After a lengthy two-year hiatus, we finally heard the voice of Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) say, “Dearest Gentle Readers”. It’s surreal to think this will be the last time we hear Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown as the torch is now being passed over to the real Lady Whistledown, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). The wait is finally over! And to say I was excited would be an understatement. The Ton we left in Season 2 of Netflix’s Bridgerton is not quite the same; feverishly abuzz with an ever-flowing array of changes. Bridgerton Season 3, created by Shonda Rhimes, is adapted from Julia Quinn’s fourth novel in the Bridgerton series, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.
After a month of fully absorbing all that has transpired, I have to wonder: did it TRULY live up to my expectations? Let’s dive into the newest season together and unravel everything that has occurred. We will break down the good, the bad, and controversial narrative changes.
⚠ Readers be warned! This paper is full of the latest societal gossip and spoilers. ⚠
This season, it was the Featherington’s turn to shine! Our blooming wallflower Penelope’s turn, that is, and true love is just around the corner for her. Well, living directly across the way in the Bridgerton home, to be more precise.
Speaking of, over at the Bridgerton house, our beloved couple from Season 2, the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest and first Bridgerton child, and his new Viscountess Kate (Simone Ashley), are enjoying their honeymoon. Francesca (Hannah Dodd), the sixth Bridgerton child, is making her debut in society, and Colin (Luke Newton), the third Bridgerton child, has returned from his travels a new man. The once boyish and softspoken Colin is now more rugged and sturdier, dare I say pirate-esque. It’s safe to say he shivered the ton’s timbers. Let’s not forget that Eloise (Claudia Jessie), the fifth Briderton child, and Penelope start the season in a tiff. Eloise, like Penelope, is a spinster, a woman beyond their typical marriage age, in her third year on the marriage mart. The once tight-knit best friends are no longer associating with each other after Eloise learns at the end of Season 2 that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. Much to our surprise, she is now close friends with a fellow spinster in her third year also on the marriage mart, THE ton’s mean girl, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen). Unfortunately for Cressida, she is stuck in a hard place, as her father, Lord Cowper (Dominic Coleman), and her mother, Lady Araminta Cowper (Joanna Bobin), are seeking a betrothal for her if she cannot find a suitor this season.
Across the street, the Featheringtons also had plenty going on as well. With both of Penelope’s sisters, Phillipa (Harriet Cains) and Prudence (Bessie Carter), wed and her mother, Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker), occupied with being hounded by the Royal Solicitor (Jon Monie), concerning the discrepancies of their recent acquisition of a large fortune. Plus, there’s also the matter of their titles and estate currently at risk of being lost unless Portia can prove she didn’t falsify a letter regarding the transfer of title to the next heir from the previous new Lord Featherington from Season 2, Jack (Rupert Young). Which surprise surprise, she did, but we have to love her because… I mean, it’s Portia Frickin’ Featherington. What an icon!
We also welcomed a new and familiar family into the ton, the Mondrichs, who have been with us since the good old Season 1, Simon (Regé Jean Page), and Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), the fourth Bridgerton child, days. Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice (Emma Naomi) Mondrich adjust to their new lives in society after Alice’s Aunt, Lady Kent, passes away and leaves the title of Kent and the estate to their eldest son Nicky (James Bryan), the now new Baron of Kent. And alas, Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) passion for the new social season has abruptly calmed, but her utter determination to unmask Lady Whistledown remains prevalent and fierce.
After three years in the marriage mart, Penelope is ready to break free from her family’s grasp and find herself a husband. But in typical romcom fashion, to get the boy, one must undergo ‘the makeover’ with help from the most popular guy, who also happens to be your crush, in this case, Colin Bridgerton. Cues “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. Goodbye citrus colors. (finally!)
