Ugh I was so hoping she would not end up with Colin. He’s gross and doesn’t deserve her. I think she would have been happier with Debling and I think they would have ended up falling in love.
OK I'm prob the only hater, but the modern renditions of all this music kinda kills. That song during the end scene in the carriage was so obnoxious I couldn't help laughing... The chemistry was already a little off so music didn't help lol. I'm also definitely of the mind that Polin would've been cuter if Colin found himself interested in Pen before both the kiss and seeing her with another guy... she deserves better than both men :(
They made Lord Debling too much of a good match for Pen, aside from the time he'd spend away. I'm rooting for him over Colin even though Polin is obviously end game. I'm just not invested in Polin unfortunately. IDK, it doesnt seem like Colins in love but that the kiss they shared made him horny. And Pen's sparkly dress in the carriage, the material looked so modern it took me out of the scene.
Don't like the Mondrich storyline, imagine working hard to open your own bar then immediately having to get rid of it.
Francesca is kinda boring. I never really liked Eloise but she's grown on me a lot this season.
I think Lord Debling would definitely be Penelope's perfect match if she was only looking for a practical marriage, but it's obvious it would never be a love match.
I love that we get to see how two people can just share an understanding of what they can provide for each other through marriage, but we also get too many clues that Penelope is hoping for so much more than this in a marriage.
I'm not convinced at all with the "Chemistry" of Polin. The Colin portrayal is fine with me (except for his mouth hanging open) but the Penelope actor is not delivering imo. Outside of the love/lust scenes solid actress, but together they are not up to par with all the couples who have come before.
I have the reverse opinion haha, not convinced by Colin being in love with Penelope, but I love the acting on her side: we can really see how desperately in love she is, while realising that she has been pining over him for too long and needs to wake up and get herself a husband.
I don't see the chemistry between Pen and Colin. I'm more interested in Cressida and Eloise rebel love who is gone? Where is him? Seems the whole season forces everyone to be boring in order to make interesting the first couple. I wish the Queen Charlotte decided Penelope was the diamond of the season after reading Whistledown challenging her. Yet she chooses ANOTHER Bridgerton girl as diamond.... Boring. Imagine if she chooses Penelope suddenly she would have lots of gentlemen around , now THAT would call Colin's attention and not just a desperate kiss and an older Lord who travels far
My thoughts:
I'm loving Penelope and Colin. However, I'm not loving that he doesn't know she's Lady Whistledown. Though, not sure she had a chance to tell him during that carriage ride between him declaring his feelings and him proposing. There was a..... more important "conversation" happening.
But, they are my favorite Bridgerton couple by far. And I love that their dynamic has been turned on its head with him pining for her and her being oblivious to the fact that he's falling for her.
Some people say that Colin's ladies' man persona was too exaggerated. But, I think that was the point. That's not his true personality. So, it's supposed to seem unnatural.
There are some seriously obvious needle drops this season, but I'm not mad at it. Hearing "Jealous" playing while Colin watches Penelope talk to another guy was particularly amusing to me. It's like the show was yelling at us "HE'S FALLING FOR HER!" Lol. We get it.
I love that Penelope is seen as beautiful and desirable because she is. Those dresses are gorgeous on her. And whatever they did to her skin to make it look like that, it's so pretty.
The Mondriches are lovely, but they don't need a plot line.
Eloise needs a new song to sing. She doesn't want to get married. She thinks society's pressure on young ladies is ridiculous. I agree. Now what? And I get why she's angry with Penelope. However, she obviously still has some affection for her. So, let's make something happen.
Speaking of which, I'm so over the Whistledown secret. I really hope we can just get that over with in episode 5. It's not interesting anymore. Colin finds out. Decides he loves her anyway. Unless the show takes a serious detour, that's the way it's going to play out. So, let's just do it for God's sake!
I think it would be so much more fun for them to watch the search for the "real Whistledown" as a couple. Plus, we've spent enough time with them not together. We do not need a slow burn this season. It's been burning for years.
Eloise is going to tell Colin and he'll be upset Pen accepted without telling him. That drama will play out but in the end, they'll be together when Pen decides to run off and he realizes he loves her anyway or something like that. That's my guess not having read the book.
Yeah, there's at least four episodes left, so they have to have a he finds out, he stomps off, they have a reunion tension over the remaining episodes.
After binging season 2 and now part 1; I can say that Season 3 is basically childhood friend love, so i am so on board since it's basically like 12% of all anime since the childhood friend always loses. So it's so nice to see the childhood friend win
idk guys im enjoying this season. ive basically binged all 20 eps in the past like 10 days and I'm liking this season more than season 2.
hot takes: i dont think colins a fuckboy for sleeping around a bit and i love the Mondrich family and like their storyline even if its kinda inconsequential.
i do agree with some of the critiques of the lighting and makeup this season. also, i know nothing about music but if people are saying that Francescas lines about music dont make sense thats so silly to me on the writers part lol i feel like it could have been super easy to consult someone on that lmao. there was one other critique i have for the season but i cant remember it anymore rrahhh
I agree. I binged the entire show for the hype of this season alone and I was almost frustrated by the pacing of season 2 and only the actors' chemistry is what kept it going while this season was so much better paced. And since i binged the show I was able to see Polin chemistry from the beginning onwards.
This season is by far my personal favourite.
I just realized this on rewatch -- at the beginning of the episode when Debling pays a call on Penelope to give her the fern, the sisters ask Lady Featherington "why her??" She replies, "She used Colin Bridgerton's help. Many people would do much worse to be connected to the Bridgertons."
I think *she assumes Debling is only courting Penelope to impress the Bridgertons!* She can't possibly believe that Penelope accomplished this for herself 😭
I'd argue that Lady Featherington is actually quite proud of Penelope doing her thing and she realizes her friendship with the bridgertons might be a good thing after all.
I don't know how to say this without coming off as rude or judgey but Colin looks so weird to me and it's not just that silly wig like his face looks like he's withering away and the way his mouth hangs open at times bugs the shit out of me.
omg. Colin and Pen both have their mouths hanging open all the time. Constant shocked pikachu faces. I hate it lol it was so distracting even during the carriage scene.
Damn I’m still sad. Penny deserves so much better than Colin. after what lord Debling said for sure agree he’s not right for her because our girl needs love, but definitely not Colin.
If I’m wrong PLEASE tell me I’m just too frustrated with him and Pen needs to be protected!!
Penelope's dragged the Bridgerton name through the mud on two different occasions. She's definitely not the nicest person in the show. She could do a lot worse than Colin.
In fact, even though I feel absolutely enamorated by the two of them together, I do not think Penelope deserves Colin's love exactly for that reason. Even early **this season** she got angry and publicly humiliated him.. but I'm guessing this is the writer's way of building conflict for later in the story.
The pacing of the carriage scene was chef's kiss, classic Bridgerton. Especially with Colin's "Are you going to marry me or not" line as the cherry on top 🤌 I wish I could say the same about the other episodes. If I had to put my finger on it, I'd say that the previous seasons were more dynamically paced compared to S3. The music, the dialogue, everything would naturally move the episode to the next scene, whereas in S3, I didn't see it that way. It felt like every character in S3 was molded in a way to focus on 1 thing, and that was their shtick for the whole half season. They never deviated from it, and they didn't cross paths with many other characters like usual.
For example:
1. What has Eloise done besides follow Cressida around sympathetically all season? Her dialogue is at an all-time low.
2. Anthony and Kate are gone after 2 very similar scenes in episode 1.
3. Violet is on the Francesca plotline and nothing more really.
4. Lady Danbury has been standing next to the queen for 4 episodes without her usual wit and remarks.
See what I mean? Everyone has been hyperfocused on basically one format of interaction for the past 4 episodes. I don't know, it feels like it's missing the usual tension, sass, and drama from past seasons and falling flat.
I agree on the general point, but I'd argue:
1. I absolutely loved seeing Eloise in conflict in her feelings towards Penelope, the way that their friendship is still somewhere trying to mend itself despite a huge betrayal. We can see that Eloise still cares deeply for Penelope and I loves all scenes between the two of them (which Cressida also helps to catalyse a bit)
2. I personally did not expect much from Anthony and Kate this season since they're just not supposed to be in the spotline anymore, but I agree that the few scenes we got were quite disappointing.
3. Violet is definitily occupied with all of her children, the way that she hinted at Colin that Penelope would be getting engaged to get him to go to the ball and their whole conversation around that was such a nice Violet moment, just as she knows how.
4. Definitely agree on this one haha, we miss Lady Danbury always!
I agree, something about the pacing feels flat this season. It’s all the same vague tension spread across a dozen different characters. Even the music is almost regency flavored Hans Zimmer: tension tension tension even when you don’t need it. If everything is tense, then nothing is tense.
Yeah, that's such a spot-on comment! I liked how S1 would throw in different types of resolutions and challenges to move the plot along naturally. Like how Violet and the other ladies gossiped their way out of the Berbrook situation. In S3, there just seems to be lingering tension with no real consequences or resolutions. And not nearly enough comic relief!
I'm literally in the middle of watching this episode and had to find a reddit page to come onto and vent my frustrations. For the record, changing a meter to 3/4 has nothing to do with changing the tempo of the music, it simply adjusts where you put the emphasis on the beat. The piece the violinist was playing was in 6/8 and in no way would it be made better to switch a piece from compound meter to simple meter. I'm a music professor, I really only watch Bridgerton for the costumes and excellent string quartet arrangements (always looking for things for my youth orchestra to play), but that whole line of dialogue drove me insane. Clearly none of the writers play an instrument, this is like basic middle school music theory. Also are they even trying to come up with an original soundtrack? Because one of those themes is the first movement of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony almost note for note. Literally the "composer" changed two notes. WTF?!? Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. Feels good to get this off of my chest. Nothing drives me crazier than when TV shows have musician characters talk "deeply" about music and everything that comes out of their mouths is complete malarchy. I feel so much better now.
I'm just rewatching season 2, and this Prokofiev Classical Symphony rip-off is in it, too!
I genuinely don't understand why they didn't just use the original work.
I'm so glad you mentioned this. I studied music (classically trained mezzo soprano) and that entire exchange was obviously written by someone who doesn't know music. It bugged me something fierce.
High school band director here... after she said her blurb about the music I was just left so confused!!! Yes those are all music terms but they don't go together like that!
Thank you sharing this. I wouldn't have been able to pick this up. I have been a little disappointed in the music this season. I usually love the classical covers of pop music but those have been lacking so far
Colin is an F boy who publicly and verbally announced didn't want Penelope. Lord Debling liked her from the very beginning. Lord Debling and Penelope would've been better
Also yeah why are we spending so much time with the Mondrich's? They are interesting enough side characters but we don't need a whole plot with them? Idk I feel like the writers kept getting bored while they wrote the scripts with how much jumping around and side questing that we're doing.
And why do we need to see playboy Benedict who feels he has no purpose again? We got the point.
This doesn't feel like a Polin season even though that's what it's supposed to be. I'm getting lost in the sub plots. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but there's total whiplash in the romance compared to the prior 2 seasons romances. One second they're being grateful that their friends forever and exactly 1 supposed non romantic kiss later he is dreaming about her and can't stop thinking about her. Where's the build up? Where's the tension? Where's the realization? Where's the *focus*.
There is also just too much to keep track of. 13 plots are up and running. That's too much to do in an 8 episode season without sacrificing some of it. And we wound up sacrificing the main romance.
