Dearest Gentle Reader,
Bridgerton season 3 is here! The first four episodes have been released and fans everywhere are talking about it. If you are a fan and have not seen it, consider this a SPOILER ALERT, as we are about to dive into these newly released episodes.
Bridgerton season 3 focuses on the love story of Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). Once again, Bridgerton did not disappoint. The new season is on fire and we cannot wait to see what happens in the last four episodes.
In the first two seasons, we loved the close friendship that Colin and Penelope shared. However, Penelope had secretly been in love with Colin for years. This feeling, however, was certainly not mutual. In fact, at the end of season 2, Colin told a group of young men that he was not interested in Penelope and would never consider courting her. Unfortunately, Penelope overheard him and was devastated. Colin then departed to travel abroad, unaware that Penelope had heard what he said.
Penelope and Eloise
Let’s remember that Lady Whistledown, an anonymous writer, had been wreaking havoc in the ton for quite some time. She wrote and secretly distributed a publication containing gossip about all the families that are part of this high-status society.
Penelope Featherington and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) had been best friends for a long time. The bond they shared seemed unbreakable. Eloise had been on a long mission to find out the true identity of Lady Whistledown. Penelope had even helped her in this endeavor.
When Eloise found out that this mysterious writer was her best friend, Penelope, she was completely devastated. How could Penelope deceive her like this? Furious at this shocking revelation, Eloise ends their friendship. Fans were heartbroken to see this friendship end, as we all had grown to love the close bond they shared.
Now let’s dive into season 3.
Bridgerton Season 3
At the beginning of the first episode, we hear the familiar voice of Julie Andrews reciting the words in Lady Whistledown’s newest publication. “Dearest Gentle Reader”, she says. “We have been apart for far too long.” Then we see Penelope, the real Lady Whistledown, smiling as she watches all the people in the ton excitedly reading her latest issue.
Colin now returns home from his travels and is talking to a group of young ladies outside his home. Penelope, whose home is nearby, is watching from afar. Colin has undergone a noticeable transformation and is brimming with confidence. The change in his physique is also apparent.
As he talks to these young ladies, they are captivated by him. His charm is almost too much for them to bear. They are simply giddy just being in his presence. We cringe as we see this because this is not the Colin we have come to love. He is overly confident to the point of being arrogant. In later scenes, we see him having sex with multiple young women. His promiscuity has gotten out of hand. The last thing on his mind is finding a wife and settling down with just one woman. Some fans are questioning if this change in Colin was even necessary for the storyline.
Searching For A Diamond
It is that time of year again when all the eligible young men and women are paired up for marriage. Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) will once again choose her Diamond. The Diamond is a young lady that the queen has taken a special interest in. After she evaluates all the eligible young women, she bestows this honor upon one of them. This lucky young lady will now become the focus of the Queen’s attention. In fact, all eyes will be on her from this moment on.
The day has come and all the eligible young ladies line up at the castle to present themselves to the queen. Unimpressed with all of them, the queen begins to grow weary. Even the beautiful Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) does not receive her favor. We are left to wonder just who the Diamond will be.
Fancy balls are held this time of year so that the young men and women can socialize and potentially find a mate. This is also a time for the queen to further evaluate the young women in order to choose her Diamond. We, as fans, love these “ball scenes”. The dancing captivates us and the interactions between the characters is riveting. After several balls, the queen continues to be unimpressed, and the families in the ton are starting to wonder if she will ever choose a Diamond this year.
An Unexpected New Friend
At one of the queen’s parties, Penelope and Eloise see each other. Their eyes lock and it is obvious that they miss each other. But then, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) enters the scene and makes disparaging remarks about Penelope’s appearance.
Cressida Cowper is the arrogant young woman who was an enemy of Penelope and Eloise in the previous two seasons. So, after Cressida insults Penelope, she walks up to Eloise and the two walk away together. Penelope cannot believe her eyes. Eloise and Cressida have become friends! Tears fill Penelope’s eyes. Her heart is broken.
Meanwhile, at the same party, Colin is once again surrounded by a group of young women. Although they are making a big fuss over him, when he sees Penelope, he walks over to her. He tries to engage her in conversation but Penelope is still very angry with him and walks away.
That night, Penelope has an epiphany. She will not be looked down upon and regarded as insignificant any longer. She decides to change her appearance and reinvent herself. She even vows to never wear “citrus-colored dresses” again, as these have always been the staple of her wardrobe.
The next day, Penelope visits Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), the local modiste, to choose new dresses for her physical transformation.
Remember, Madame Delacroix knows that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. These two have a business arrangement and Madame Delacroix has vowed to never reveal her secret. Penelope then declares that she needs to find a husband. She says that she simply cannot bear to live with her disrespectful family any longer. She is tired of being ridiculed by her older sisters. She is also tired of her mother, Lady Featherington, treating her like she’s worthless.
