In Bridergton season 1, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) doesn’t approve of the engagement between his brother Colin (Luke Newton) and Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker). As the eldest of eight children, the viscount is naturally protective of his family, but also proves to be hypocritical with his behavior. During the sixth episode of Bridgerton season 1, “Swish,” Anthony scoffs when Colin seeks a marriage blessing, which precedes a public scandal that ends the engagement for good.

Colin first spots Marina during the Bridgerton series premiere, “Diamond of the First Water.” He’s immediately intrigued by the Featherington cousin, who also catches the attention gossip columnist Lady Whistledown. By episode 5, “The Duke and I,” Marina plots to earn a marriage proposal from Colin, which will allow her to cover up a secret pregnancy – the result of a fling from back home with George Crane. Miss Thompson succeeds with her seduction plan, and quickly earns a proposal from Colin, who announces the big news to the family and subsequently seeks approval from his oldest brother, Anthony.

In “Swish,” Anthony rejects Colin’s engagement because he doesn’t take it seriously. He apologizes for not taking his little brother to brothels, and suggests that Colin would feel much differently if had “sown his wild oats” (i.e. had sex with different women before marriage). On a deeper level, though, Anthony fears that his brother will grow up too fast and become captive to a certain social standing. The viscount steadily struggles with the concept of time throughout Bridgerton season 1, evidenced by numerous scenes featuring his love interest, Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett), an opera singer. When Colin gets engaged, Anthony still hasn’t quite figured out if he – the family’s patriarch – is cut out for being the man of the house. He’s also unsure about the future of his second brother, Benedict, who is the next in the line of succession. By rejecting Colin’s engagement to Marina, Anthony makes a self-serving decision to ease his own anxieties. As it turns out, it’s ultimately Lady Whistledown who destroys the potential union by exposing Marina’s secret.

The penultimate episode of Bridgerton season 1, “Oceans Apart,” highlights Anthony’s tendency to play nice when things don’t turn out his way. After Colin’s engagement crumbles, the viscount apologizes to his little brother for being “a trifle harsh.” Anthony behaves the same way after arguments with his love interest Siena, and usually gets what he wants after softening his tone. It’s a behaviorial pattern with the viscount, shown further in the Bridgerton season 1 finale, “After the Rain,” when he approves of Benedict’s “friendship” with the dressmaker Genevieve Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), a woman of lower status who just so happens to be a friend of Siena.

In Bridgerton season 1, Anthony sets a high bar for Colin out of familial responsibility, but also because he needs to prove himself as the man of the house. This is evidenced quite dramatically when he challenges his own friend, the Duke of Hastings, to a duel, and then rushes to Siena for some manipulative make-up sex. With Colin, though, Anthony knows that his brother doesn’t necessarily need to rush an engagement if Daphne’s impending marriage is the family’s primary focus. The viscount knows that his sister will eventually be taken care of, if only by title, and he wants his little brothers to enjoy themselves before taking on bigger responsibilities.