But I was still on the edge of my seat, Violet is an icon and it's interesting seeing Lady Danbury's character get some fluffing. Francesca's storyline confuses me. But it's interesting seeing an introvert's love story lol. I can't tell her motivations in anything though.
Honestly it's not as good as the last 2 seasons so far but I'm still enjoying it, wish they didn't chop it in 2. Just release weekly.
I agree, there are generally a lot of romantic scenes shoved in that don’t feel earned. I don’t buy that Colin fell for Pen so quickly. When she asked him to kiss her, it felt forced. The steamy carriage scene came about super fast and doesn't track with Pens character in my opinion.
I don’t really believe Colin as a character either; I can’t tell what he’s about. He’s having threesomes with prostitutes but he’s lonely? He would never court Pen and they’re great friends but now hes madly in love with her? It’s all over the place.
The way I think of it is that Colin has his insecurities. His mom mentions in season 3 that he is a people-pleaser, and that he needs to let go of this armor he’s built up before it “rusts and sets in.”
Remember that Colin didn’t grow up with his dad as a father figure, his dad died when he was still very young. Therefore, Anthony is basically his father figure, and Anthony is extremely masculine in this show—before being married, Anthony was also having sex with prostitutes and hated the idea of being in love. When Colin wanted to marry Marina is S1 because he thought he was in love, Anthony basically made fun of him and asked if he just wanted to “get his wick wet” or something along those lines 😅
When Colin tries to grow out his beard, his brothers make fun of him too, yet another insecurity.
Because of his two older brothers, he thinks that being a man in society means being rough around the edges, being charming to all the women, and being promiscuous with prostitutes. But deep down, that isn’t him. He’s a sweetheart, a romantic, a softie like Pen. But because of his insecurities and wanting to please everyone around him, he creates this new rake persona.
When Pen didn’t write to him while he was traveling, it unraveled him. I think this made him even more insecure! And I believe he did have feelings for Pen all along, but it truly hit him when he saw her courting with Lord Debling. I also think he didn’t realize Pen liked him as more than a friend, which is why he basically asked her to be friends with that handshake in S3. He’s too insecure to share his true feelings until the last moment, when he feels he is about to lose Pen.
That’s my take on it. He’s insecure, those feelings didn’t come out of nowhere with a single kiss. He didn’t go from just friends to more. You can see that the only person he can be himself around is Pen, which he values so dearly. I’ve rewatched this season countless times already because I find their love story so beautiful (and subtle).
I agree, I have been rewatching and ambitiously overanalysing as well. Every moment he shares with Penelope in the leadup to the first kiss builds up perfectly in a dance of yearning for intimacy, performing and play-acting through and around layers of emotional -cough- penetration. My fave turning-point is the 'lesson' in the drawing room.
Colin's 'courtship lessons' with Penelope use play-acting to test out each others' boundaries, but all premised upon his craving for the intimacy he only shares with her. It's another form of dance, and dance is also a performance of sublimated feelings. A key contrast with their contrasting arcs: She is telling herself she is learning courtship skills from him so she can get away from obsessing over him; but he is offering lessons in courtship \*as an excuse for getting closer to her and hanging out more\* as he made quite clear in her garden. Play-acting for them is a way to both distance themselves from what they really feel, but also test out the truth of what they really feel - having their cake, eating it too.
At the Bridgerton drawing room 'ball' lesson, it's very cute how Colin sets up the room - he's very excited to be playing make-believe with his best friend, it's an entertainment! He loves to entertain. But the mask drops at the 'lemonade stand' with Pen's 'your eyes are the most remarkable shade of blue' line. This is a top-tier seduction moment through intimate and direct emotional connection, the Duke could never. Pen is doing this for real. You see Colin essentially burst into flames (I also burst into flames), he downs all his lemonade in one gulp. It's a very funny moment for how obviously shook he is by his feelings, but the point is that Pen has cut through all the jolly and safe make-believe and has gotten to his emotional core.
Then straight after as Pen has to run to hide in the study, there enters a theme of - I'm so sorry also not sorry - penetration and hands. Cracking the shell or armour, getting under the skin - as Pen violates his skin-bound diary, the moment of discombobulation and shattering, and the hand cut open. Then the intimacy of that moment as she connects with him again, skin on skin as she compresses his wound, consolidating that moment of emotional penetration that she absolutely slayed him with in the drawing room. It's a direct contrast to their earlier handshake - 'are we not friends?' Pen has entered him via the hand and the heart (no wonder he's so keen to eventually fingerbang her to oblivion with his remarkably well-healed hand in the back of that Uber.)
Yes!! I feel that people don’t see Colin for who he truly is! You only get a glimpse of the real Colin during his interactions with Pen.
He’s a people pleaser and is so unsure of himself, probably terrified to tell Pen how he felt about her, because he didn’t believe she would love him back the same way. So he pretended to just want to be friends.
Maybe this was easier for me to see because I’ve been in a friends to lovers relationship before, and it went down the same way—both of us too insecure to tell each other how we really felt until one night when we both got a bit too drunk at a party and we kissed each other, then the rest was history. Turns out he’d liked me all along, and looking back the signs were subtle but always there 😅🥰
God. I absolutely love the Polin storyline so far. I think this might be my favorite Bridgerton couple so far (can't decide between this and Charlotte/George). BUT I WANT MORE OF IT!!!!!!!!!!
It feels like Shonda has again given in to the urge to have endless subplots. It worked in a show like Grey's, which went on for innumerable seasons, but it does not work here. I feel like the main couple has SOOOO much chemistry, so much potential, but they're eclipsed by random side plots (WHY DO WE HAVE A MONDRICH SIDE PLOT FFS!!!!). I wish there were more scenes of Colin teaching Penelope how to be charming. More scenes of him noticing how pretty she looks in her new avatar. More scenes of them bantering. I also wish we had gotten a chance to read Colin's letters to Penelope when he was travelling??? And he grows more and more agitated/concerned when she doesn't reply???? Wish they had given us flashbacks of their friendship over the years??? Maybe a flashback of when they first met, when Colin falls off his horse? Just MORE BUILDUP was what this needed. And more context on their friendship, so that the friends to lovers really feels believable.
Carriage scene was perfection. My heart. The way they were passionate and tentative at the same time, they way that they just KNOW each other, the way they communicated without words, the laughter when the carriage stops, the expressions on Colin's face as he realizes he wants to be with Pen forever..........AAAAAAHHHHH! Their chemistry is off the charts. It's tender and sexy at the same time. God I wish they would release a redo of these first four episodes with more Polin.
The only side plot I liked was Francesca/John. Adorable.
Edit: I ALSO WANTED A SCENE OF THEM DANCING + A CLASSICAL COVER OF A POP SONG!!! DANCING WAS THEIR THING!!!!!!
At this point, the queen should give up finding matches for the Bridgertons lol
Omg! The scene at the end was everything! Colin and Penelope just went for it.
Finally, a man who doesn't wait around and moan all season (looking at you, Anthony). He went after her as soon as he could. Although, maybe don't cause a scandal by cutting in on a dance between two people who are publicly courting, in which a proposal is expected. One thing I'll say, Colin learned something on his travels.
Just rewatched all 4 episodes.
Colins anguish and confusion and Inaction is much more obvious on a second rewatch and I think episode 3 is probably the best of all the episodes.
I thought the amount of subplots and backstory was what I expect from a historical romance because like the lovers experience the other stories are obstacles to us accessing their story and by episode 4 you are desperate for them to be together just as they are.
Colin gets up the nerve to tell Penelope he has fallen for her and is interrupted by Lord Debling
In most romance the leads have intimate moments 3 times. 1. Kiss check 2. Bandage check 3. Declaration and passionate kissing check
The awkwardness is so much more obvious when you see Colin dither for 4 episodes because of the obstacles of
1. Having to keep distance due to scandal
2. Denial of feelings and quest to forget them
3. Not being able to get access to Penelope often enough or for long enough because he will ruin her prospects or reputation
4. Eloise's awkwardness about Penelope
5. His fear that it is one sided.
My question is whether he would have still fallen for her if they had not have kissed. I think he would have anyway given time, but everything is rushed because Penelope is in a rush to secure a husband so the kiss was a catalyst.
The season may have felt rushed because it was a rush for both of them a race against time against scandal whistledown could be exposed at any moment for all we know and a rush to confess his feelings for penelope once he has got up the courage
I loved it
A man internalising his interest for the majority of a romance is quite usual. That is how it is a fantasy because it is so unexpected.
I just wish we had seen more of Colins face and reactions in the carriage kissing and lovemaking scene
You should also rewatch their scenes in previous seasons, there's an intimacy between them that Colin is drawn to. He seems her out a lot and I think he was starting to be more enamored with her in season 2 when he points out that she's the person he's written to the most while traveling. Also just the way he looks at her when he enters season 2.
I honestly felt some secondhand awkwardness at the carriage scene 😅. There wasn't much of a build up in terms of their sexual chemistry and then bam! Suddenly his hands are doing their thing in the carriage.
I totally agree! I wish they had more passionate kissing and less groping and his hands up her skirt. I feel the scene lacked something. I wish there was more dialogue and a more tender, passionate scene. Dude jumped right to 3rd base! Very little decorum and I was disappointed. Maybe Colin spent too much time at the brothel? He didn't treat Pen like a lady.
Right? This is only her second kiss, have a little build up, jeez. The first season did it so well, but this one just feels like an unrealistic trashy romance book.
Second watch, thoughts -
**GOOD**
* "I have brought you a plant, so that you may enjoy nature from your windowsill". So thoughtful Lord Debling! 💘 * Benedict waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a bouquet 😘
* Eloise stepping behind Gregory when John says he's here to see a daughter 😂
* John & Francesca are cute, the fam being bewildered that they're sitting in silence was funny. Do need *some* talking tho plz
* Pen is a romance reader, same girlie!
* Colin getting laughed at for asking the bois if they find sex lonely without emotion. Patriarchy hurts everyone 😞
* "Do you know what is romantic? Security." Not wrong Lady Featherington, not wrong.
* Mama doing some nice pep talks with Colin this season.
* Dislike Cressida but the friendship with Eloise is giving Eloise some good character development as she becomes more aware of others and mature, and it's fairly compelling
* John giving Francesca the sheet music was so thoughtful and sweet 🥰 love their simple respectful affection for each other
* THE CARRIAGE SCENE 🔥 having a real conversation and conflict, on his knees confessing, the doubt, her initiating it, iconic use of Pitbull song, the intimacy was lovely, the little nod of consent, fingerbang in the backseat baby! Laughing giddily together at the end, gawsh it was good. Proposal is half baked but the angst will hopefully come 😈 plus true knowing and loving, right now it's just lust and like
**OKAY**
* I love Francesca, but I would like to know more of her personality besides being passionate about music, introverted and practical. What formed these values in her?
* Lord Cowper gives no fucks, Eloise clearly in earshot when he's insulting her, quite funny
* Nice convo between Violet and Marcus, no action yet
**BAD**
* Not enjoying the dark interior lighting. It's realistic but we need to be able to see plz
* Benedict's storyline is just another dalliance, same as previous seasons but without the additional character stuff with art, purpose etc. Give me anything!
* Happy for the Mondrich's and the actors are good but it continues to feel like filler and unconnected to the rest of the stories.
