Bridgerton Season 3: 5 Thoughts We Had After Watching Penelope AKA Lady Whistledown Romancing Colin!

Spoiler alert obviously!

Dearest Gentle Readers, the season may have closed its glittering doors, but the echoes of gossip still linger in the air after Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2. We, the devoted readers of society’s scandal sheets (both literal and metaphorical!), are left breathless after this whirlwind social season. It was a Jane Austen novel sprinkled with gossip rags and a dash of bodice-ripping intrigue. Lady Whistledown’s mask finally slipped in a reveal worthy of a masquerade ball’s grand finale. Seeing Kate and Anthony become parents and go to India was the cherry on the cake!

So, gather round, my dears, with your teacups brimming with piping-hot gossip. Let’s dissect this season’s triumphs, the occasional societal faux pas, and those lingering cliffhangers that have us more on edge than a spinster at a wedding.

1. Penelope Bridgerton’s (Yes, she is a Bridgerton finally!) Character Growth

There is no doubt when I say that Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) has outdone herself amazingly this time and all of us loyal Lady Whistledown readers are fans! Since the first glimpse of Penelope’s character, everyone made assumptions about what the character’s fate was going to be like (courtesy to her sisters as well). Still, the character’s growth from a wallflower to the proud Lady Whistledown and a Bridgerton was perfection. My favourite has to be the scene where Colin feels confused about his ability to provide for Penelope as her future husband when she says that she has enough funds to pay Cressida. He asks her what he should do while Penelope says, “Just love me. Your kindness is what I savour.” The perfectly put-together scene made my heart light up with joy. She didn’t need a man to save her, she just needed her pen and Colin’s love.

Also Read: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Proves, Keep Your Husband Close But Your Girlfriends Closer!

2. Happy Pride Month From Benedict (Finally!)

While it was good to see that the writers made progress with Benedict’s character finally exploring his sexuality with Lady Tilley Arnold and her “friend” Paul Saurez, Benedict’s character takes a mature turn and is seen as not sure about his future when Lady Tilley Arnold asks him to be in a monogamous relationship with her. Instead, the whole arc changed everything for Benedict. But the fans have known about this since SEASON 1, Benedict’s curiousness might have appeared in this season, but we have known it in our bones for a long time.

3. Other Plotlines- Lady Danbury, Cressida Cowper, And The Queen

Sure, Season 3 was supposed to be about Polin’s conflicts but the side characters’ plotlines seemed kind of shakey. When Lord Anderson arrived in Mayfield, it shook Lady Danbury that he had come to snatch her friend Violet Bridgerton and other good things away from her. The whole plotline seemed interesting until they just randomly sorted things out. I mean not that there wasn’t enough drama, but I thought there should have been more.

Cressida’s character might have been disliked this season with all the lies and blackmailing, but it stems from where she has been brought up. Her father made her feel useless because she didn’t get a suitable husband, her mother did not take a stand for her, and with no friends around, I understand what she went through. Cressida deserved more and maybe we see it in the next season.

While we do have a whole dedicated series for Queen Charlotte (and my oh my is it good) this part saw very little of her and Brimsley. We needed more than just a smirk when she got to know about who the real Whistledown is.

4. The Final Showdown Moment Of Lady Whistledown

I remember getting on the edge of my seat with my hand on my mouth when I found out Penelope Featherington is indeed Lady Whistledown. The moment that we had all been waiting for since we first heard “Dearest Gentle Reader,” was what would happen when the ton finally finds out her real identity. The arc of the ton believing that Cressida Cowper was rather dumb because she was too. I expected a more powerful speech addressing all the issues she went through and empowering women through writings, but instead, we just got a really boring speech with the Queen whispering, “She’s humble.” The disappointment was real.

Also Read: These 5 Bridgerton Theories Deserve A Page In Lady Whistledown’s Newsletter!

5. The Mirror Sex Scene With Polin Was Breathtaking!

While I have read about people’s disappointment with not getting more action between the lead couple, the mirror sex scene has to be one of my favourites! The truth and comforting conversations that they had perfectly depicted body positivity and the REAL first-time experience that a woman goes through instead of having orgasms on the first go. The actors brought out the best in their characters and shot this scene. The realness and innocence of a woman based in the colonial Britain era, not knowing anything about her pleasures really came out when she asked Colin, “What do I have to do?” Her wanting to please Colin as well was very cute and we loved it!

This season opened the door for a lot of new relationships and even mended the ones that were broken. The honest conversation between Penelope and her mother about why she behaves like that with her children is because she is a product of the fake societal norms telling her she needs security from a man and not love. Seeing their relationship blossom was the best part.

Overall this season made me fall in love with Colin and his charm. But the fact that there is no cliffhanger at the end made it seem as if this was the last season. But as we know, a new season awaits us, so we might as well start imagining now- Which Bridgerton will lead the show next? Will it be Benedict or Eloise? And what was the look on Francesca Bridgerton in the last episode?

Also Read: Men, Take Notes From The Nawabs And Nobles Of Netflix’s Heeramandi And Bridgerton. They Are Such Green Flags!

Meghna Rajpal

Patriarchy's worst nightmare (with a cute smile). An introvert walking around with Bollywood Music in the background who will avoid meeting you in public. I write about pop culture, fashion, and everything controversial.

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