Bridgerton – Season 3 Part 1 Review

I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve been pretty excited for the newest season of Bridgerton.

Plot

Constantly underestimated by her family who expect her to end up a spinster, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) is determined to find a husband this season. For a girl who’s always been more comfortable on the outskirts of conversation rather than the center of attention, she’s completely lost as to how to foster attention from potential suitors. This all changes (kind of) when her longtime friend and object of her secret desires returns from sleeping his way through Europe. Yep. Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) is back. And lawd from all the action he’s been getting he should probably get tested. For real, syphilis was a big deal back then.

After falling out with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), Colin is Penelope’s only friend in the ton. After overhearing him telling his friends that he would never be interested in courting her last season, she has been harboring some resentment towards him, as well as hurt feelings. Colin tries to make amends with her though, by offering to help her attain what she wants more than anything, a proposal. Okay, so anyone who’s been following the series knows that it’s going to be Colin proposing here, but Colin doesn’t have Netflix, so he doesn’t know that yet. As such, Collin offers to be the best wingman for Penelope that he can and teach her how to flirt. All in secret though.

How is Colin going to react when his lessons pay off with the attention of one of the most eligible bachelors of the season? Will Penelope have to choose between Colin and her new suitor? Will the side romances be wildly more interesting than the main romance this season? Watch season 3 of Bridgerton on Netflix to find out!

My Thoughts

First of all, I just want to say that I do really enjoy this series. I didn’t think I would at first, but it really sucked me in. That being said, I have to admit that it’s pretty shallow. Most of the show is about people trying to find the richest husbands possible, or the prettiest wives. Love matches do of course exist, but they are more of a rarity. The biggest draw of the show is that it is a lovely fantasy reimagining of a historical period where everything is pretty. Soooo pretty. And for the most part, the character’s biggest concerns really are who’s marrying who and what’s the hottest gossip. I will say though…. the sex scenes are very much written for women. It’s great.

This season, although the prettiest yet, has been a bit of a disappointment so far for me. Here’s why. It’s been very predictable. After watching the trailer for this season, I felt like I knew exactly what was going to happen. And after watching it, everything played out exactly like I thought it would. Now I didn’t expect Colin to be as much of a player as he is, but still. I’m hoping that maybe part 2 of the season will add some of that much needed conflict and unpredictability.

I’ve really enjoyed the side stories so far this season, though! Will and Alice Mondrich’s sudden turn of luck, Francesca Bridgerton’s choice between suiters, Penelope’s elder, married sisters learning about the birds and the bees. The most surprising has been a spark of romance between Lady Violet Bridgerton and Lady Agatha Danbury’s mysterious brother. It’s all been fresh and entertaining, and a great way to take a break from Penelope and Colin’s “will they, won’t they” romance.

That’s it! Check out season 3 of Bridgerton on Netflix! I’d normally say pop that popcorn, but I think drinking some fancy tea might be more in theme with the show!