While makeovers are the staple of every ’90s and 2000s rom-com, this season was brimming with romantic comedy tropes, from cute, flirtatious moments to competing for the same love interest to failing miserably at flirting. In the typical, poor-timing rom-com fashion, Colin took notice of this new Penelope. Of course, she had her eyes set elsewhere. Enter the man. The myth. The vegetarian. The nature-loving Lord Debling (Sam Phillips). But alas, Penelope wasn’t the only one who vied for his attention; Cressida Cowper also took an interest in Lord Debling and his wealth, per her mother’s influence. The battle was short, and Penelope was the victor, which left Cressida suddenly thrust into the unfortunate betrothal to the much, much older Lord Greer (Richard Durden).
Penelope finally got her chance to be in the spotlight, becoming one of the famed Bridgertons. It was so refreshing to see Nicola finally have beautiful, well-tailored costumes that complimented her perfectly. Notably one of my favorite elements of the season. It was great to see Penelope come into her own, and it was also pretty hilarious watching horny Colin fumble around her. She had him hooked, lined, and sunk. Which I mean, how could she not?! Look at her! She’s stunning. But Colin and Penelope weren’t the only ones struck by Cupid’s arrow this season.
Colin’s younger sister Francesca, the soon-to-be-named by the Queen diamond of the season, was also taken with Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli), who happens to share quite a bit in common with Francesca in personality and desires. Not only that, but Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell), the lovable Matriarch of the family, garden seems to be in bloom, catching the eye of Lady Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh), not-so-favorite brother, Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis). Let’s not forget my favorite Bridgerton, the introspective romantic Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second Bridgerton child, who, to his behest, is also ‘lightly’ participating in society this season. Though to his behest, his experiment doesn’t quite pan out how he had hoped, all thanks to ambitious mamas. But fret not, as Benedict was struck by the stunning Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New), and dabbled in a friends-with-benefits with her and her friend Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio). It finally happened! Since Season 1, when Benedict met the famous artist Sir Henry Granville (Julian Ovenden), I’d always felt Benedict could be bi-curious, and we finally got confirmation.
Phew! That’s a lot to keep track of! With four Bridgertons at the helm of this season, I do feel the attention to Colin and Penelope’s story was overshadowed by these other b, c, and d storylines. While the first part was successful in capturing our hearts with an adorable friends-to-lovers romance, the narrative at times felt more like a society paper. While one could argue it is a fitting narrative structure to coincide with the author Lady Whistledown’s own story unfolding, I still feel that the audience didn’t get enough of their story. It all felt a bit rushed and, at times, lacking in depth. However, what it lacked in narrative, it prospered in romantic chemistry and steamy scenes. Thanks to a carriage ride, the first four episodes came to a steamy penultimate with a cliffhanger that left many, including myself, both blushing and in shock. Who knew scandalous carriage rides could be so intriguing? And where were the chaperones?!? Quite the scandal indeed! Perks of being Lady Whistledown, I guess.
Oh! And Colin’s fingers lightly fixing Penelope’s sleeve could rival Mr. Darcy’s (Matthew Macfadyen) hand flex from Pride & Prejudice (2005)… if you know, you know. And fun fact: both these moments weren’t scripted. Brilliant! And I thought the carriage ride was wild… little did I know that in episode 5, a mirror and chaise, broken during filming, would prove me wrong. Oh, la la indeed! The only thing missing from this season was Colin drawing Penelope like one of his French girls. I mean, he did write about some dalliances with French girls from his travels… let’s just say Colin and Penelope gave Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) from Titanic (1997) a run for their money… we’re looking at you, handprint on a steamy car window… And that, kids, is how Colin Bridgerton became Lord Whistledown. It’s safe to say this season didn’t disappoint when it comes to horny Regency romances.
Like previous seasons, this year is flooded with anxious mamas seeking to help their daughters find suitors. And this season was no different for the Bridgertons, Featheringtons, and Cowpers. One thing I do have to say is this season changed my perspective of the Featherington family. I’ve never truly been overly fond of the Featherington family as a whole until this season.
We FINALLY witnessed Lady Featherington and Penelope reconcile. Something I have eagerly been hoping for. Of course, this didn’t come easily. Not only that, but we also gained more appreciation for her sisters. All of which led to some of my favorite writing and scenarios this season. A hilarious and much-needed story arc, the race between sisters to produce a male heir to be the next Lord Featherington… a simple but incomprehensible task for Phillipa and Prudence. Poor Lady Featherington! Thank god she has Penelope.
