Dearest gentle readers, there’s word around town that Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) are back with much pomp and pageantry as Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 finally graced Netflix screens on May 16, 2024. After a long wait and immense hype around the new season, fans binged through the episodes in no time! Filled with breathtaking wardrobe changes, jacked men, and some shockingly scandalous rendezvous, it’s no surprise the show has viewers bouncing off the walls. The following article contains spoilers for Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1.
Bridgerton is a wildly popular Netflix period drama that revolves around the Bridgerton siblings and their quest to find love during the Regency era in England. It first premiered on December 25, 2020, and gathered a massive fan following almost instantly. The show, based on the Julia Quinn book series, now consists of three seasons and a spin-off series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Bridgerton is Shondaland’s first scripted show for Netflix, with Season 3 focusing on the romantic affair between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Let’s dive into everything viewers loved and didn’t love about Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1.
Do Colin and Penelope’s Have The Chemistry Required to Carry Bridgerton Season 3?
The friends-to-lovers arch is a romantic trope that never fails to please. As was the case with Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, viewers deeply enjoyed the progression of their friendship from platonic to steamy within a matter of episodes in the most shocking ways. Witnessing Colin dip his toes into flirting and explore the nuances of being a rake was not particularly thrilling, but it only made his scenes with Penelope more sincere. What’s really impressive is that Penelope stood her ground and expressed her disdain for Colin’s remarks about her as well as the conviction with which she expressed what she wanted.
While Daphne-Simon and Kate-Anthony left big shoes to fill, the new leads have approached this season with a unique twist of their own. The sheer hunger with which Colin Bridgerton stares into Penelope’s eyes had viewers shrieking in excitement as the sexual tension grew with every passing scene. Their first kissing scene appears to be a moment right out of a Disney fairytale. Eagle-eyed fans did not miss moments when Colin cheekily devoured a slice of cake and appreciated the gentleman for obtaining consent before he traversed deeper regions during the now infamous carriage scene. While part 1 of Bridgerton season 3 touches upon the pair’s friendship and heated intimacy, the question lingers — can they find their romantic footing in the upcoming episodes amongst the heavy dose of lust and threatening secrets?
Are the Supporting Character Subplots Adding to or Taking Away From the Essence of the Show?
Bridgerton does not shy away from diving deeper into the subplots of all its supporting characters. While some of them enrich the plot in the most beautiful ways, there are times when they take away from the screen time granted to the protagonists. The introduction of Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) could be unnecessary and a bit of a drag as nothing profound takes place with her character. Another storyline that engulfed more screen time than it should have was the rags to riches arch of Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi), which could have been more subtle.
But all’s not lost, as there are subplots that breathed life into Bridgerton Season 3, and added depth to the screenplay. While viewers were thrilled to see the return of the Viscount (Jonathan Bailey) and Viscountess Bridgerton (Simone Ashley), the relationship between Kate Sharma and Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) proved to be a sweet touch. Cressida Cowper’s (Jessica Madsen) character and unlikely friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) were surprisingly engaging. However, Eloise Bridgerton’s character deserves better as she is thrust all over the place to make the plot lines flow. This season also gave viewers a rare insight into the members of the Featherington family.
The Glow-Ups of the Lead Stars are Starkly Eye-Catching
As is custom, the leads of the new season underwent the Bridgerton glow-up, leaving viewers irrevocably stunned. Colin Bridgerton went from boy next door to a hot and distinguished pirate — the evident tan from his long travels and a tasteful galore of hair across his ripped chest had viewers in a chokehold! Apart from appearance, his rakish behavior and poised demeanor added to his attractiveness with a generous serving of shirtless shots.
Fans were relieved to finally see Penelope Featherington step out of the god-awful citrus gowns and unflattering makeup. We love a transformation montage, and Bridgerton season 3 did not disappoint! Penelope Featherington sported a refreshed wardrobe of beautiful Cyans and dazzling Ceruleans with soft glam that made her eyes sparkle. Not to forget the revenge dress, which deserves a moment of silence for its iconic and powerful impact. She doesn’t fit in the bracket of the typical female lead physically or even character trait-wise, which was a redefining moment for the show.
Lingering Questions Viewers Need Answered in Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2
In true Bridgerton fashion viewers were privy to the cliffhanger at the end of Episode 4, with a sea of questions that remain to be answered in Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2. While it’s quite clear that Colin is thirsty for Penelope, viewers are excited to witness some heartfelt exchanges between the two. There is also a palpable stir for the impending wedding night. Romance and coitus aside, viewers are keen to see how Colin will react when he finds out about Penelope’s hidden identity as Lady Whistledown and whether it would lead to trouble in paradise.
Will there be more scenes with Anthony and Kate basking in their extended honeymoon period, and will Francesca end up with John Stirling (Victor Alli)? These are questions that remain up in the air. There is also the concern of whether Violet Bridgerton’s garden will bloom again, how the development between Colin and Penelope will affect her equation with Eloise, what turns Cressida Cowper’s fate will take, and whether Will Mondrich gives up his men’s club.
However, the most important question remains. Will Season 3 be followed by a Season 4, and which Bridgerton sibling’s storyline will it follow? Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 will be released on June 13, 2024.
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