Dearest gentle reader, if there’s one thing to say, it’s that Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 may have done better than Part 1, but it can’t make up for everything.
Netflix’s major error is spitting up Season 3 into two parts. It allows viewers to notice more problems with the show since fans aren’t thinking about it as a whole season — it acts as two separate seasons.
While the costume department did a fantastic job transitioning Penelope Featherington’s (Nicola Coughlan, Derry Girls) yellow into the Bridgerton blue and kept it up this half, the writers still fail to deliver on the high expectations. Since Part 1 solidified Season 3 as the worst of the Bridgerton seasons, Part 2 did as much as it could to try and claw its way up. But still, Season 3 will inevitably stay at the bottom.
Some of the lighter moments made this season the first meta Bridgerton season. Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson, Dunkirk) called himself a floater during a celebration with his brothers, hinting at the creators not knowing what to do with his character who constantly changes interests each season. Yet, Benedict will always be a favorite for his personality. Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker, Rome) then ridicules Penelope for constantly going off on her own this season with no chaperone, hinting at the continuity errors from Season 1.
This half keeps up the comedic notes that only make it stronger. Once Benedict and Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey, Broadchurch) find out Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton, The Lodge) is engaged to Penelope rather fast, Benedict mocks Anthony, asking if he’ll duel his own brother. Everyone who’s seen Season 1 knows what this is about. Every time Anthony is on screen, he’s his normal self — confident, in love, and ironically hilarious.
But not every character stayed themselves. Colin has already changed from Part 1. He’s closer to his Season 1 and 2 version, which is greatly appreciated. There are still some scenes where he has his newer personality where it feels like the writers want him to be closer to Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves).
The one character who has unexpected actions, however, is Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell, Fever Pitch). She believes love matches are the way to get married, yet when Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd, Enola Holmes 2) finally finds a love match like her mother wanted, Violet doesn’t quite approve only because it’s not the way she and her other children have expressed their love. Just because Francesca and Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli, Gangs of London) aren’t as showy about their love doesn’t mean it deserves less admiration from Violet. For the first time, her character became a small letdown. That is, until the end.
But with so much focus on Francesca’s storyline, it can’t be said this is a Colin season. There’s still too much going on, which begs the question of which character is the main focus. The simple answer is Colin, since that’s what the show advertised. But the honest answer is that there’s no main focus, and it’s a combination of Colin and Penelope’s relationship, Francesca, and Penelope’s own storyline with Lady Whistledown. Side plots are supposed to be a fun little side story, like the story of Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe, The Tragedy of King Richard the Second) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi, Professor T). While Francesca isn’t the main storyline of this season, her plot is definitely not presented as smaller compared to Colin’s storyline.
Then, viewers have Colin. Oh, what a treat (let’s make it abundantly clear that’s sarcasm; he is no treat). Colin is simply a jealous, man-child simp. All he does is throw a tantrum and not actually do anything this season besides wanting to be the bigger man in the issue at hand. Then, he remembers what he felt all Part 1, and he’s happy with Penelope.
Colin needs a stronger story. He needs to show more romance with Penelope. He needs to have courted her more in the overall season. He needs to not be a lost puppy that loves its owner when he gets a treat and then barks at the owner when they don’t give him exactly what he wants.
Season 3 needs to have more episodes to dive more into Colin and flush him out as a worthy character. Part 2 should have been more connected to Part 1, especially with Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen, Leatherface). Part 1 spent so much time making her a real person that viewers could connect and sympathize with only to drag her out and hang her up to die. Cressida deserves a better ending. Even if the show wants her as the supposed villain, her ending is unrewarding.
Since Penelope ended up with Colin, why couldn’t Cressida end up with Lord Debling (Sam Phillips, The Crown)? Lord Debling never paid attention to Lady Whistledown or the gossip, so he wouldn’t care about everything with Cressida. Furthermore, the show doesn’t care too much about being accurate to the books and since he’d be traveling so much, it’d be a perfect match. If Part 1 didn’t try so hard for fans to like Cressida, Part 2’s actions might work great. But because of Part 1, Part 2 feels like a brand new plot, not a continuation of one.
Since Colin’s feelings carry so much haste, it’s no surprise this part basically skipped over Francesca’s future partner’s introduction (something else not quite like the books, which will only make Season 4 all the more interesting).
Expanding this season – on top of some plot changes – would do it justice, so it doesn’t feel rushed. Still, two characters that received well-deserved more screentime are Philipa Featherington (Harriet Cains, Mercury) and Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter, Les Misérables). Prudence is especially a stronger character this season when she becomes jealous of how much attention Portia is giving Penelope for her wedding. It’s a perfect touch to the show since fans didn’t get to see her wedding; Harry Dankworth (James Phoon, Wreck) just appeared this season as her husband. There is no information on how he courted her or how they got married. Philipa and Prudence are the right amount of comedic relief this show needs and let’s hope it stays that way.
Even though it can be assumed that Season 4 will be far superior to a slightly disappointing Season 3, Season 3 does present a few notable aspects that make it enjoyable for fans, nonetheless.
