I fully agree. They still feel like side characters playing at friends to lovers. Im led to believe thay either the writers or editors didn't have a complete understanding of what makes friends to lovers *feel* real.

I feel no chemistry between these two at all. No lust, no love, just nothing so which sucks because I love friends to lover troupe but this ain’t it. And too many subplots that I truly don’t care.

My complain is there was not enough Penelope and Colin. Too many side plots. Colin and Penelope spend surprisingly little time together. I also personally dislike this "having confusing romantic dream" -thing. It's just lazyness. To have a character having no interest then having one dream and immediately it changes everything. It's just an easy way forward.

Can we talk about how the camera work is all over the place this season?

I think the writers and director failed to recognise that even with a loyal audience we wouldnt remember every moment Pen and Colin had in s1 and s2, which was 4 years ago. In order for their pacing this season to make sense you have to rehash their scenes from past seasons.

Colin and Penelope are my favorite couple, and I am so mixed on this season so far. I know they’ve been “building up” Polin for the past two season but I agree things still feel so rushed. And the subplots are insanely busy. There are some gems in the subplots like with Francesca’s character set up but it’s way way way too much and feels so overwhelming. It also makes the leads feel like part of the ensemble cast rather than feeling like THE LEADS. And I really dislike the way they’ve approached Colin. The actor does his best, and tbh with the material he’s given he blows it out of the water. But the writers fail Colin every season and it bums me out!

I feel like they wanted the hot air balloon scene to be like the horse racing scene from season 2 but it was so bad and so weirdly put together….i hope the next 4 episodes make me feel something because so far im a bit disappointed also it’s disappointing we don’t have a lot of moments with Colin and Penelope as a duo…I hope that changes but I feel all your criticisms were fair..

i completely agree, their relationship felt flat. Colin didn’t really have a personality? We are told by Violet that he’s one of her sensitive children but that’s not shown? We don’t really get to understand Colin, his motives, his outlook on life. When they kissed by episode 2 i was so shocked because there was BARELY any friendship, i expected the kiss at ep 5/6 so tension could be built and the transition from actual friends to lovers would be realistic and honestly more enjoyable and romantic.

Lord Debling brought out a better glow in Pen.

This was definitely disappointing, Colin's character flip-flops between womanising jerk and sensitive goody two-shoes. What?! His schmoozing with the ladies was cringeworthy 🤦🏻‍♀️ Colin as a "rake" just doesn't work

I agree! Even they could’ve done so much with the dating lessons in playing with the chemistries from friends to lovers. The thing with Debling is also not maximized I felt.

Thank you! I felt the same thing about the Mondrichs. I don't know how they play into the bigger story arc of the Bridgertons.

I feel the friendship was there. I just think the writers didn’t see the sexiness in Pen and made her keep being a wallflower, just with better wardrobe. Because Pen was all wimpy and asking for help from him, she never showed him that she wasn’t basically another sister of his . She even had to beg for the kiss.

I agree, they made Collin look like Gaston from beauty and the beast, and the giggling girls.. the hair,tan, sleeves rolled up, boots the muscles. I just Collin changed one he had sex. He was always dress to perfection in the first two seasons. I still love the show..

My biggest pet peeve is that they are unable to make these two characters likeable. Neither Collin has something worth beholding, nor is Penelope showing enough maturity to give up on a futile crush. They took two years and yet they couldn't make Collin grovel for Penelope after what he said in the previous season.

I'm completely with you here. This season feels cluttered. There's just too much going on and too many side plots. In addition Pen/Colin's story is also cluttered with their sudden personality changes (Colin's is more jarring for me, as at least Pen's was setup after her fallout with Eloise in season 2). There was also the coaching, Pen's suitor, the LW reveal about Pen that felt extremely unnecessary. It's such a letdown as someone who'd been eagerly looking forward to their love story.

I have to agree with your take, I felt so dissatisfied by the lack of focus on the two leads, there were sooo many wasted opportunities for dynamic storytelling.

Yeah I'm very disappointed at the fact that I essentially know nothing about Colin apart from he's travelled, he's slept with women and he's friends with Penelope. Like when that conversation with Violet was happening where she was saying how he has to stop sacrificing his happiness for others, I would've liked if they then showed a flashback relating to that sentiment. That sort of thing has happened every other season, where an incident from past gets incorporated into the present (Simon's relationship with his father, Anthony & the bee) but with Colin just nothing. I really feel like writers are relying on the fact that we've known them for 2 seasons so they're treating it like oh we don't have to explain quite so much but it's like no..I've been waiting for this couple, I want loads of Polin momemts. Anyway..thank you for coming to my TED talk 👍🏻

I agree with so much of what you said. There is a different showrunner for this season, and we can feel it. Colin and Penelope have very little chemistry. It is also ridiculous when Colin tries to act like a playboy - he just doesn't have that swagger. Honestly, the side characters were more interesting to me, especially Francesca. I was really enjoying her interactions with the Earl. I think I was most upset by what they did to Eloise this season; I know she is mad, but being friends with Cressida and pretty much giving up on most of what she believed before just did not feel right. Her one redeeming quality was that she did not tell Penelope's secret (although it seems like that is about change in the second half). I also enjoyed seeing Kate and Anthony again; now we just need flashback scenes from their wedding and honeymoon.

