There are some things that you just can’t get out of your head. A catchy song, that TikTok video that had you laughing uncontrollably, or, if you’re me, Bridgerton Season 3.
Bridgerton Season 3 (1 Year Later): Do I Like It Now?
We are one year post-Bridgerton Season 3 part 1, and I find myself ready to see if I view the show in a new way. Spoiler alert: I have a lot to say after my recent rewatch. But if you want to know what I thought after watching initially, you can read that post here.
Season 3 Felt Different To Me:
I’m going to give a very detailed explanation for why. However, it took me almost a year to understand what I felt like got lost in the delivery of this season.
Did we, as an audience, have too many expectations for show? Was it the change in showrunner? I truly couldn’t pinpoint why it felt different to me. It felt different other than I was left at the end feeling deeply unsatisfied.
*This is where I tell you I have a deep past and somewhat present with working on and with film & television shows. My analysis of this is mainly as a method for helping myself to become a better storyteller. Also, to support my friends who are also in the industry. I truly am a fan of the show, and I can’t wait to watch them continue to grow.*
Things I Didn’t Catch The First Time Watching Bridgerton Season 3:
The Mirror Theme:
Rarely do I watch a show with the expectation of seeing it all the first time. I’m always start with “if I knew nothing about making tv shows how does it feel to go on this journey”. How are all of the elements put together, drawing me into this different reality. LOADS more on this in a moment.
But the mirror theme, something discussed briefly in press interviews, was something I appreciated a lot. They use it to connect the audience’s experience to the character’s emotional one in the show.
Up until about ep 7 (when Tom Verica starts directing), seeing a character in the mirror (or the lack of seeing them see themselves) is important to their arc.
The mirror moments initially represent a character’s exploration of their identity.
When Penelope first stands in front of the mirror in Madame Delacroix’s shop, we don’t see what she sees. But we do see the first time Penelope is inviting someone else to look into the mirror with her. It happens as she is choosing to shift her own perception and expectation of reality.
This first moment is Penelope exploring changing her identity as Madame Delacroix drapes the fabric over her shoulder for the first time. And is juxtaposed later when she does the same with Penelope’s wedding fabric. The later scene is a call back to this moment and a reminder of the cost of changing/sharing/exploring your identity. (More on this in a moment when we talk about Penelope questioning if she can give up Whistledown).
Of course, in this first scene, she’s also choosing something that could potentially make her more attractive to Colin. In this scene, she requests new dresses that are “perhaps something like what they wear in Paris.” Her new “chosen” identity is a woman she believes is worthy of love in someone else’s eyes.
Moving forward to:
The first time we see Penelope seeing herself is when she’s actively guiding someone else and claiming her first bit of power – externally showing people she’s choosing a new life for herself. She starts this journey with people she trusts – Madame Delacroix and her maid. Possibly, subconsciously, with people who won’t question her.
But it’s the first time we look with Penelope as she sees herself and is saying she is ready to see herself differently.
Which leads us to Mrs. Varley affirming (the next morning) that Penelope’s changes are a good thing while standing behind her at the mirror at the beginning of ep 2.
Penelope continues to confront, question, and reaffirm her new identity by using the mirror throughout the season, but more on this in a moment.
The mirror moments aren’t just reserved for Penelope.
Mrs.Mondrich can be seen briefly using this same theme. From her initial reserve staring at her reflection while wearing the clothes of a woman she doesn’t know, nor does she know how to be, in Madame Delacroix’s shop.
And then when she and Mr.Mondrich are debriefing post party – looking into the mirror, discussing what is actually required for this “new life” they’ve been thrown into. It’s only once they’ve decided they will walk their own path regardless of the ton that we no longer need their mirror moments.
We never see her go back for new dresses, only that she shows up to the party ready to own her next chapter on her own terms.
The Power Exchange Between Colin & Penelope With Handshakes & Touching Hands:
Every single touch between Colin and Penelope is intentional this season. Even more so when you realize that it’s all leading up to ep 7 “ joining of hands”. But if you pay closer attention to who reaches out first, you’ll start to see the subtle power dynamic exchanged back and forth between these two characters.