The character development between Mother and Daughters in each family has truly reshaped my views of the family. Violet and Francesca also had their ups and downs this season, with Violet hoping for a true love match for Francesca, which she in turn didn’t believe in finding something as great as her parents, so she settled. With the Cowpers, it was no different. Lady Araminta Cowper wanted to see her daughter married and taken care of financially; however, Cressida didn’t want to be stuck in an awful marriage to someone who could easily be her grandpa. The main thing I loved about this season was that it wasn’t just about a character finding love but the love between a mother and her daughter. We witnessed this love in many forms, whether it was Violet standing behind Francesca’s decision, Araminta Cowper helping Cressida fabricate proof of Cressida’s little white lie being Lady Whistledown, or Portia Featherington being there more for her daughters.
Unlike in the novels, Cressida has been with us since Season 1. Originally, she was only in the fourth novel. This change in the series and her bigger role this season finally made me appreciate her character more and start to see her as more than just a mean girl whose dresses and hair seem to get progressively wilder every time we see her. Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming teams this year for portraying how claustrophobic and trapped Cressida is within her own life and society through her hair and wardrobe. They certainly outdid themselves. I would have never guessed ginormous shoulder pads were going to be the main character this season. Speaking of Cressida, not only did she go head to head with Penelope this season vying for Lord Debling’s possible hand in marriage but also in the society papers.
Finally, after two seasons, we witnessed Penelope’s big secret come fully into the light, thanks in part to Cressida. Unexpectedly though it didn’t cause as much chaos as I was expecting. Yes, for a short period this season, Cressida, with the help of her mother Lady Cowper, pretended to be Lady Whistledown, but for being such a big white lie it didn’t have as big of an impact on the story as it should have. Penelope was graciously ready and looking to wipe her hands clean of the ink of her gossiper’s past. But the Queen’s eagerness to unmask the gossiper and Cressida’s uncovering of Penelope’s secret identity, in record time might I add, added just the right amount of fuel we needed to witness Penelope grow more into herself. While there may not have been as much drama as I had expected surrounding Penelope’s big secret reveal, the shy wallflower was no more. Penelope finally came into her own and was radiating with confidence. A moment I have been dreaming of since the first season and it was well worth the wait.
When it comes to adaptations, the biggest debate is what they get right and wrong. And Bridgerton falls into major change territory, which for some, lands in the wrong.
Unlike previous seasons, I was immediately caught off guard as we were introduced to an inclusively diverse array of side character members of the Ton and their wildly colorful costumes, some that verged on garish. While this is an alternative adaptation of history, I found the costumes for the background characters distracting, as the typical pale Bridgerton colors of blues, violets, and silvers don’t necessarily stand out as much. However, the addition of these new side characters pleasantly surprised me. I found it refreshing that this season, the showrunners and writers sought once again to add more representation to the narrative, straying from the novel’s original monotonous whitewashed lack of cultural and ethical diversity.
In previous seasons, Shondaland sought to make the narrative more inclusive through specific casting changes and evolving the narrative. And this season was no different. Not only did the British Sign Language (BSL) community gain representation, but also those with disabilities. As well as more representation of the LGBTQ+ community. This season prominently explored a more diverse narrative both with Francesca and Benedict Bridgerton. On one hand, with Francesca and Lord John, the writers chose to address neurological and developmental disorders. Something we have rarely understood or seen in television and movies until more recent years. I think this is an important addition that will help refreshingly grow Francesca’s story. As no two people are the same, it also provides a better explanation of who she is than just her being the outcast of the family. Additionally, the widening representation of LGBTQ+ representation opens the door for more possibilities moving forward.
This leads me to, the Michael/Michaela effect. A narrative change that has overwhelmingly stirred the fanbase. Some, like me, cheerfully back this creative decision, and others are opposed to this MAJOR narrative change.
