User blog comment:Mroddy/Let's Talk: The Cast of Eclipse/@comment-5424252-20180727140622/@comment-3350823-20180803062111

So I might be on my own and or biased as an American, and it may seem like I'm biased for shipping but I don't think I am so hear me out. Colin is a character I like...but I think his crush on Fleur kind of ruins him. No, not for Fleur/Viola shipping (I think I lowkey really enjoy that Viola won't get to hook up with Fleur).

I would compare Colin to another character in Genesis, who I can't exactly name yet, but basically this; there a great character in other plots, but there are own story is meh. The love triangle of Hannah/Sam pursuing Colin while he pursues Fleur while Fleur remains oblivious and Viola reacts is comedy gold. Colin works in developing Sam/Hannah's friendship, his somewhat rivalry with Blake and his role in elimination, and his kickstarting of Viola's plot by her eliminating him. He works in all of that.

But his own story? It kind of loses it in the love drama I think. I think early on when Colin is trying to work with his team, or convince Blake not to vote for him, or works with Hannah in the volcano tribute challenge is great. The scene where Colin and Hannah just get the idol in and Colin gives Hannah credit I adore!

Colin was this character who was a fish out of water in a way, an outsider who was trying to fit in and bring people together. I think even up until his elimination Colin still really worked, it was just that after Hannah/Sam stop trying to pursue him that he revolves almost solely around Fleur. It's like his goal was to understand others and form a tight group, but then becomes just about Fleur (even though she is a total babe). Ironically, his elimination did cause the Hotties to really get close. And I do love that he still votes for Viola in the end.

I'm not sure what his darker/obsessive side is, though I vaguely remember him being different in his elimination chapter and not sure how to feel. He didn't seem like an egomaniac to me, but you know the character better so if that's the direction you want to go than totally explore that more.

I have a feeling that Fleur and Colin won't lose, simply so Fleur can have more plotlines. I think for both their sake they probably shouldn't be on the same season, so sadly I'm probably voting no to Colin for Eclipse. But I think he definitely has potential for a season without Fleur and we should explore those now :p

So I think whenever Colin returns he can acknowledge briefly that he and Fleur didn't work but then move on and rarely bring it up. So maybe Colin is looking to make friends again; kind of a blank slate. He was kind of a straight man on his team, reacting to these crazier personalities. But instead of Viola's sarcastic reactions, he's trying to understand or get them to work together.

Kind of like trying to be the partner in a dysfunctional school group and trying to keep people on task but doesn't have the personality to step up and be leader. That was his role on the Hotties and maybe shouldn't be the same, but I think having bigger and or contrasting personalties could work for him.

He probably wants these people to like him too, but also is kind of clueless sometimes so I can see him screwing up or end up making a fool of himself and not realize it. So he'd probably interact well with other people who have similar goals or big personalities that might cause conflict. Here's a few ideas:
 * Yasmin- When I thought big, conflict causing personality I thought Yasmin xD Just the idea of Yasmin being annoyed at this oblivious guy who keeps trying to get her to do things she doesn't want to, like a group campout or something. But could they become friends? Or what if a challenge required Yasmin having to
 * Kimmi- Kimmi is someone like Colin who wants friends and is kind of an outsider now, but is also crazy. You did compare them in Colin's post. I could see both kind of being the other's needed friend early on. (And I'm kind of giving a ship vibe).
 * Youri- I guess it depends on how Youri's acting, antagonistic or not, but Colin could be another friend to him and someone trying to steer him from his more self destructive habits.
 * Britt- There both foreign hot guys. What more do you need? Lol, okay there is more. Both could bond about having to move and adjust to living in Canada. Britt could help Colin fit in that like Britt does with his charm, while Colin would try to help Britt chill more about Jade maybe?
 * Wing- Again, a big personality. She might not dislike Colin like the others, but get him sucked into crazy adventures with his eager to please personality (though spoiler: I'm actually really all for Wing being Eclipse as we'll talk about when we get to her ;3).
 * Sarah- Sarah isn't a big or aggressive personality, but someone who wants to have a good time and everybody to get along. So they could both have a lot of similar goals. And I'm not sure how Zac would take it if Sarah was getting close to that American boy...
 * Saber- Saber's probably a character I'm meh on, but I actually think this could be a fun dynamic. Saber is probably jealous and does not like Colin, both because being the 'foreign guy' Saber sees him as the 'American Britt' and because Hannah was crushing on him. How would Colin react to having an enemy right away? Would he try to make Saber like him and constantly trying to befriend Saber...which just annoys Saber even more xD or would Colin be even aware that Saber dislikes him because he can be so oblivious? Would Saber actually start to like Colin and learn to appreciate someone who wants to be his friend...or would he self-sabotage and be distrustful of Colin?

Lol, similar to what I tried to say with Ivy I hope it doesn't sound like I'm dictating what you should do. The approach I'm trying to take with characters going forward starting with Genesis is to always find some way to write/work with/use a character. What role do they fill, what is their comedic potential, what is their story, etc. I'm actually surprised the ideas I did come up with and what I could get behind.

But I always love what you come up and I've enjoyed Tides so much that I have faith in your ideas and writing that I'm sure whatever you do with these characters will work out <3 I just love them so I want to see them again xD

Anyway in short: I actually really like Colin and think he interacts great with others, but he and Fleur need space. But I think he's def. a yes for me in the future! He's kind of an open book/blank space.