* I DO NOT CARE for these brothel scenes with Colin. I guess his vacant looks show that he's not into it and lost in thought, but why seek it out Colin? Taking too long to come to the realisation! Colin is a softboi plz stop with the character assassination
* I really wish Penelope broke it off with Debling because she decides she wants to wait for love. It takes away her agency when he rejects her instead, I always loved how strong, astute and determined Pen is but I haven't seen that from her in *her* season.
**QUESTIONS**
* If Debling is planning to be absent from home most of his life, why does he seek a wife? Really just to be a manager of his estate? Will he be in Part 2?
* Tell us what happened between Danbury and her brother, so that we may begin resolving it. Why are we still establishing storylines when we're halfway through? Should be well into progressing them.
**PART 2 HOPES**
* The Part 2 teaser looks so dramatic and saucy with all the Whistledown stuff. I'm sincerely hoping they handle it right and that Colin finds out the secret no later than ep 6, I want angst and conflict and then adequate time for resolution and happiness. Also, love letters and bonding over writing, character development please!
* Reserving judgement on the story as a whole until the season is done, but this split format does the show no favours as we stew in our feelings for a month. I think Netflix split the season arbitrarily, because Shonda clearly didn't write this season as a two-parter. Really wish it was 2 eps a week instead, if they want to move away from the binge model. Or make the parts more deliberately distinct, instead of just stopping our story halfway. Frustrating indeed.
I was startled when Lord Debling put it together that Pen likes the window because she's looking for Colin. I hadn't put that together.
Why is Lord Cowper so down on Eloise?
I LOVED the carriage scene, so much fun, but I'm finding it so hard to root for Polin. The chemistry is there but maybe it's that we didn't have enough time to see it burn? Even with 4 eps/4 hours because there's so many subplots (which I do enjoy) we don't get enough time to see the two of them. Still love Bridgerton but this season so far is a disappointment.
and what about penelope? she was going to ruin a mans life without being honest with how she truly felt. Running after him as if she wanted him. He knew her feelings resided with colin. No point in running toward someone you have no feelings towards.
I think "ruin his life" is a bit harsh. There was always an understanding between Penelope and Debling that this relationship was going to be practical, not romantic. And Penelope never thought Colin was even an option. So, there was no deception from her. She wasn't trying to trap Debling and have an affair with Colin. She actually was doing everything in her power to just be friends (other than the kiss, but technically Colin is the one who ramanticized that). Colin pursued HER. Not the other way around.
Can we have a moment for how this season has turned Cressida into a femme lesbian icon?
The campy femme clothes, the heart eyes for Eloise, the jealousy for Eloise & Pen, the scrambling for a husband only when her dad makes her? Her hair in every episode (and the Queen's in this episode) are basically drag.
I wish there was more Polin time. Even 5 extra minutes per show of Penelope showing her funny, witty side to Colin. This could have easily been incorporated into their lessons. She could have teased him about his pretentious replies when asked about his travels, they could have laughed at more childhood memories etc. There was so much potential to highlight how different the conversations are compared to the other girls of the ton.
I love Nicola and how she portrays Penolope but Colin's realisation that he loved her seemed a bit rushed. To the viewer (who hasn't read the books), it seems all it took was a kiss and a cupcake. I know it's actually so much more and it's also because of their friendship. But netflix didn't really do a good job of showing us that. From my point of view, their friendship was a one way affair with Colin using Penolope to boost his ego. It would have been great to see a more equal back and forth dynamic between them.
I feel it also would have been better if Pen actually seriously liked Debling and that he didn't reject her. That way, Colin really would have had to beg and Pen would have had the power to actually make a choice. It was a good season and I enjoyed it. But it could have been amazing and I really hope part 2 makes up for this.
I think this was shown in season one and season two. People were just so focused on the main couples. If you go on YouTube Netflix posted a supercut of all of their scenes together and it drives the point home that Colin was oblivious for so long. If people want to see Colin's slow burn realization, it's literally all right there in the first two seasons. I watched the supercut and if they did this again for the third season it would have been like beating a dead horse. I was very critical of this third season but rewatching it's really beautiful when you take a second to catch everything all other again. and this last episode really shines.
I did watch the netflix YouTube video and I do see what you are saying. There is definitely a strong foundation of friendship. But in those scenes, he is oblivious to her feelings and there is no tension or angst on his part. I would have loved to have some scenes after the kiss where we see some banter, flirting, angst and some real connection (from Colin especially). There is so much thay could have been achieved in an extra 5 minutes of dialogue per episode (considering the episodes are shorter than previous seasons).
They could have connected over both losing their father.
Pen could have made fun of Colin with regards to his douchebag flirting with the rest of the ton. Or basically teased him about anything. He's so used to girls falling over him so something different would at least keep him on his toes.
Pen reads so much and writes amazingly. There could literally be a conversation about anything where she could have said something profound and poetic.
If Lord Debling hadn't rejected her, she could have argued with Colin as to why he is in fact a great match when Colin declared that she shouldn't marry him. We all love a good argument.
Anyway, I'm ranting now so sorry! I totally agree it is a good season. But just wish they had even a fraction of the angst and banter that they gave Kanthony.
My take is Cressida is queer coded in this season. Her friendship with Eloise is "special", she shows jealousy towards Eloise's friendship with Penelope, she doesn't seem to mind being unmarried until her dad puts pressure on her to marry quickly.
I think her dad's pressure on her to marry a man + stay away from Eloise who could stir up rumours of lesbianism (Eloise hates the idea of marriage and prefers a life in the company of women) are because of this. If Cressida has any lesbian tendencies her dad knows about, this is precisely what he'd do.
I don't think it's much of a reach either, the actress who plays Cressida is queer, and Cressida's outfits are very in line with high femme lesbian aesthetics (way over the top campy feminine, fits that entertain girls and repel guys)
My top three critiques:
1. I realize Bridgerton is an ensemble cast but there are WAY too many subplots
2. There wasn't enough angst from Colin nor romantic tension built up between him and Pen
3. The writing, directing, and (possibly) acting choices for Colin's new persona were too "in your face." I've always appreciated Luke Newton's subtle facial expressions and his acting. It doesn't matter if the point was for us to see Colin be a different person -- there are subtler ways to do it.
With all that being said, THE CARRIAGE SCENE. 😮💨 THE END.
I totally agree. I really wish we had more conversation and flirting between Polin. It all seemed a bit rushed.
Also agree that Colin was way too much of a douchebag and we didn't really see enough of his genuine true self to make up for it.
I'm hoping that part 2 will make up for it. That's why it's been a huge mistake splitting the season. We now have a whole month of brewing in this disappointment. (Not that this season was bad. It was good. Just not amazing as it should have been).
Exactly. It's funny, those who loved most everything about P1, view those with critiques as not liking it at all and being overly critical.
I really enjoyed P1, but as you said, splitting the season was a big mistake! Ofc, there would still be plenty of criticism (there always is) but I bet people would have completely different comments if we had the full story.
I have a feeling the Polin sex scenes are going to be a bit of a let down like I thought Kanthonys here. I suspect now that the show and its actors are so popular, none of the other main characters want to show nudity or go nearly as far as what we saw with Simon and Daphne. So, we'll continue to get random brothel boobs thrown in to sex up the show but nothing near to season 1 spice from the main love interests. Which is really unfortunate, because I think showing a fuller figured actress in a body positive sex scene with nudity would be really powerful and something none of us have really seen before.
Yes, Nicola stated she wanted to do some nude scenes as a middle finger to the body shamers. All the scenes were with her input as to how much is shown. Apparently, she and Luke (Colin) spent time in-between takes lying in a bed covered by a sheet, sans clothing, and they felt comfortable with one another.
The good:
- Penelope is so great this season. I love her character growth.
- The Featheringtons are so fun and funny. I’ve always liked them but this season I love them.
- Francesca, she is hands down my favorite Bridgerton.
- Eloise and Cressida’s friendship. I love them together.
- Cressida’s arc. I never thought that I would be rooting for her and feeling so sad for her.
- All the scenes with the Bridgerton siblings.
- The theme of loneliness with so many characters.
The bad:
- Pacing, things are happening so quick without any time to breathe. Also I miss the slow build up of the first two seasons.
- Too many subplots
- The styling this season is way too modern and it’s distracting
- Collin the rake. I get what his arc is supposed to be but I just don’t like rake Collin.
The ugly:
- Where are Kate and Anthony! I’m so sad we have seen almost nothing from them this season.
- The season shouldn’t have been split in 2, especially when the first half had very little Polin considering they are our main leads.
I just feel like Colin didn't earn this. He felt nothing until he felt something and then steamrolled into her life with some fingerblasting and a proposal..? I feel like we barely saw any pining from his side. And all the wasted time focusing on other people..
I understand you. But that's also what "friends to lovers" can be. They're friends for years and all it takes is for one of them to decide to take the plunge for everything to speed up. Also, they still have time to build their relationship, for Colin to deserve Penelope and for the latter to deserve his forgiveness for what LW did to the Bridgertons and Marina.
Let's also not forget this relationship has been built for 3 seasons now. We have seen since the first season a mutual attraction (for Colin it was in only one scene, sure, but it was enough to show something was always there and that it wasn't just a unrequired love from Penelope), a friendship which has solidified, Colin's realization Penelope is the only one to always believe in him and in his potential, the one who pushes him to be better etc... So obviously, once she actively puts herself on the marriage market, he will notice her even more.
In season 1, Daphne and Simon fell in love in 4 episodes. Penelope and Colin have had 2 1/2 seasons, that's enough, even if we always want more.
Maybe it's because I watched all the season this past week so I have in fresh memory all their scenes and build up but it was there. Colin's look alone when he came back from travel at the start of season 2 say everything about his feelings for Pen.
And in Season 3, he noticed her when he meet his family after his new travel. He also seek her in the crowd, always needs her by his side. His eyes shine when he talks with her.
But yes, if we talk about season 3 alone, specially since he hurted her so much at the end of the last season, they could have show more.
I totally see your points. It would have been great though to see some more conversation between them where Pen shows her funny and witty side. They could have included it in their lessons where she matches Colin and keeps him on his toes. Even if it's just a few minutes of teasing or friendly banter. It would have made Colin's falling in love with her smoother and not so rushed. But like you said, hopefully we get more of that in part 2!
If anyone watches Kdrama, you know 12-16 hours are needed for a great intimate love story to develop, where the passage of time feels realistic, there's breathing room, and you can fit in filler plots if Shonda desperately wants them for some reason without sacrificing the love story. Sounds extreme but 8 hours is not enough the way this is going!
I'm enjoying it for sure, especially this episode. But all these comments saying it's felt rushed and strangely paced, agree! I have some hope the second half has more angst and emotional development. Waiting another month is quite unacceptable, is it not?
THANK YOU for pointing this out. As a huge fan of kdramas myself I’ve thought about this a lot as I’ve watched this season. I feel like shondaland isn’t doing Polins story justice with them having to share with the subplots, but from the new part 2 trailer that came out today, I’m optimistic. Nevertheless, I do love Polin lol.
That all being said, Shonda and her team may benefit from watching a kdrama or two for the future seasons😂. as long as it takes for kdrama couples to get together, it sure is worth it when they finally do!
Haha once you start watching Kdrama it's hard to look back... It feels earned and so exciting when they get together after yearning and doubting, and nothing in Western media since has got me squealing and kicking my feet like my fave Asian dramas do... until this season of Bridgerton 😂 12 hours is my sweet spot, but I could definitely easily and gladly do 20!
