In his Bridgerton season 3 part 1 review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says this is the “best season yet (so far)”.
On March 16th, hoards of fans will be tuning in for the return of one of the most successful original series in Netflix history. Season three of Bridgerton will once again see young, single nobles enter the social scene in the ton with the hopes of marriage.
We had a chance to watch Season Three in advance and it’s safe to say this is the best season yet.
The first reason is because of the story. The season centers around Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) whose friendship has been evolving since season one. The last we saw of the two, Penelope overheard Colin saying he would never court her. Where the couples in the first two seasons were introduced and married in the same season, Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s story arc has been growing over the course of three seasons. Viewers will be emotionally invested in this couple in a way that they haven’t been in any previous season as they see their story come full circle. They will also get to see how Penelope continues to navigate being Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) while navigating the social scene, love, and her now rocky friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie).
The story also follows Francesca Bridgerton who has been recast, with Hannah Dodd taking over the role. Now a young lady, Francesca is the latest Bridgerton woman to enter the social scene with hopes of receiving a marriage proposal or two.
The second reason is specifically the character of Penelope Featherington and the performance of Nicola Coughlan as she goes from supporting actress to leading lady. Where Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) were the epitome of strength, beauty, grace, and class as the Queen’s picks for Diamond of the Season and the principal female characters for their respective seasons, Penelope Featherington is a bit of an odd ball, often overlooked and forgotten by both men and her own family. She doesn’t fit the mold when it comes to eligible young ladies in the ton, so much so that her own mother expects her to be alone forever, taking care of her as she grows old. But Penelope is like a butterfly that comes into her own during the season while challenging the status quo. She adds an underdog element and relatability to this love story that we hadn’t seen in seasons one and two.
The final reason this season sets itself apart is that Black characters are front and center more than ever before. While, Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury have always been important characters in the series, season three sees more Black characters rise to prominence in the ton. With Black TV series being cancelled left, right and center, it’s great to see Shonda Rhimes use her platform to be even more of a champion for diversity, especially Black characters and stories.
But underneath all the changes, including new showrunner Jess Brownell who takes over for Chris Van Dusen, the elements Bridgerton fans fell in love with are still there, with ample “sexy time”, gossip, drama and cultural diversity to go around.
Overall, Season Three is the best season yet (so far).
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 310 international voters for the 81st Golden Globe Awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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