⚠ Spoiler alert! ⚠ If you aren’t familiar with Francesca’s storyline, understand that Lord John is not her TRUE love match. That title goes to his cousin, Michael… now Michaela (Masali Baduza), who we are introduced to towards the end of the season finale, episode 8. In the novel, tragically, John passes away. In grief, Francesca grows closer to Michael, and they end up happily married and have a few kids together. Based on the current social standards of the Ton in the series and historically, this would, unfortunately, be deemed “inappropriate” or “not proper”. So, will this be another Queen Charlotte (Netflix Mini Series, 2023) “Great Experiment”? Just as Queen Charlotte transformed society, diversifying and paving the way for other persons of color to join and marry into current society. Will there be a moment in which the Queen outwardly approves gay marriage? In turn, will we see more characters come out? We’ve already, in my opinion, loosely confirmed this season that Benedict and Francesca are both bi-curious. Side note: This is not confirmed, but I definitely questioned whether Cressida Cowper is gay and secretly in love with Eloise.
So, going back to the Michael/Michaela change, I personally already love Michaela, and we barely know her. Seeing Francesca stumble over her words, which for her she’s a pretty poised and elegant woman who is suddenly thrust into an unknown bi-territory. It will be interesting to see how exactly Shonda Rhimes tackles this major narrative change, approved by the author Julia Quinn. Because, right now, it is seemingly causing major story reconstruction.
It’s just leaving me with lots of questions. Will Francesca have kids with Lord John, or will she adopt kids? Does Lord John still die? Will Michaela be Francesca’s “Friend who lives with her”? Will they get married? Will the Queen host the wedding at her place? Is Cressida gay? I have SO many questions, which a majority don’t necessarily need to be answered. I think from a writing perspective, I am more eager to see how this all plays out. Overall, the writers focused more on developing characters, from their personalities to their traits and their flaws, which, in turn, helped add more depth to these characters, giving me more reason to care about the main characters and their stories a little bit more. Something I feel has been somewhat lacking at times in Seasons 1 and 2.
This leads me to my next question.
In typical dramatic television fashion, we were left with the ultimate question… what Bridgerton’s story is next to be told? I am personally hoping for Benedict’s story to come next. Based on the easter eggs towards the end of the final eighth episode, the camera focused on Benedict and, in a conversation with Eloise, alluded to an annual Masquerade ball their mother hosts. In Julia Quinn’s third novel in the Bridgerton series, An Offer From a Gentleman, this is, in fact, where he first meets his love interest, Sophie Beckett, in a Cinderella-esque moment.
So, if this indeed is the case, the question remains. Who will portray Sophie? Well, I have some fun speculations. Currently, we have a few possibilities. The first, and most likely, according to Collider, Netflix released information alluding to a casting call for Season 4. They describe the character “as a major recurring role… looking for an actress to portray “Emily,”… scripted as an East Asian female. The role will involve nudity and scenes of a sexual nature.” If you’re familiar with Sophie’s character, “Emily”, who has very similar story traits. Is this a real casting call or simply just fanbait?
Lastly, which is an out-there possibility, is Cressida Sophie? Or perhaps Sophie’s Stepsister? Her mother’s name just so happens to be Araminta, which ironically is the same first name as Sophie’s Stepmother in the novel. Coincidence? Perhaps not. At the end of the episode, we also see Cressida being sent to live with her aunt in the country. Her hair was made to look like a locked cage with a bird inside. Could Benedict be the one who has the key to set her free? While this is a fun idea to consider, this may have been debunked by the cast and crew. Allegedly, there was an idea to have Lady Cowper be the keeper of the “key” and come to rescue Cressida at the end of the episode.
However, there is also one other possibility for Season 4. Could we instead explore either Francesca or Eloise’s story? Perhaps even a double Bridgertons’ Season?!? Well, let’s not get carried away… that’s the last thing we, as fans, want. We will just have to wait and see who is next and what unfolds. Until next season!
Yours Truly,
Lady CouchSoup Cushions
Overall, I’d give this season a 7.5/10.
Parts 1 and 2 of Bridgerton Season 3 are now streaming on Netflix. Bridgerton Season 4 is currently expected to be released in September 2025.
