Dearest Reader, the wait is finally over as the most talked about Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 graced Netflix screens worldwide on June 13, 2024. The Bridgerton PR team can now go on a well-deserved vacation with the magnitude of hype devised around the show in the past couple of months. Fans have been bursting with excitement for the highly talked about mirror scene, Colin’s discovery of Lady Whistledown’s identity, and so much more! The four-episode second part of the beloved show answered every burning question that could linger in the viewers’ minds and then some. Warning, Spoilers Ahead!
Bridgerton is a popular romance period drama based on Julia Quinn’s book series of the same name. The show debuted in December 2020 and has received widespread acclaim for its set design, inclusive casting, performances, and directorial prowess. The drama boasts three seasons and a spinoff limited series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Each season of the show is based on a novel in Quinn’s series and revolves around the love story of a member of the affluent Bridgerton family. Bridgerton Season 3 explores the relationship between Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and is an adaptation of the fourth novel of the series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Let’s jump into how and why this season lived up to all the hype!
Penelope and Colin’s Relationship Develops Most Organically
With all eyes on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington this season, viewers were thrilled to witness their relationship blossom as Penelope finally emerged from her shadows. The sheer act of Colin taking a stand for her several times this season goes to show how much he has always cared about her. The scene in the church when Penelope confessed, “I have loved you since the moment we met,” had viewers’ hearts bursting with a thousand emotions. Their wedding was nothing short of a Disney fairytale, and the impromptu dance to the classical rendition of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” made the scene feel downright magical.
A season like none other, the tense tone and endearingly awkward atmosphere made Bridgerton Season 3 feel that much more real. The pair’s love story had a nuanced depth as they went from friends to lovers. Colin helps Penelope gain confidence, and she, in turn, helps him gain perspective on his life’s purpose.
Even when the cat’s out of the bag and Colin discovers that Penelope is, in fact, Lady Whistledown, he handles the information with a maturity that may have been missing in the previous seasons. He casts aside his raging male ego as his love for her reigns supreme above all else. The line that left a lasting impact this season has got to be the one from Penelope, where she says, “I do not need you to save me; I just need you to stand by me,” showing the character’s growth over the years.
The Nuances of Family and Friendship is a Soaring Theme
Family and friendship were explored in the most precious fashion this season, making it an incredibly wholesome watch. Seeing Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Penelope’s friendship mend gradually was relieving as they had several heart-to-heart conversations throughout the season. Viewers also bore witness to the level of mature understanding and dependability in Violent Bridgerton’s (Adjoa Andoh) and Lady Danbury’s (Ruth Gemmell) long-standing friendship. Bridgerton Season 3 also served as an eye-opening awakening for The Featheringtons as they finally come together as a family and embrace kindness for one another.
Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley) now serve as the solid foundation that strives to keep the family together while tactfully balancing their raging romance and responsibilities. There is a soaring theme of “Family is everything,” be it between Lady Danbury and her brother or Penelope’s new association with the Bridgertons — the show leaves no stone unturned in taking those leaps of faith.
Viewers Are Graced With a Hefty Serving of Bridgerton Copulation
It wouldn’t be Bridgerton if viewers weren’t served with a generous helping of snogging and scandalous fornication! The hyped-up mirror scene delivered heat and raging sexual tension of the highest degree — which is no surprise considering the infinite talents of Colin Bridgerton. Special props must be given to the raw approach that was adopted in this particular sex scene, with finer details that made it seem far more true-to-life than any other love-making on the show.
Viewers were particularly thrilled at the enthusiasm with which Colin never hesitated to take liberties with his magic fingers any chance he got! What was most surprising, though, was that the award for the most seductive scene this season goes to another Bridgerton brother — Benedict (Luke Thompson). His ravenous threesome with Tilley (Hannah New) and Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio) left viewers choking on water and shocked beyond imagination.
Supporting Character Arcs Play a Major Role in Season 3
Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) was a supporting character spotlighted this season. While her backstory and character development conjure empathy and praise, her thoughtless decisions towards the end of the season leave her with very few redeeming factors. Violet Bridgerton finally graced the dance floor hand-in-hand with Lady Danbury’s brother, Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), and viewers couldn’t hold back their happiness at the possibility of her garden finally blooming again! An underrated side character is Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), who imparts wisdom to Penelope when she considers possibly giving up her passion for Colin’s sake. The only side characters who didn’t contribute significantly to the plot were the Mondrichs, conjuring just the slightest ounce of disappointment.
Francesca Bridgerton and Lord Kilmartin’s Courtship Is Endearing
When two introverts fall in love, they get what Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and John Stirling (Victor Alli) have. Over the course of their courtship, the duo develop a healthy understanding and fit together perfectly like pieces in a puzzle. It was sad to see those around them — especially Violet Bridgerton — question the longevity of their relationship. The two peas in a pod go through their fair share of challenges to appear convincing enough to finally receive everyone’s blessing to wed. Their wedding was intimate and void of pomp and pageantry, much like their relationship, and was the sweetest touch to an otherwise plot-heavy season.
A Feminist Message Was The Ideal Way to Wrap Things Up
Bridgerton Season 3 came to a glorious end, leaving viewers with a feminist message that holds true in an evergreen fashion. Penelope’s explanation for how being Lady Whistledown gave a young lady like her, who was considered insignificant in society, a voice, power, and identity was profoundly moving. In the world of Bridgerton, where marriage seemed to be the only purpose of a woman’s life, Penelope’s leap of faith embodied how courage can be rewarding. In the final episode, she ignores the criticism that may come her way as she fearlessly reveals her true identity to everyone at her sisters’ ball.
Her line to the Queen (Golda Rosheuvel), “ …that is my repentance and my plea,” sent chills down viewers’ spines as she reminds women in society that no matter what, one always has worth. The scene where the butterflies are released from the cage is a fitting metaphor for Penelope’s life and how her future holds only sunny days with the love of her life, Colin. At the same time, she basks in the glory of being the talented writer that she is as she continues to enamor society with her tactful command of words. Check out this stand-alone guide on how Bridgerton Season 3 reveals Lady Whistletown’s identity.
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