disgusting and I had to ff through the 3some so they really achieved their goal of giving us the ick. I thought Violet's speech about him being one of her sensitive kids (probably the most, other than Francesca) really tied down that it was all an act. That said...if he was as sweet and accommodating as he had been the previous 2 seasons he wouldn't have had the balls to go after Penelope or give her the best carriage ride of her life. The rakish behavior was gross and we all hated it, but it had to happen.
I too noticed the audience is not use to a love out of friendship. Colin not recognizing what was part of his relationship with Penn is being shoved out of him to be like his brothers.
His mother’s speech shows us she sees him not being himself anymore in order tomatch the other men.
Even when Colin is out with the gents, stops and asks them why do we treat love so carelessly.
I totally agree, you bring up some very good points! What stood out to me, was when he said to Penelope that he learned on his travels „that charm can be taught“. He taught himself charm. So his charming womaniser behaviour is simply a role he adopted because he thought that’s what society expects of him.
Love this analysis. The longer the gap between seasons has gone on the more of a good idea it's seemed. So much hype, posts, videos, theories, antici....pation.
Based on the trailer for part two (potential spoilers) where Colin was talking about what good is he to Pen, I think it may be heading down that road of what masculinity means to Colin, being a provider, a knight in shining armour. I can't wait to see how it all plays out.
And it does go with the book.
His anger about being LW was less about that and more about her safety. All he did was want to protect her.
He had some red flags in the book, but the show is trying to show how much he loves her and wants to protect her. And I can see how he feels that is part of his purpose.
And Pen is the same way when she interferes with his life sometimes. She wants to protect him and make him haply as well.
In many ways, they are each other’s equals.
I really do agree with you. I think Colin’s arc is great. He is the sensitive one of the brothers Bridgerton. He’s an underdog and so is Penelope. That’s what makes their friendship so organic. They can wax philosophical, talk about their dreams, and support one another. I’m not disagreeing about the toxic masculinity aspect at all, but it was the regency era. I actually like the fact that the leading men (and eventual leading men) have sexual experience prior to marriage. All gentlemen and gentlewomen have is talk and all of these societal rituals - they can barely touch one another save for when they are dancing. They are able to get to know one another in different ways, intellectual and emotional ways. Colin, even when he went off and had sex with women on his tours, wrote in his journal that there was distance in these trysts. It was empty sex. He wanted substance even then. He felt that click into place when Pen had the courage to ask him to kiss her. Though I don’t like the idea of contracting STD’s and giving them to their future wives, I do like the idea that these men are able to understand the female body and give pleasure to their wives due to their experience in that department.
Absolutley agree with all the points you made - it was honestly refreshing to get a male lead that doesnt fit into the rake stencil and is more sensitive and romantic
Even Pen saw through his fake rake persona.. lady Whistledown called him out..i know she wrote it out of frustration, but was she wrong..
I find it funny you compared him to Bingley when I compared him to Darcy all of this time.
Like Darcy, he says things that he needs to make up for or get called out on.
Like darcy, when Colin makes a mistake, he tries to redeem that and we see that with Pen.
People say his dream is like Darcy walking in the fields and I can’t unsee it now.
I know debling is not like wickham, but the situation of Colin speaking against him was.
Darcy is loyal to his loved ones and just wants them to be happy and move heaven and earth for them to be.
But do get that earlier Colin did have that Bingley vibe, so props to you there.
I also think it's super interesting that Pen's Lady Whistledown column saying he was being fake was actually so true, even though she mostly wrote it because she was mad at him.
You make a lot of sense. That's the arc I was seeing as well. Colin and Penelope's stories started way back in S1.
Colin is a more relatable character and more attractive in personality than the male leads of the previous seasons imo.