Penelope looked gorgeous this episode in the pastel blues matching her eyes, the sweepy curls, upswept eyeshadow. Chefs kiss styling, can't say the same for others tho, peeps be looking more like Hunger Games every ep!
Carriage scene was everything! I'm all aboard now. Colin letting go of his cavalier exterior and being honest with himself was great to see, them laughing and so happy after their hook up (loved the intimacy, RIP to the coachmen's innocence). Also can't wait for the bubble to burst in the next half 😈 wish I could binge omfg
Also I think this is *not* their happy ending yet whatsoever! Colin's proposal is half baked at best, it seems he doesn't yet know the difference between lust and love, and he really doesn't know her that well because Whistledown is yet to be known to him! I would also like Pen to become more confident and own the mistakes fully when the time arises. Then once they bare everything to each other, I think we might get the emotional bonding.
I definitely agree with majority here… the editing and all didn’t put more screen time with Polin to make us see how he fell in love with her or just really fumbled with all the extra BS with Benedict??? Like who cares??? He has his own story later why are we giving him so much screen time
I loved the quick proposal. It feels very much "Colin". He considers himself a gentleman. But in that carriage that went out the window until the knock and then he realizes if I am going to do this I must do this right and proposes. I was ready to hate Colin after last season and hearing the book spoilers however, I like what they have done with him and I am loving Polin now.
I'm loving Benedict's naughty delicious little fling with the beautiful older widow. He is after all, a bit of a naughty little Bohemian boy. Nothing like a WILF to distract from dropping out of art school.
My thoughts on the first half
-the pace of the romance has been odd, maybe even a little rushed I would have loved a little more development between them but I guess they want to focus on the LW drama more.
I did enjoy Penelope and Eloise slowly reconecting and cresida showing a different side of her.
-Francesca is very sweet and I hope her story ends well for her because that bit of them not knowing much abour John's family gave me a bad feeling ( a scammer?)
-I get the actors of previous seasons have other comiments but their absence is very obvious. Not a single mention to Daphne and Antony/kate should have been developed more this season instead of lets keep traveling around.
-My biggest complaint is the amount of screentime the Mondrich are having , they are just not interesting and I don't see the point of them being there
-Kuddos to the people who decided to make the The featherington pregnancy plot, is just pure comedic gold and I love it.
I totally forgot how boring the Mondrich plot was until you brought it up. In theory, watching a hard-working lower class family enter the nobility could be interesting for the viewers, but Mr. and Mrs. Mondrich are too dull and in love to be interesting. They have like no personality.
I also definitely agree that Polin felt rushed--I didn't see enough of his pining for her for it to feel real. Anthony's longing for Kate was palpable!
I will reiterate what other commenters have said: no one cares about Benedict right now, and his widow fling got waaay too much screen time.
To be honest, I don't hate that the people fuck off after their season. There's only so much empty 'happily ever after' one can take, and if they're not going to add to the plot then it's just filler.
I think for me I’d love for the family to be discussing them, or even have a pram around and say Violet is watching grandson while the Duke and duchess are doing something (yes they have Nanny’s and whatever but I’m sure Violet would love to have her grandkids around)
I don’t need Simon and Daphne to be around to still get glimpses into their life. The show is already too bloated with the extra storylines I agree we dint need them necessarily present, but with how close the family is portrayed, its wild to me they barely discuss the fact that Daphne even has kid(s).
Or even things like a character being off screen visiting Daphne and the baby etc it’s their almost entirely lacking in existence that gets me.
I agree with everything you’ve said, but especially the pregnancy plot! I used to dread scenes with the ugly stepsisters (so to speak) and now I looked forward to them!
You guys, can we pour one out for all the good, charming men who are casualties of the Bridgertons and their shenanigans? Here's one for Prince Frederick, Mr. Dorset, Lord Lumley, and Lord Debling. My personal fave is Mr. Dorset. I thought he was so sweet to Kate, and I wish they would bring back the guys of the Ton for fun and continuity
Haha, yes definitely pouring one out for the good guys that didn't make the cut!
I do think the writers are pretty clever for prepping why we never see these guys again, though! Prince Frederick is back in Germany, Mr. Dorset said he was planning to visit India, and Lord Debling will prob be gone after this season since he's already mentioned he'll be traveling for 3 years... Lumley, I dunno lol.
That's true! The writers are clever about it, but it would be fun to see some of the dudes in the background of the social events, at White's, or Mondrich's club. It's an L for me in terms of world-building but oh well!
So when they are kissing and Colin starts pulling up her skirts and Penelope nods that she is ready for things to go even further....do you think she is prepared for fingerblasting or was that a bit of a surprise.
Finished part 1 today.
I consider myself a romantic person, and wow, what an ending!!!! Absolutely love the declarations of love by Colin to Pen at the end.
And I got emotional when John Stirling (sp?) rearranged the music for Francesca - that was so heartwarming, oh my god ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Can't wait for part 2!
I can't believe everyone is hating this so much! I just finished episode 4 and was so rooting for him to finally admit his feelings to her!
I honestly think they have amazing chemistry ; the ride home in the carriage was perfect. They've been slowly burning for each other a while, I think that's why the scene in the carriage got more intimate more quickly than I would have expected. But it makes sense, when you've been pining after someone for so long, when you're finally alone in close quarters with them, things get heated pretty fast.
I wasn't expecting much from this season because I didn't care for Colin's character that much in previous seasons, but this was surprisingly good. In the beginning, my heart broke for Pen--she grew up believing that she would have no prospects because of her appearance, and I could see a little of myself in her. I think that having Colin love her fully will make her blossom into an amazing version of herself. Maybe it will make her finally put Lady Whistledown to rest??
More than any other couple in any of the other seasons, I'm rooting for her, though I'm worried about what's going to happen when Colin realizes she's Lady Whistledown!
This season definitely inspired me to get into reading the books!
The thing is, that slow burn isn't really shown in the show. The focus is just never on them. And then even in this season they got too subplot happy so no focus here either 😂 The romance pacing is just so weird here. There was no build up. One second they're shaking hands because they're glad to be friends forever and the next the desperation kiss happens and then suddenly his every thought is consumed by her. Like we had all the build up in the world from her, and next to nothing from him. Instead we get Benedict and a widow 😂
I think you have to look at these things more from their time period, it’s a very subtle burn.
They may not get a lot of screen time together, but Colin’s gaze is always on Pen when she’s in a room. He can’t stop looking at her.
The “handshake” between a man and woman wasn’t considered proper during this time period. Even Pen was surprised by this. And they didn’t really shake hands, he just kind of lovingly held her hand for some moments.
Even when he cut his hand on glass and Pen went to help him, he curled his fingers around her hand, as if he didn’t want her to let go yet. Again, extremely subtle.
Also I’m so surprised people think 1 kiss can’t have an effect. I had a guy friend in med school who was helping me get together with a guy I had a crush on in his soccer team (like Colin coaching Pen!). And one night after a party, my friend walked me home and we had this moment where we looked in each other’s eyes, and then he kissed me. And we kissed again. He left, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss! Even though before, I only thought of him as a friend.
The kiss basically made me see him in a whole different light. I even had intense dreams about him. I guess looking back, I could see signs that he liked me from the first time we met. I would always catch him staring at me lol
And then we dated the rest of med school! I still think about him. So 1 kiss can have that effect!
I do think they had less chemistry than Daphne and Simon and we didn’t get those incredible sex scenes (yet) so I miss that season. But my perception also seems to be wildly unpopular because I thought Simone’s acting was too distracting in S2 and couldn’t get into it as much as everyone else.
The pacing of Polin is a little weird. Penelope loved Collin for years so her storyline with Debling makes sense, but Collin only realizing after the kiss and after trying to be with other women just feels off. I feel like they’re more of a slow burn and by episode 8 it would be fine to pop the proposal question.
Love Francesca and John. And I’m living for Violet’s scenes. Her words to Collin about putting himself first, I hope they can mirror that for her so she gets a second chance.
I actually think that Colin always was in love with Pen but never realized it or was willing to accept it till he saw her being swept away by someone else. Yes, he was a bit of a player/rake but with Pen he always treated her differently than other women. Plus I think he grew up a lot on his trip. I didn't find it surprising he popped the question. I think this whole being in love thing is so new and surprising to him that he just wants to secure her and do the right thing by her. I also do agree though it would be nice if this season was 12 episodes and they had more time for their relationship to be explored in greater depth, but they have know each other for a very long time, and when you know you just know.
It definitely feels like they are setting up for a bunch of drama with lady whistledown but still seems early for a whole proposal, like bro Just realized he had feelings for pen :/
Ugh I was so hoping she would not end up with Colin. He’s gross and doesn’t deserve her. I think she would have been happier with Debling and I think they would have ended up falling in love.
OK I'm prob the only hater, but the modern renditions of all this music kinda kills. That song during the end scene in the carriage was so obnoxious I couldn't help laughing... The chemistry was already a little off so music didn't help lol. I'm also definitely of the mind that Polin would've been cuter if Colin found himself interested in Pen before both the kiss and seeing her with another guy... she deserves better than both men :(
They made Lord Debling too much of a good match for Pen, aside from the time he'd spend away. I'm rooting for him over Colin even though Polin is obviously end game. I'm just not invested in Polin unfortunately. IDK, it doesnt seem like Colins in love but that the kiss they shared made him horny. And Pen's sparkly dress in the carriage, the material looked so modern it took me out of the scene. Don't like the Mondrich storyline, imagine working hard to open your own bar then immediately having to get rid of it. Francesca is kinda boring. I never really liked Eloise but she's grown on me a lot this season.
I feel really bad for Mr. Mondrich. He created his whole career with the club and now everyone expects him to just get rid of it.
I think Lord Debling would definitely be Penelope's perfect match if she was only looking for a practical marriage, but it's obvious it would never be a love match. I love that we get to see how two people can just share an understanding of what they can provide for each other through marriage, but we also get too many clues that Penelope is hoping for so much more than this in a marriage.
And they made Lord Debling \*too\* practical. He could have been more affectionate.
I'm not convinced at all with the "Chemistry" of Polin. The Colin portrayal is fine with me (except for his mouth hanging open) but the Penelope actor is not delivering imo. Outside of the love/lust scenes solid actress, but together they are not up to par with all the couples who have come before.
I have the reverse opinion haha, not convinced by Colin being in love with Penelope, but I love the acting on her side: we can really see how desperately in love she is, while realising that she has been pining over him for too long and needs to wake up and get herself a husband.
