TV show review: Bridgerton season three

Dearest gentle reader, let’s just say that season three of Bridgerton is truly one for the books.  With the promise of new relationships, the blossoming of old ones, and lots of scheming and scandal in store, the fans very much anticipated this season. It was enjoyable but I personally loved the side-plotlines as opposed to the main relationship portrayed.

This season’s main focus is on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the ton’s favourite gossip columnist Lady Whistledown — also known as Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) — and their love story. Penelope and Colin have been friends for years. During this time, Penelope harboured an unrequited crush on Colin. Now, entering her third-year on the marriage market, Penelope feels more motivated than ever to find a husband. Even if it means potentially sacrificing the romance she’s always dreamed of having. 

Their story might initially seem like the classic childhood friends-to-lovers trope, but there is so much more to it than that. While Penelope loved Colin for many years, it took Colin a long time to realize his feelings towards her. In past seasons, the characters met and got married in a matter of months. This season proves that sometimes good things take time. I think there should have been more attention to their story — there are too many other plotlines that take the focus away from them.

The season simultaneously focuses on Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and her budding romance with Lord Kilmartin (Victor Alli). Francesca, one of the younger Bridgerton siblings, has a more prominent role than previous seasons. I personally enjoyed watching her character fall in love with Lord Kilmartin and their conversations on music. This storyline, however, took away from Penelope and Colin. Their’s was much easier to watch and their interactions were so much more wholesome. This may have been why they were more popular with me over Penelope and Colin.

Another interesting storyline is the introduction of a new character, Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis). He is a love interest to the widowed Violet Bridgerton, who isn’t sure if she is ready to move on from her previous husband. I was intrigued to see how the writers of Bridgerton would include a character that is not from the books. This season he did not make too many appearances. When he did appear, there was clear chemistry between the two, which was nice to see! 

A key plot point that I enjoyed was Penelope and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) rekindling their friendship after their fallout. Previously, Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown resulted in Eloise having a scandal because of her blossoming relationship with a lowerclass printer’s apprentice, Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch). This unexpected storyline destroyed Eloise’s faith in Penelope. This time around, Eloise is at first angry and annoyed to hear about her brother’s engagement to Penelope. Despite her anger, she and Penelope find a way around their quarrel and I loved seeing the growth of their relationship despite the difficulties each of them faced.

This season is a good one, with a great deal of discoveries and jaw-dropping moments. But the presence of more compelling storylines distracts from the main relationship between Penelope and Colin, resulting in a lack of chemistry. Their relationship is not the highlight of a season that is supposedly dedicated to their relationship. The other characters’ relationships and friendships had more chemistry than the main couple’s. It was sad to see but nevertheless it was still a fun watch!

All episodes of the show are available for streaming on Netflix.