I’m not sure why this fandom is so against the truth that a KIND caring person can still make poor choices/hurt others and NEED to apologize for it. This goes for Penelope AND Colin. And in fact even Marina and Eloise (Though I personally wouldn’t put ‘kind’ as high up in either of those characters personality traits/morals. I think both Marina and Eloise are a bit more more self-focused and though they of course can be kind if they want to I don’t see it being a big part of who they are as I do with Colin and Penelope.)

Pen has hurt others despite having good intentions.

Colin has hurt Pen by taking her for granted, though he never consciously MEANT to do so.

Eloise doesn’t register the privileges she has and acts impulsively without thinking through the consequences to others around her.She also doesn’t listen to others opinions very well.

Marina was in a bad situation BUT that doesn’t make what she did to Colin or Penelope right. And frankly I’m still salty over the fact she let Philippa and Prue ridicule Colin right in front of her and never apologizes to him. That alone proves to me that she never really had an inkling of actual care for Colin as a person, she just wanted the security his naivety and family money would offer her. Which sure that’s for her children’s safety but never speaking to him about it? No. Not here for it and she needs to be held accountable for that shitty behavior too.

In short people can make shitty choices and be redeemable that’s what makes them human.

I swear to God…I will never understand why people bend over backwards to forgive or understand Marina and belittle Pen for her actions as LW at the same time. Neither of these characters are villains, both made poor choices. However, I believe the main victims in this triad, are indeed Colin, and Penelope. Though not a villain, I don’t think Marinas behavior is that of a compassionate, or considerate person. She is very self centered in some ways.

Marina made a consensual (as far as we know) CHOICE to sleep with George Crane prior to her arrival at the featherington home. CLEARLY she was NOT ignorant that she could become pregnant. The evidence for this is the scene of her actively tearing apart her bed looking to see if she had her period, and being upset when she has not. The only two people responsible for this pregnancy are George and Marina. Pen is not responsible for Marina having to face some harsh realities of regency times. Marina did not love Colin. Colin didn’t love Marina, he loved his IDEA of her. Colin never actually got to know the real her, because Marina was using him to secure her future into something palatable. She openly manipulated him, allowed Philipa and Prudence to make fun of his naïveté and dismissed the MULTIPLE opportunities Pen gave her to be honest, and truthful, to Colin. And Marina NEVER even apologized to him, not even in season two. Colin deserved an apology even more than Pen in my opinion. Go back and watch how Marina treated Daphne, and how she literally threatened Madame Delaquoix ( a woman who had far MORE to lose than Marina ever did) she isn’t exactly kind. Not to mention how she belittles Pens feelings and tries to manipulate her with weak compliments the following day. There’s probably more but honestly I’m just UGH. Like did we even watch the same show?

I think the real key here with the bit of plot reveal we got is that “Colin is disheartened to learn that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder.”…Colin is going to have a come to Jesus moment when he realizes he: 1. Never truly did the same for Penelope. And 2. His actions of trying to help now aren’t needed because Pen has always been wonderful, HE was just too blind to see it. And of course he’s going to have to confront his own past actions, and the silly actions he will do in S3 no doubt. 

Ya’ll…what if this ‘new friend’ of Eloise’s is Marina? 🧐Or somehow Sir Phillip?

And I’m not sure how I feel about the “let me help you get a hubby” plot. There better be some sort of line from Colin saying how Pen never needed his help at all, she was already wonderful and he, and the rest of the ton were too dumb to notice.

Really annoying how people STILL bash Penelope, but I’ve yet to see anyone take other equally flawed characters to task. 

Marina was willing to manipulate a young man and his family, expose Madame Delaquoix, and dismissed the feelings of the one person who wanted to help her in her situation (Penelope). She had other young men to choose from, I believe Pen even tried to steer her to that artist dudes lover? Which marriage with a kind  gay man would have been pretty freeing actually. Also, if there is ANYONE who should be blamed for Marinas situation besides herself, it is George. If we go on the knowledge that young ladies aren’t taught about sex, but gentlemen are, then George knew what the consequences of sex could be.

He could have at least been engaged with Marina before going off to war. But it was not to be. 

The Queen is literally out here making children do her investigating (Eloise), and threatening children and threatening their family (Eloise). She also decided to take over a whole ass wedding, and complains about Whistledown but also is one of her biggest purchasers. Is annoyed at being taken to task by Whistledown for some of her shitty behaviors but is a literal monarch who no matter what still has the most privilege/power at the end of the day and should understand some of the complaints and better herself but doesn’t. 

Anthony spent season one being a twat, then while he became a sympathetic character in S2, he still had some shit behavior. Mainly constantly pursuing Edwina and never clearly stating he was looking for a loveless marriage, just ASSUMING she wanted what he did the whole time. Also pretty much telling Kate he was already having an emotional affair with her and would eventually fall into a physical one, irregardless of Edwinas feelings. Not listening to anyone else’s perspective or needs. 

Daphne actually committed sexual assault against her husband. 

Eloise put herself in dangerous situations without precautions. She put lower class people in harms way. And it’s pretty clear she doesn’t really listen to her friend. Pen actually made her situation less damning in Whistledown than it was; she never said Eloise was unchaperoned with a man, just with political radicals, which implies a group of people and doesn’t touch on their class either. If Pen wanted to ruin Eloise she could have just written she was alone with the printer boy. But she DIDN’T.

Like please tell me how it’s Pen ruining these people when they are all making their own shitty choices that people would be gossiping about anyway without Whistledown.

If you think i wont be looking for mirrors anytime Pen and Colin interact in season 3, you’d be wrong.

You know what I want/need in Season 3? More parallels to the story of Odysseus and Penelope with Colin and Penelope. Specifically where in Colin realizes that Pen is invaluable to him, and has to deal with a literal sea of suitors fighting for her hand. I mean I also wouldn’t be against a Parallel to the challenge Penelope charged her suitors with…