Lady Whistledown is the centerpiece of the third season of Bridgerton

Dear Reader,

Another season (from Netflix Bridgerton) is just around the corner and is once again full of romance and scandals. As your ever-watchful Lady Polydown, it is my duty to assess the comings and goings of the Ton and let my dear readers know who is worth keeping an eye on – after all, there are so many members, but not all of them are just as convincing as others!

This season all eyes are on Miss Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). After two seasons of watching her pining for her best friend, Mr. Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), it’s high time this wallflower took matters into her own hands!

But is Mr. Colin worthy of Miss Penelope’s affection? This is a mystery that baffles me season after season. To him, Miss Penelope was nothing more than a loyal, devoted and supportive friend. Mr. Colin has changed greatly during his absence from her company, but is his newfound toughness and swagger enough to heal the wounds in Miss Penelope’s heart?

Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) make steamy eye contact as she heals his injured hand

At least Mr. Colin’s affection Do A change occurs this season after Miss Penelope enlists his help to attract a suitor. Her brief flirtation with reclusive naturalist Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) is actually the most compelling part – although it’s clear that even if they were a good match on paper, she could still be holding on to an old chapter. But this author wishes there was one a little further evidence of Mr. Colin’s feelings, beyond a few heated dreams.

As for Miss Penelope’s side business as… other Gossip mongers…let’s just say it hasn’t been forgotten. It remains, mainly because it completely destroyed her relationship with a certain Miss Eloise Bridgerton. And this season, Miss Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is accompanied by Miss Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), the constant villain of recent seasons. But if there is a glimmer to be found, it is this aspect, a development that creates an actual meaningful friendship and adds depth and maturity to Miss Cowper’s character. What a surprise that I fell for this previously unlikable debutante! Even though she is plotting against Miss Penelope, I understand that now that we know more about why Miss Cowper is the way she is. And the friendship she shares with Miss Eloise is particularly impressive, as both are shunned by the current marriage market three seasons later.

Eloise and Cressida stand at the edge of the ballroom

But the love story that captured this author’s heart isn’t the focus of the season. No, it’s between the shy Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and the stoic Jonathan Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin (Victor Alli).. Miss Francesca just wants to be left alone this season, and the only one who understands that is Lord Kilmartin. Compared to the big, flashy love affairs of her siblings, Miss Francesa’s novel is incredibly understated and quiet – and yet it’s a different kind of romance, one we haven’t seen in previous seasons, and one that completely captured my heart. The Queen may not approve, but this author is completely delighted!

Ah, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his new bride Kate Bridgerton, née Sharma (Simone Ashley), have returned from their honeymoon – and they’re here to kiss and look beautiful. Do they add much to the splendor of this current season? Not particularly, but they’re so sweet and in love (and they don’t take it in, either). to a lot of time away from the main event). I acknowledge that I am being completely and unashamedly taken care of, but I don’t care because it fills my heart with joy to see this happy couple once again.

Meanwhile, Mr. Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is once again in town, meeting up with another woman who was only introduced this season. The only thing that convinced Mr. Benedict was his love for art and painting. However, when he discovered that his brother had paid for his admission to the Royal Academy of Art, Mr. Benedict caused a great uproar and subsequently gave up his artistic pursuits. And yet, where is Mr. Benedict without his penchant for the paintbrush? A boring bachelor, that’s what it is. Now this season he’s just sneaking around with his sexually sassy lover without really interacting with his siblings or doing anything else interesting.

What confused me most, dear readers, is the constant fixation on Mr. Will Mordich (Martins Imhangbe) and his family. If this name doesn’t sound familiar to you, don’t feel bad. I certainly wouldn’t have remembered his name if he hadn’t been the owner of a once popular club. But thanks to a distant relative’s confusing will that leaves Mr. Mordich’s eldest child in charge, the Mordich family is forced into high society. A noble achievement, but one that still sets them apart from the other clay players. Yes, Mr. Mordich is good friends with the Duke of Hastings, but the Duke has been out with his beautiful Daphne for two seasons now. All too often, Mr. Mordich and his family feel inadequate when isolated in the face of the spectacle of the rest of the season. What’s the point? I don’t know, but it’s at least adorable to see the child lord learning about silverware.

Francesca Bridgerton sits on a couch with Lady Violet Bridgerton

As for elsewhere in the tone, they all have some sort of little plot thread. Viscountess widow Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) is smitten with her dear friend Lady Danbury’s brother (which I personally approve of, given what we learned in it). Queen Charlotte that Lady Danbury once had an affair with Lady Violet’s father). Meanwhile, the Featherington sisters compete to produce a male heir with their husbands – a highly amusing plot considering how these unsuspecting young couples are romantically involved (what a match made in heaven!). And of course, the Queen is determined to oust Lady Whistledown, even though the game has been in a stalemate for some time.

I’m torn, dear readers. On one hand, I was expecting some delicious romance going into this season, and I certainly got that! Not only between Miss Penelope and Mr. Colin, but also between Miss Francesca and her surprisingly charming admirer. And other relationships continue to fascinate me, like the unexpected friendship between Miss Eloise and Miss Cowper. Still, there are so many superfluous people to keep an eye on this season that I wonder why it’s even worth paying attention to their actions. Unfortunately that’s it Bridgerton Dilemma: For every interesting sibling and their romantic partner, there are dozens of boring stories weaving in and out of their lives (some with looser connecting threads than others).

But even when the sea is calm, the tide of courtship can still turn. After all, the season is still young. There’s plenty of time for the less insightful characters to become a little more interesting (and for Mr. Benedict to remember that he has a passion for something other than mentoring rich widows). We’ll see what the second half of the season has in store for us. Until then, this lighthouse keeper will wait on her tower, watching warily over the sound.

Best regards,

Lady Polydown

The first half of the third season of “Bridgerton” is now available on Netflix. The second half (also four episodes) will be released on June 16th.