Bridgerton Season 3 Review: A Romance Derailed by Subplots and Missed Opportunities
Bridgerton has long been one of Netflix’s crown jewels—an intoxicating blend of Regency-era grandeur, scandalous secrets, and slow-burn romances. But Bridgerton Season 3, though highly anticipated for its focus on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, ends up being a perplexing mix of charm, clutter, and confusion. While it provides enough swoon-worthy moments and surprise twists to keep viewers invested, the season’s central romance is often overshadowed by a barrage of unnecessary subplots and an uneven narrative pace.
In short: Bridgerton Season 3 is fine. And that’s exactly what makes it so frustrating.
A Cliffhanger Start That Promised Fireworks
The first half of Bridgerton Season 3 debuted with the kind of dramatic flair fans have come to expect. The midseason cliffhanger—heightened by a string quartet version of Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything”—set expectations sky-high. This moment, combining classical elegance with modern edge, symbolized what fans hoped would be a perfect storm of romance, revelation, and regency rebellion.
Instead, what followed was a diluted conclusion, one that didn’t quite know where to direct its energy. The story of Colin and Penelope, which should have taken center stage, felt diffused among a sea of other plotlines, each competing for attention.
Penelope and Colin: Chemistry Without Focus
There’s no question that Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton bring immense chemistry to their roles. Their on-screen dynamic as Penelope and Colin crackles with tension, tenderness, and passion. Episode 5 is arguably the season’s high point—a sensual, emotionally charged scene between the two that finally delivers on seasons of buildup. Their romantic arc should have been a triumphant moment in the series.
But it isn’t.
Instead, their love story feels like an afterthought in a season that promised to focus on them. The emotional beats that should have been explored—Penelope’s insecurities, Colin’s growing affection, the fallout from Penelope’s Whistledown identity—are glossed over or rushed. Critical moments, like Colin’s discovery of Penelope’s secret and their ensuing conflict, are packed into the finale’s final minutes. The result? An unsatisfying conclusion that leaves viewers wondering what could’ve been.
Drowning in Subplots: A Season Pulled in Too Many Directions
The primary culprit for the season’s shortcomings lies in its overcrowded ensemble. Instead of diving deep into Colin and Penelope’s relationship, Bridgerton Season 3 gets bogged down by storylines that don’t quite earn their screen time.
- Benedict’s Libertine Adventures: Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton continues his journey of self-discovery and exploration, including hints at a future queer storyline. While progressive and intriguing, his arc feels disconnected from the season’s emotional core.
- Will Mondrich’s Bar Troubles: Will’s storyline about losing and regaining control over his bar drags on with minimal payoff. While it attempts to explore class and entrepreneurship, it rarely connects to the season’s primary threads.
- Lord Debling’s Courtship: Sam Phillips’ Lord Debling is introduced as a potential match for Penelope, only to vanish without consequence. The time spent building up this subplot feels wasted, especially given its abrupt resolution.
- Featherington Family Drama: The Featherington sisters and their mother continue to be embroiled in scandals and schemes. While often amusing, their arc takes up valuable narrative space that could have been used to deepen Penelope’s personal growth.
When you promise fans a slow-burn romance that’s been years in the making, sidetracking the story with tertiary drama risks losing the audience’s emotional investment. That’s exactly what happens here.
Whistledown Woes: A Reveal That Misses Its Mark
The reveal of Lady Whistledown’s true identity was always going to be a major turning point in the series. Penelope’s secret persona has been the backbone of Bridgerton’s intrigue since Season 1. But when Colin finally discovers the truth in Season 3, the payoff is oddly underwhelming.
Rather than using the reveal to explore themes of deception, betrayal, and redemption in a meaningful way, the show rushes through the fallout. Colin is predictably angry—but his fury comes at the worst possible time: right before their wedding. Their estrangement is short-lived and conveniently resolved just before the finale, giving little room for real emotional reckoning.
