Bridgerton Season 3: Is Colin Bridgerton the Most Boring Lead Yet?

Bridgerton is back, and with it, the gossip rags, elaborate costumes, and, of course, the ever-present question of who will find love next. This season, however, Netflix decided to serve us a four-course meal… and then informed us the rest wouldn’t arrive for a month.

But let’s not dwell on Netflix’s strange release strategy. Instead, let’s dive deep into the world of Season 3, a season that tackles new debutantes, returning favorites, and the question of whether love can truly blossom when blinded by lack of self-worth.

Colin Takes Center Stage

This season throws a suprise. Instead of Benedict’s story, we delve into the world of Colin Bridgerton and his “will they, won’t they” romance with Penelope Featherington. Now, Colin’s been around since season 1, well season 3 presents a Colin who is now mostly charming ladies with his (questionable) jokes and nonexistent character development. But hey, at least he’s easy on the eyes, right? Penelope, on the other hand, is hiding a juicy secret: she’s the infamous Lady Whistledown, stirring up the ton with her scathing social commentary.

Speaking of the ton, it’s the same old, same old. Debutante mamas are desperate for husbands for their daughters, the queen’s bored with the new debutants but finally finds the “diamond of the season,” in Francesca Bridgeton and Colin’s back from his travels, collecting admirers like a magnet. Penelope, meanwhile, is stuck friend-zoning him while secretly pining away and writing gossip about everyone (including, oops, Eloise, her now-estranged friend).

The Plot Thickens

Here’s where things get messy. This season tries to juggle a million subplots: Penelope’s hunt for a husband (besides Colin, maybe?), Colin’s sister Francesca entering the marriage market, Eloise’s questionable new friendship, Lady Featherington’s financial woes, Penelope’s sisters baby-making attempts, the Queen’s obsession with unmasking Lady Whistledown, and oh yeah, Anthony and Kate making out some more. Phew, that’s exhausting!

Colin & Penelope: A Friendship on Fire

Colin’s trying to play matchmaker for Penelope, completely oblivious to the fact that her heart belongs to him (come on, Colin, have you ever listened to a word she says?). Meanwhile, Penelope juggles her secret identity, her strained friendship with Eloise (who’s still mad about the whole Lady Whistledown fiasco), and the ever-present pressure to find a husband. Ironically, in his quest to play matchmaker, he starts to develop feelings for her himself. It’s a classic “friends to lovers” thing, and while predictable, it’s still heartwarming. But will his feelings survive when he discovers her secret identity?

Is Slow and Steady Bridgerton’s New Motto?

The overall pace is slow, which wouldn’t be a problem if the story truly captivated us. The forced wait for the second half adds to the frustration.The cast remains strong, especially Nicola Coughlan as Penelope. She delivers a fantastic performance, but the character sometimes doubts her own worth. Hopefully, her happy ending will change that. Colin, on the other hand, lacks depth. We see his supposed desirability, but his personality revolves around dry jokes and swooning ladies. Compared to Penelope’s complex life as Lady Whistledown, he feels underdeveloped.

The Final Verdict?

The question remains: Did Shonda Rhimes blow our minds? Not quite. But hey, at least Colin finally noticed Penelope. Now, let’s just hope he doesn’t faint when he finds out her biggest secret.

Now It’s Your Turn

We have to wait until June for the rest of the season. So, what are your thoughts so far? Did Bridgerton live up to the hype? Are you Team Colin and Penelope, or are you rooting for someone else? Let’s chat in the comments below!