This review was made possible by advance screeners of the first 2 episodes of Bridgerton (Season 3 Part 2). All episodes of Bridgerton (Season 3 Part 2) are now available on Netflix.
Just a month later, we’re back with the second part of Bridgerton Season 3; I have been fortunate enough to watch the first two episodes which quickly pick up where we last left off, with a steamy Penelope and Colin, who are now finally engaged after what feels like a lifetime.
The only issue with this is that Eloise will not be happy with this news and Colin, who despises Lady Whistledown, is unaware that his soon-to-be wife is the lady behind the gossip. It still begs the question: did Bridgerton benefit from splitting its third season into two parts, and where does this season rank amongst the previous two so far? Find that all out in this review.
Eloise Is The Real Main Character In ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Part 2
We pick up right from the cusp of Colin and Penelope confessing their feelings for each other, an extensive kissing scene, and ending with Colin proposing to Penelope, with her, of course, accepting his proposal. This left us in a few predicaments, as everyone was unaware of their recent engagement. It was obvious that Penelope’s mother wouldn’t take the news well, and the same can be said for Eloise, who had already felt betrayed after discovering that Penelope was indeed Lady Whistledown the entire time. This only makes matters worse, as now Eloise only feels more betrayed after finding out that her ex-best friend is engaged to her brother, allowing countless thoughts to drown her head, not knowing if Penelope was ever truly her friend in the first place or if she was only ever using her to get closer to her brother.
The best part about watching Bridgerton is seeing how they tackle these common tropes that are found in romance stories, and they always find a way to make each trope their own by providing that Bridgerton touch to them. While “Friends for Lovers” may be interesting for some people, unfortunately, this is a trope that doesn’t feel like it takes advantage of Bridgerton’s style, unlike the secondary trope that we get in this season, and that’s the “Best Friend’s Brother” trope. As much as this season feels like it’s about Colin and Penelope, it might even seem like it’s hugely focused on Penelope as she continues to hide her identity as Lady Whistledown, but deep down, Eloise feels just as central of a character to this season, unlike a certain Bridgerton that this show makes attempts to make me like but is doing a rather poor job at.
As expected, Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 still explores other side characters like Francessca Bridgerton. The show tries really hard to move her story along, but as fast as it goes, somehow it still feels rather slow, and that may be because I was never invested in the first half of the season, which makes it truly hard for me to care about her story progression. On the other hand, we get Cressida, who has become more relevant as she became Eloise’s new friend. This goes back to the topic of why I feel that Eloise feels more like the central character of this season. Cressida holds an important role in this second half of the season as she decides to lie and pretend she’s Lady Whistledown. This eventually creates ripples in her relationship with Eloise and also helps repair the broken friendship between Eloise and Penelope.
Part 2 Gets… Hot And Steamy
While there is a lot of drama just within these first two episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2, there’s also a lot of time to relax, lay down, and get hot with our loved ones, but not in front of the dog. As I mentioned, the tropes make great use of the Bridgerton identity, and I believe these scenes are also an integral part of the show. While I’m vocal about having less sex and nudity in our shows and films if it’s not an important point of the story, Bridgerton makes a great argument for why it’s important to the show. We also know that it’s also important for the actors themselves, as they’re the ones who have to appear nude in a show that’s shown to millions of viewers at home. Nicola Coughlan talks about how being nude allows her to have power over her body, and over the many people who choose to talk negatively about her body, she gets to show a side of herself that’s beautiful, a side that not usually everyone would see. This in itself is enough of a reason why nudity and sex are valid in this show. Not only is it important for the actors, but it’s also shown in a graceful and respectful manner, even when we are seeing one of the Bridgerton brothers in an unfaithful manner.
Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2, gets hot and steamy in other ways you probably wouldn’t have thought of. This second half of the season gets extremely tense as Colin and Penelope are finally together, but Colin is still unaware of her secret identity as Lady Whistledown. The situation only grows more tense for her as Eloise threatens to tell her brother if she doesn’t do it, but this is all thrown away once Cressida decides to falsely reveal herself as Lady Whistledown. For once, Bridgerton has become unpredictable, and it has made watching this second half of the season quite a fun one. I would still argue that, unfortunately, it doesn’t reach the same heights as Season 2, but the final two episodes could easily change that, as episode six ends with Colin finally finding out about Penelope being Lady Whistledown, but not by any means that she would’ve liked. With episodes seven and eight remaining for me to watch, it’s easy for this season to jump up in the rankings, but until then, Season 2 still remains the best Bridgerton season.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Part 2 – Final Thoughts
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 is a great continuation of where Part 1 left off, and while the side stories don’t truly improve, a few of the side characters, such as Cressida and Eloise, steal the spotlight with not only their respective performances but the overall storylines that come from their characters. Nicola Coughlin still shines in her best performance yet as Penelope and has immeasurable chemistry with Luke Newton. The set and costumed design continue to be stunning, with music that takes inspiration from our century, putting a classical spin on them. The season so far doesn’t break any boundaries or reach the same height as Season 2, but that can all change with the final two episodes.
Bridgerton (Season 3 Part 2) is streaming on Netflix now.
