The return of romantic drama Bridgerton season 3 is just around the corner. This is a season that is very different from the previous two seasons.
While Bridgerton season 2 ended with a happy marriage, bringing a happy ending for the couple Anthony and Kate; for Penelope Featherington and her best friend, Eloise Bridgerton, it opened up a painful deception.
Netflix announced that it will surprise fans of the series with innovations in season 3, telling the romantic love story of Penelope, nicknamed “Lady Whistledown”, and Colin Bridgerton.
Here is everything you need to know about the new chapter of Netflix’s popular historical drama series.
Bridgerton Season 3 Plot: “Lady Whistledown” in Trouble
Bridgerton Season 3 begins with the love story of Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (played by Luke Newton).
After giving up on her long-standing unrequited feelings for Colin when she hears his malicious comments about her, Penelope decides it’s time to get married – preferably one who will give her enough independence to continue her double life as Penelope and “Lady Whistledown”. But lacking confidence, Penelope’s efforts at marriage planning fail miserably.
On the other hand, Colin returns in Bridgerton Season 3 full of swagger, but is disappointed to see Penelope, who has always had a crush on him, suddenly cold towards him.
Desperate to mend their relationship, Colin offers to help Penelope build her confidence to change her luck in finding a husband. As his lessons with Penelope begin to pay off, Colin must decide whether his feelings for Penelope are just friendship or more.
The main couple has been “shipped” since season 1
The main couple of Bridgerton season 3 is Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington – known to fans as the Polin couple. Unlike the previous two seasons, when the other half of a Bridgerton member was only introduced at the beginning of the season, the main couple of season 3 has been familiar to the audience since season 1.
From season 1, the show revealed that Penelope had a secret crush on Colin but he only saw her as a friend. And season 3 of the series will see Colin get “karma’s” come back to haunt him. Because when Colin saw Penelope cold towards him, he suddenly realized that he had her in his heart without knowing it.
It can be said that if the Daphne – Simon couple of season 1 started from enemies to husband and wife, Anthony – Kate of season 2 started from enemies to love, then Colin – Penelope is a love nurtured from friendship.
Important girls in Bridgerton season 3
Season 3 of Bridgerton is also very special when exploiting the shy female character (wallflower), with a quiet personality, somewhat more timid than the female characters of the previous two seasons.
Penelope is an intelligent girl, talented in writing, a best-selling secret writer nicknamed Lady Whistledown that the whole London high society is crazy about. However, in the eyes of most people, Penelope is a girl who is not outstanding in appearance, her intelligence is also unknown. Therefore, season 3 marks Penelope’s unexpected “transformation” both on the outside and inside.
Netflix also revealed that season 3 will explore the relationship between the female lead Penelope Featherington and other girls, not just revolving around her love affair with Colin. Above all, her friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (played by Claudia Jessie).
One of the most beautiful friendships in Bridgerton must definitely be the friendship between Penelope and Eloise. The two have played together since they were children, experienced the time of being introduced together during the ball season, and shared their views on love and life. Eloise always tends to protect Penelope, and Penelope cherishes Eloise very much.
However, in the season 3 trailer, it seems that Eloise has become close to Cressida Cowper. This is one of the most hated characters in Bridgerton. Furthermore, she is also Penelope’s “enemy”, who always looks down on and bullies Penelope. This causes a rift in the relationship between Penelope and Eloise, and makes it even more difficult for Penelope to keep her identity as “Lady Whistledown” a secret. What will happen when Eloise learns that her best friend, Penelope, is “Lady Whistledown”?
Differences between the movie and the original book
The Bridgerton series is adapted from the 8-book novel series by author Julia Quinn. Each film corresponds to an episode in the series, exploring a central character who is a member of the Bridgerton family (including 4 brothers and 4 sisters). Season 1 is based on the book series The Duke and I, season 2 develops from the book series The Viscount and I.
According to the original book series, the central character of episode 3 is the second son of the Bridgerton family, Benedict (played by Luke Thompson). The story is like a 19th-century version of Cinderella: Benedict falls in love with Sophie Beckett, the daughter of an earl who was forced into slavery by her hateful stepmother.
However, the producers changed the order of the book series a bit when adapting part 3 of the Bridgerton film. Season 3 of the series decided to tell the story of the third son Colin. In the novel series, this book was originally the fourth book. As such, the order of the stories has been slightly shuffled in the series.
Jess Brownell, who will succeed Chris Van Dusen as narrator for season 3, explained the change in chronology: “I really feel like this is Colin and Penelope’s moment. Because we’ve seen their relationship develop since season 1.” As such, the producers believe that focusing on Colin and Penelope, rather than shifting to a couple that wasn’t as central in the previous two seasons, will be more welcomed by fans.
Will the original cast return for season 3?
The return of Penelope, Eloise, Colin, and Benedict is a given. However, before filming began on season 3 of Bridgerton, Netflix announced a number of new cast members for the series. Ruby Stokes’s role as Francesca Bridgerton will be replaced by Hannah Dodd. There are also three new cast members: Daniel Francis, Sam Phillips and James Phoon.
After the heartthrob Regé-Jean Page left Bridgerton after season 1, many feared that the beloved cast would not return for future seasons. Thankfully, season 2’s main couple Ashley and Bailey have both been confirmed to return for the next season.