I waited so long for this season and was so excited only to be very disappointed. This season so far is very beneath the first 2.

I agree with your review. IMO they should have followed the book sequence. Skipping Benedicts story was a huge mistake. This will backfire on the powers that be. This POLIN story feels rushed to fit everything in. Honestly this season is disappointing after all the hype. The fact that NETFLIX split the season in half was done for no other reason than "money." Netflix's subscriptions are down. Splitting this season is a way to ensure at least 2 months of subscriptions. This could have been a beautiful friends to lovers story. The season should be focused on Pen and Colin. The other plots are a distraction. This is bad writing and decision making. I loved season one and two.

I don't care about the Mondrichs. I don't care about Cressida. I don't even care about Benedict this season. It's Polin season...GIVE ME MORE POLIN! Ty. 🌞

Same i am polin fan but so far season 3 i feel meh about it Colin feels like completely different person and more just like an assehole now so why would I root for him to end up with Penelope? I wouldn’t find him attractive like this in my opinion does just wasting so much time on the side characters instead of the main plot the romance season one season two definitely better so far I feel like maybe it was a mistake to split this season up, because I definitely feel less excited now and that part two has even more work in its last four episodes to make this all organic and get all tied up.

I know they casted child actors so I think we’ll get a childhood scene of them? yeah, I’m all for show don’t tell. Show me the letters Colin wrote to pen that she ghosted, show them bantering as friends a bit more, show Colin’s sensitivity that violet mentions so much. I don’t want them to be Kanthony or Simon and daphne. I like shy, resistant, awkward and confused love. Pen in her Conflicted position as whistledown. I get that Colin’s whole arc is he’s trying to make himself over as a lady’s man with edgy clothing. That his whole drama is his insecurity as the third son and wanting to fit in somewhere. He’s being fake so it is hard to know his true colours. He is upset and isolated with the brothel hopping lifestyle and talking to his rake friends.

I agree. This season is lackluster so far. They didn't develop the story between Pen and Colin enough to get me to buy into their transition to lovers. I think what's missing is that I don't feel like there's anything at risk in terms of their friendship when Colin starts to reciprocate feelings. I wanted to see them really worry about what if this goes wrong and they lose their friendship. Instead, it just felt like they were checking boxes, first kiss check, sexy dream check, finger banging check, now let's get married.

Season 3 hasn’t held my attention compared to previous seasons. It was lack luster which was very surprising to me.😢

Pen and Colin's friendship was subtly shown in previous seasons. 1. They are constantly unchaparoned 2. They hold hands 3. He calls her using her first name and vice-versa These are regency era no-nos Pen also chose Colin over her family's honor when writing about Marina's pregnancy.

I couldn't put my finger on what was missing, but you have summarised it well. This was precisely the issue. Too little screen time for the friends to lovers concept, day time robbery😢

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is my favorite Bridgerton book and I think the portrayal of both characters is good and we got the best parts of the book. I mean their relationship has been built in the past seasons and I understand the maturity of both. The book is there in the first kiss and Colin’s proposal. However, I agree with the most popular negative opinion I have seen here, there are too many subplots!!! Nobody cares about the Mondrich family and we don’t understand how they are related to the bigger story, Danbury’s brother is completely unnecessary. I like how they are portraying Francesca’s story, but I am really upset about Benedict. This in theory should have been his season, but his character os not nearly as developed as he should be. We want more Bridgerton siblings and their development and less of the unnecessary characters and their million subplots.

FINALLY! Someone brave enough to admit it - I'm a massive fan, and so far, this has been a huge disappointment. The costumes were so beautiful in the other seasons - but they were terrible and over the top in this season - cressida cowper's gowns were ridiculous, the Fetherington costumes were way tooo much. This is supposed to be a regency romance series where they take liberties with the gowns, (as all these films do, inc 2005 pride and prejudice - in real life these empire waste gowns were not that nice looking) but they completely left the regency period inspiration for science fiction - some of cressida's dresses felt like they should be in DUNE, not on a regency show. SHAME on the costume designer - the other 3 seasons were pitch perfect, costume wise. What did they do to beautiful Kate, in this season? Her outfits were perfect last season. Yes, have fun and be creative, but tone it down a bit. Yes - weird, unpleasant camera angles - up noses, etc. No chemistry between the leads - Like I still don't feel I really know Colin? Who is he, as a person? I felt I 'knew' Farmer George and Anthony. Wasn't a huge fan of season 1, but they did do a better job with the duke in this regard - his motivations, his backstory etc. The threesome thing felt awkward and embarrassing, not sexy - the actor looked so uncomfortable - why did they try to make him a stud/sex symbol? It doesn't suit him - I think the dorky guy who loves greece - they should have kept that guy and built off of that. The actor seems like a genuinely nice guy, and that would have been a better fit for him - the 'bad boy’ persona is just not a good fit. I was rooting for Lord Deblin - he wasn't that great, but I felt that I knew him as a character - if that makes sense? Benedict has zero chemistry with balloon lady. Her costumes were way over the top Mondrich story is boring and unnecessary - they're nice but should have stayed side characters I HATE this focus on cressida cowper, no interest in her This new Eloise is a disappointment - longing for Theo to come back Francesca . . at first I thought lesbian, than I thought she might be Ace, which is great, we've never had an ace/aro character in a period drama. But . . . I don't know. I'll reserve judging too much, she just arrived. I'm happy to see a fellow introvert at least The second season of this show was perfect in every way - kate and anthony - one of the best historical romance stories I've ever seen. Ditto Queen charlotte and Farmer George Polin . . .I don't know . . . sight

