Bridgerton Season Three is Filled with Pleasant Surprises!

The third season of ‘Bridgerton’ has been the most anticipated season of the Netflix series for the past two years with the promise of our favorite wallflower, Penelope Featherington, blooming and my does this flower blossom this season!

The show opens with the beginning of another London season as the Featheringtons return with newly found wealth and Lady Whistledown back again! On the other hand, Bridgerton's home reveals the return of the happily wed couple of season two, Anthony and Kate, and the family’s anxiety about yet another Bridgerton debutante.  

Image source: Netflix. 

However, Francesca Bridgerton is a pleasant surprise for she is neither nervously excited like Daphne nor impatient like Eloise. In fact, she is all poise and grace as she plays the pianoforte, prepared for her debut. Hannah Todd plays Francesca with the perfect balance of reservedness and self-assurance, without overdoing anything and making her a very likeable Bridgerton.

Image source: Netflix. 

Thankfully, the first half of the season also shows the beginning of Francesca’s love story with Lord Kilmartin (Victor Alli). Cue the cutest love story between introverts! It is so pure and innocent, it is just what Bridgerton is in dire need of!

However, Francesca is not the only thing that is different with the Bridgertons this season. A changed Colin Bridgerton swoops in full of charm and intrigue from his latest travels. He soon becomes the ladies’ man when he tells the ladies, “Were I tell you the tiniest adventure, well, I’d be forced to marry you,” leaving the women blushing and giggling. Luke Newton impresses with this change in his appearance and demeanor, it gives his character the edge that is very much needed for him to lead this season.

Image source: Netflix. 

The biggest change comes in Penelope Featherington who is not ready to remain in the shadows anymore this season. Nicola Coughlan is a treat to watch this season as she perfectly depicts Penelope’s frustration, her comic fumbling in front of suitors, her sadness, and her beauty as the main lead. Her acting is perfectly complimented by her physical transformation.

Costume designer John Glaser has done a fabulous job with Coughlan’s wardrobe this season because it makes her stand out from the rest of the Featheringtons and assert her own independent identity, it really brings out her beauty, and it complements the Bridgerton colors, which emphasizes the growing romance between Penelope and Colin.

Image source: Netflix. 

Although Bridgerton costumes come with the same glitz and glamor this season, some notable mentions include Eloise and Francesca’s costumes. 

Eloise does take the back seat in the first half of the third season, but her fashion is to note not only for her light blue gowns but there are a few scenes where she is shown wearing long coats and midi jackets, which enhances the character’s beauty.

Image source: Netflix. 

The costume design for Francesca contained the same colors as the Bridgertons, but the white and sparkly gowns emphasized her soft personality, while a midi jacket with power shoulders in the scene when Lord Kilmartin calls on her emphasizes her resoluteness when it comes to love.

Image source: Netflix. 

In the first half of the season, there has been more focus on Penelope in her pursuit of a husband and her relationship with Colin, therefore there isn’t much focus on Lady Whistledown. Although the teaser for the second half promises Queen Charlotte’s hunt for Lady Whistledown, I believe that the hunt for Whistledown should have started earlier on.

Penelope is shown balancing both acts, however, her search for a husband overpowers the presence of Lady Whistledown, which does not make sense when the second half of the season is all about her.

Also, the threat to Penelope’s anonymity threatens the continuing presence of Lady Whistledown and honestly, it is hard to see Bridgerton continuing without a Lady Whistledown. Lady Whistledown is a significant driver for the plot because the subplots for the past two seasons have revolved around her. She is the eyes and ears of London society, it doesn’t make sense for her identity to be revealed so early on in the Bridgerton story.

Image source: @bridgertonnetflix.

Other than the main leads, Lord Debling and Lord Anderson are a breath of fresh air this season and the actors playing them bring a distinctive charm to the show, which is very much needed after watching Colin Bridgerton continuing his cavalier act and Benedict Bridgerton find a new lady to bed! Seriously, when is this man going to find a purpose? He might be a supporting character, but viewers can’t wait for him to come to his senses and find some purpose! We can't wait for him to get his season to see the much-needed change!

Image source: Netflix.

With some pleasant positives, ‘Bridgerton’ continues to impress in its third season and with the second part of the season coming on Thursday, Jun. 13, this reader hopes there are more good things to come!