Is it just me or do some Bylers reach way too hard to defend Mike for things he was objectively wrong for? Like the rink o mania thing is a perfect example, Will was not being bitchy (onscreen) at all to Mike until the argument where Mike was the one who started it by blaming Will for not telling him about El’s problems. Mike was being a huge asshole there, which even he noticed and said Will didn’t deserve the way Mike treated him. He then apologized and Will accepted it because Will knows that Mike was genuinely remorseful and that he wanted to be best friends again. I hate to say this bc 99% of the time it is deeper than it looks but for this I just don’t get how you can watch and think Will was actually in the wrong.
i do enjoy a good reach and i get not wanting one character to be 100% in the right and one character to be 100% in the wrong in an argument and i don't even think mike was 100% in the wrong at rink o mania but when you back up a bit...what did will do wrong exactly lol.
do we agree with mike that he was a douche for...not telling him that el was being bullied? nonsensical. he didn't even know she was lying to him before the airport.
was he wrong for barely talking and basically sabotaging the whole day? a day el said was supposed to be about the two of them, making will third wheel and feel like shit just like in the beginning of season 3 and for months before that? right...because that makes sense.
was will in the wrong for not calling mike and for making it sound like it was his fault they didn't keep in touch? this one i can get behind but he would have let that go (the painting being a welcome gift doesn't scream resentful) had mike not made it clear that he wasn't interested in anything he had to say by...rejecting his hug, agreeing to the whole day being about him and el, ignoring him save for the vomit green joke, And not calling for months. if the first three hadn't occurred maybe will wouldn't have felt the need to defend himself when mike started a fight because he didn't tell him his gf was being bullied like he's their couples counselor or something
it's like you said mike literally starts the fight and then deflects (twice) and Then he apologizes...idk!
long-winded answer but how exactly was will being a dick lol. i know he apologizes for being mean to him and for pushing him away in the van scene but when exactly on march 22, 1986 was will mean to mike. i can see the pushing him away because he didn't call but he said he deserved the fight and admitted to being a jerk to el (literally HOW. when) and wouldn't let lucas apologize to him in season 3 so i'm not taking his self-deprecating martyr word for it SORRY
it's especially funny when you remember that mike trying to call will is a THEORY
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The Era Tour: 06. Act IV: reputation
Pairings: Colin Bridgerton + Penelope Featherington, Anthony + Kate Bridgerton
Polin Masterlist | Series Masterlist
Colin watched as Penelope's favourite artist disappeared from the stage. He didn't know what 'era' was coming next - just watched Penelope from the row above. He watched as she swapped places with Gregory - meaning she was standing next to two fellow Swifties. He was pretty sure that is what Penelope calls herself.
The sound of heels on the floor as well as the hissing of a snake nearly made the entire stadium erupt in screams.
Gregory must have said something to Pen because she leaned over. "Watch the entire stadium go absolutely feral!"
And feral did they go!
Colin could only watch in shock over Penelope as she pulled out body rolls and some kind of sideways hip thrust (somewhat similar to the moves Taylor Swift is producing).
"Knew he was a killer the first time that I saw him, wonder how many girls he had loved and left haunted. But if he's a ghost, then I can be a phantom, holdin' him for ransom," the opening lyrics weren't as eye-opening as the pre-chorus and chorus were for dear Colin.
"I-I-I see how this is gon' go. Touch me and you'll never be alone, I-Island breeze and lights down low, no one has to know. In the middle of the night, in my dreams. You should see the things we do, baby (mmm). In the middle of the night, in my dreams, I know I'm gonna be with you. So I'll take my time, are you ready for it?"
It made Colin look at Penelope with a mix of awe, shock and even wonder. He shouldn't be pinning after his little sister's best friend like he is. But sometimes the heart wants what it wants.
Colin had heard rumours of chants at the concert. Turns out, this was one of them.
"This ain't for the best. My reputation's never been worse, so. You must like me for me. We can't make any promises, now can we, babe? But you can make me a drink!"
Which was quickly followed by "1, 2, 3! Let's go, bitch!"
The second chorus made Colin wonder who Penelope had been seeing, may possibly be seeing. She hasn't said anything to him, the often shared stories. If Penelope hadn't told me, Eloise would have (he remembered when Eloise had bragged about Penelope's date to their secondary school prom).
"Third floor on the West Side, me and you. Handsome, you're a mansion with a view. Do the girls back home touch you like I do?" Was sung, which made Penelope look over at the two other Swifties, and shook her head - then giggled when she realised that Taylor Swift was doing the exact same thing. "Long night with your hands up in my hair," Penelope ran her fingers through her hair. "Echoes of your footsteps on the stairs. Stay here, honey, I don't want to share. 'Cause I like you."
It was going to bug Colin, who the hell Penelope was seeing. Whoever it was, didn't deserve her. What if you're good enough for Penelope? A voice said in the back of Colin's brain.
Did he? Could he dem himself 'good enough' for Penelope?
The next song to play was Don't Blame Me, which as Colin listened to it - sounded very gospel-like. Colin watched as Penelope sang along at the top of her lungs, so much so because he was so close, he could only just hear her over the sound of the speakers.
"I've been breakin' hearts a long time, and, toyin' with them older guys. Just playthings for me to use. Something happened for the first time, in the darkest little paradise, shakin', pacin', I just need you," Colin couldn't believe the dance moves Penelope was pulling out, he looked over at Kate (who wasn't paying attention to Penelope), then he looked over at Eloise and his mother (neither were paying attention to Penelope either). "For you, I would cross the line. I would waste my time, I would lose my mind. They say she's gone too far this time."
Then the song hit its pinnacle. Heavily leaning into the gospel sound. "Oh, Lord, save me, my drug is my baby. I'll be using for the rest of my life," Taylor Swift's backup singers sang, as she looked down the stage and into the camera.
"Using for the rest of my life, oh!" She hit a very high note, then sang the higher notes as both the backing track and her backup singers sang the main track.
"Don't blame me. Don't blame me. Don't blame me for what you made me do," the third sentence made the fans in the stadium freak out. "Don't blame me. Don't blame me. Don't blame me for what. You. Made. Me. Do!"
The gospel sound of Don't Blame Me changed into the dark fantasy sound of Look What You Made Me Do.
"I don't like your little games, don't like your tilted stage. The role you made me play of the fool, no, I don't like you," Colin had watched as Penelope and the two Swifties exchanged bracelets much like she did with the little girl in front of her. "I don't like your perfect crime, how you laugh when you lie. You said the gun was mine, isn't cool, no, I don't like you. Oh!"
"But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time. Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time. I got a list of names, and yours is in red, underlined. I check it once, then I check it twice, oh!"
She walked down the stage very quickly, during the bridge. "I'm sorry. But the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead!" She jumped and landed on her shins then her knees
"Look what you made me do. Look what you just made me do. Look what you just made me do."
As soon as she disappeared into the stage, the reputation era was over.
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