sanditon was just pride and prejudice opening lines, jane eyre plot line, sexual repression, cyrano plot line, anti-army propaganda, beauty and the beast vibes, p&p (2005) hand flex scene, angst, north and south bbc enemies to lovers, yearning, back to pride and prejudice vibes, and sea-windswept hair.
After the first season of Sanditon I was absolutely devastated. I, like so many others, felt robbed of Sidlotte’s HEA.
But more than that…
Sidney had, to be honest, been an absolute prick throughout. And I so longed for something to redeem him to match his unbelievable chemistry w Charlotte. But she, and we as an audience, just saw a glimpse of his vulnerability and tender emotions in the last two episodes before the heartbreaking ending.
After that I devoured the fanfics that somehow redeemed Sidney in my eyes. Exploring his journey and conveying his inner struggle, emotions and personality in a way that really made me love him. Making me realize how he could be the right man for Charlotte.
It was the fanfics that won me over, not the series.
Particularly some fanfic writers way of portraying Sidney and giving the character more depth. Smoothing the roughness. Giving him a sense of humor. Tenderness.
And do you know what I just realized?
In so many ways, that man in my mind, is Alexander Colbourne.