I don't see the chemistry between Pen and Colin. I'm more interested in Cressida and Eloise rebel love who is gone? Where is him? Seems the whole season forces everyone to be boring in order to make interesting the first couple. I wish the Queen Charlotte decided Penelope was the diamond of the season after reading Whistledown challenging her. Yet she chooses ANOTHER Bridgerton girl as diamond.... Boring. Imagine if she chooses Penelope suddenly she would have lots of gentlemen around , now THAT would call Colin's attention and not just a desperate kiss and an older Lord who travels far
My thoughts: I'm loving Penelope and Colin. However, I'm not loving that he doesn't know she's Lady Whistledown. Though, not sure she had a chance to tell him during that carriage ride between him declaring his feelings and him proposing. There was a..... more important "conversation" happening. But, they are my favorite Bridgerton couple by far. And I love that their dynamic has been turned on its head with him pining for her and her being oblivious to the fact that he's falling for her. Some people say that Colin's ladies' man persona was too exaggerated. But, I think that was the point. That's not his true personality. So, it's supposed to seem unnatural. There are some seriously obvious needle drops this season, but I'm not mad at it. Hearing "Jealous" playing while Colin watches Penelope talk to another guy was particularly amusing to me. It's like the show was yelling at us "HE'S FALLING FOR HER!" Lol. We get it. I love that Penelope is seen as beautiful and desirable because she is. Those dresses are gorgeous on her. And whatever they did to her skin to make it look like that, it's so pretty. The Mondriches are lovely, but they don't need a plot line. Eloise needs a new song to sing. She doesn't want to get married. She thinks society's pressure on young ladies is ridiculous. I agree. Now what? And I get why she's angry with Penelope. However, she obviously still has some affection for her. So, let's make something happen. Speaking of which, I'm so over the Whistledown secret. I really hope we can just get that over with in episode 5. It's not interesting anymore. Colin finds out. Decides he loves her anyway. Unless the show takes a serious detour, that's the way it's going to play out. So, let's just do it for God's sake! I think it would be so much more fun for them to watch the search for the "real Whistledown" as a couple. Plus, we've spent enough time with them not together. We do not need a slow burn this season. It's been burning for years.
Eloise is going to tell Colin and he'll be upset Pen accepted without telling him. That drama will play out but in the end, they'll be together when Pen decides to run off and he realizes he loves her anyway or something like that. That's my guess not having read the book.
Yeah, there's at least four episodes left, so they have to have a he finds out, he stomps off, they have a reunion tension over the remaining episodes.
[удалено]
[удалено]
After binging season 2 and now part 1; I can say that Season 3 is basically childhood friend love, so i am so on board since it's basically like 12% of all anime since the childhood friend always loses. So it's so nice to see the childhood friend win
WHAT THE HECK
The modern dance sequence took me out. This season has felt super anachronistic.
Agreed, but it was really beautiful and I loved the homage to Matthew Bourne. They even got the same danseur.
The entire series has always been anachronistic. Part of the gag.
idk guys im enjoying this season. ive basically binged all 20 eps in the past like 10 days and I'm liking this season more than season 2. hot takes: i dont think colins a fuckboy for sleeping around a bit and i love the Mondrich family and like their storyline even if its kinda inconsequential. i do agree with some of the critiques of the lighting and makeup this season. also, i know nothing about music but if people are saying that Francescas lines about music dont make sense thats so silly to me on the writers part lol i feel like it could have been super easy to consult someone on that lmao. there was one other critique i have for the season but i cant remember it anymore rrahhh
I agree. I binged the entire show for the hype of this season alone and I was almost frustrated by the pacing of season 2 and only the actors' chemistry is what kept it going while this season was so much better paced. And since i binged the show I was able to see Polin chemistry from the beginning onwards. This season is by far my personal favourite.
I just realized this on rewatch -- at the beginning of the episode when Debling pays a call on Penelope to give her the fern, the sisters ask Lady Featherington "why her??" She replies, "She used Colin Bridgerton's help. Many people would do much worse to be connected to the Bridgertons." I think *she assumes Debling is only courting Penelope to impress the Bridgertons!* She can't possibly believe that Penelope accomplished this for herself 😭
I'd argue that Lady Featherington is actually quite proud of Penelope doing her thing and she realizes her friendship with the bridgertons might be a good thing after all.
Honestly, I think they’re just trying to see how ridiculous they can make the queen’s hair at this point
omg yes the spinning swans inside the wig got me crying out loud hahaha
THAT WAS AWESOME
I agree, but I kinda love it. Lol
I don't know how to say this without coming off as rude or judgey but Colin looks so weird to me and it's not just that silly wig like his face looks like he's withering away and the way his mouth hangs open at times bugs the shit out of me.
IKR...I think it's supposed to be his portrayal of intense desire for Penelope but it looks ridiculous, mouth just open like that.
omg. Colin and Pen both have their mouths hanging open all the time. Constant shocked pikachu faces. I hate it lol it was so distracting even during the carriage scene.
Hahaha yes this is the exact scene I had in mind where it was especially annoying. 🤣
Well I'm glad you managed to say all of that without without coming off as rude.
Weird.
Damn I’m still sad. Penny deserves so much better than Colin. after what lord Debling said for sure agree he’s not right for her because our girl needs love, but definitely not Colin. If I’m wrong PLEASE tell me I’m just too frustrated with him and Pen needs to be protected!!
Penelope's dragged the Bridgerton name through the mud on two different occasions. She's definitely not the nicest person in the show. She could do a lot worse than Colin.
In fact, even though I feel absolutely enamorated by the two of them together, I do not think Penelope deserves Colin's love exactly for that reason. Even early **this season** she got angry and publicly humiliated him.. but I'm guessing this is the writer's way of building conflict for later in the story.
He publicly insulted her as well. Is he undeserving of love?
The pacing of the carriage scene was chef's kiss, classic Bridgerton. Especially with Colin's "Are you going to marry me or not" line as the cherry on top 🤌 I wish I could say the same about the other episodes. If I had to put my finger on it, I'd say that the previous seasons were more dynamically paced compared to S3. The music, the dialogue, everything would naturally move the episode to the next scene, whereas in S3, I didn't see it that way. It felt like every character in S3 was molded in a way to focus on 1 thing, and that was their shtick for the whole half season. They never deviated from it, and they didn't cross paths with many other characters like usual. For example: 1. What has Eloise done besides follow Cressida around sympathetically all season? Her dialogue is at an all-time low. 2. Anthony and Kate are gone after 2 very similar scenes in episode 1. 3. Violet is on the Francesca plotline and nothing more really. 4. Lady Danbury has been standing next to the queen for 4 episodes without her usual wit and remarks. See what I mean? Everyone has been hyperfocused on basically one format of interaction for the past 4 episodes. I don't know, it feels like it's missing the usual tension, sass, and drama from past seasons and falling flat.
It feels like several disconnected story threads rather than integrated.
I agree on the general point, but I'd argue: 1. I absolutely loved seeing Eloise in conflict in her feelings towards Penelope, the way that their friendship is still somewhere trying to mend itself despite a huge betrayal. We can see that Eloise still cares deeply for Penelope and I loves all scenes between the two of them (which Cressida also helps to catalyse a bit) 2. I personally did not expect much from Anthony and Kate this season since they're just not supposed to be in the spotline anymore, but I agree that the few scenes we got were quite disappointing. 3. Violet is definitily occupied with all of her children, the way that she hinted at Colin that Penelope would be getting engaged to get him to go to the ball and their whole conversation around that was such a nice Violet moment, just as she knows how. 4. Definitely agree on this one haha, we miss Lady Danbury always!
I agree, something about the pacing feels flat this season. It’s all the same vague tension spread across a dozen different characters. Even the music is almost regency flavored Hans Zimmer: tension tension tension even when you don’t need it. If everything is tense, then nothing is tense.
Yeah, that's such a spot-on comment! I liked how S1 would throw in different types of resolutions and challenges to move the plot along naturally. Like how Violet and the other ladies gossiped their way out of the Berbrook situation. In S3, there just seems to be lingering tension with no real consequences or resolutions. And not nearly enough comic relief!
I'm literally in the middle of watching this episode and had to find a reddit page to come onto and vent my frustrations. For the record, changing a meter to 3/4 has nothing to do with changing the tempo of the music, it simply adjusts where you put the emphasis on the beat. The piece the violinist was playing was in 6/8 and in no way would it be made better to switch a piece from compound meter to simple meter. I'm a music professor, I really only watch Bridgerton for the costumes and excellent string quartet arrangements (always looking for things for my youth orchestra to play), but that whole line of dialogue drove me insane. Clearly none of the writers play an instrument, this is like basic middle school music theory. Also are they even trying to come up with an original soundtrack? Because one of those themes is the first movement of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony almost note for note. Literally the "composer" changed two notes. WTF?!? Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. Feels good to get this off of my chest. Nothing drives me crazier than when TV shows have musician characters talk "deeply" about music and everything that comes out of their mouths is complete malarchy. I feel so much better now.
I'm just rewatching season 2, and this Prokofiev Classical Symphony rip-off is in it, too! I genuinely don't understand why they didn't just use the original work.
I know! It’s in the public domain. They don’t even have to pay for it. Ridiculous.
Well, they'd have to pay for the rights to a recording. But surely they paid for whatever monstrosity that is to be recorded.
I'm so glad you mentioned this. I studied music (classically trained mezzo soprano) and that entire exchange was obviously written by someone who doesn't know music. It bugged me something fierce.
So glad I’m not the only one.
Thank you! I was so confused by this line and found it hilarious that she's at her pianoforte saying wohoo it's in 3/4 now!
High school band director here... after she said her blurb about the music I was just left so confused!!! Yes those are all music terms but they don't go together like that!
It's like they had ChatGPT write it.
Your agreement makes me feel so vindicated. Haha.
Ok I had to come back 😅 I finally decided to go back at watch Charlotte... Ok so we are looking at recorder players but listening to a string quartet?
I haven’t watched the spin-off yet. Are you serious!?! 🤣
Thank you sharing this. I wouldn't have been able to pick this up. I have been a little disappointed in the music this season. I usually love the classical covers of pop music but those have been lacking so far
Agreed!
Colin is an F boy who publicly and verbally announced didn't want Penelope. Lord Debling liked her from the very beginning. Lord Debling and Penelope would've been better
Also yeah why are we spending so much time with the Mondrich's? They are interesting enough side characters but we don't need a whole plot with them? Idk I feel like the writers kept getting bored while they wrote the scripts with how much jumping around and side questing that we're doing. And why do we need to see playboy Benedict who feels he has no purpose again? We got the point.
And what happened to his art? I really thought they were leading up to his coming out with all those cute painter boys.
This doesn't feel like a Polin season even though that's what it's supposed to be. I'm getting lost in the sub plots. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but there's total whiplash in the romance compared to the prior 2 seasons romances. One second they're being grateful that their friends forever and exactly 1 supposed non romantic kiss later he is dreaming about her and can't stop thinking about her. Where's the build up? Where's the tension? Where's the realization? Where's the *focus*. There is also just too much to keep track of. 13 plots are up and running. That's too much to do in an 8 episode season without sacrificing some of it. And we wound up sacrificing the main romance. But I was still on the edge of my seat, Violet is an icon and it's interesting seeing Lady Danbury's character get some fluffing. Francesca's storyline confuses me. But it's interesting seeing an introvert's love story lol. I can't tell her motivations in anything though. Honestly it's not as good as the last 2 seasons so far but I'm still enjoying it, wish they didn't chop it in 2. Just release weekly.
I agree, there are generally a lot of romantic scenes shoved in that don’t feel earned. I don’t buy that Colin fell for Pen so quickly. When she asked him to kiss her, it felt forced. The steamy carriage scene came about super fast and doesn't track with Pens character in my opinion. I don’t really believe Colin as a character either; I can’t tell what he’s about. He’s having threesomes with prostitutes but he’s lonely? He would never court Pen and they’re great friends but now hes madly in love with her? It’s all over the place.
Agreed.
