Dearest Gentle Reader, welcome to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if this is your first time entering our fair ton. My name is Lady Z, and I shall guide you on today’s journey into the decadent and scandalous world of Bridgerton.
That’s right, we’re back talking about the one and only Bridgerton. The rest of season three dropped last week and I’ve been screaming for a myriad of reasons ever since. Needless to say, I have thoughts. So let's crack in. Let's talk Bridgerton season three.
Very quickly, I have a few notes before I begin my official review. I have not read any of the Bridgerton books. Season one was my first foray into the series. I know many things are different between the books and the show. One day I shall read the series, it’s still not that day. I know the premise of each book, but I don’t know any of the fine details. While I want to change that, I do enjoy the surprise each new season brings. I want to see what the creative teams come up with. Also, there are major spoilers ahead. Do not read my review if you haven’t watched season three yet. I cannot be trusted not to spoil events and scenes from the show. With that, it’s showtime!
When we last left off, Polin was in the back of a carriage doing some spicy things while an instrumental of “Give Me Everything” by Pitbull played in the background. Also, they’re engaged. And they get to live happily ever after with no problems. The End!
Yep, the fact that Penelope is secretly Lady Whistledown and Colin wants to pummel the gossipmonger is not going to be a problem…yeah, it’s a problem. Cause Eloise knows Penelope’s secret and she threatens to tell Colin if Penelope won’t. But Penelope doesn’t want to! She and Colin are head over heels in love, and she doesn’t want to ruin everything they have going. What’s our girl to do!?
I’m going to come right out and say it. Fire the writing department! Fire the showrunner! What happened between season two and season three? Hell, what happened between season three part one and season three part two? Genuine question. Where was the romance? Where was the longing? Where was the cohesion? Where was literally any semblance of anything and everything fans love about the show? What happened to all the characters? They’ve all changed to the point of being completely new characters!
I think Colin gets it the worst. Seasons one and two showed him as a kind, loyal person. He was the most compassionate out of all the Bridgerton siblings, and as seen with Marina Thompson in season one, very willing to help someone out as long as they were truthful with him. But what happened? He traveled around the world and became a fuckboy? He’s an even bigger dick to Penelope this season than he was in season two. And once Penelope’s secret is revealed, he's rightfully upset, but only helps her in the crisis that ensues out of "duty and honor." Then he magically gets over her secret identity in the last ten minutes because the season needed to wrap up.
Now speaking of the main couple, I circle back to my “where’s the romance?” question. Seriously, where’s the romance? In part one of the season, Colin does no pining for Penelope. There’s no longing. No groveling at her feet begging her to forgive him and give him a chance and prove he loves her. Colin has one wet dream about Penelope and suddenly wants her. I do not believe Colin actually loves Penelope. Penelope is far more interested in the relationship than Colin is. There is no full episode where these two are happy, in love, and show that to viewers. Their romance is uncared for by the writers. Viewers are told Penelope and Colin are in love and are forced to simply accept it. For being a romance show, there's very little romance.
The bad writing goes beyond just the romance. Some of the unnecessary side plots are left unfinished. The Mondrichs, whose story is one I've enjoyed since the very beginning, spend the entire season fighting against the grain of high society, only to end of the season by selling their club and giving up. Excuse me!? That goes against everything viewers watched regarding their story. That goes against everything the characters stand for.
I’m not done with the writing/writers room just yet. We have to talk about bisexual Benedict and his relationship with Lady Tilley. Every single part of their relationship felt wrong from the start. The relationship did not need to be included. Especially when the throuple occurs. I felt uncomfortable because the inclusion of a bisexual Benedict was done for no reason other than getting people to shut up about the possibility of Benedict being bisexual and not because anyone on the creative team actually cared to include LGBTQIA+ representation with his character. I’m sorry, you can’t convince me otherwise.
Ok, I’m done with the writing. I have to discuss the costumes now. In my review of part one, I stated that I was a fan of the historical fantasy costumes. For the most part, I am. Nicola Coughlan wears some absolutely stunning costumes this season and looks absolutely gorgeous every time she’s on screen. And contrary to what I’ve heard many say regarding the following trend, I enjoyed the nod to 90’s Chanel with the tweed pieces seen throughout the season. That being said, some of the costuming was too outlandish for my tastes. Cressida Cowper, I’m looking at you. Cressida is a character who has always worn over the top fashions, I expect nothing less from her, but this season they were just plain bad. Save for her red gown. It was a slay. But most of her fashions were an eyesore and I could not find any nod to regency fashion in them; or in the majority of the costuming for that matter. Someone needed to rein the costuming department in. Also, who designed Madame DeLacroix’s black dress? I just want to talk.
I also want to talk with the person who decided to film so many tilted angles. Why? Did the show really call for that many tilted angles? I don’t think it did. Also, I can’t be the only one who gets headaches courtesy of tilted angles. Someone please tell me they make your head hurt as well. Take a shot every time I write “tilted angles,” by the way. Compared to everything else I’ve brought up, the camera angles are something extremely minimal to complain about, but they irked me.
At this point, I have but one question: what happened? How did the season go so downhill so fast? Seeing as there are two years between seasons, I expect nothing short of perfection. I expect time and serious care to be taken when it comes to script writing, filming, editing, costuming, and just about everything that goes into creating a show. Yet season three part two showed me that to be false. The only care I saw was in the actors and the team who created Queen Charlotte’s Swan Lake wig. Shout out the wig team behind that work of art! Oh, the music score was great as well. I'm always a fan of the contemporary music turned regency. Music team, please keep doing what you're doing. Everyone else though? Yeah, they deserve to be followed around by me ringing a shame bell.
Before I go, I want to give a shout out to a YouTube creator. She goes by Chronicles of Noria and has some amazing videos about Bridgerton, among many other cool videos, over on her channel. We share a lot of the same thoughts and opinions about the new season, and she does a much better job at explaining said thoughts than I do. I highly recommend going to check out her channel when you get the chance.
With that, I must bid you all adieu. I shall see you all again next week with a new review. If you can’t wait till then, you can always check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. You can find the show on Spotify and YouTube. Enjoy a spooky story told by yours truly, or listen to me and my co-hosts talk Scooby-Doo, Disney, and so much more.
Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me.
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