SPOILERS AHEAD
We’re three seasons into Bridgerton now, four if you count the Queen Charlotte spin-off. I can’t argue with the viewing figures going up and up, but this doesn’t alway this mean it’s actually getting better does it?
Season one arrived Christmas 2020 - just before we were launched into a second LONG lockdown period.
I, along with millions of other households, demolished it in that sleepy period between Christmas and New Year.
It had a lot going for it, that other period dramas hadn’t done before. The diverse casting, the classic covers of pop music, and of course the sex - it had hit the nail on the head for what people wanted. It wasn’t trying to be period-accurate, it was playful escapism. Right place right time comes to mind.
If you want a closer look at the book vs the series for season one, go here.
March 2022 arrived and with it came season two.
For season one I was sad when it came to an end, but by the time the credits rolled for season two I felt deflated and disappointed.
I think what season one did well that the others haven’t, is that they really made Daphne and Simon the focus, for the seasons since then there’s been too much noise. As a result, it means the intensity of the leading couple is lost because there’s so many stories going on and as a result nothing has a big impact.
There's a closer look at season two here.
We had a long wait for season three, but in between came Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. This was a pleasant surprise I didn’t see coming at all.
I didn’t expect much when it came out. How often is a spin-off actually any good? It felt a bit like they’d made this to try and distract us from the fact season three was taking SO LONG to come.
However, I’ll eat my words - I loved it.
It put the older characters into the spotlight. It adds depth to the Queen and Lady Danbury, something the main seasons couldn’t give any time to.
Due to the focus being on the older characters, the themes are more mature too compared to the previous seasons. There’s sex in this but less lust, and it's more about timeless love.
Now back to the main seasons and the most recent one - season three.
This was the first time Netflix has released it in two installments - one month apart.
I demolished part one, with the back and forth between Penelope and Colin building up. Again I feel like they tried to get too many storylines in there, but I blitzed through it nevertheless.
Part one came to a head (in more ways than one) in the carriage scene.
We’ve had plenty of build up for these characters so it felt like a long time coming, but at the same time, very rushed.
He sees her as a sisterly friend, he comes back the talk of the town, and she is still very much the wallflower.
Pen has a bit of an identity crisis, changes her wardrobe, and suddenly Colin starts to notice her (shock).
Fast-forward to a confidence crisis where she asks for a kiss because she's scared she might die without having been kissed (bit dramatic) and the romance starts to blossom from there as Colin sees her in a new light
I feel like the carriage scene was the climax we all wanted, and really got people talking. Netflix had smashed it. Leave people wanting more - a timeless recipe for success. However, I feel like this is where season three was at its best.
As soon as part one finished, I read the book. I needed to know what happened next. This is where the big changes became apparent.
In the book, the carriage scene follows after Colin finds out Pen is Lady Whistledown. This secret was what was bringing the drama to part two though. Will she tell him? Will he leave her?
It’s honestly like they’d thrown the book in a blender - everything was in a different order and I didn’t love it.
Yet again, because there were so many storylines, the so-called Polin story was lost for me and just a bit flat whenever they were on screen.
This season they wanted to break the mould of the leading lady by having someone that wasn’t 5 '9 and size 8. However, I feel like they chickened out. Polin had very few sex scenes, and when they did, Pen was covered up.
Other than a mirror scene (above), Pen was either fully dressed, or covered awkwardly in a blanket. I feel like they made a song and dance about Pen being different, but then they shyed away from letting her really shine which was disappointing.
Part two was just a bit of a chore to be honest when it did arrive. They fought, they got back to together, they had their happy ending.
There’s a trend forming here for me - the climax is never worth it. The cheesy rom com started off strong when we all needed it, but now it’s just a bit boring.
All this does make me question, has Bridgerton had its day? I think so.
Will I be watching the new season despite everything I've said above? Probably.
I DO NOT OWN THE PHOTOS IN THIS PIECE
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