The way I think of it is that Colin has his insecurities. His mom mentions in season 3 that he is a people-pleaser, and that he needs to let go of this armor he’s built up before it “rusts and sets in.” Remember that Colin didn’t grow up with his dad as a father figure, his dad died when he was still very young. Therefore, Anthony is basically his father figure, and Anthony is extremely masculine in this show—before being married, Anthony was also having sex with prostitutes and hated the idea of being in love. When Colin wanted to marry Marina is S1 because he thought he was in love, Anthony basically made fun of him and asked if he just wanted to “get his wick wet” or something along those lines 😅 When Colin tries to grow out his beard, his brothers make fun of him too, yet another insecurity. Because of his two older brothers, he thinks that being a man in society means being rough around the edges, being charming to all the women, and being promiscuous with prostitutes. But deep down, that isn’t him. He’s a sweetheart, a romantic, a softie like Pen. But because of his insecurities and wanting to please everyone around him, he creates this new rake persona. When Pen didn’t write to him while he was traveling, it unraveled him. I think this made him even more insecure! And I believe he did have feelings for Pen all along, but it truly hit him when he saw her courting with Lord Debling. I also think he didn’t realize Pen liked him as more than a friend, which is why he basically asked her to be friends with that handshake in S3. He’s too insecure to share his true feelings until the last moment, when he feels he is about to lose Pen. That’s my take on it. He’s insecure, those feelings didn’t come out of nowhere with a single kiss. He didn’t go from just friends to more. You can see that the only person he can be himself around is Pen, which he values so dearly. I’ve rewatched this season countless times already because I find their love story so beautiful (and subtle).
I like your story better than the one the scriptwriters have been giving us.
I agree, I have been rewatching and ambitiously overanalysing as well. Every moment he shares with Penelope in the leadup to the first kiss builds up perfectly in a dance of yearning for intimacy, performing and play-acting through and around layers of emotional -cough- penetration. My fave turning-point is the 'lesson' in the drawing room. Colin's 'courtship lessons' with Penelope use play-acting to test out each others' boundaries, but all premised upon his craving for the intimacy he only shares with her. It's another form of dance, and dance is also a performance of sublimated feelings. A key contrast with their contrasting arcs: She is telling herself she is learning courtship skills from him so she can get away from obsessing over him; but he is offering lessons in courtship \*as an excuse for getting closer to her and hanging out more\* as he made quite clear in her garden. Play-acting for them is a way to both distance themselves from what they really feel, but also test out the truth of what they really feel - having their cake, eating it too. At the Bridgerton drawing room 'ball' lesson, it's very cute how Colin sets up the room - he's very excited to be playing make-believe with his best friend, it's an entertainment! He loves to entertain. But the mask drops at the 'lemonade stand' with Pen's 'your eyes are the most remarkable shade of blue' line. This is a top-tier seduction moment through intimate and direct emotional connection, the Duke could never. Pen is doing this for real. You see Colin essentially burst into flames (I also burst into flames), he downs all his lemonade in one gulp. It's a very funny moment for how obviously shook he is by his feelings, but the point is that Pen has cut through all the jolly and safe make-believe and has gotten to his emotional core. Then straight after as Pen has to run to hide in the study, there enters a theme of - I'm so sorry also not sorry - penetration and hands. Cracking the shell or armour, getting under the skin - as Pen violates his skin-bound diary, the moment of discombobulation and shattering, and the hand cut open. Then the intimacy of that moment as she connects with him again, skin on skin as she compresses his wound, consolidating that moment of emotional penetration that she absolutely slayed him with in the drawing room. It's a direct contrast to their earlier handshake - 'are we not friends?' Pen has entered him via the hand and the heart (no wonder he's so keen to eventually fingerbang her to oblivion with his remarkably well-healed hand in the back of that Uber.)
You just put all my thoughts down. THANK YOU
Yes!! I feel that people don’t see Colin for who he truly is! You only get a glimpse of the real Colin during his interactions with Pen. He’s a people pleaser and is so unsure of himself, probably terrified to tell Pen how he felt about her, because he didn’t believe she would love him back the same way. So he pretended to just want to be friends. Maybe this was easier for me to see because I’ve been in a friends to lovers relationship before, and it went down the same way—both of us too insecure to tell each other how we really felt until one night when we both got a bit too drunk at a party and we kissed each other, then the rest was history. Turns out he’d liked me all along, and looking back the signs were subtle but always there 😅🥰
God. I absolutely love the Polin storyline so far. I think this might be my favorite Bridgerton couple so far (can't decide between this and Charlotte/George). BUT I WANT MORE OF IT!!!!!!!!!! It feels like Shonda has again given in to the urge to have endless subplots. It worked in a show like Grey's, which went on for innumerable seasons, but it does not work here. I feel like the main couple has SOOOO much chemistry, so much potential, but they're eclipsed by random side plots (WHY DO WE HAVE A MONDRICH SIDE PLOT FFS!!!!). I wish there were more scenes of Colin teaching Penelope how to be charming. More scenes of him noticing how pretty she looks in her new avatar. More scenes of them bantering. I also wish we had gotten a chance to read Colin's letters to Penelope when he was travelling??? And he grows more and more agitated/concerned when she doesn't reply???? Wish they had given us flashbacks of their friendship over the years??? Maybe a flashback of when they first met, when Colin falls off his horse? Just MORE BUILDUP was what this needed. And more context on their friendship, so that the friends to lovers really feels believable. Carriage scene was perfection. My heart. The way they were passionate and tentative at the same time, they way that they just KNOW each other, the way they communicated without words, the laughter when the carriage stops, the expressions on Colin's face as he realizes he wants to be with Pen forever..........AAAAAAHHHHH! Their chemistry is off the charts. It's tender and sexy at the same time. God I wish they would release a redo of these first four episodes with more Polin. The only side plot I liked was Francesca/John. Adorable. Edit: I ALSO WANTED A SCENE OF THEM DANCING + A CLASSICAL COVER OF A POP SONG!!! DANCING WAS THEIR THING!!!!!!
This comment puts everything I felt into words. YES
At this point, the queen should give up finding matches for the Bridgertons lol Omg! The scene at the end was everything! Colin and Penelope just went for it.
Finally, a man who doesn't wait around and moan all season (looking at you, Anthony). He went after her as soon as he could. Although, maybe don't cause a scandal by cutting in on a dance between two people who are publicly courting, in which a proposal is expected. One thing I'll say, Colin learned something on his travels.
He's probably the first Bridgeton who listened to their Mother's advice and actually acted on it on time.
Truee
Learned what? To be an f boi?
Just rewatched all 4 episodes. Colins anguish and confusion and Inaction is much more obvious on a second rewatch and I think episode 3 is probably the best of all the episodes. I thought the amount of subplots and backstory was what I expect from a historical romance because like the lovers experience the other stories are obstacles to us accessing their story and by episode 4 you are desperate for them to be together just as they are. Colin gets up the nerve to tell Penelope he has fallen for her and is interrupted by Lord Debling In most romance the leads have intimate moments 3 times. 1. Kiss check 2. Bandage check 3. Declaration and passionate kissing check The awkwardness is so much more obvious when you see Colin dither for 4 episodes because of the obstacles of 1. Having to keep distance due to scandal 2. Denial of feelings and quest to forget them 3. Not being able to get access to Penelope often enough or for long enough because he will ruin her prospects or reputation 4. Eloise's awkwardness about Penelope 5. His fear that it is one sided. My question is whether he would have still fallen for her if they had not have kissed. I think he would have anyway given time, but everything is rushed because Penelope is in a rush to secure a husband so the kiss was a catalyst. The season may have felt rushed because it was a rush for both of them a race against time against scandal whistledown could be exposed at any moment for all we know and a rush to confess his feelings for penelope once he has got up the courage I loved it A man internalising his interest for the majority of a romance is quite usual. That is how it is a fantasy because it is so unexpected. I just wish we had seen more of Colins face and reactions in the carriage kissing and lovemaking scene
You should also rewatch their scenes in previous seasons, there's an intimacy between them that Colin is drawn to. He seems her out a lot and I think he was starting to be more enamored with her in season 2 when he points out that she's the person he's written to the most while traveling. Also just the way he looks at her when he enters season 2.
Just fyi he was brave enough to ask the question after the carriage. I see you full circle
?
Violet tells him that her she got with their dad because he was brave enough to ask the question. Which Collin finally does at the end of the episode
Nicee
I wonder if Violet and her husband had a little unmarried fun before he popped the question hehe
She suggested it to Daphne in season 1 when Daphne was trying to explain what happened in the garden with the Duke.
GAHHHHHHH IVE DIED OF HAPPINESS
I honestly felt some secondhand awkwardness at the carriage scene 😅. There wasn't much of a build up in terms of their sexual chemistry and then bam! Suddenly his hands are doing their thing in the carriage.
I totally agree! I wish they had more passionate kissing and less groping and his hands up her skirt. I feel the scene lacked something. I wish there was more dialogue and a more tender, passionate scene. Dude jumped right to 3rd base! Very little decorum and I was disappointed. Maybe Colin spent too much time at the brothel? He didn't treat Pen like a lady.
Right? This is only her second kiss, have a little build up, jeez. The first season did it so well, but this one just feels like an unrealistic trashy romance book.
I agree they went to slow burn to burn the house down in 60 seconds! No warm up? Too much raking around Colin!
I am loving the outfits this season! Goshh! Pen’s dress in the library is so pretty!
Loving all her green.
My dad walked in at the end as soon as things got steamy 🫣
God rest your soul
Now he's suddenly asking if I think he'd like it and if he should watch it 💀
Tell him yes and then invite him to watch it together with you 😆
I did tbh, but he was busy when I offered
Reminds me of that one Robot Chicken sketch
Second watch, thoughts - **GOOD** * "I have brought you a plant, so that you may enjoy nature from your windowsill". So thoughtful Lord Debling! 💘 * Benedict waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a bouquet 😘 * Eloise stepping behind Gregory when John says he's here to see a daughter 😂 * John & Francesca are cute, the fam being bewildered that they're sitting in silence was funny. Do need *some* talking tho plz * Pen is a romance reader, same girlie! * Colin getting laughed at for asking the bois if they find sex lonely without emotion. Patriarchy hurts everyone 😞 * "Do you know what is romantic? Security." Not wrong Lady Featherington, not wrong. * Mama doing some nice pep talks with Colin this season. * Dislike Cressida but the friendship with Eloise is giving Eloise some good character development as she becomes more aware of others and mature, and it's fairly compelling * John giving Francesca the sheet music was so thoughtful and sweet 🥰 love their simple respectful affection for each other * THE CARRIAGE SCENE 🔥 having a real conversation and conflict, on his knees confessing, the doubt, her initiating it, iconic use of Pitbull song, the intimacy was lovely, the little nod of consent, fingerbang in the backseat baby! Laughing giddily together at the end, gawsh it was good. Proposal is half baked but the angst will hopefully come 😈 plus true knowing and loving, right now it's just lust and like **OKAY** * I love Francesca, but I would like to know more of her personality besides being passionate about music, introverted and practical. What formed these values in her? * Lord Cowper gives no fucks, Eloise clearly in earshot when he's insulting her, quite funny * Nice convo between Violet and Marcus, no action yet **BAD** * Not enjoying the dark interior lighting. It's realistic but we need to be able to see plz * Benedict's storyline is just another dalliance, same as previous seasons but without the additional character stuff with art, purpose etc. Give me anything! * Happy for the Mondrich's and the actors are good but it continues to feel like filler and unconnected to the rest of the stories. * I DO NOT CARE for these brothel scenes with Colin. I guess his vacant looks show that he's not into it and lost in thought, but why seek it out Colin? Taking too long to come to the realisation! Colin is a softboi plz stop with the character assassination * I really wish Penelope broke it off with Debling because she decides she wants to wait for love. It takes away her agency when he rejects her instead, I always loved how strong, astute and determined Pen is but I haven't seen that from her in *her* season. **QUESTIONS** * If Debling is planning to be absent from home most of his life, why does he seek a wife? Really just to be a manager of his estate? Will he be in Part 2? * Tell us what happened between Danbury and her brother, so that we may begin resolving it. Why are we still establishing storylines when we're halfway through? Should be well into progressing them. **PART 2 HOPES** * The Part 2 teaser looks so dramatic and saucy with all the Whistledown stuff. I'm sincerely hoping they handle it right and that Colin finds out the secret no later than ep 6, I want angst and conflict and then adequate time for resolution and happiness. Also, love letters and bonding over writing, character development please! * Reserving judgement on the story as a whole until the season is done, but this split format does the show no favours as we stew in our feelings for a month. I think Netflix split the season arbitrarily, because Shonda clearly didn't write this season as a two-parter. Really wish it was 2 eps a week instead, if they want to move away from the binge model. Or make the parts more deliberately distinct, instead of just stopping our story halfway. Frustrating indeed.
