"Bridgerton" Season 3: There’s Hope For Both Wallflowers And Playboys
The long-awaited return to Regency London has occurred, and it comes with a suspenseful progression of events. Although some might think it’s somewhat lacking compared to the previous seasons, I thought it was entertaining and left me guessing about the next series.
In various sneak peeks into the new Bridgerton season, we saw that Penelope Featherington takes the spotlight and yet again is plagued by the results of her anonymous escapades as Lady Whistledown, while a new Bridgerton boards the social season and Colin strides in as the new local heartthrob. While this is indeed the case in Season 3, I found that the season gave too much attention to the many side plots, which distracted from the main characters and their development. These included the pregnancy endeavors of the two elder Featherington sisters, Cressida Cowper’s impending spinsterhood, Eloise’s grumblings, Lady Bridgerton’s attentions from a widower, and the Modriches’ struggles in society, as well as the brief jumps to Anthony’s love life.
The main plot was Penelope’s resurrection from the wallflower shadows, her predicament of feelings toward her friend Colin, and whether or not she would be able to be honest with him or if Lady Whistledown’s expression of her hidden feelings would ruin her time in the spotlight and her love life. Simultaneously, we saw a development of character in Colin from social playboy to caring admirer.
Annoyingly, Bridgerton loves leaping to the explicit sex scenes, and this series was no different in that regard (i.e. Colin in the middle of a threesome or the Featherington sister awaiting conception under her bouncing hubby). That being said, Season 3 had fewer sex scenes, and what was there was somewhat shorter than those in previous seasons. But still, these same plot points could have been portrayed in a less graphic way.
As always, the fairytale-like aesthetics didn’t disappoint, and the details were ever vibrant and picturesque.
A New Diamond
At first, Francesca Bridgerton seems to be the new point of attention as the newest Bridgerton to enter society. She has definitely bloomed into graceful womanhood; however, she lends a very subtle and quiet distraction from the turmoil of her siblings’ escapades. Although she is one of the main characters, her story is definitely not the focus of the third season. Her elegance and pianoforte skills, however, single her out to the queen as those of a sparkler, a social diamond, so she makes headlines for Lady Whistledown in the process of attracting bachelor attention.
A Wallflower Blooms
It’s heartbreaking to see how Penelope watches her best friend, Eloise, give her the cold shoulder and befriend the cold Cressida Cowper. But she doesn’t let that define her life. Penelope piques social interest when she decides to do something about her stagnant situation of appearance and status. Instead of moping or complaining about being the borderline-Cinderella sister, she decidedly leverages her options and takes determined action to secure a husband.
After her visual transformation – the ever-entertaining tale of the “makeover” glow up after a reclusive period of insignificance – Pen turn the heads of society in her dreamy new gown and fashionable hairstyle. And even though her lack of enticing social skills are briefly discouraging, she mends the problem by enlisting Colin’s help in refining her self-presentation. Of course, she falls prey once or thrice in the midst of the husband-hunt to insecure one-ups and comparisons when she competes with Cressida for the attention of the most financially desirable bachelor of the season, vegetarian Lord Debling (who essentially just seems to be an oblivious puppet in the game of female pursuits).
Colin: Raking to Loving
Penelope isn’t the only one who’s had a glow-up. At the season’s intro, Colin seems to have “come into his own” after his travels with a new air of dashing confidence and charm. And, sidenote, can we please talk about Colin’s hairdo? Besides the shapely head of hair on him, does anyone else think that the long, thin, and sharp sideburns really gave guys back then such an edge? It seems to have been quite the detail in their makeover to mature, eligible bachelorhood, and it definitely elevates Colin’s look from boy to man. His stylist also makes him stand out from the crowd in his Parisian vests and “fashionable” neckties (or lack thereof).
Colin glides around society, effortlessly flirting with every fluttering fan he encounters during the day and making his brothel stops at night. The question of the beginning episodes is will he end his rakish chapter of sowing wild oats? Initially, Colin seems to be enjoying his newfound freedom in the world of elusive charm and casual flings with multiple different women. Eventually, however, he comes to the realization that he wants more than meaningless sex.
Colin struggles with the culture’s position on how men of the gentlemanly and aristocratic classes occupy themselves in their idleness. After all, “gentlemen of the ton do not work” but loiter around in aimless revelry as a remedy for boredom. Confused and exasperated, he blurts out his frustration and weariness to his male companions about how society encourages them “to be cavalier about the one thing in life that has meaning.” To this young man whose whole life is comprised of society events, dressing up, and eventually managing his business affairs, life starts to look very bleak and empty without meaningful connection, actual love, and true intimacy.
Friends to Lovers
Colin and Penelope give a perfect example of the frustration that can occur in a friendship with the opposite sex. Usually, the dilemma in the can-friends-break-out-of-the-friend-zone question is that one always falls for the other, but the feelings may not be reciprocated. In her answer to Colin, Lady Bridgerton says, “Yes, indeed, love may blossom from friendship in time,” but it takes both parties to fall, whereas it’s often just one. This turn of events was anticipated in Season 2, when Penelope yearns after Colin and is stung by his heartless declaration that he “would never” court her.
After Pen silently shows little signs of attachment and care, Colin finds himself battling conflicting feelings, especially so after they share a surprising kiss upon Penelope’s desperate and tearful plea to satisfy her fear of a kiss-less death. Colin finds himself plagued by jealousy, and Penelope is distracted from the possibility of making the most remarkable match of the season by her longing for Colin after years of crushing on him. After they share a passionate scene in the carriage leaving the ball, Colin teases Penelope and asks if she will marry him “or not?”
Closing Thoughts
While the rest of the characters continue living their fluffy lives, Penelope is still hiding her secret identity, so the question viewers are left with – which will hopefully be answered in part two of Season 3 – is will she tell Colin before she is exposed and would that be cause enough for their separation? Colin swore revenge against Lady Whistledown in one scene but confesses burning passion for Penelope in another, without knowing they are one and the same. Eloise certainly wouldn’t let her brother marry into a lie. Penelope and Colin both have a tremendous choice before them – one that might affect a lifetime of happiness.
Support our cause and help women reclaim their femininity by subscribing today.