I was much more interested in Kate and Anthony and I knew absolutely nothing about her! Colin and Penelope don’t have that simmering chemistry

I'm so disappointed in Pt.1 the polin chemistry and the fact that Collin did not get flushed out like their counterparts 😢 The story plot is disorganized and hard to follow. They really need to step up Pt2

First of all, the change in Colin this season is so sudden and really feels out nowhere. Like he was just a sweet boy who felt insecure and tried to act all charming but ended up feeling completely lost and purposeless. He was someone who thought acting like the hero and saving the damsel in distress would lead him to this big purpose he had in life. I don’t understand the need to make him act like a rake, a womanizer in order to make that point. The same point was already being made in the previous seasons, and people loved him that way. Like he was already insecure and acting like someone he’s not. Him randomly becoming so popular and the woman giggling and shit all the time.. It just felt so out of character and kind of killed something so core in his character from the start of the season. But what’s worse is they don’t even execute this whole thing well with him. The main issue is that Colin is supposed come off as inauthentic and a bit of a fake to the characters in the show, not to us, the viewer. We needed to see the real him through all of the facade. Instead what we see is him acting this way, and he doesn’t really do anything else? It just felt so cartoonish, the way he acted, and there was nothing else he did to make us believe that he’s more than that. And even if there was, it was such small things that never got revisited. If thats how you do it, ofc we are not going to understand him and everything will feel off. There is no explanation through action. We needed to see him struggling to keep the mask on, see him genuinely sad that he acts this way and how he actually doesn’t want to be like this but is just trying to keep up with societies expectations. We could see that through his journals (make him write about his loneliness instead of erotica!), his interactions with his brothers (show him feeling insecure because he’s not like them!), and even with the people in the ton like maybe have him genuinely not agreeing with the opinions of his toxic friends, but he just cannot bring himself to say it. Or show that he genuinely cares for women and doesn’t really resonate with the way he’s pressured to treat them by the society. Like idk have some flashbacks to his past so we can understand why he feels so insecure and forces himself to be something he’s not. If they actually want us to believe that he’s actually this really sensitive, sweet, kind person then they had to show that, instead everything felt so one dimensional and we just ended up not understanding his motives. ofc people feel like he’s a jerk, because he acts that way and there’s no further explanation. Then they just threw his mother saying the things that I so wanted to see BEING SHOWN throughout the episodes. Like saying it doesn’t do anything. He still feels like an asshole. I think he had so much potential as a character and his story could be really beautiful and inspirational, it is an important topic but they they really fumbled the bag. He definitely needed more scenes on his own and moments where him and Pen connected bcs most of their scenes were really short and abruptly cut. But I’m not even going to get into that, that is an entire different fiasco on it’s own. It’s just sad that he doesn’t even feel like the main character in his own season. There’s just no depth to his character, it’s not our jobs as viewers to know what kind of a person he is. We just had an idea of it in the previous seasons and even in his own season they fail to expand his character and we still only have an idea of who he is. Truly disappointing. He was my fave bridgerton brother too. Will see part 2 but I don’t think it will change much.

I feel like they never "friends" she always in awe with him and he... have no real women friend except for her. So he could never tell their friendship is something more. the writer never try to hide the fact that Penelope always have love eye and goes along with everything he say cause she like him so much. And Colin just too stupid and naïve to know that. that's why In S2 when their " friendship " still on and she wrote back to him all the time he never felt lonely. he even say he don't feel the need to have a woman in his life (except Penelope, his "friend") but the moment she stop write back it bother him so much and he got so lonely but he try to act like it's nothing that's when he started seeking womanly love from other women but still so lonely. I do feel that it should be less side plot. just commit more to them exploring their realization.

As much as I love all the side characters and plots, they are trying to fit so much it we barely have any time for the main characters and plot, they don’t feel like they are getting more focus than anyone else

Francesca’s book is #6 but who knows what order they will go in bc this season was supposed to be Benedict’s.

