What a Barb! Episode 38 - Rereading Mister Bridgerton: What a Puddle of Mud [Prologue - Chapter 5] 

I really hope you all continue doing a show together after season 3. Whether it be about Bridgerton or another shared passion, you girls are delightful and hilarious and have become a comfort listen for me.

Colin Bridgerton, the first Brit to ever experience unrequited love 😅

Maybe it will be Lady Delacroix (because she became closer to Pen) who offers/suggests colours, styles and looks that suit Pen as its hard to accept that Penelope herself always understood how to look gorgeous like that, yet was fully commited to listen to her mother in looking the way she did (the huge yellow bow on a poodle nest and other 'iconic" looks).

Your idea about young Colin rescuing Pen and falling into mud via book style is perfection. I completely goof about siblings' reacting to Edmund's death, but I think it was like this: Benedict lost both his father... and similarly aged brother. It took a long time to gain him back... and never entirely. Before Edmund died, Benedict and Anthony had funny rivalry. After Anthony became the Viscount, Benedict understood that Anthony hold the family together... but he felt like a rift between them opened. Seeing Violet crumble, Daphne found a mother within herself. Brothers did not want to cry in front of each other, but they could always cry before Daphne. Anthony did not weep before her, but she managed to let him open his heart a bir. Daphne was taking Edmund's death better than others, recognizing that while he died suddenly, he died in the arms of his beloved wife. Eloise was daddy's girl. She did not shy away to show her emotions, but mostly it was anger. She blamed the world, everyone around her. She felt like no one else understands her... until Pen came along. Fran spend a lot of time with Daphne and lil Gregory and Hyacinth. Fran liked to grieve by herself, but she was always keen to help her big sister Daphne... and kept a peace with El. Unlike others, Fran never pushed Violet out of her comfort zone. Which brings me to Colin. Colin's hero complex was born after Edmund died, and perhaps came from Edmund's influence. Colin was the first one to make Violet smile after weeks of torment. Colin goofed. Colin cracked jokes. Colin never wanted to face his own feelings, his own grief, and found it easier to manage grief of others... and perhaps after he rescues Pen... he admits to her his own feelings, explaining that he does not want to make his siblings and mother sadder.

Came for Polin, stayed because of muddle puddle! ❤ I know, we're waiting for season 3 and can't wait for it to start. But at the same time, I don't want this to end - the podcast, your crumbs, the theories, the anticipation. 🥺

The more I think about it, the more I think it is likely that we WILL get Writer Colin. How could Shonda and the other writers resist a story about two writers when they have such a love for writing themselves?

HAPPY POLIN DAY!!

Who annotates? Would love to hear your tab keys. My annotation tabs: LOL, Quotes, Colin’s Arc, Pen’s Arc, LW Plot, Banter, Callbacks/Signif Events, B-Siblings, and Squeal! @18:18 about the “Flip”: LN mentioned once in interview that Polin was Ross & Rachel from Friends. Makes me think Colin will have a “You’re over me? When were you UNDER me???” moment. Maybe Pen unconvincingly lets slip she’s no longer in love with him. I imagine the Moonlight scene. Would love the meet-cute to be when they’re tweens. Not as little kids but old enough for B & C to be recklessly racing their horses. A & C moment was so good. Julia Quinn’s strength is banter. I gave Bridgerton Sibling banter it’s own tab color (Bridgerton Blue!). Agreed. Not missing out with the éclair but we’d miss out on banter. Also, any scene with Lady D dialogue (she’s a riot and steals the show everytime). And in this chapter, everyone kept saying to Pen : “Oh, I didn’t see you, Miss F.” It sets up so well how she’s invisible. I wonder if this will happen in 3x01 and that’s why she’s so upset and leaves the ball? Also, a note on Colin’s temper. I know JQ tried to set the stage that losing his temper was a sign for Pen to know he truly cared. But I do hope they tone it down. I’ll enjoy Chaos Colin and seeing him get flustered, jealous at suitors or upset when he finds out about LW like everyone else but book Colin teetered on edge of being too physical/grabby and, IMO, out-of-character. This re-read was so great. Glad I could finally share my thoughts with SOMEONE!!! Happy Polin Day/Week!

Watching this while patiently waiting for the trailer reaction episode 🤍

Muddle Puddle!!! I have re read Romancing Mr. Bridgerton like three times since season 2 ended. I have a paper due tomorrow and I am going to read up to chapter 5. LOL the fangirl in me is real!

I loved it. you all made me laugh so much... I need them to DANCE IN THE RAIN MORE THAN ANYTHING.

Girlies, this ep was fire! Like I know this is not the purpose, but I laughed so much! Truly, Dickensian Pen is my favourite. I will be purchasing your version of the audiobook.

Happy Polin Day ! Thank you for reading the first few chapters of "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton" 💛. The main thing I wished the show did is add Felicity (she could even be a Featherington cousin 🍊🍋)

S3 may not have had the time jump but i cant say the previous seasons shenanigans haven't aged me lmao

I have been trying to think about what could have happened right before the Goodnight Mr Bridgerton scene... the incident causing the ripped dress and for her to be "the laughingstock of the entire ton". What if she is standing near the wall invisible as always and a group of people start talking about her, about what Colin said about never courting her and how she will always be a spinster and laughing at her, then as she tries to discreetly remove herself from the scene she accidentally trips and rips her dress, causing them all to turn and see her (when previously they had not even noticed she was there because, again, she's invisible). That would make the dialogue in the scene with Colin make sense...

I've always thought that Pen was the only one of the bridgerton spouses to have met/saw Edmund too. I don't know why but it just feels right. Maybe Colin and Eloise are introduced to Pen not too long before Edmund dies. Or he's the one who introduces Colin to Pen or encourages him to help her somehow. So Pen becomes an important source of support for both bridgertons when Edmund dies.