Finally! I'm so glad you posted this! I've been watching others analyze this season and felt like I was crazy or confused, seeing something they didn't. I agree with your take and am a new subscriber!🎉
I am a bit worried that people do not get that. I mean Luke plays it really well and I felt it was very obvious that Colin tried to "reinvent" himself without knowing what he truly wanted or who he really is. I mean his fake smile when he talks to the young ladies - fun to watch, but ick; and all the 'rakish' stories of his trips and encounters that he keeps insinuating but never tells or has any details on... And that's where Pen comes in - when he gives her "lessons", he gives her good advice about not caring about other people's perception and about being oneself, but he also needs to listen to himself and take his own advice. Colin can be himself around Pen; it just takes him longer, some experimental detours testing society's expectation and, regarding Pen, a rival before he actually realizes that he does not enjoy what society expects.
Your analysis seems spot on to me. Colin was looking for something, and as his personal journal shows he was NOT finding it. Then, he does find it, where he never expected, and leapt towards happiness, towards love coupled with desire and companionship. His test, imho, will be absorbing the lesson of who Lady Whistledown is--not in terms of who he thought she was, but who she (and Penelope) really are. In the process Eloise might have to admit some pretty harsh things about herself, as well as about being a very wealthy, very powerful, very popular Bridgerton.
Perfectly stated.. And I agree!
This a lovely analysis. I believe you are completely correct here.
Nailed it! Simply nailed it!
Oh my gosh, thank you for making this - this is *exactly* how I saw it! Especially after the talk in the bar with his guys about being encouraged to not feel anything and “don’t you find it lonely?”. The back half of the season absolutely also supports it- even after their marriage. We see Colin then decide ok, he’s going to feel his feelings, sure, he won’t let the Ton take that from him anymore. *But* he still has to get over the toxic masculinity that presents itself in what a husband is supposed to be. He’s been taught he’s supposed to be the provider, the protector- and he’s supposed to know how to do that, when he still hasn’t figured out his purpose because he’s a 22 year old kid! And then he finds out that- surprise, Penelope not only doesn’t *need* his money or his protection cause she’s got her own (and he’s really bad at dissuading Regency mean girls), but *that’s not even what she wants from him anyway*! I feel like the “Then what good am I to you?!” line really clinches this read for me because he literally is having to rethink everything he knows about what being a husband is! The whole season is really him dealing with the whole paradigm of what masculinity means for him. And so at the Dankworth-Finch Ball, when he confesses the whole truth- that her writing’s popularity has made him insecure about his own and about how he really can’t understand how someone like her can be into someone like him - he’s clearly had a reckoning not only with his feelings on Whistledown but also his place as a man in his society and in his marriage and come to a much more emotionally healthy place where he can be a partner to Penelope. And we see that that also clearly leads to him letting her help him considering in the epilogue he’s published thanks to her edits, so by letting her help him and not being the macho he man the Ton expected he found his purpose that he’s been looking for for years! I love it!
A compelling and convincing dissection of Colin’s character, and indeed that of the other men in the world of Bridgerton, very well done!
I think it perhaps worth noting the almost complete lack of older male characters, and thus role models, within the show. OK, part of this is because Bridgerton is very much “chick-lit” - written for women and with most of the focus on the female protagonists and the circles in which they move, so perhaps it is not surprising, but in the context of your exploration of toxic masculinity it adds an extra dimension.
Edmund Bridgerton is dead, and remembered with reverence and praise for being a good and kind gentleman, and indeed it is shown time and again that for all their happiness and resilience, his surviving family remain deeply bereft all these years later. Aside from Edmund though, there are barely any decent, older men. Lord Featherington was a scoundrel who died in S1 (offscreen, perhaps he shall return?), and his cousin Jack was even more of a crook. Lord Hastings was a vile husband and father to Simon, who again, died. As did Lord Danbury. We never meet Marina’s father, but he forces her on the Featheringtons in exchange for the forgiveness of a gambling debt, and every older man she is introduced as a suitor to is either a letch or a bore, or a boring letch. When she meets Sir Philip he quickly vanishes, only briefly returning to remind us of his existence as he’s eventually intended for Eloise (although God knows how the show is actually going to pull that off). And we never meet the Sharma girls’ father either - again, dead and gone. Oh, and Lord Cowper is just a prick.