Thank goodness for this review I thought I was going mad. Everywhere people are talking about the Polin chemistry and how brilliant the carriage scene is etc but I just don't get any of that. The caveat is that I don't think it's the actors. They've been very charming and three-dimensional in previous seasons but I think that this season has actually reduced them to almost repetitive parody. I think it's the perfect storm of bad direction and lazy writing. It feels very formulaic, like they're pushing seasons 1 and 2 blueprints onto two very different characters. The challenge for the production team was actually to make a very bold, 90° approach to Colin and Penelope, as they are quite unusual characters. Season 1 and 2 did explore Colin's subconscious, as we do see him making allowances and feeling special towards Penelope. However we arrive at this season and it's like they're being forced into a mold not befitting their characters. If we are to believe that Colin is at least feeling that he should be a ladies man on his return to bridgerton, it might have been good to see the origin of this. Perhaps losing his virginity in Greece and the education in foreign brothels and aristocraticetc boudoirs. That's why the prostitutes scene just wasn't believable because there was no foundation. For example Anthony was sleeping around from the get-go. We were introduced as that and it was credible. Colin not so much. We were introduced to this naive, principled young man. You need to be convinced of a character's development but I think the audience or at least people like me need to feel at least some kind of character exposition. Also the characters of Colin and Penelope are quite uptight. If we compare this to Anthony and Kate, both were very dimensional characters and much time was devoted to their backstories in season 2 to underline and amplify the emotions that were playing out. The characters of Colin and Penelope had no such luxury, there were no flashbacks for Colin, none for Penelope to explain why she is the way she is, why there's this dichotomy of being lady whistle down whilst being restrained and silenced in society. Colin and Penelope still feel like juveniles really. They don't feel like rounded adults and therefore it's difficult to be convinced by the authenticity of their story. Maybe that's the ultimate difference here that Daphne and Kate were both very assertive, strong characters in and of themselves. Penelope is only ever assertive with Colin, and that's difficult to square with how she is in other relationships. On top of that, the storyline for Benedict is atrociously lazy. Basically it becomes just a bonk fest, and Benedict is kind of reduced to a bit of a sex obsessed sex object. I'm not sure at all what that has done to drive his character forward. It basically feels like filler and the audience can either be easily pleased or slightly annoyed. I'm the latter because it doesn't feel authentic. The best thing in Bridgerton is Ruth Gemmel and her absolutely brilliant range in playing violet. She is such a multi-dimensional character, able to add humour or gravitas to any scene. She really should have been used more. I would love to have seen conversations between her and Penelope for example so that we could start seeing Penelope communicating on a deeper level, adult to adult. Violet should have been used more in connection with strong story arcs as she is able to add depth in terms of signposting jeopardy and dilemma in characters. Finally, and I could go on for hours but I'll spare you, the splitting of the two parts is disastrous. We have no resolution to any of the multi-threaded plot lines, we therefore cannot see if anything is truly successful, and we're left to analyse and prospect for any of that anticipated brilliance we've seen in previous seasons. I am hoping that part two gives us much more character development and resolves with nuance rather than with a sledgehammer. Netflix only has itself to blame for leaving us so much time to speculate in this vacuum. Let's see.

I feel like the discourse online when it comes to anything have become increasingly more polarised and lack any nuance. Thank you for the sensible, well-adjusted takes on Baby Reindeer and now Bridgerton!!!

Yes! I feel like the writers got lazy and thought they could give more screen time to others and less to the main characters because the audience has known Pen and Colin. But that was a huge mistake. We've only seen glimpses of them. Their romance is new to us and to Polin too. Daphne and Simon were engaged after episode 4. Kate and Anthony's story was great after episode 4. So They CAN build up a romance within 4 episodes. It's 4 HOURS yet Pen and Colin were barely there. I wanted to see more of them. And I don't feel the tensions like I was after watching 4 episodes of the season 1 and 2. Honestly, people like the couple because the actors are good. The show just has luck rn, especially with unnecessary subplots. Like what's the point of the Monrichs? They are never gonna get a main story and they are hurting the main characters. It's not worth it. The only reason I can think of is they are some sort of replacement for Daphne and Simon? But they have no real connection to the main characters. Colin is never gonna go to them like he went to Daphne for advice in the book.

There's no lust. Even though I fast forward thru every sex scene cuz I'm so over nudity in 2024, the ingredient that held together the dish for seasons 1 and 2 was the built-up lust between Daphne & Simon, and Kate & Anthony. And not just lust: the *forbidden* lust, if you will. The way they built it is the rule that women in society at calling age cannot be seen with a man without a chaperone - a womens virtue must be *publicly* protected (and all brothers are overly-protective of their sisters virtue). The most high-class desirable woman is shown to be one that is least emotionally reactive or impulsive, who would rather eat the pain to save face of family name, honor and nobility. The show has the paradoxical trope of all coming-of-age men at brothels yet all coming-of-age women virgins til marriage, and they leverage this particular female innocence as a vehicle to build up said forbidden lust. So, it was weird to see this formula be somewhat abandoned for season 3? Penelope is emotionally reactive asf; her household has no men to keep the women in check; their friendship has an element of familiarity that felt more friendzone than forbidden (no one seemed ro care about monitoring them); she made a move on colin via victim complex even before he displayed any notice of her. Their friendship, while there, was much too mundane, with no transitionary period from friend to lover. *Spoiler* 🚨 Another point: why is every single "uncoupled" person being "coupled" up in 4 episodes? The main stories are about Pen/Colin and Francesca coming-of-age. Why am I being forced to stretch my attention to Lady Violet and Benedict?