What a fun episode for Polin week! Greetings from Bulgaria, ladies! 💛😊 P.S. Do not miss out on Bulgaria 🇧🇬 as Colin did - top notch flora, delicious pastries and dancing in the squares is totally normalized!

I'm so behind schedule with my reading vlog, I haven't been able to listen to these episodes yet, but I've made enough progress on it now that I can start catching up! Omg y'all speculating about whether Pen met Edmund before he passed reminded me of something I was talking about in my video, which is that I think each of the Bridgerton boys has a little bit of Edmund in him, remembering that scene in S2 where Gregory asks Anthony if he's like their father and Anthony says, "He had my seriousness, but shared your love of a prank." I think both Colin and Edmund have this talent for putting other people at ease (and helping to bring wallflowers into the light) and y'all I'm crying now thinking about the possibility of Pen having known Edmund and telling Colin, this thing that I really admire about you, you got from your father 😭😭

“Muddle puddle” “Ittily dittily titillating” 😂thank you all for being my friends from the inter webs haha I love listening to you all making me feel a little less crazy about my bridgerton obsession haha ❤

Happy Polin Week!

I swear I was looking for something to keep me entertained while I do my hair. This will probably take a couple of hours so thank you for putting this out😭✨🫶🏽

Colin possibly experiencing unrequited love for Pen is exciting for season 3.

I completely agree with the reclamation of yellow.

First: Thank you, ladies, for sharing both your humor and detective skills with us. It's been a joy. Second: I just had a thought that I haven't heard discussed yet regarding the episode title "Forces of Nature." This phrase is used in the prologue of the book by a Mr. Anthony Bridgerton to Pen. I'm certainly not suggesting that hot balloon related wind gusts may not relate to the title. But previous episodes certainly love a double meaning. Thoughts?

Going back to the trailer now, I feel like the eclair scene will be translated to them laughing at the punch table at the ball. That scene that Colin flashes back to when he sees Penelope with Debling

HAPPY POLIN DAY! 💛💙💚 I definitely prepared for this re-read and yet, like Veg, I stumbled on the Bean-Venture questions!😂 Speaking of not having Felicity on the show, I know this might be addressed on a later episode but I have a theory that I have been ruminating on. When Colin does eventually go and ask for Pen's hand in marriage, what if Portia thinks that he is there to ask for Prudence's hand instead? Maybe Dankworth is actively courting Prudence, like Mr. Albansdale was courting Felicity in the book, but Portia is not as keen on him?! She would definitely think that a Bridgerton would be much better match and we could still get that whole hilarious scene with Colin telling off Portia!! 😂

Happy Polin week! Laughed so much at this, can't get over muddle puddle. I'm so looking forward to how they incorporate the laughter and the banter this season between Colin and Penelope, especially with all the Lady Wistledown drama. See you on the next re-read!

Happy Birthday Penelope!!💛💛💛💛 Highlights of this episode for me were the really nice immersive sound effects with the sound of the gust of wind blowing Penelope’s Bonnet off into Colin’s Face & the Splat sound of the Eclair as well as the bean game. I love all the details in this episode!! Well done✨A great way to celebrate Pen’s Birthday. I just finished RMB for the first time (Still crying happy tears🥲) this is going to be fun to share this experience with u guys in this format!💚

oh this was so much fun!! loved the beanventures cant wait for more hehe :D this reread is going to be a great way to spend this month. I am so obsessed with the idea of the “flip” Colin thinking if only for a little time that his love is unrequited is delicious, and I love the boy, but his suffering will give me life!! they need to dance in the rain it would sooo romantic and I absolutely adore the idea you put in here of it being a moment where he shows her he is not embarrassed at all to be seen with her just ahhhh I need it

This is one of the most hilarious episode you’ve ever had. I was shaking from laughter 😂

I laughed so much watching this. Thanks for a hilarious hour an a half.

What a lovely thing to stumble upon on my birthday 🥰 subscribing!

You ladies are hilarious. I love your podcasts 😁😁😁

I read this book in a day loll

the aphrodite sea foam green 👀

So excited! 😁

I would love to have a schedule of the chapters for each episode thats going to come out. I would love to reread along with you guys!

If she does say the diamond is too boring to talk about that could be why Francesca is looking down at the next ball in the first episode. and it could be why we see her side by side with Fran because she is worried about her?

I would totally listen to you all doing an audiobook of the whole series omg 🥰 your voices are so nice! The audiobook I listened to was not so much fun to listen to 😂

Happy Polin Day 💛🪶🪞💙

Let’s GOOOOOO!!

This was iddly dittily titillating! 🤍

With the new pics out, I came right here. I think if you simply post a yt short of you all just screammmming, that will be sufficient for now 😂

Yayyyy ❤

awwwn on my birthday the 20th

I'm with you Lucky in that I HATE to sneeze also!! I hate it as I typically sneeze so strongly, that sometimes it feels like I tweak a rib or something in my body. Thankful to know someone else in the world hates sneezing too! Happy POLIN Week everyone! I'm hoping we get the season 3 trailer either on 4/8/24 or on 4/11/24 (5 weeks until release date!!). Cannot wait for this season!!!💛❤💙

I’ve not seen all of the What A Barb series, but does anyone else feel that the scene where Penelope overhears Colin and his friends in the last episode is a mirror of when Kate overhears Anthony and his friends in tne first episode? I dont know if this has been touched on before because *above*, but it feels almost like the polin scene was set up.

I haven't done a full rewatch of all the videos yet does anyone have a link to the beauty and the beast/ 36 bows scene please I can't for the life of me find it by googling!

Ya know i didnt think they would change actors for young polin. Just cgi their faces like they did for anthony in 2 flashback scene