Meanwhile in the palace, poor King George is insane (aside from his brief moments of clarity with Charlotte) and Brimsley, though always compelling and usually wise, has no interactions with other men (in the main show’s time period at least) and may as well be an android.
In short, the Ton seems to be over-run with over-sexed, irresponsible rakish young men, while older men who should be steering and guiding them to maturity are simply nowhere to be seen. It is up to the young men themselves, often with the stern looks and soft words of the women around them, who must realise their potential as pillars of the community, without the help of any father figures.
The one decent, older male lead who doesn’t die or disappear is Mondrich, and unlike any of the other older men on the show, he is a commoner, and is therefore untainted by the money, expectations and hypocrisies of the establishment (at least for now). It is very interesting just how much of a surrogate older brother he seems to be for the three slightly lost Bridgerton men. I suppose Lady Danbury’s brother may also be a good man, but the jury is very much still out on him at this point (she definitely suspects him of bad intentions).
In short, as much as the show makes a big deal of the tribulations and dangers faced by the poor defenceless young (and older) ladies in Regency England, it turns out that the men, for all their crowing are in fact exposed, rudderless and without mentors to help them tell right from wrong in society. Each of the three male leads have so far grappled with their egos virtually alone, with only a wise word from Agatha or Violet to set them straight, while Benedict is, well, BENEDICT.
In light of all this, your assessment of Colin as standing out from the crowd of rakes, and having far more wisdom than other men of his age and standing, makes all the more sense, and is all the more refreshing for it.
The new Colin is very compelling! Looking forward to the 2nd half of season 3!
Thank you, I was most of the way there on this read of Collin, but you popped in a few more pieces that I had forgotten from the previous series and I think you're on the money about Collin.
Thank you for this. All that Colin hate is getting to me. I feel you nailed Colin, as least as I see him. I do like show Colin more than book Colin.
You just said everything that I thought. I did a rewatch of the entire series along with part 1 of season 3 and I wholeheartedly agree!
Love the comparison with Bingley, so true!
I agree. Having seen the second part I wish that there were more moments showing his sensitivity and weakness/love for Pen rather than just brooding and being confused. I think if they had left in some of the deleted scenes it would have helped with this
I 100% agree with your analysis. And in watching part 2, it makes his reaction first to the engagement and then to finding out about LW so much more impactful.
Absolutely love this analysis. Thank you!
did not expect this bridgerton video from this channel but very happy with it, part 2 comes out in 1 hour and 30 minutes !!!
Trust me, you're spot on and not overanalyzing (that would be my analysis that the season is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth and my theory of what the 'trials' will be in part 2).
I rewatched the first two seasons to prep because I'd heard that many people felt their story was rushed. You're absolutely right on what they were going for with Colin's character arc and I think that part was actually done very well and more media literacy is needed. But I also think the audience buy-in for Colin's love this season was affected on three fronts - the long wait and festering on his last words in season 2, the split season, and needing a couple more scenes of Colin and Penelope being themselves with the other *post kiss*. We needed more moments *after their kiss* of Colin coming to life in his interactions with Penelope. We know how much he likes her and who he becomes around her because he says it *as he talks about her as a friend*, but in their season we needed to see him reviewing his friendly intimacy with her through the lens of romance. We see him desire to kiss her, and he dreams of desiring her, but both Anthony and Colin in their respective books do not immediately equate friendship and desire with romantic love - like the Graeco-Roman era the Regency adored, philia, eros, and pragma are seen as different, sometimes overlapping experiences. Because they lingered on scenes of him as a rake, there needed to be an extra scene to not just tell but show that while he does desire Pen desperately, he recognises it's more than just desire and that's what he wants. There are two seasons worth of conversations they could've had him mull over, a flashback, another dream but it's just them talking in the garden about a life together, just a little more to show us it's not just desire for Penelope but romantic love. That's why I believe there's people who don't buy-in yet and feel like he couldn't make up his mind. They have great chemistry, the story beats are all there, but we've spent years watching Penelope in love with Colin; we just needed a scene or two more of Colin not only longing for but smitten over Penelope and *being aware of it*.