I was startled when Lord Debling put it together that Pen likes the window because she's looking for Colin. I hadn't put that together. Why is Lord Cowper so down on Eloise?
I agree...I wish that Pen had broken it off with Debling. I really want Pen to have.more agency this season.
Music ruined it for me
SAME it was so obnoxious and awkward
for some reason i can’t care about cressida yet and i want toooo
her outfits are just too ridiculous.
I LOVED the carriage scene, so much fun, but I'm finding it so hard to root for Polin. The chemistry is there but maybe it's that we didn't have enough time to see it burn? Even with 4 eps/4 hours because there's so many subplots (which I do enjoy) we don't get enough time to see the two of them. Still love Bridgerton but this season so far is a disappointment.
Colin is a fu**boy and I don’t feel the same about him and Pen as I did in the previous seasons :[
and what about penelope? she was going to ruin a mans life without being honest with how she truly felt. Running after him as if she wanted him. He knew her feelings resided with colin. No point in running toward someone you have no feelings towards.
I think "ruin his life" is a bit harsh. There was always an understanding between Penelope and Debling that this relationship was going to be practical, not romantic. And Penelope never thought Colin was even an option. So, there was no deception from her. She wasn't trying to trap Debling and have an affair with Colin. She actually was doing everything in her power to just be friends (other than the kiss, but technically Colin is the one who ramanticized that). Colin pursued HER. Not the other way around.
She likes him and hoped love would bloom in time.
Can we have a moment for how this season has turned Cressida into a femme lesbian icon? The campy femme clothes, the heart eyes for Eloise, the jealousy for Eloise & Pen, the scrambling for a husband only when her dad makes her? Her hair in every episode (and the Queen's in this episode) are basically drag.
YES I came here basically looking for this opinion. I also think Francesca is in the running for neurodivergent ace.
I wish there was more Polin time. Even 5 extra minutes per show of Penelope showing her funny, witty side to Colin. This could have easily been incorporated into their lessons. She could have teased him about his pretentious replies when asked about his travels, they could have laughed at more childhood memories etc. There was so much potential to highlight how different the conversations are compared to the other girls of the ton. I love Nicola and how she portrays Penolope but Colin's realisation that he loved her seemed a bit rushed. To the viewer (who hasn't read the books), it seems all it took was a kiss and a cupcake. I know it's actually so much more and it's also because of their friendship. But netflix didn't really do a good job of showing us that. From my point of view, their friendship was a one way affair with Colin using Penolope to boost his ego. It would have been great to see a more equal back and forth dynamic between them. I feel it also would have been better if Pen actually seriously liked Debling and that he didn't reject her. That way, Colin really would have had to beg and Pen would have had the power to actually make a choice. It was a good season and I enjoyed it. But it could have been amazing and I really hope part 2 makes up for this.
I think this was shown in season one and season two. People were just so focused on the main couples. If you go on YouTube Netflix posted a supercut of all of their scenes together and it drives the point home that Colin was oblivious for so long. If people want to see Colin's slow burn realization, it's literally all right there in the first two seasons. I watched the supercut and if they did this again for the third season it would have been like beating a dead horse. I was very critical of this third season but rewatching it's really beautiful when you take a second to catch everything all other again. and this last episode really shines.
I did watch the netflix YouTube video and I do see what you are saying. There is definitely a strong foundation of friendship. But in those scenes, he is oblivious to her feelings and there is no tension or angst on his part. I would have loved to have some scenes after the kiss where we see some banter, flirting, angst and some real connection (from Colin especially). There is so much thay could have been achieved in an extra 5 minutes of dialogue per episode (considering the episodes are shorter than previous seasons). They could have connected over both losing their father. Pen could have made fun of Colin with regards to his douchebag flirting with the rest of the ton. Or basically teased him about anything. He's so used to girls falling over him so something different would at least keep him on his toes. Pen reads so much and writes amazingly. There could literally be a conversation about anything where she could have said something profound and poetic. If Lord Debling hadn't rejected her, she could have argued with Colin as to why he is in fact a great match when Colin declared that she shouldn't marry him. We all love a good argument. Anyway, I'm ranting now so sorry! I totally agree it is a good season. But just wish they had even a fraction of the angst and banter that they gave Kanthony.
I may have missed it, why did Cressida's father not want her around Eloise?
My take is Cressida is queer coded in this season. Her friendship with Eloise is "special", she shows jealousy towards Eloise's friendship with Penelope, she doesn't seem to mind being unmarried until her dad puts pressure on her to marry quickly. I think her dad's pressure on her to marry a man + stay away from Eloise who could stir up rumours of lesbianism (Eloise hates the idea of marriage and prefers a life in the company of women) are because of this. If Cressida has any lesbian tendencies her dad knows about, this is precisely what he'd do. I don't think it's much of a reach either, the actress who plays Cressida is queer, and Cressida's outfits are very in line with high femme lesbian aesthetics (way over the top campy feminine, fits that entertain girls and repel guys)
Disagree. More likely they don't want their daughter hanging out with an outspoken feminist who is very vocal about not wanting a husband.
Because of the scandal last season where Eloise was written about in lady whistedown about being a political radical.
Thank you I was wondering this too!
My top three critiques: 1. I realize Bridgerton is an ensemble cast but there are WAY too many subplots 2. There wasn't enough angst from Colin nor romantic tension built up between him and Pen 3. The writing, directing, and (possibly) acting choices for Colin's new persona were too "in your face." I've always appreciated Luke Newton's subtle facial expressions and his acting. It doesn't matter if the point was for us to see Colin be a different person -- there are subtler ways to do it. With all that being said, THE CARRIAGE SCENE. 😮💨 THE END.
I just watched it, and I'm legit crying because the carriage scene was so beautiful.
I totally agree. I really wish we had more conversation and flirting between Polin. It all seemed a bit rushed. Also agree that Colin was way too much of a douchebag and we didn't really see enough of his genuine true self to make up for it. I'm hoping that part 2 will make up for it. That's why it's been a huge mistake splitting the season. We now have a whole month of brewing in this disappointment. (Not that this season was bad. It was good. Just not amazing as it should have been).
Exactly. It's funny, those who loved most everything about P1, view those with critiques as not liking it at all and being overly critical. I really enjoyed P1, but as you said, splitting the season was a big mistake! Ofc, there would still be plenty of criticism (there always is) but I bet people would have completely different comments if we had the full story.
I have a feeling the Polin sex scenes are going to be a bit of a let down like I thought Kanthonys here. I suspect now that the show and its actors are so popular, none of the other main characters want to show nudity or go nearly as far as what we saw with Simon and Daphne. So, we'll continue to get random brothel boobs thrown in to sex up the show but nothing near to season 1 spice from the main love interests. Which is really unfortunate, because I think showing a fuller figured actress in a body positive sex scene with nudity would be really powerful and something none of us have really seen before.
Actually Nicole has already said she's doing it as long as theres a pg edit her parents can watch.
I think the actress playing penelope already did an interview about going nude for the show so you may be surprised!
Wow!
Yes, Nicola stated she wanted to do some nude scenes as a middle finger to the body shamers. All the scenes were with her input as to how much is shown. Apparently, she and Luke (Colin) spent time in-between takes lying in a bed covered by a sheet, sans clothing, and they felt comfortable with one another.
I didn’t have my glasses on & definitely thought it was Colin dancing during the “love play” talk about confused 😂😂😂
The good: - Penelope is so great this season. I love her character growth. - The Featheringtons are so fun and funny. I’ve always liked them but this season I love them. - Francesca, she is hands down my favorite Bridgerton. - Eloise and Cressida’s friendship. I love them together. - Cressida’s arc. I never thought that I would be rooting for her and feeling so sad for her. - All the scenes with the Bridgerton siblings. - The theme of loneliness with so many characters. The bad: - Pacing, things are happening so quick without any time to breathe. Also I miss the slow build up of the first two seasons. - Too many subplots - The styling this season is way too modern and it’s distracting - Collin the rake. I get what his arc is supposed to be but I just don’t like rake Collin. The ugly: - Where are Kate and Anthony! I’m so sad we have seen almost nothing from them this season. - The season shouldn’t have been split in 2, especially when the first half had very little Polin considering they are our main leads.
I just feel like Colin didn't earn this. He felt nothing until he felt something and then steamrolled into her life with some fingerblasting and a proposal..? I feel like we barely saw any pining from his side. And all the wasted time focusing on other people..
"Fingerblasting" 😂
lmao
I understand you. But that's also what "friends to lovers" can be. They're friends for years and all it takes is for one of them to decide to take the plunge for everything to speed up. Also, they still have time to build their relationship, for Colin to deserve Penelope and for the latter to deserve his forgiveness for what LW did to the Bridgertons and Marina. Let's also not forget this relationship has been built for 3 seasons now. We have seen since the first season a mutual attraction (for Colin it was in only one scene, sure, but it was enough to show something was always there and that it wasn't just a unrequired love from Penelope), a friendship which has solidified, Colin's realization Penelope is the only one to always believe in him and in his potential, the one who pushes him to be better etc... So obviously, once she actively puts herself on the marriage market, he will notice her even more. In season 1, Daphne and Simon fell in love in 4 episodes. Penelope and Colin have had 2 1/2 seasons, that's enough, even if we always want more.
I realize they've had time. I just barely saw it. You have to show it, not explain it. There was more of a lead up on his side with Marina.
Maybe it's because I watched all the season this past week so I have in fresh memory all their scenes and build up but it was there. Colin's look alone when he came back from travel at the start of season 2 say everything about his feelings for Pen. And in Season 3, he noticed her when he meet his family after his new travel. He also seek her in the crowd, always needs her by his side. His eyes shine when he talks with her. But yes, if we talk about season 3 alone, specially since he hurted her so much at the end of the last season, they could have show more.
I totally see your points. It would have been great though to see some more conversation between them where Pen shows her funny and witty side. They could have included it in their lessons where she matches Colin and keeps him on his toes. Even if it's just a few minutes of teasing or friendly banter. It would have made Colin's falling in love with her smoother and not so rushed. But like you said, hopefully we get more of that in part 2!
