‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Review: Good Foreplay, No Climax
Bridgerton Fails To Deliver Exciting Finale
However, the quality of the foreplay is so outstanding that the actual act becomes less important. Picture: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Warning: The following contains significant revelations regarding the second part of season three of Bridgerton.
After three seasons, it seems that Bridgerton follows a certain format: it's great at building up excitement, but the climax often falls short. When you watch a romance, you don't want to be left with an unsatisfying ending. It can be frustrating when a slow-burning relationship ends with a less-than-impressive finale. However, the third season of Bridgerton introduces more bubbly characters and focuses on the other Bridgerton siblings, which means there's less pressure on the main couple's underperforming climax. Although the peak of Polin (the main couple) may not be as thrilling as anticipated, the surrounding events and build-up are enough to keep you entertained.
The latest season of Bridgerton, much like the previous two, is a fun and entertaining watch with plenty of overly sweet moments and a touch of feminism. However, there are some flaws in the storytelling that detract from the overall experience. Each season has its own set of imperfections - the first season had complicated themes around race and sexuality that were not well-executed, while the second season struggled to balance sexual content and emotional depth. While each season starts with potential, they ultimately fall short in the second half due to their own complexities.
The third season of the show seems like it will be a hit. Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington were given ample time to develop in the previous seasons. Penelope's alter ego, Lady Whistledown, the influential writer of the most talked-about gossip pamphlet is a major source of tension in Colin and Penelope's relationship. It poses an obstacle that they must overcome. The fans of the show adore Nicola Coughlan's portrayal of Penelope, as it has transformed her from a supporting character to a stunning central love interest. Luke Newton's Colin is charming, kind, and loves Penelope, even though he dislikes Lady Whistledown for the vicious things she writes about him and his family. Penelope's secret is like a time bomb ready to blow up, adding to the excitement.
The show seemed to be going well, with Colin and Penelope finding happiness after dealing with their traumatic experience in a hot air balloon. They explored their feelings and had a tender moment in their future home. However, there is a problem with Colin's character development. While Penelope has a hidden life and social ambitions, Colin's only aspiration is to be a writer, which was introduced suddenly. He struggles to write anything despite having wealth and time to do so. His attempt at portraying a brooding, angsty persona falls flat and seems comical.
The issue with Bridgerton's storytelling setting doesn't necessarily lie in its focus on wealthy aristocrats. It's a world where money and rules related to race, class, and titles are invented and discarded as per the scene. The problem is with the show's structure. Since Colin has no hurdles to overcome like money or class concerns, tragedy, trauma, ambition, poor health, or any hobby, his storyline lacks depth. He loves his neighbor, who loves him back, has ample resources, social status, and hardly any responsibilities. Hence, when the fallout of Penelope's secret identity finally hits Colin, the impact is asymmetric. The audience cannot empathize with the situation and waits for Colin to snap out of his self-absorbed state. This takes away from the show's ability to create characters that the viewers can relate to.
As expected, this doesn't result in a happy reunion between Penelope and Colin. They proceed with the wedding, causing more tension as they realize they will be stuck in an unhappy relationship forever. However, Bridgerton doesn't fully embrace the idea of an angry wedding and Colin even smiles gently at Penelope as she walks down the aisle. This is a nice moment for them, but not great for the romance plot. It's unclear if they have reached an understanding, as Colin continues to be angry with Penelope after the wedding. Everything seems to magically resolve when Penelope admits she is Lady Whistledown in the finale, even though they barely discuss it and she recognizes there are still problems in their relationship. Nonetheless, they have a baby, Colin writes a book, and everything seems perfect in the end.
Despite the fact that Polin's plot was not given enough importance in Bridgerton's third season, the show is still highly entertaining to watch. The potential of Polin's story is instead passed on to other captivating characters, which ignites excitement for future seasons. Although season three was initially focused on Polin, the Featheringtons steal the show, specifically Lady Featherington (played by Polly Walker). Her character is consistently humorous and complex - displaying qualities of cruelty, practicality, affection, frustration, and love. Lady Featherington and her sisters unquestionably shine as the most valuable players of this season.
Even without the Featheringtons, the Bridgerton siblings have a lot going on. As the Polin plot slows down, the siblings' storylines become more interesting. Benedict's sexual encounter is particularly absurd and impressive. Francesca's love story shows potential for future seasons. The world of Bridgerton feels bigger and richer than ever before. However, not all storylines are successful, as the Mondrich family struggles with uninteresting problems. Despite this, overall, the show leaves the audience wanting more.
The show Bridgerton has worked hard to expand its fictional universe and showcase the lives of various family members. This has required some changes from the original romance novels, but the show has managed to stand on its own as a unique work rather than a copy of its source material. It's important for adaptations to strike a balance between ensemble storytelling and the structure of a romance novel, and while season three falls short of this mark, Bridgerton continues to be an enjoyable series that fans will want to stick with.
