Summary
I don’t thinkBridgertonseason 3 lived up to its book counterpart,Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. The season has impressive numbers, includinglanding on Netflix’s all time most viewed shows listin less than three months. Rotten Tomatoes gave the season an 87%, while the audience score was 76%, the highest of all three seasons.I really enjoyedBridgertonseason 3, but I did find some issues with it,such as the surprising focus on Cressida Cowper. Nevertheless, I still consider it a favorite because of the compelling side plots and family dynamics.
However, when I start thinking aboutBridgertonseason 3’s book counterpart,Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, I keep findingmore critiques on the adaptation. The Lady Whistledown reveal was underwhelming; Anthony and Kate’s lack of screentime was disappointing despite their critical role in the reveal. Colin proposed to Penelope before he learned about her Lady Whistledown identity, something I genuinely disliked. But there was one aspect aboutBridgertonseason 3 that ultimately made me realize that while I did enjoy the season, it did not live up to the expectations set by the book.
New Netflix Data Gives A Lot Of Confidence For Bridgerton Season 8… In 2034?!
New Netflix data gives a lot of confidence for Bridgerton season 8. However, at the show’s current pace, it would not premiere until 2034.
The Problem With Bridgerton’s Colin and Penelope
Colin And Penelope Are Not As Well Written As Their Book Counterparts
Bridgertonseason 3 reminded me of a crucial fact: the show’s characterizations of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington fell flat. While Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton are perfect for the roles, the traits they display in the show don’t match what’s established in the book. For the most part,Bridgertondoes an excellent job with the characters, making them even more compelling than they are in the source material. Marina Thompson is a fleshed-out character rather than just a plot device used to demonize mental illness.Bridgertongreatly improved Kate Sharma from the books, which deepened Kate’s dynamic with her family and her relationship with Anthony.
Even Anthony was not likable inThe Viscount Who Loved Me, butBridgertongave him the growth he needed to become a fan favorite. However,Bridgertondidn’t do as much with Penelope and Colin as it could have. On the show, Colin does not have a personality outside of Penelope. The show ignored his arc and made it seem like it was Penelope’s story only, even though Colin and Penelope both have compelling arcs inRomancing Mr. Bridgerton.Penelope is more intelligent and observant in the books, but most importantly, she critiques thetonwithout weaponizing Lady Whistledown for her personal gain.
Bridgerton Season 3 Could Never Be As Good as Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
Unfortunately,Bridgertonseason 3 was never going to be as good asRomancing Mr. Bridgertonbecause of how the narrative cemented Colin and Penelope’s characterizations in the first two seasons. The show portrayed Penelope as a shy wallflower looking for her voice, which was true to the books, but it also portrayed her as a jealous and mean person,something her book counterpart was not. In fact, the books commented on the subject, with one passage suggesting that she’d be mischaracterized as “mean, and petty, and jealous” ifPenelope’s Lady Whistledown identitywas exposed.
Bridgertonactually turning Penelope into someone “mean, petty, and jealous” effectively defeats the purpose of her character, meaning the show had to fix Penelope so that the audience could find her likable enough to root for her. As for Colin,the first two seasons did not give him a deep personality. In the books, Colin is funny and charming; he always knows how to cheer up someone, and he is perceptive. However, his show counterpart did not portray any of these qualities.
Bridgerton cannot bring Colin and Penelope to their starting point and execute their love story at the same time. However, the show attempted to do both, which effectively rushed their romance and made it less compelling than it was in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.
This is demonstrated by the notion thatBridgertonhad to use a huge chunk of its third season to establish Colin’s character and turn Penelope into someone we can root for.Romancing Mr. Bridgertonhad already established Colin and Penelope’s personalities, so the actual narrative focused on their relationship and further character development.Bridgertoncannot effectively bring Colin and Penelope to their starting point and execute their love story at the same time. However, the show attempted to do both, which effectively rushed their romance and made it less compelling than it was inRomancing Mr. Bridgerton.
Season 3 Saved Colin And Penelope For Future Bridgerton Seasons
There Is More Potential For Colin And Penelope’s Individual Characters
AlthoughBridgertonseason 3 did not live up to my expectations, the season still ended on a hopeful note thatleaves room for further character development. Now that Penelope is writing under her own name, she can hold herself accountable and learn how to critique the ton without weaponizing her column. Furthermore, Colin and Penelope’s happy ending also means that Colin can have an individual storyline that focuses on his writing career. Although futureBridgertonseasons will not center them, there are always side plots, which creates the opportunity for further character development on Colin and Penelope’s end.
Bridgertonseason 3 ended with Colin and Penelope embracing their son, but in the books, their firstborn is a girl named Agatha, after Lady Danbury.
Despite these issues,Bridgertonseason 3 is still a favorite. The showexecuted some of Colin and Penelope’s scenes really well, such asthe mirror scene, which was better than I expected. I also adored Benedict’s sexuality exploration and Francesca and John’s story, the latter of which we did not get in the books. Michaela Stirling’s introduction was unexpected, but I loved the change. However, the best part aboutBridgertonseason 3 was Penelope and Eloise’s reconciliation. Their relationship was the heart of the season, and I am excited for their new and improved friendship in future seasons.
Bridgerton
Cast
Bridgerton, released on July 19, 2025, is set in Regency-era England and follows the lives of the influential Bridgerton family. The series explores themes of wealth, lust, and betrayal, portraying societal dynamics through a blend of romance and intrigue.