As someone who enjoyed the watch and read the book, I do agree with you. The pacing progress a bit too quick with how their relationship shifts. The book itself has many flaws, but Colin was much more of an insecure brat, which made his growth more interesting. He felt like he has no accomplishments compared to his bros who have their own purpose and even felt a bit jealous of Lady Whistledown for making something of herself. I guess that felt too incel for Netflix, lol but it was kind of the point. The heartbreak from Penelope and Eloise's drifting apart was really well done though. I'm still interested on what they'll do in the second part. Cressida being more than a b*tch like the book was also refreshing. It's so tiring to see female characters pit against each other just because.

I hate that they made Colin into a rake. There wasn’t enough character building to justify that direction. Also, the production value makes the show look like a disney channel original.

This season is a mess so far. From the beginning of S3 it felt off to me. I think a lot of people care less for the Pen and Collin’s relationship as the show goes on and this season needed to build up the relationship more

8:49 I couldn’t agree more. During the press tour, they said Colin has a swagger to him. But we have yet to see it. To go from the hookup scene to marry me is too rushed.

Agreed…. Feels like them constantly saying it is their way of selling it… but I’m not buying it!

I love this couple. I do agree that they didn’t focus on them enough so far this season. There is a lot of departure from the books that I think was weaker. Feels like the romance portion is being sacrificed to focus instead on the Lady Whistledown hunt

The scene in the book where Colin follows Penelope to the church where she drops off the transcript for her next Whistledown edition is hysterical and so clever, dialogue wise. It demonstrated a very interesting relationship twist and led into the carriage scene in a more natural way. So wish it had not been omitted. The story needs levity, more comedy and texture. Thank you for this vid.

i totally agree season 2 is for me the best season this one was just soo rushed and thte chemistry just wasnt there even the ending carriage scene felt so fake to me

The book is so good. If they kept some more of the elements from the book it would feel so much more rounded. 1) Colin following Pen to the church 2) How Colin finds out and handles Whistledown 3) how Whistledown is discovered by the Ton and how that works out. I hope some of those elements are saved because it would make me satisfied with the season

THE MOST BELOVED COUPLE but the producers failed expressing their friendship-love story properly

i wonder why they removed all of colin's character traits...

It was super rushed imo. They should have shown the friendship more in the first few episodes then end the season off with them becoming lovers. 4 episodes wasn't enough 😂 i don't think they will ever recreate the magic of the first two seasons

Colin is supposed to feel like a different person at the start of the season with the endless flirting and brothel visits. He is playing a role in what he thinks a gentleman of the ton should be like. Even his "friends" say that this year he is more fun with basically this new persona he's putting out there. That was the point of his family and the Lady Whistledown article questioning his behaviour in episode one. It's only when he is with Penelope that his real self shines through.

Agree. Cousin Jack was less creepy/uncomfortable to watch than Colin's "glow up" into an overly charming, somewhat skeezy, horny pirate. If they'd done it for Benedict's season, I'd buy it. For Colin, it made him unlikable with confusing motivations. And what happened to the costumes?! Colin's vests look painted half of the time, and the side character dresses are pretty wild in a confusing way (especially Cressida). This felt like a reduced budget fanfic of the original seasons.

I loved season 3, though I agree that there’s a lot going on. I didn’t feel robbed though.

In the last season, people kept complaining that Rege Jean Page didn’t come back. But it was good, it allowed Kate and Anthony to actually be the focus. I think Season 3 was trying to give us Kate and Anthony, but do too much set up for other seasons, I think it’s a consequence of skipping the book order. We would have had more time to see them through Benedict’s season and their changes.

Real friendship is often not so exciting. I had a lot of friends, but only 3 real ones that are with me for 25 years so far. That kind of friendship isn't changing whatever you are abroad for few years, or even had months of no contact. When you see them finally, everything is perfect, you talk just like if you would have saw them yesterday. It doesn't have to be visible on the outside. For me "as a Fan of books" I think that I would love more of them in the series, but even as it is now, they portrayed them perfectly. Much better than in books even. I only hope that those 4 more episodes would I see more of them. Side stories got too much time in this one. Still nothing in their relationship make me disappointed. As a person who got love out of long-term friendship, ( while my friend had a time when he wasn't sure of himself and looked around a lot, trying to fit with others) I see Colin's behavior in different light. We are too used for people that express their personality in clear way, while in reality most of us, don't know who we are, and we do make a lot of mistakes in the way, sometimes trying to be someone who we think would be better. He portrayed Colin incredibly well, added a lot of depth to the character in the book, that was struggling for a long time to find his place. We could see the battle in his eyes for a whole 4 episodes, and ever before when he didn't even realized his feelings. We could see his facade crushing down when he thought he would lose her. His real personality shined through in the end, after the carriage scene, he was looking like himself finally.

I bet they didn't invest to more wholesome Polin scenes that highlight the essence of their friendship because they thought they already did this in S1-2. It's obviously different when it's their OWN season. There is the opportunity to do more for them and especially for Colin's arc. So what we're witnessing now is more of a primal, sexual attraction on Colin's end, instead of giving us a wholesome realization WHILE actually being with Penelope as well. Basically they gave us less fluff and somehow find ourselves straight to the smut and apparently an engagement. I wouldn't feel fulfilled for them either. If ever we see Colin forgive Penelope quickly in part 2, then they should have invested to more conversational time with the two instead of faraway pining. With the pacing they did in part 1, I rather let Colin be furious at Penelope for a while before he could forgive her. There should at least be a narrative balance between them. If not, then the writing along with Colin's arc imo is truly doomed from the start of S3.