Initially, after Penelope confronts Colin at the ball, he is the first to offer his hand as the foundation of friendship. She comments on his intention before she agrees.
Penelope: You want me to shake your hand.
Colin: We are friends. Are we not?
We don’t fully understand the significance of that moment for Colin. However, he then explains how alone he felt without word from home or Penelope when he’s attempting to persuade Cressida to back down in ep 8.
But with that knowledge carried in my rewatch, I read this moment as Colin being willing to give some of his power away (which is often treated as a piece of emotional vulnerability for male characters of this show).
And thus, he is willing to validate that he made a mistake by offering his hand.
Alternatively, Penelope offering her hand is a symbol of her acceptance that this is the final road she will take. She is truly choosing to move forward, even with knowing that success means losing Colin.
He is giving in. And she’s preparing to give something away.
The second-hand touch, after Colin catches Penelope reading his journal, is again a moment where we see Colin vulnerable.
It’s another moment where he leans in, and they both are captivated by each other.
He’s taking more steps towards her (ultimately leading to loads of steps when they kiss at the end). And she’s a woman who has already begun to feel safe in her own space and power.
For Colin, it’s meant to challenge, again, his previous perceptions of Penelope. But again, he has to hold out his hand to her (so she can help him this time).
We don’t see another initially framed hand moment until Colin watches Penelope place her hand in Lord Debling’s for the dance. But watching her hand move into Lord Debling’s is a moment where Colin realizes she might truly get away.
Unless he decides to offer her his hand in marriage, but it feels a little on the nose to say it that way.
Now, of course, in between these moments on screen, we get our first Polin kiss, which changes everything. But I think it’s also important to remember that Penelope never gives her hand freely – to anyone. The only person she often reaches out to easily is Eloise.
So even that small act says a lot where she is concerned.
The Push & Pull Of Power Between Colin & Pen
Now let’s go back a second to where we’re at before the kiss and where that ultimately leads us (and my small note of what I think didn’t work here – but more on this fully below).
For much of this season of Bridgerton, we see the power dynamic trying to find its home between the two of them. Colin, whom we are way too subtly reminded, is actually a bit vulnerable when it comes to feeling worthy and accepted. Penelope who knows she can be accepted as Whistledown but is unsure if that’s possible for her as Penelope Featherington.
Colin feels unsure of his own self and power. It is heavily challenged when he realizes just how much Penelope has on her own. Also, what he felt certain he offered her, she might not need anymore.
We catch the first tiniest glimpse of this whenever Penelope tells Colin that she would feel even more embarrassed to practice with him. Colin, pulls back immediately as though he’s done something wrong and is a bit hurt. However, Penelope is truly aware of Colin so she immediately apologizes and explains.
I missed this the first 5 times I watched because honestly, I think I forgot a bit who Colin was.
But even before Colin knows about the Whistledown of it all, we have to remember he’s still carrying the weight of the Marina thing.
He was so sure of his love for her, only to have it swiftly taken away by the lies, by the scandal, by the fact that she too needed his help but never thought to ask outright.
Colin is a man questioning his place and value in the world.
So for Colin to say yes to that kiss with Penelope when he’s already starting to question so much of his life – it’s a struggle. Possibly because in his mind, and Penelope’s the question is: how much more heartbreak can I take?
And of course, the kiss for her is the opportunity to fully walk away. But for him, he’s now locked in, and the feelings are no longer something he can ignore.
Remember, Colin had to walk to her for their kiss. And now he will continue to watch her walk away – again and again.
My Frustration With Season 3 And The Polin Of It All:
There are two scenes that absolutely drive me crazy in season 3. But when I started my rewatch this time I committed to a few things. Firstly, I would watch the story in the way it seemed like the writers, directors, and actors were laying it out for me. Secondly, I would take the time to understand why I felt angry originally after watching Bridgerton Season 3.
