Nicola Coughlan is exceptional as Penelope Featherington, as the tension between her and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) reaches boiling point. A mix of sweet and sexy but is it everything we have been waiting for?
Netflix’s Bridgerton returned for its third season, with the first four episodes premiering on May 16th and the remaining four on June 13th.
After their 2020 debut, the Bridgerton's were one of the most talked about families in Netflix history. The first season followed the eldest daughter Daphne Bridgerton’s entry into polite society, with a steamy romance with the Duke of Hastings; and the second followed Anthony Bridgerton’s, the eldest brother of the family, romance with Kate Sharma, giving viewers an enemies-to-lovers arc, leaving fans eager for more.
Set in 1800s London, season three of Bridgerton delivers on expectations with scandal, gossip, and plenty of sex, showing that the Bridgerton's are far from the regal and elegant family they appear to be.
‘Polin’ Romance and Secrets
The underlying romantic connection and sexual tension between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Fetherington was something that has held fans’ attention throughout the first two seasons. To Colin his relationship with Penelope is strictly friendship, whereas Penelope is hiding her feelings towards him to protect their friendship.
Despite their friendship ending on a sour note in season two, Penelope overhears Colin saying, "I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington, not in your wildest fantasies." This leaves their relationship strained and one-sided, which is seen during the first episode of season three.
However, they quickly reconcile when Penelope decides she doesn't want to be a wallflower anymore and insists that this is the year she gets married. Colin offers to help her, but in the process, he realises his true feelings for her.
In the first half of the season their relationship doesn’t grow much until the very last episode, before the month-long break, where Colin and Penelope get fiery in the carriage. This scene was nothing short of steamy, and everything the fandom had been waiting for between Colin and Penelope.
The carriage scene was full of sex, love, and everything in between but I couldn’t help but notice that traditions such as the girls being chaperoned and never being alone with a man were lost in this season. These traditions were established and enforced so strongly in the first 2 seasons, but forgotten in season three. Furthermore, after waiting almost two years for this season, it felt rushed and lost.
Actress Nicola Coughlan promised a very romantic series, yet the second part to the season seemed rocky between the pair rather than romantic. The couple quickly marry and the Whistledown reveal promptly causes problems between them, with Penelope keeping her true identity from her husband.
In the book Romancing Mister Bridgerton, part of the series Bridgerton is based on, Penelope abandons her alter ego after marrying Colin. But every Bridgerton viewer knows this would not have been great for the series, as it so strongly revolves around Lady Whistledown’s gossip and the effect it has on the Ton. Penelope herself acknowledges Whistledown is power, and a part of her whether Colin likes it or not.
Were the subplots any good?
The season was certainly full of subplots, at times taking away fully from the Polin love story.
One of the most important subplots followed Francesca Bridgerton and her debut into society, tackling both her mothers’ and the Queen’s efforts to steer her towards their preferred suitors. Her marriage to John Kilmartin, allows her mother to see that marriage can start with contentment and companionship, leading to romance.
Francesca’s relationship with Lord Kilmartin is what opens her mother’s eyes to a new romantic adventure with Lady Danbury’s brother Lord Marcus Anderson. Both characters being widowed, and Violet Bridgerton’s children quickly flying the nest and finding their own partners, it would only seem fair for the lady of the house to find her own happy ending.
As always, one of the Bridgerton brothers must play the role of sex-crazed and wild. This season was no different with Benedict Bridgerton taking taking up the hypersexual mantle, yet unlike Anthony, who moved away from this in the first season, Benedict continued playing the “manwhore” whilst his family were being questioned by the Queen.
Cutting from the Bridgertons being questioned to Benedict engaging in a sexy threesome, it felt as though the production company were just trying to find him a reason to stay in the series in hopes to make his love story the next season..
Last but by no means least, the shocker of the whole season was Cressida Cowper impersonating Whistledown to fend against her unwanted fate. This almost allowed the audience to feel sympathy for Cressida, as she was more than willing to ruin her reputation to stop a marriage between her and the older man her father picked for her. Cressida showed bravery and resilience towards not only her father but the whole Ton, showing that marriage may not be everything to a female’s life.
What next?
Now that Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown has been revealed to the Ton, it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the show.
Will the writers follow the storylines of the books, which would mean having the next seasons follow the rest of the Bridgerton siblings in their attempts to find romance, or will they stray away completely?
With the third season being focused on Colin and Penelope, rather than following the third book of Benedict and his focus on finding love, it can only show that the writers are willing to diverge from the original Julia Quinn novels.
Viewers will be excited to see what happens with Francesca’s storyline going forward, having introduced Lord Kilmartin’s cousin as a female character, Michaela Stirling, rather than male Michael Stirling that the books’ fans already know. Could we see a same-sex leading couple in the future?
The wait for season four is well and truly on.
Edited by Atlanta Tsiaoukkas
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