Season 2 was my last Bridgerton. It's bad enough to have to wait 2 years for 8 episodes, I won't wait 2 years for 4. I don't even want to get interested in it.

Agree with everything you said… I know we got glimpses of Colin and Pen in the previous seasons but that wasn’t enough to establish a deep relationship. Mostly of those scenes where about pen lifting up Colin. The scenes between Eloise and pen, now those had weight in them and more chemistry bc we actually saw them being friends. I wanted to see that on screen. I also wanted to know Colin. We got a fake version of Colin but the problem is that we don’t even know who Colin was before… here’s the thing the characterization has been weak.

This was terrible.... It was boring, a lot made no sense and it was so rushed. I also wish they had a different actress for Francesca. While I liked the surprise that it was Colin who had the dream...it was too big of a jump and a lot of their storyline was ...non existent.

Yes!! So many things I agree on! I was so disappointed with the episodes. Pen and Colin aren't the main characters despite everything.

I totally agree with you 😢. After watching this show I started looking for a new K-drama to watch. They are more satisfying ❤

Too much subplot. Especially subplots I don’t really care too much for. It would be ideal if they focused more on Polin. Give us more of a backstory on Colin and his travels and how he’s “changed”. Some of it did feel forced, but other moments I was giggling and kicking my feet.

I feel let down. It still made me giggle and smile but not in the same way as past seasons. There was so much depth, chemistry and emotion between the two main characters in past seasons. I felt like too much was going on at one time. It was hard to really keep up or really connect to the main character’s. I looooove Penelope and I think the writers don’t understand how much their audience loves adores and RESPECTS her character. I wanted her character to be stronger and be the one that make the decision’s. At the very least I wanted more of her and Collin. So much was lacking. They didn’t feel like main characters at all. I know nothing about Collin. You have no back story of their friendship which I would have loved to see instead of all of these extra unnecessary characters. 😢Did they change writers/directors?

In my opinion, it feels as if the Bridgerton team is not good at planning for main characters. With Kate and Anthony, their story did not feel rushed, but it did feel too slow due to the number of unnecessary side characters having more screen time than the main couple. With Penelope and Colin is a similar issue. Side characters have more screentime than the main characters. Deciding to split a season into two parts- meaning the writers will try to rush everything to the point where Colin's advances feel unnatural to his character in comparison to what we've seen in previous seasons. Penelope is the mastermind behind Bridgerton. It feels as if this couple deserves a much better season than what we've seen so far.

Yeah, this doesn't really count as friends to lovers. Maybe long-time crush finally realized or best friend's brother (but does that count when you've betrayed your best friend first)? Maybe a secret third thing.

Am i the only one who actually really enjoyed their characters and personality? I relate to penelope having always been mistreated by mother and feeling like an outcast when i was younger being overweight and hiding behind books to feel some modicum of happiness and love. And i relate to colin as ive gotten into adulthood constantly traveling and indulging in sex and building armor for myself so that im no longer ridiculed or rejected for feeling too much. Their personalities are the reason their friendship has always worked

I didn’t read the books. But I’m pretty sure Polin is the author’s favorite couple. Which is crazy cause the show just does NOT reflect that whatsoever. I think my biggest issue is I’ve known Penelope has been in love with Colin. What’s missing is Colin has never seemed to care about Penelope. Like yes they were “friends” but it always felt unequal. I feel like Colin supporters have read the books, and I’m sure there’s more character development there, but the show really makes it seem like Penelope is his little sister. I can see how Pen suddenly having a prospect could make him realize he had feelings. But it also happened so quickly, and we really haven’t gotten anything from his perspective until this season

I feel like they are trying to recreate the flow of season 1, where there was the little love triangle between daphne, simon, and the prince, that was fully resolved by episode 4, and then the rest of tue season is them learning to trust eachother and overcome Simon's childhood trauma. Here it should be Pen, colin, and Debling, with the second half being the resolution with the lady whistledown identity confrontation. The problem is there are far too many sideplots in season 3 and we dont get to spend the majority of our time with Pen and Colin, which we should be. I am hoping the second half gives us more of Polin together and gives us that feelingof resolution. I dislike the split season model. Just release 1 episode a week so we can savor it.

We’ll Said. Completely agree with your entire review.

I agree with your synopsis, I felt something was missing a bit but overall it’s enjoyable but my least favorite of all bridgerton, including Queen Charlotte which is actually my fav!

1_There was too much hype and it just felt so flat, deblin shouldnt have been there tbh it makes no sense to put him in the show as a catalyst to polin and to show that pen is desirable only for her to be the one doing the chasing and her getting rejected two seconds later. 2_There was little chemistry between the leads because they dont have enough screetime together there is no build up no little touches no lingering looks, it's just not convincing. 3_Pen only had a physical glow up but remains the same on the inside insecure and still putting colin on a pedestal. 4_They should've followed the books tbh it made more sense and should've taken more time with polin instead of quickly making them an item it feels rushed. 5_The story was lost between the many side plots. 6_Colin being a rake doesnt suit him, i much prefered the nice considerate colin 7_Pen forgived colin very quickly and easily she should've let him suffer.

