I stayed up way too late to binge watch Bridgerton season 3 and I have some thoughts. There are spoilers so all below the cut.
Bridgerton Season 3: no NPCs
There were so many stories in this season and I actually think that was perhaps the most interesting part of it. It wasn’t focused, but it was brimming with interesting characters and the conundrums they face.
That said, there was some characters I think I cared about in ways I wasn’t meant to. For example, as has been said elsewhere - if you’re not going to marry Lord Debling, can I, Pen? He was such a good option! He wanted to know her passion! He cared to find a wife who will have things to do while he’s away for long periods of time! He was honest! I hope he finds a lovely wife who will enjoy the heck out of all the authenticity he has to offer. What a catch, that guy. Frankly, I’m kind of glad for him that he didn’t marry Penelope. She’s a brilliant young lady, but she’s also the center of a lot of drama he doesn’t need. Let him go be a natural scientist. Find him a head of household who he’s friendly with and will enjoy the freedom.
Also we have to talk about Cressida. Idk what we were supposed to feel watching her carted away to live with her horrible aunt in a place unsuited to her personality. (Sidebar - excuse me, do not shit on Wales it’s lovely if you are someone who enjoys nature and a quiet life. Francesca would have been happy there.) But - I’m not sure the showrunners meant the audience to feel concern and sympathy for her. She made some bad, bad choices and some cruel choices. But you know what? So did Penelope and she receives every grace and good fortune. Cressida is a victim of circumstance. I want so badly for someone to swoop in and save her. She’s the princess locked in the tower this season and no hero is coming for her, nor are we meant to think she deserves a hero to come and save her.
I also want to talk about Colin’s jealousy of Penelope’s success. OMFG YES. Uh, yeah. This was too real to me. There is no model for ‘men’ to admire ‘women’ in toxic masculinity. They can find them attractive, want to help them, explain things to them (Pen’s mother was too real for this), protect them, provide for them - but in a system where ‘you’re such a girl’ is a terribly demeaning insult, you can’t admire girls. Girls are the thing to not be. So when girls or women do things that a man would admire in another man, it inspires resentment, jealousy, and a desire to take her down. It really is such a m/f romantic fantasy for the masc love interest to just be like: I admire your talent and success and want to celebrate it and support you! Even if you’re more ‘successful’ than me!
Speaking of Portia - I have so much sympathy for her as well. That woman is a mama bear decked out in citrus colored flowers. She’s taken every single opening she has to try to keep them all safe and secure and grabbed it, to the best of her ability and understanding. I think she was purposefully moved out of low key antagonist on purpose in this season, but in any case I find it hard to hate her.
Maybe I’ll have more as I digest, but there’s my word vomit for the morning.
