All the “Colin haters” or “I want to see Colin beg and cry” are disgusting.
Y’all need to stop.
Colin didn’t fall for Penelope because he only saw her as a friend!
He ain’t a bad person, he didn't fall for her because she was thin or pretty.
Penelope ain’t ENTITLED to his love or affection.
He can chose whoever he pleases.
But a lot of people who fell for friends say it just took time. And Colin being unserious about women for a long time contributed to that (save Maria) but she was not Penelope.
That doesn’t mean he’s not interested AT ALL. Just not RIGHT NOW.
Y’all need to stop thinking that.
It’s immature, evil and mean.
You’re not entitled to anyone just because you want them.
Colin is his own person who can make his own decisions.
Penelope is his best friend and he’s always been kind and considerate to her and everyone else as well.
Penelope needed to love herself first before taking on anyone else on anyway.
(SMB Author rambles about: Experience writing for SMB/ Polin as a ship / Anti-Polin posts & opinions)
I don’t know about other Authors or fic writers, but when I write my chapters – especially when I’m at an important point for the character’s chemistry, development, and journey – I always need to re-read the story from the beginning.
(This all came about because of SMB chapter 10)
I was getting a bit in my head (again) and was worried the tension had become too much and the wait wouldn’t be worth it. (The increase in anti-Polin opinions I’ve come across on TIKTOK and in the TUMBLR Polin tag played a part as well)
It was enough of a worry I decided to read SMB from the Prologue to where Chapter 10 currently ends.
It took me two days to read “Seducing Mr Bridgerton” from the beginning to (current) end.
And while I don’t feel the excitement a REAL reader would feel, I can understand why it’s gained attention. When I started SMB I only wanted to highlight the dark romance Julia Quinn gave potential to. I wanted to twist Penelope’s love into obsession, Colin’s temper into Possessive Aggression.
Here’s a glimpse at my OneNote for SMB:
(I didn’t follow my notes exactly, but it’s a comfort to have it available for reminders 😊)
And I can honestly say…. I think I’ve done a decent job of getting that across.
Because here’s the truth about Penelope and Colin as characters…. At the end of the day, they would always be in each other’s lives either as a friend, a lover, a what if or somebody they used to know.
This – I’ve discovered – is the true reason I’m a Polin stan.
I’ve noticed some opinions claim that Colin deserves better, or Penelope deserves better. I’ve read posts where Colin is hated, or Penelope is hated. It was frustrating to read those types of posts and not respond to any of them. In some ways, their right, Colin could have paired with someone better than Penelope (whether it be in wealth, personality, looks etc)… but it would be an entirely different kind of love and Colin would be an entirely different sort of character. Flip it around and apply it to Penelope, the same situation.
POLIN is a ship that CHAMPIONS Penelope and Colin as a couple and as individuals.
Personally, my favourite thing about writing for SMB is the undeniable loyalty and desire shared between Colin and Penelope. The fact they are the only ones insecure about the return of their feelings while the rest of the world is screaming for them to get married already. I find that completely hilarious and fun.
My favourite quotes from SMB so far are:
“It was madness. She was the temptation of madness. But Colin struggled to stop himself from wanting the experience.” (SMB, chp 6)
“The world could not have him. The ton did not deserve him. Only Penelope, always Penelope – the wallflower of the ton.” (SMB, chp 9)
It’s the shameless obsession they have for one another, the magnetic uncontrollable craving for each other and the barefaced threatening they do out of warning and jealousy.
When I caught up to SMB chp 10, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh like an overlord or scream at myself for all the bloody teasing. (Yeah… my sincere apologies for all the teasing SMB readers….). They’re not even MARRIED yet!! It’s Chapter 10 and they just KISSED!! How are WE (including myself because I don’t even know how -) GOING TO SURVIVE THEM TOGETHER!!??!
I also realized that when writing SMB, traditional Love/romance is an afterthought. Why? Because actions speak louder than words and the only two who need to hear the words are Colin and Penelope. What I’m writing is their (unofficial) courtship, their blatant showing of their extremes.
[“Can you handle this? My temper, my cruelty, my selfish desires?” “Can you accept me? My manipulations, my insecurities, my selfish need to have all of you?” “If the answer is yes then be prepared to never be rid of me.” – deleted draft of Polin confession]
I’ve re-read “Romancing Mr Bridgerton” over and over (basically after every SMB chapter)…. And the only real drama in the book is Lady Whistledown’s identity reveal and Colin’s mood swings.
I’ve noted that everyone wants to know more about Sir Lee – especially how he’d interact with Lady Whistledown, but SMB is Penelope and Colin’s story. At most, you’ll be reading how Sir Lee and Lady Whistledown met but the depths of their characters – the true danger of both their personalities and ambitions – won’t be revealed till “Loving Mrs Bridgerton”.
Another big worry I had was my Penelope. I’ve noticed (because this applies to me as well as a reader) that female characters get the most judgment and harshest considerations. It’s a bit sad that even in the fictional world, females still have to fight for the rights of their choices. Canon Penelope has been getting a lot of dislikes both for the show and the book. I’ve read quite a few people’s reasonings for why, and while some were well argued, some were just plain cruel.
So, I considered MY Penelope and thought ‘ if this was being said about canon Penelope, how did it not apply to mine?’ and I realized…. None of it mattered because MY Penelope knows exactly who she is.
She is a woman who has done the unthinkable and earned a position of power and wealth over the very same people who dismissed her as ‘unfortunate and unpopular’.
My Penelope only had one true insecurity…. And that was the fact she was hopelessly cursed with what she believed to be an unrequited ‘OBSESSION’ with Colin Bridgerton. Everything else about herself she accepted and embraced. She would never be thin, she would never be popular, she might never marry, but so what? She was Lady Whistledown, and the TON was paying her to JUDGE them because of HER talent with words.
That, dearest readers, is why I am SHAMELESSLY proud to be a Penelope/Polin (+Colin) stan.
Because JQ created a character who INSPIRES!!
A character who CAN stand alone if she only she realized her strength and worth!
Because…
“Isn’t it nice… to discover that we’re not exactly what we thought we were?” (Romancing Mr Bridgerton, Pg63, Julia Quinn)
This Author thanks you for reading their nonsense and indulging my procrastinating ways
nah but fr y'all fans ruined this whole journey for me and Shonda Rhimes adding in her feminist dribble speech Penelope gave Colin excusing her behavior with the "men made me do it" line like pls....
y'all projected your own experiences onto this poor girl who has NOTHING to do with your own dating experiences and now I can't even engage with other fans about the show.😤😤
you all twisted words and situations and made people into villains that are innoecnt and completely okayed people who we should be villains.
y'all excusing her verbally abusive and emotionally neglectful mother but trying to demonize Colin??!??!