Excellent insights! I was seeing his character in the same way. For the astrologers out there, he’s the quintessential Cancer male. Kind, sensitive and genuine….trying to live in a world where “real” men are supposed to be the opposite: selfish, domineering and manipulative to get what they want. I’ll also add that Pen is playing two characters in her world: the wallflower Penelope and of course, the secretive and powerful Lady Whistledown. BOTH parts reside in her and while her request for a kiss may have seemed innocent enough, she’s such a keen observer of human behavior that I think she knew Colin was open to more when she was alone with him in the study and dropped her “poor Pen” personna and let him see her inner fire when she talked about his eyes. For me, that moment let her know he was really opening up to her romantically. And may I just say….it’s so refreshing to hear YOU Smarty Pants, an obviously evolved male to spot this story arc, and articulate it well for your readers. Well done!
I love your take on this. I laughed out loud, at times. Rhx!
Yes! You are spot on! My daughter has been hating Luke and I’ve been trying to reason with her. I asked to watch your take on this as I think you explain it so that she will see reason.
Never clicked on a video so fast in my life😂
I really like this take though, it fits with my theory that's kind of like an armour that he's put on, not truly believing it
If people can't see that Colin is putting on a facade at the start of S3, despite Eloise, Pen & Violet all calling him out on it seperately, then there is truly not helping them! Great breakdown vid.
I rarely comment but I have to applaud this video, you really hit the nail on the head
I thought it was pretty obvious from the first episode that Colin was putting on an act. Colin was always incredibly kind and sweet, even in this season, even whilst trying to be like his brothers are/were. Lady Whistledown even says as much in the very first episode. His mother confirms it in the 4th episode.
I love it! This is a perfect reading of the arc. I didn't see it before, but you nailed it!
I actually just finished season 1 of the show and this can be very interesting to think about while watching the show moving forwards
I feel like there’s also a great scene in the back half of season two where Anthony, having had a bit of a grow up himself since meeting, falling for, and marrying Kate (and now, at the point they have this conversation expecting a baby but not telling the family yet as to not upstage the engagement announcement for Pen and Colin- Anthony once again has to ask where this really sudden seeming engagement has come from. And yeah- he’s concerned about the speed of the engagement, and whether he’s got to worry about special license procurement in the near future. But when he hears Colin talk about his feelings for Penelope? His big concern isn’t Colin being a hopeless romantic anymore. It’s have you told *her* this? Cause she needs to hear this. Nearly losing Kate cause he couldn’t grow a spine and admit he had feelings for the elder Sharma sister sooner is haunting him; he doesn’t want that for his little brother, even if he hasn’t entirely shrugged off all of the Regency specific expressions of toxic masculinity, which is a big sign of growth for Anthony.
It sounds like we were all counting the hours for part 2, I feel so releived now
had to watch this through twice because it was just so excellent! Thank you for this video I completely agree with your analysis!
Love most your analysis but this is definitely my favourite.
Really like this take.
So true! Great analysis!
Having finished the season this video aged so well lol.This is *exactly* what Colin's arc was all about lol.
A bit strange everyone was blowing up over what was essentially half the story.
YEEEEES!!!!
Is so refreshing to see a storyline like that be given to a male character with such sensitivity, because that's what happens with young sensitive boys nowadays too. You either succumb to a certain way of behaviors, or you're not a real boy
Perfectly put 💯
I think you are right. Glad you did this video.