It’s a missed opportunity to reflect on what Lady Whistledown really represents: female agency in a society that offers women so few options for power and voice.
Feminist Undercurrents: Where Season 3 Shines
Despite its flaws, Bridgerton Season 3 isn’t without merit. In fact, its greatest strengths lie in its continued exploration of gender roles and societal expectations. The show delicately unveils how oppressive the ton can be, especially for women.
- Cressida Cowper’s Desperation: Jessica Madsen gives a standout performance as Cressida, whose desperation to escape her cruel father drives her to blackmail. Her arc paints a heartbreaking picture of a woman trapped by the era’s rigid constraints—a rare sympathetic turn for the character long seen as the show’s villain.
- Lady Featherington and Lady Cowper: These two matriarchs, played with layered nuance by Polly Walker and Joanna Bobin, serve as fascinating studies in maternal survival. Season 3 shows the cracks behind their cold exteriors, revealing fear and vulnerability beneath their calculated actions.
- Francesca Bridgerton’s Quiet Struggle: Hannah Dodd’s Francesca is a revelation. Reserved and introspective, her brief but poignant moments suggest deeper narratives to come—especially with the subtle nods toward her potential queer identity.
The show’s willingness to go beyond ballrooms and corsets to examine the realities of womanhood in Regency England remains one of its most valuable traits.
Violet Bridgerton: The Matriarchal Ideal
Ruth Gemmell’s Violet Bridgerton continues to be a beacon of warmth, wisdom, and subtle defiance. As the mother of the titular siblings, Violet has always balanced tradition with quiet rebellion. Season 3 offers glimpses into her past and her lingering grief over the loss of her husband, reminding viewers of the emotional richness that the show can tap into when it slows down.
She serves as a reminder of what love can be when it’s rooted in trust, partnership, and mutual respect—values that feel increasingly absent from the whirlwind that is Colin and Penelope’s rushed romance.
The Symbolic Ending: Babies and Spotlight-Sharing
The final scene of Season 3 is oddly symbolic. All three Featherington sisters have had babies, suggesting a literal and metaphorical passing of the torch. Penelope, who once stood apart from her flashy sisters, now shares the spotlight with them—just as she shares narrative space throughout the season.
It’s a fitting, if bittersweet, image. Penelope, once the underdog and secret observer, is finally seen. But she’s also no longer the sole focus. Her story, like the show around her, has become diluted by too many voices, too many arcs, and not enough clarity.
A Transitional Season or a Missed Step?
Ultimately, Bridgerton Season 3 feels like a bridge—no pun intended—between what the show has been and what it wants to become. The season teases future romances, new directions, and more inclusive storytelling. It plants seeds for storylines involving Benedict’s identity, Francesca’s marriage, and Eloise’s continued ideological evolution.
But in trying to look forward, it forgets to fully realize the story at hand.
Season 2 burned with intensity and tight storytelling. Season 3, by contrast, meanders. It’s not bad—far from it. It’s entertaining, visually stunning, and full of compelling performances. But it never quite catches fire.
Final Verdict: A Romance That Deserved Better
There’s a quiet tragedy in watching something with so much potential fumble its own delivery. Bridgerton Season 3 had the right leads, the right emotional stakes, and a fanbase eagerly awaiting a love story years in the making.
Nicola Coughlan proves once again why she’s a star. Even when the script undercuts her character, she radiates charisma, vulnerability, and strength. Luke Newton gives Colin surprising emotional depth, transforming him from oblivious boy to devoted man. Their scenes are electric—when we actually get to see them.
But when a season built around a single romance keeps sidelining that very romance, something’s gone wrong.
TL;DR Summary:
- Pros: Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s chemistry, visual grandeur, feminist storytelling, strong performances.
- Cons: Overstuffed subplots, weak narrative focus, underwhelming Whistledown reveal, rushed pacing.
- Rating: ★★★☆☆ – Enjoyable but disappointing.