I feel the show needs to be 10-12 episodes and needs to be released all at once! I just don’t think the writers are strong enough to wrap but the story in 8 episodes. Episode 4 was good but not good enough for a gap…

Read the books ages ago. Our first response was she is somewhat cheated her leading lady role. I don't care about some of the subplots that distract__ and all lack the intensity of the first couple. I'll admit I'm an author of regency (retired) so characters do matter. They aren't interchangable for superficial reasons or forced storylines. Supporting cast matters, but future books are to be wove in effortlessly... Not obvious breaks in the h/H story to give them large chunks of pov. That is what makes a (series) lose its steam. The plot to get the plot cemented overtakes the couples intimacy build. Unlike most, I felt no intimacy in season 2_ he was more passionate with his mistress than his interest. I watched detached. While some newer to romance in history can handle replacement characters well__ I know the 5 senses in writing romance chemistry rely much on the character__ and there are some flat ones this season_ like placecards and not the actual intense or even intimate friends thing. While I'm glad they didn't radically change Pen _ she gets robbed of her butterfly in the first four_ and C Is superficially mature. I wrote sensual romance but the tit show for the sake of his sexual prowess was cheesy and badly filmed__ it's not necessary since his writing about it would have sexier read out loud and the screen time could have been used better. I'm watching it of course. Feeling the fleeting of p and c scenes and cramming of others. And the dread and miss match of Fran +J whose ethnicity doesn't matter but there is just nothing there_ as well as the filler on Cowper and so on. Chemistry is zip_zero this season. There are tons of JQ Book scenes that are boring or too internal narrative and yawn. (Compared to say a tighter writer like Amanda quick) But no lack of source material. So it's a shame when priorities aren't the character depth and chemistry because plot only works if you care what happens to the person you're relating to. Books to movies or books to series are tricky unless the person loves the source material __and understands the genre __ because the period lends itself to romance and passion. I'll not feel I've wasted my time watching the rest. But I've become less invested in the characters as I know them and more distant as the lack of main character focus is evident. I'll watch it as a semi period interpretation _I don't particularly find some subplots necessary _ they add nothing to the couples investment_ and I see the rushed scenero take the place of a scene, it speaks to a shift in the series....from storytelling to filling slots and costumes. Shrug. It's the case with most series or shows where interpretation strays from the point of character match and growth _to forcing or rushing to give screen time to sub plots that distract. It has the feel of superficial homage to what bridgerton started as and what the romance and drama in this era ment. Interpretation is fine and obviously what we get today__but investment in characters deserves a better pay off. The glam up of C is like so thin as to masculine maturity with the sesnsitive_ and misunderstood in the script writers hands_ it makes his transition to lover feel shallow and so his response to pen less intense. It is what it is. But it has the feel of loss of control of the story and lack of understanding the impact of intimacy or character growth being more than costume.

I absolutely agree with all these points, I can’t seem to connect with the main characters which do not feel like main leads, everything feels all over the place and somehow forced, I was very excited for this couple but I they don’t make me feel anything, we needed substantial moments between then explore the friend to lovers trope! Second part will probably be more exciting but these episodes should’ve been them exploring the relationship between Penelope and Colin and then the tension and then them getting together but it all felt empty and rushed

Part of the problem as regards lack of character development for Penelope and Colin might lie in the fact that the producers decided to skip the 3rd book. Book 3 is about Benedict finding his love. But I imagine there's also plenty going on with the supporting characters, including P & C. I also feel that not enough ground work was laid for these 2 to be the main characters, especially Colin. However, I would have had no qualms about having Benedict as the lead. His ground work has been laid out beautifully.

you're takes are all 10/10 like taking the woods right iut of my mouth

Vendieron esta temporada como LA MEJOR TEMPORADA, hicieron esperar al fandom dos años, crearon un monton de expectativa y todo para... Esto? No sólo me molesta la idea de que arruinaron lo que pudo haber sido de los mejores romances, sino que Netflix pensó que era buena idea dividir una temporada de 8 capítulos, como si la primera parte hubiera sido Espectacular! No supieron qué hacer con Colin que le dieron la misma personalidad de Anthony, pero con un desarrollo pobre y poco creíble. Con Colin todo es "tell dont show" Jamas vimos realmente una gran amistad con Penelope, siempre se pasaba de viaje, jamás vimos que fuera buen hijo, abnegado, Anthony es mejor hermano. Las historias extra son eso extra En fin, todo mal, no sé porque casi nadie habla del beso pero Oh por dios chica 😬 si tienes que rogar por un beso eso... Ya es deprimente. No sé de donde ven lo Empoderado, lo Romántico, toda esta temporada fue puro cringe. La escena del globo DE RISA 😂

Was hoping to see a flash back of how they met and more about each backstory…

This season is suffering from only having 8 episodes for sure

It’s a disaster… they managed to destroy the best couple that could come out of Bridgerton

I honestly did not realize there was any central character this season, I thought it was just stories about all of them. I did not read the books so I did not know that each book featured on a character. But you’re right, they don’t seem central and I really don’t buy their love story. Their make out in the carriage made me feel awkward.