The New Penelope Featherington
At the next ball, Penelope descends the stairs looking absolutely stunning in her new emerald-green dress. Her hair and makeup have also changed, and all eyes turn to her in astonishment. Colin approaches her and compliments her on her beautiful dress. Penelope is still visibly upset with him but Colin still doesn’t know why.
Penelope finally tells him that before he left for his travels, she overheard him saying he would never consider courting her. Colin feels horrible and apologizes. Penelope then tells him that she intends to find a husband, but does not have the skills to attract someone. Still feeling bad that he hurt her, Colin wants to make it up to her by helping her find a husband. He offers to give her lessons on how to flirt with men and draw attention to herself. Penelope agrees to this arrangement.
The “Lessons”
Colin gives several lessons to Penelope on how to flirt with men. He wants her to try it and tells her to flirt with him for practice. When Penelope does this, Colin gets a strange look on his face. He is suddenly attracted to her!
A few days later, Colin tells his sister Eloise about these lessons because she is asking why he has been with Penelope so much. Eloise then innocently tells Cressida and someone happens to overhear it. Within days, everyone in the ton knows about these lessons. Penelope is being ridiculed because she couldn’t get a husband on her own. Because of this constant ridicule, Penelope tells Colin that there will be no more lessons.
That night, Colin goes to Penelope’s house to check on her because he knows she’s upset. She tells him that she fears she will die without ever being kissed. She begs him to kiss her so that she can experience it. He hesitates at first but then he kisses her. The kiss is more passionate than either of them expected, but Penelope just thanks him and walks away! Colin did not expect to feel anything from this kiss, but instead, he is left breathless. Colin then begins to have dreams about Penelope and cannot stop thinking about her.
Penelope’s New Suitor
Penelope, on the other hand, is simply determined to find a husband. Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), a very wealthy man with a love for nature, has taken an interest in her. He courts her and Colin can barely stand to see them together. Lord Debling tells Penelope that he would like to make her his wife. He even asks Penelope’s mother, Lady Featherington, for her blessing. He does this because Penelope’s father is dead, so he must ask her mother.
The queen is holding another ball and this is where Lord Debling plans to propose to Penelope.
Colin’s mother, Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), has discerned that her son has fallen in love with Penelope. She tells Colin that friendship is the best foundation for a successful marriage. Although his father has died, Colin knows that his parents were close friends long before they were married. Lady Bridgerton then tells Colin that Lord Debling is planning to propose to Penelope that night. Colin realizes that he has to get to the ball before this happens.
Colin gets to the ball and asks for a dance with Penelope so he can talk to her. He tells her that she cannot possibly marry Lord Debling. He reminds her that Lord Debling would be away a lot and that she would be left alone for months at a time. Penelope responds by saying that she has accepted that fact and still wants to move forward with the marriage.
We should now mention that Cressida Cowper was the other woman Lord Debling was interested in. However, he has decided that she is not the one for him. Cressida seems to be aware that Lord Debling has not chosen her, but she asks him to dance with her anyway. He says yes and while they are dancing, Cressida tells him that Colin and Penelope have been friends for years. Lord Debling had been feeling like something was off between him and Penelope. Her thoughts always seemed to be elsewhere. Now he suddenly realizes why. She is in love with Colin.
Lord Debling approaches Penelope and tells her that he cannot marry her. He says that he knows she has affections for someone else. Penelope is embarrassed and runs outside. She enters a carriage to head home but Colin has followed her. He then gets in the carriage with her.
The Carriage Ride
Penelope is so upset at what just happened at the ball. After talking with her for a few minutes, Colin cannot hold his feelings in any longer. He finally tells her how he feels about her. Penelope is shocked. She had no idea he felt this way. For years, she had hoped that one day he would fall in love with her. She can barely speak, but manages to tell him that she feels the same way. They kiss and then after a steamy scene in the carriage, they pull up to Colin’s home.
Colin gets out of the carriage and tells Penelope to come with him. She looks confused and then Colin says to her, “For God’s sake Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?” She then grabs his hand and exits the carriage.
The fourth episode of Bridgerton season 3 ends and we are left hanging. The last four episodes will not be released until June 13th. How can we possibly wait that long? We have so many questions!
How will Colin’s family react when they find out he is in love with Penelope? How will Eloise feel about this since she is still angry at Penelope? Will their friendship ever be restored?
Will Colin find out that Penelope is Lady Whistledown? He has expressed his anger towards her because of what she wrote last season about the Bridgerton family. If he does find out, how will he react? We can’t wait to see that scene!
What will Queen Charlotte say when she finds out about this surprising new couple? Will she make Penelope her Diamond?
We will have to wait to find out the answers to these questions, but one thing is certain. Bridgerton season 3 is off to a great start!
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