I’m giving you my emotional breakdown of what’s happening inside these characters. I realized after this round for my rewatch was just how weak the kiss scene was – specifically compared with scenes from ep 7 & 8.
Firstly, the Whistledown voiceover takes away from the audience’s true experience in a moment that is quite an emotional shift for Colin. We know how much longing has come from Penelope. We’ve watched her watch him for 2 seasons.
But all of the emotions bubbling under the surface for Colin never quite make it to the audience. And that is heavily hindered by additional dialogue, and even weak dialogue.
I’m not saying every sentence needs to be at the level of “you’re the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.”
But we, as an audience. never feel that change with Colin. So, when the carriage scene and the betrayal of the Whistledown secret come along, we’re still questioning if he really loves her because it feels like we haven’t felt him feel the pain of that potential loss.
We don’t feel that he feels he could really lose her. And so it leaves you to wonder if he truly values her at all. Of course his actions say otherwise, but that missing moment makes the other bits emotionally hard to follow.
Honestly, I think changing the camera work here would have had a MAJOR impact on the audience.
Something Tom Verica does beautifully. He directed the just mentioned well quoted moment between Anthony & Kate. Also the wedding episode this season. Adding the choice to give us that moment with Penelope when she talks down the aisle (with a less stable camera). It puts us in that breath she takes.
We feel what she feels because of the subtlety of that moment.
However, in the lead up to the kiss, unless you’re analyzing all of the dialogue and doing all the work to remember this character’s arc, we are robbed of the experience of feeling his true reason for hesitation in the moment. We don’t understand fully why he is saying no and what it’s costing him to say yes.
Now, you could absolutely argue that Colin himself doesn’t know what he feels in this moment.
Fine. I can see that.
But the fact that he has some strong inner turmoil going on that isn’t felt by the audience at all leaves this moment feeling weak in the grand scheme of things.
Which ultimately leads us to the moment in episode 3. Here, she is the one to walk away from their conversation under the willow tree. Then, him watching her at every step during the Balloon scene, Colin only coming to the rescue because he realizes Penelope is at risk. . .
We’ve now shifted from Penelope wanting Colin’s attention and now having it all, even if she doesn’t know. But it’s easy to miss if you don’t feel the full shift of that moment.
The Mirror Continues To Work:
Now of course, as we go forward with this. We capture more mirror moments that help us see the inner dynamics at work. In the scene where Colin is speaking with his mom about whether or not he needs to talk about if he can “ gather the courage to ask.” He is intentionally framed in the corner of the mirror.
If you watch the scene from the initial setup to where things land as they cut back and forth, he’s seated at the center of the desk. But when she comes in, he’s purposely shifted – chair and all. He shifts backwards so that when it cuts to the coverage over his shoulder on Lady Bridgerton. Here, we intentionally see Colin in the corner of the mirror.
This comes as Colin is still battling with his own perceived identity & self-worth. Also, if he’s willing to give up something he once valued so much (the good opinion of others) for something he didn’t seem to notice or value at all (Penelope).
For Penelope, we get the mirror moment in ep 4. Here, she tries to come to terms with what saying yes to Lord Debling means for her. Again, weighing the cost of what she’s known and dreamed of. She’s wondering: is she really willing to give that up?
Framing her in the mirror with us looking on alongside her put us in the emotional moment. We sit in the question with her. So it’s a bit easier to spot.
If We’re Really Playing The Joining Of Hands Theme
I made a note during my rewatch of the significance of choosing the moment where Colin cut his hand as the flashback that pushes him to act. That, while the light of the candle goes out as Colin ponders his choices, is a symbol that he’s run out of time.
The call back to the hand moment is the subtle-ish question of are you going to let someone else take her hand?
Could it be that lovely? Possibly. Either way, I’m a fan.
More Mirrors:
Now, our final mirror moments really solidify what felt like the purpose of the mirror scenes throughout this season of the show.
Colin watching Penelope but only through the reflection of the mirror in the library. He is trying to still hide that he is taken with her where she is flat out staring at this point because Lord Debling certainly notices.