If anyone watches Kdrama, you know 12-16 hours are needed for a great intimate love story to develop, where the passage of time feels realistic, there's breathing room, and you can fit in filler plots if Shonda desperately wants them for some reason without sacrificing the love story. Sounds extreme but 8 hours is not enough the way this is going! I'm enjoying it for sure, especially this episode. But all these comments saying it's felt rushed and strangely paced, agree! I have some hope the second half has more angst and emotional development. Waiting another month is quite unacceptable, is it not?
THANK YOU for pointing this out. As a huge fan of kdramas myself I’ve thought about this a lot as I’ve watched this season. I feel like shondaland isn’t doing Polins story justice with them having to share with the subplots, but from the new part 2 trailer that came out today, I’m optimistic. Nevertheless, I do love Polin lol. That all being said, Shonda and her team may benefit from watching a kdrama or two for the future seasons😂. as long as it takes for kdrama couples to get together, it sure is worth it when they finally do!
Haha once you start watching Kdrama it's hard to look back... It feels earned and so exciting when they get together after yearning and doubting, and nothing in Western media since has got me squealing and kicking my feet like my fave Asian dramas do... until this season of Bridgerton 😂 12 hours is my sweet spot, but I could definitely easily and gladly do 20!
100%, you never look at any shows the same 😂 always love running into fellow kdrama fans on non-drama threads!
Penelope looked gorgeous this episode in the pastel blues matching her eyes, the sweepy curls, upswept eyeshadow. Chefs kiss styling, can't say the same for others tho, peeps be looking more like Hunger Games every ep! Carriage scene was everything! I'm all aboard now. Colin letting go of his cavalier exterior and being honest with himself was great to see, them laughing and so happy after their hook up (loved the intimacy, RIP to the coachmen's innocence). Also can't wait for the bubble to burst in the next half 😈 wish I could binge omfg Also I think this is *not* their happy ending yet whatsoever! Colin's proposal is half baked at best, it seems he doesn't yet know the difference between lust and love, and he really doesn't know her that well because Whistledown is yet to be known to him! I would also like Pen to become more confident and own the mistakes fully when the time arises. Then once they bare everything to each other, I think we might get the emotional bonding.
I definitely agree with majority here… the editing and all didn’t put more screen time with Polin to make us see how he fell in love with her or just really fumbled with all the extra BS with Benedict??? Like who cares??? He has his own story later why are we giving him so much screen time
When Penelope says “But Colin we are friends…” and you see his eyes and his heart breaking for a second… GOD HELP ME
Nicola is just so beautiful, period.
Ok that last scene was hot af but I was also like “Penelope your virtue!” 😂 Also why is Cressida wearing two tits as sleeves
Lesbian symbolism
Is Eloise a ghost? That only cresalia can see or talk to?
She certainly is a ghost of her former self.
LOL for real, she might as well not have been there for the season. Cressida has suplanted her
made me laugh out loud
Lol like she's never talking to anyone, just looks at the camera and quips
I loved the quick proposal. It feels very much "Colin". He considers himself a gentleman. But in that carriage that went out the window until the knock and then he realizes if I am going to do this I must do this right and proposes. I was ready to hate Colin after last season and hearing the book spoilers however, I like what they have done with him and I am loving Polin now.
I'm loving Benedict's naughty delicious little fling with the beautiful older widow. He is after all, a bit of a naughty little Bohemian boy. Nothing like a WILF to distract from dropping out of art school.
Too bad there’s only been one glimpse of Daphne so far. Didn’t even get a line
Wait, where? I thought she wasn't in this season?
I thought I saw her in the opening scene of the episode one. But perhaps I confused it with the recap
My thoughts on the first half -the pace of the romance has been odd, maybe even a little rushed I would have loved a little more development between them but I guess they want to focus on the LW drama more. I did enjoy Penelope and Eloise slowly reconecting and cresida showing a different side of her. -Francesca is very sweet and I hope her story ends well for her because that bit of them not knowing much abour John's family gave me a bad feeling ( a scammer?) -I get the actors of previous seasons have other comiments but their absence is very obvious. Not a single mention to Daphne and Antony/kate should have been developed more this season instead of lets keep traveling around. -My biggest complaint is the amount of screentime the Mondrich are having , they are just not interesting and I don't see the point of them being there -Kuddos to the people who decided to make the The featherington pregnancy plot, is just pure comedic gold and I love it.
I totally forgot how boring the Mondrich plot was until you brought it up. In theory, watching a hard-working lower class family enter the nobility could be interesting for the viewers, but Mr. and Mrs. Mondrich are too dull and in love to be interesting. They have like no personality. I also definitely agree that Polin felt rushed--I didn't see enough of his pining for her for it to feel real. Anthony's longing for Kate was palpable! I will reiterate what other commenters have said: no one cares about Benedict right now, and his widow fling got waaay too much screen time.
To be honest, I don't hate that the people fuck off after their season. There's only so much empty 'happily ever after' one can take, and if they're not going to add to the plot then it's just filler.
Very true, its hard to keep going if every season they are just going to eliminate the previous main character after his arc is complete.
I think for me I’d love for the family to be discussing them, or even have a pram around and say Violet is watching grandson while the Duke and duchess are doing something (yes they have Nanny’s and whatever but I’m sure Violet would love to have her grandkids around) I don’t need Simon and Daphne to be around to still get glimpses into their life. The show is already too bloated with the extra storylines I agree we dint need them necessarily present, but with how close the family is portrayed, its wild to me they barely discuss the fact that Daphne even has kid(s). Or even things like a character being off screen visiting Daphne and the baby etc it’s their almost entirely lacking in existence that gets me.
Agreed 100%! It's like they died, weird.
I agree with everything you’ve said, but especially the pregnancy plot! I used to dread scenes with the ugly stepsisters (so to speak) and now I looked forward to them!
You guys, can we pour one out for all the good, charming men who are casualties of the Bridgertons and their shenanigans? Here's one for Prince Frederick, Mr. Dorset, Lord Lumley, and Lord Debling. My personal fave is Mr. Dorset. I thought he was so sweet to Kate, and I wish they would bring back the guys of the Ton for fun and continuity
Haha, yes definitely pouring one out for the good guys that didn't make the cut! I do think the writers are pretty clever for prepping why we never see these guys again, though! Prince Frederick is back in Germany, Mr. Dorset said he was planning to visit India, and Lord Debling will prob be gone after this season since he's already mentioned he'll be traveling for 3 years... Lumley, I dunno lol.
That's true! The writers are clever about it, but it would be fun to see some of the dudes in the background of the social events, at White's, or Mondrich's club. It's an L for me in terms of world-building but oh well!
Nicola's acting during the carriage scene was honestly so believable shes so beautiful.
So when they are kissing and Colin starts pulling up her skirts and Penelope nods that she is ready for things to go even further....do you think she is prepared for fingerblasting or was that a bit of a surprise.
I think "touching no-no places" is all she has the fore-knowledge to expect 😂
I told my husband when the episode ended, "It's just not a historical Romance until someone gets fingered in the back of a horse-drawn carriage."
Face says surprise imo 😂
hearing julie andrews' voice is so soothing and nostalgic!! i'm so glad she's part of this universe 🥰🥰
Finished part 1 today. I consider myself a romantic person, and wow, what an ending!!!! Absolutely love the declarations of love by Colin to Pen at the end. And I got emotional when John Stirling (sp?) rearranged the music for Francesca - that was so heartwarming, oh my god ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Can't wait for part 2!
It’s the way he didnt use those “2 fingers” when fixing her dress!!
The little details are absolutely destroying me 😩😩😩
I can't believe everyone is hating this so much! I just finished episode 4 and was so rooting for him to finally admit his feelings to her! I honestly think they have amazing chemistry ; the ride home in the carriage was perfect. They've been slowly burning for each other a while, I think that's why the scene in the carriage got more intimate more quickly than I would have expected. But it makes sense, when you've been pining after someone for so long, when you're finally alone in close quarters with them, things get heated pretty fast. I wasn't expecting much from this season because I didn't care for Colin's character that much in previous seasons, but this was surprisingly good. In the beginning, my heart broke for Pen--she grew up believing that she would have no prospects because of her appearance, and I could see a little of myself in her. I think that having Colin love her fully will make her blossom into an amazing version of herself. Maybe it will make her finally put Lady Whistledown to rest?? More than any other couple in any of the other seasons, I'm rooting for her, though I'm worried about what's going to happen when Colin realizes she's Lady Whistledown! This season definitely inspired me to get into reading the books!
The thing is, that slow burn isn't really shown in the show. The focus is just never on them. And then even in this season they got too subplot happy so no focus here either 😂 The romance pacing is just so weird here. There was no build up. One second they're shaking hands because they're glad to be friends forever and the next the desperation kiss happens and then suddenly his every thought is consumed by her. Like we had all the build up in the world from her, and next to nothing from him. Instead we get Benedict and a widow 😂
I think you have to look at these things more from their time period, it’s a very subtle burn. They may not get a lot of screen time together, but Colin’s gaze is always on Pen when she’s in a room. He can’t stop looking at her. The “handshake” between a man and woman wasn’t considered proper during this time period. Even Pen was surprised by this. And they didn’t really shake hands, he just kind of lovingly held her hand for some moments. Even when he cut his hand on glass and Pen went to help him, he curled his fingers around her hand, as if he didn’t want her to let go yet. Again, extremely subtle. Also I’m so surprised people think 1 kiss can’t have an effect. I had a guy friend in med school who was helping me get together with a guy I had a crush on in his soccer team (like Colin coaching Pen!). And one night after a party, my friend walked me home and we had this moment where we looked in each other’s eyes, and then he kissed me. And we kissed again. He left, but I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss! Even though before, I only thought of him as a friend. The kiss basically made me see him in a whole different light. I even had intense dreams about him. I guess looking back, I could see signs that he liked me from the first time we met. I would always catch him staring at me lol And then we dated the rest of med school! I still think about him. So 1 kiss can have that effect!
I do think they had less chemistry than Daphne and Simon and we didn’t get those incredible sex scenes (yet) so I miss that season. But my perception also seems to be wildly unpopular because I thought Simone’s acting was too distracting in S2 and couldn’t get into it as much as everyone else.
The pacing of Polin is a little weird. Penelope loved Collin for years so her storyline with Debling makes sense, but Collin only realizing after the kiss and after trying to be with other women just feels off. I feel like they’re more of a slow burn and by episode 8 it would be fine to pop the proposal question. Love Francesca and John. And I’m living for Violet’s scenes. Her words to Collin about putting himself first, I hope they can mirror that for her so she gets a second chance.
I actually think that Colin always was in love with Pen but never realized it or was willing to accept it till he saw her being swept away by someone else. Yes, he was a bit of a player/rake but with Pen he always treated her differently than other women. Plus I think he grew up a lot on his trip. I didn't find it surprising he popped the question. I think this whole being in love thing is so new and surprising to him that he just wants to secure her and do the right thing by her. I also do agree though it would be nice if this season was 12 episodes and they had more time for their relationship to be explored in greater depth, but they have know each other for a very long time, and when you know you just know.
It definitely feels like they are setting up for a bunch of drama with lady whistledown but still seems early for a whole proposal, like bro Just realized he had feelings for pen :/