I really appreciate this video because I did need this perspective to get me to rethink this idea of Colin. I’ll admit I was a bit put off on him in the beginning. I do wish there were more episodes though
I think there’s also a parallel for Eloise and Colin this season where it seems they both are ready to surrender to society’s expectations of then since fighting back in the last 2 seasons hasn’t worked out for either of them
Smarty Pants: Colin arc is about overcoming toxic masculinity
Netflix: hold my season 3 part 2!
Lore of Colin Bridgerton: Overcoming Toxic Masculinity momentum 100
Well said sir!
2:21 yess THIS 100% agree
amazing commentary !
I had already this interpretation before watching your vid. I am curious how you would analize Colin's behavior in part 2 of s3 and putting in line it with his arc.
I agree, on everything but Marina. He didn’t just apologise to her, he was clearly hitting on her “you’re not happy, what if we’d stayed together” etc. That’s when she told him to grow up. I never thought it harsh of her, I thought he was incredibly inappropriate.
Hi Smarty Pants, I quite agree with you that watching this a second time the plot/character elements make more sense. I'm still not sure that they pull it off but I found it helpful to remember exactly how perhaps people-pleasing and insecure Colin was in previous seasons...another good analysis from superfan Sammy Bates brought up the point that part of the underlying issue is that Colin does not believe he deserves Pen. He really sees her as a good person and she believes in him in a way he could not believe in himself. I think some of these undertones from previous seasons play into this season in particular ways that make the face-value elements of this season seem odd, or even hollow. I also think the particular way Luke Newton tried to play into these undernotes at the same time as a managing a glow up and having a naturally reserved personality (from what I see) struggled at times because he lost the cuddly, comedic Colin-ness which people found attractive before. Overall, I think his glow-up move to empty sex actually rings true and a lot of people do that when they become more conventionally attractive and their personality is still immature. I think there will be some payoff and Colin's love for Pen will set him free to love himself in a more mature way - hopefully, both of them being writers will end up bonding them. I think that was a key point missing from the nasty analysis by that Spectator journalist who panned the match as incompatible because Pen is not conventionally "hot" in her view...I think even though there is a kernal of truth in the fact someone like Colin might pick a conventionally hot partner, that's less the case when you understand them both as an intellectual/creative match, and you can see this in many creative couples where conventional physical hotness can often take a backseat to how smitten people are with the hotness of another person's creative drive which can really meet the need for intensity and novelty in a different way than "hotness." Anyway, this was a diatribe. I think the season is better than it has been given credit for, but it still struggles in some ways that probably won't totally be rectified in the second half.
the way you predicted the finale lol.
I'm gagged by this comment. Glad to see media literacy still exists in this day and age.
Bridgerton is surprisingly good at having grey characters. Lady Fetherington and Marina Thompson stand out, but all characters have their flaws and the show embraces them.
Yes, just 💯, YES. I feel it was so cringe because it was supposed to be cringe. He is putting on an act that doesn't fit, but he feels he has to perform. I also feel Pen not writing him during his travels messed with him in ways he didn't realize, not having her as his mooring through him off even more and he tried to handle his discomfort in the places his society tells him he should.
Interesting point! I, like you, did NOT like where Colin was in S3, but that IS an interesting take!! Never thought of it (or him) that way before!! Good point!! 👍🏻😊
His journal states how he feels detached, even during intimacy.
His mom tells him almost exactly that in episode 4
Smarty Pants....Welcome to the Pollin Fandom 😊
Colin is Cady Heron confirmed
Holy shit I am so biased. It gave me the ick when he went from naive to rake. Then jumping to Penelope after all that was so weird to me. But with this explanation, everything makes sense. The worst part is, had I just looked at it from his perspective of seeing rakes deciding to settle down with beautiful romances, then maybe it would have finally made more sense when he 1: disconnected with the boys and their “locker room talk” and 2: watching two sex workers go at it while he sits there looking disconnected again. It makes even more sense why he jumped to getting with Penelope. He’s always been a hopeless romantic and he thinks “this is it! My time has come!” and completely rushes into it AGAIN just like his last relationship. I thought he was hoeing cuz that’s what my bias is. The fact is, not all dudes wanna be hoeing.
