#joining of hands

[consoledacup]

I've gone on record in the past by saying my favorite scene in Bridgerton season 3 is the Modiste bitch-off. And that's probably still true.

But as I was scrolling through TikTok as one does, I was reminded of one scene that never, ever fails to touch my soul and could very possibly uproot the Modiste bitch-off. And that's the beginning scene of 3x05.

It is underrated magic to me.

That whole section in the book is ridiculous and fun and you're catching up to comprehend Colin's one-track vision, just as Penelope is. It's the best.

God, I love that book.

But in the show, it's so tender. When Colin turns back towards Penelope, offering his hand, with the echo of the words "Are you coming with me?" still reverberating in Penelope's skull, my breath catches. He's so eager but also has this controlled serenity. He's leading her to Bridgerton house with conviction and purpose in a way we've really never seen before. And alongside that entire silent exchange, you have Lady Whistledown, Penelope herself, waxing poetic about predictability ending in a surprise.

Her surprise.

And if that weren't enough, there's a stunning song composed by Kris Bowers, also titled "A Surprise," where we finally hear the gorgeous resolution to their theme for the first time. Sometimes I tear up from simply listening to that song.

And then as they walk through the hall, we have the Dutch angles of Penelope's trepidation but also excitement, and the sound of her heart beating, and Colin's elation with their engagement.

I love Hyacinth's unbridled enthusiasm and Violet's sincere joy. I love Francesca's tampered-down excitement and Gregory's tepid annoyance. I love Colin just basking in everything with eyes on his new bride the entire time.

It all works. Even Eloise's confrontation with Penelope is so well-done. What Eloise says is true, barring the harsh delivery. And the heartbreak that she’s been carrying all season is incredibly evident here. Peneloise are grieving each other and firmly not friends, and now Eloise has to reconcile with the fact that Colin and Penelope are in love. She sets up the entire conceit of the back half of the season, and Penelope knows full-well she's right, but she just can't tell him yet. She can't do it.

And then we have Colin's concern and reassurance that they'll live happily ever after, swiftly juxtaposed by the scene of a teary Lady Whistledown and the Bridgerton tree in foreboding disarray in the title card.

I absolutely love it.

[awkward-sultana]

(Almost) Every Costume Per Episode + Penelope Featherington's wedding gown in 3x07 (requested by @leilanirss)

[renegadesstuff]

TV SHOWS' (SHIP) WEDDINGS 🤍

BRIDGERTON (2020 - present)

PENELOPE FEATHERINGTON & COLIN BRIDGERTON (POLIN)

[twistingsands]

anthony smothering his huge protective streak for francesca's sake and then not being able to keep it in when it comes to his mother is so perfect. like kate mellows him out but he's still our stupid little baby from seasons 1 and 2

[somedayillbepeterpan]

on today's rewatch: S3E7 [Joining of hands]

I haven't done a good job in putting out original content for the past few months and I blame my new job entirely 😂 It's so intense, it turns my brain into mush most days.

I'm 68% functional right now so if my ramblings don't make sense, I apologise.

Today, I am thinking of Colin's retreating back after he discovered the Pen was LW.

(Colouring this gif is so hard. It's so dark 😭 I wish I was better at this.)

I don't know why I'm locked in on Colin's back.

On him walking away.

On his coat billowing as it matches the force of his steps. I have a thing for people's footsteps or way of walking because I often think about how I walk and how it represents what I'm feeling at the moment. My many, many rewatches offered me the realisation that there isn't a lot of full body shots of Luke Newton for S1 and S2 nor are walking shots. If there are full body shots, he's with Nicola so your attention is split.

I read a meta somewhere that book!Colin canonically loves walking so much so that he would endure the rain to help clear his thoughts.

I always thought that this walk was more heartbroken than angry. He walked away because his heart was breaking into pieces. But I also think that he walked away because of his love for her.

I know that the last thing he says to Pen in this scene is that he will never forgive her but I also think that he was talking more to Lady Whistledown than to Pen because at this point, they are still separate in his mind.

Clearly, this walk is the hardest to understand and has been part of heated debates of what canonically would Colin really do (this being compared to the source material aka book!Colin). I don't want to broach that debate too much because I would've done the same as Colin (as someone who is an introverted demisexual empath who value the words that come out of my mouth and actions to take but often overthinks them). And these are mere ramblings of a Polin brainrotter.

Now, there are three significant full body walking shots of Colin in S3: Colin's entrance in E1 (the faux swagger), this retreating walk in the early part of E7 (the heartbreak), and the him trying to clear his thoughts in the latter part of the same episode (the drunk, angry yet pensive one).

This walk represents the war that Colin has fought so many times. When his emotions overtake him, he finds himself walking away. I say find because I don't think Colin was self-aware nor mature enough to understand why he walked away. It's why he traveled around, it's what happened to him with Marina, and what he almost did to Penelope. In my head, this very distinctly represents Colin's trauma about his dad's death. His emotions always get the better of him.

This is another thing that I appreciate about Colin and Penelope's relationship-- they helped each other grow. If Penelope didn't have the courage or honestly, the love, to confront Colin when he was about to walk away in the modiste scene, we wouldn't have known the root of Colin's emotional trauma. Of him feeling inadequate and abandoned/betrayed by the people he loves.

On a different side of this debate, this is what separates this relationship to all other relationships that Colin has in his life-- the depth of love and understanding that him and Pen have shared gave them the the power to get out of this situation much, much stronger.

(on a side note, writing this is making me so excited for s4 even though I want to tamper my expectations)

In conclusion, I didn't appreciate the words that came out of Colin's mouth. But on the other hand, I appreciated that he walked away and he didn't do what book!Colin did. While this scene was devastating to watch, I really really appreciate how Colin spent time understanding his emotions about the whole LW situation. I know we all wanted to tear his hair out by the end but love doesn't put a timeline on forgiveness. Nor does it paint a pretty picture.

But time does help in growing yourself better.

[allhailthemightyquattro]

Bridgerton BTS: 3x07

[lifewithaview]

Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton in Bridgerton (2020) Joining of Hands

S3E7

A shocking column fuels the queen's search for the real Lady Whistledown. As the wedding looms, Penelope questions her future as a wife - and scribe.

*A classical rendition of Coldplay's "Yellow" can be heard during Penelope's entrance at their wedding.