Colin & Penelope’s first time.
The combination of the quiet question “what does it really mean to feel seen and to be seen” as Colin shows Penelope what he says he loves about her. But also what it does mean to see yourself. Then, how do you react to how someone else believes you should see yourself?
Portia Featherington looking into the mirror trying to reconcile Colin’s scolding with the version of herself she believes herself to be. Her line of “how was I to know he loved her?” has an undertone of how was I to know. Also, that she could believe she or her daughter would be worthy of that kind of love and possibility.
Penelope looking into mirror while laying with Colin when he says “I do not like to break a promise”. A reminder of her conversation with Eloise. Also, a reflection of what it would cost for her to break her own promise. He’s looking at her but she’s looking at herself.
And finally, Penelope watches herself in the mirror as Madame Delacroix finds the fabric for her wedding dress. She says “ I can’t imagine ever giving that feeling up”. Only to drape the weight of the fabric (and metaphorically the weight of that choice) over Penelope’s shoulder. She then contemplates giving up Whistledown for good (without Colin ever knowing).
Questions That Are Left & Final Thoughts
Obviously, there was a major theme of identity this season. In the most noticeable way: everyone else questioning & learning the identity of Lady Whistledown.
But more subtly, all of the characters exploring who am I to myself vs who am I to everyone else and am I okay with these things? It was beautifully done and allowed our characters to grow in season 3 of Bridgerton.
I have loads of nitpicks still: the Whistledown dialogue often felt lost or unnecessary to me. Even with it potentially being Penelope’s internal voice, I would have rather felt the energy than have it spoken to me. Often confused more than helped me. The voice over when Colin is “gathering the courage to ask” absolutely ruins the tension for me.
I think the closest we got to our typically expected passionate moments: (I burn for you – season 1; bane of my existence – season 2) came during the argument the night before the wedding when Colin yells “but what good am I to you?” and Penelope responds with “Colin, I love you.”
Both that scene and the Anthony/Kate moment were directed by Tom Verica, who also directed the entire Queen Charlotte series and is a producer on the show. Tom’s directing fundamentally changes how you experience the show.
He creates movement with his shots that pulls you into the world, even in the simplest scenes. Rewatch the scene where Eloise starts to walk up the stairs and is followed by Colin in ep 7 as well. You can see how the camera moves with Eloise in the drawing room scene in ep 8.
We feel the breath in the tension of the first scene. Here, Colin and Eloise come to terms what with the cost of knowing Penelope’s secret is because the camera is fluid throughout their talk.
Personally, I feel like so much of the weight of why people were left feeling so dissatisfied comes down to two scenes. The first kiss scene and the ballroom scene before Penelope dances with Lord Debling.
Without allowing the audience to feel the weight of those pivotal emotional moments, it really makes you wonder, does Colin really love her? If I didn’t have the context of the books or the stubbornness to understand why it didn’t work, I would have felt permanently unsatisfied with what is emotionally expected for this television genre.
Nevertheless, I can see where they were trying to go. It may have taken a rewatch or 12 to get there, but we got here in the end.
So let us end on a happy note.
The Joining Of Hands
In the title episode (ep 7), we get the moment that we’ve been building up to. For the first time in the show, we get the shot of them from behind as husband and wife reaching for each other. Whatever may come, they are together now. Our beloved Polin.
Things I Appreciated More This Time:
Cressida being the one to point out Colin’s jealousy. Someone needed to do it.
Eloise sliding behind her siblings as Lord Sterling says he’s “come to call on one of your daughters.”
All of the Agatha and Voilet scenes. I adored them last time and continued to do so.
More of Hyacinth. I can’t wait for her to have more to do in the show.
The Queen being well and truly over the start of the season.
The Bridgerton family squabble over macarons.
If you liked this style of blog post, let me know in the comments below. I’m considering doing it for other shows of other seasons of this show. But for now, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter so you never miss a thing. Xoxo, Savvy