All your points are valid. It's weak storytelling for our leads, especially Colin. Eloise/Penelope dynamic is more interesting than the romance, because we've been shown their friendship arc in S1-2 and know Eloise's character traits well, understand why they're both acting the way they are. The Bridgerton family kind of overlook and don't understand Colin, and now the writers are giving him the same treatment? Give me something, anything! I'm rewatching now with lower expectations and liking it a lot more, just here basically for the vibes and smut rather than a deep story I've decided 😂 Part 2 looks much more juicy plotwise

i thought colin had some work to do to be worthy of pen and he just didn't deliver.

I agree like are they main charecters or just a sidekick

For the love of God, can we talk about the lack of FRIENDSHIP, BANTER, INSIDE JOKES???? These are the core of what makes a *real friendship! I am being told they are friends but where? Where are the flashbacks to moments of their friendship over the literal YEARS? Flashbacks to what made Pen see Colin as more than a friend?? I would LOVED to see the actual content of the letters they sent each other while he travelled. Just so we can understand how they talk to each other. I also have always felt that there was a constant nervousness to Pen around Colin that *again, only shows the chasm between them. Real friends are not constantly nervous around each other, how did literally no one else notice the way Pen was jittery around Colin?? I just have never bought their friendship, Pen has always appeared as lovesick puppy over Colin. I think a more compelling angle this season would have been Best Friends Brother trop rather than Friends to Lovers. The stakes would have been MUCH higher as Eloise is the tie between the two. Eloise currently beefing with Pen, and Colin and her getting together at the same time would have been so interesting to me. Notice how none of them ever mentions how El will feel about them two? Do they not care how she will take this?

Agree 100%! This is THE weakest season! 😑 Part 1 was NOT robust enough to be a standalone. Polin storyline left so much to be desired 😩😩😩 Thank you for being honest! I’ve watched a couple of other reviews and people kept beating around the bush by doing a recap instead of an actual review. This is satisfying to watch ❤

I like the Colin Penelope plot, and I thought it was done pretty well

totally agree! Also, the costume design is sooo terrible this season! I've always loved the beautiful design of the clothes in the previous seasons but the change of designer is clear and really ruins a lot of the charm of the show with wrong period dress and simply ridiculous choices. Massive sleeves, ill fitting jackets, 1950's & 1960's dresses??? Even the beloved queen charlotte's wigs are no longer of the same exquisite quality.

Rewatching season 1&2 i do notice hints towards pen&colin, but again its just people telling us about them/ telling us that they are friends. Why cant we see and feel it?

I agree. I was worried about this as we get into other books. They have added so many side characters that are not in the books that everything is going to start to feel rushed. We basically have two love stories currently going on. We have Colin and Pen and we have Francesca and John Sterling. Honestly I am more intrested in Francesca and John even though I know it's Pen and Colin's season. If you have read the books Francesca's love story most certainly is going to take up two seasons. I hope they don't combine her with like Benedict for season 4. Combining the love story's for me makes them feel ill thought out and they are missing huge gaps as a viewer. On the bright side I'm kind of hoping Pen's sisters both have girls and pen and Colin are the ones to have the first baby boy who becomes Lord Featherington. That would just be the sweetest justice ever.

Even the makeup was too much

Thanks for the Quickie Marshall ... but not only do I agree. I just can't get thru it. Colin is just too cringy as a "lady's man". But I do still love Penelope and her glow up is legit and beautiful. Also, what happened to the classical balls merged with hip-hop vibes. Is that gone too???

It was just heavy stares and deep breaths. I dunno the scenes and dialogues just felt soo scripted which obviously they are but some tv shows the script or the chemistry between the characters is so good that you forget it's make believe but this I just couldn't buy their romance. Also was anyone skipping bits because it was boring? I'm a sucker for romance but I just could not but in to any of the romances in any of the seasons. People raved about Daphne and the duke and the way they said " i burn for you' but I just couldn't connect to that. I found it more romantic when the duke ( I forgot his name) asked Daphne if she was sure she didn't want to eat cause he heard the food was good in this hotel rather than the 'i burn for you' scene that followed.

Strange. To me Penelope seems like a main lead and Colin looks like a supporting character.

The lighting is really bad!

Agreed. I feel more emotion watching Penelope get rejected by the ton. The Francesca plot is very interesting and I am still enjoy watching the show

MAITREYI from 'NEVER HAVE I EVER' should audition for BRIDGERTON

It's not untrue to say that they don't seem as good of friends as we could get, however we have to picture it in a male-female friendship in the year 1813 which is already scandalous enough how close they are. Of course then it was mostly talking freely and as we know when one of the two has feeling for the other the conversation is not as transparent since one needs to hide their feelings. Mainly their friendship is talking, caring, trusting and helping each others. Which for the time i good enough in my opinion