This would have been stronger if they approached it more clearly - if Colin was proclaiming to do these things without the actual rake scenes only to reveal it was all a facade because he couldn’t do it. Instead acted like a cringey worldy rake of toxic masculinity because he wanted to fit in, but never actually going through with it. If his adventures were shown in flashbacks of him being excited for Pen’s letters. THAT would have been a better angle.
He escaped toxic masculinity ❤
I mean Ive watched it 4 times and I guess you had a point but I still hated it , it felt toxic , like a throw back , like to be a lead you have to be a rake . Just makes me sad .
The two older brothers did the same thing~~the character Colin just was with 2 women. It's not shocking in the least. Read up on sexual history. The regency/Victorian eras were hyper sexual.
This is lowkey a zuko plot line
At first I thought Colin changed alot to get that sex appeal for the show.. but plot wise if you consider all the past seasons I guess it does make sense 😅
Anyway, Im super excited to see how things go down.. 😆 though I wonder if the show will continue?
I'd really like to see the "sir Philip" romance happen next season 😊 Eloise would be in the perfect situation
Pen would be on a honeymoon and Eloise will have less family and friends to connect with.. thus she meets Philip
Season 4 has already been confirmed. We will have to wait to hear what will happen after that
👏👏👏🤝
‘Second viewing’… oh ho ho I am well beyond that 😅
All things silly I finally watched this show after watching watching these RUclips videos and she is just treading a line and I don’t think she did anything that was a real problem. Everyone knew everything she reported. And she tried to help people in many instances.
The sad part is every book has ick male character leads in terms of their toxic attitudes. Twilight (which is really a watered down romance novel series, not a vampire series) has nothing on how bad the Brigerton novels are. The series really has to do a lot of work to make a good show without losing the DNA story thread and it does an excellent job. In Colin's case this season, the audience is suppose to give us audiences the creeps because he's not acting like himself. But in the books, don't even get me started on the _I am man. Hear me talk down to women_ toxicity. I was hoping the novels would be more like the show. They weren't.
I would never thought of that ( probably because I haven’t watched the show)
1:56 the 1st book did the f'ed up scene even more horribly like dude was passes out.
I don’t like Colin, when he said en episode 7 “we were intimate, perhaps that was another part of your planed entrapment” that was it for me
🦜
It's not that hard to understand his character, I feel that people who don't have terrible interpretation of fiction or are just a tad stupid.
He's a soft boy at heart, sensitive and romantic, but he's been told (and shown) that who he is is not acceptable for what society considers to be a man. So he tries to change. He wants to fit in. Eloise did the very same this season. Both tired, and beaten down, by a society that does not accept them, and wants to impose stereotypes on them.
If those flirting/brothel scenes feel forced, it's because they are. Colin is trying to be something he's not.
He's way more natural, and lighter, when he's interacting with Pen and it has been like that for 3 seasons now.
People who said their romance was rushed did not pay attention to them in the first two seasons.
He obviously cares for her deeply. He seeks out her company, he writes to her, he keeps all her letters, and he's obviously very sad when she doesn't write him back. The feelings were always there, he just never knew what they really were.
Once he figures out what he wants, he stops trying to fit in with men who are obviously not like him, and focus his attentions on Pen, and even finds a purpose in editing his travel journals.
He finds himself when he finds her.
SMARTY THIS IS AN EMERGENCY
MIRACULOUS LADYBUGS SEASON 6 TRAILER JUST CAME OUT AND THEY CHANGED THE ANIMATION STYLE AND COMPLETELY BUTCHERED CAT NOIR
You have to make a video about it
(Also I know this is intense but it’s so bad it looks like a mobile game)
i feel it would probably have way more of an impact if it was written better lmao
Exactly. Finally someone gets s3 Colin is a Fake Ass Colin.