As you can probably tell from my Pride and Prejudice review, I’ve always been a fan of period dramas. In fact, I will watch pretty much anything. Whether or not I find something interesting depends more on the story, acting and quality of production than the genre. But I have to tell you, when I started Bridgerton season 1 and the first thing I saw was Anthony Bridgerton’s bare backside, it was a little shocking. Not because I can’t watch explicit content but because I never thought I would get such scenes from a period drama.

But I have to say, it’s really growing on me. And it’s one of those shows that gets better with each season. Sure, I loved watching Daphne and Simon’s story, though I wish they had removed the scenes of her violating her husband. It’s something I simply do not want to see in a romance. If they had actually had consequences for her behaviour or even acknowledged the severity of what she had done, it would be one thing. But what they did ruined her character for me. And it’s not enough to simply say that marital rape just wasn’t a thing back then.

No one with even the barest understanding of regency era is going into Bridgerton expecting historical accuracy. This is just supposed to be a fun little romance that takes elements of regency era but does their own thing for the most part. And regardless, historical accuracy aside, the show is being consumed by a modern audience and so it’s not right to depict marital rape as simply a regular couple fight. Not when there are still many places in the world and many people who don’t consider it to even be real.

And just because it was legal 200 years ago doesn’t mean that it wasn’t still a problem. I doubt they enjoyed marital rape. They put up with it because they had no other choice. Legality does not equal morality.

And that’s probably why so many people enjoy Anthony and Kate’s story over Daphne and Simon’s. Yes, I understand that with stories like this, there is a level of dickishness that comes from the main couple, particularly the male, but there should be a limit to these things. It’s important for authors to understand the difference between a little bit of spice and just writing an unlikeable asshole. But anyways, let’s talk about Colin and Penelope.

Bridgerton Season 3 Gave Colin A New Personality And I Hate It

I know this change has already been addressed by Lady Whistledown but boy is that man insufferable now. Sometimes he’ll open his mouth and I want to shove my hand through the screen so I can help him close it. And it’s such a 180 from season 1. Granted, he didn’t have much of a personality in season 1 outside of liking Marina and then wanting to travel but he was so sweet back then. He was the one likeable Bridgerton. Sure, they all had their moments but he was my sweet boy.

And then you got to the end of season 2 and realised he was just like his brothers: pig-headed and obtuse. Did the man seriously offer to set up the love of his life with someone else? Even his own mother realised he was in love with Penelope before he did. And honestly, he should be glad that Penelope has a soft spot for him because I could never. And yes, I have heard that he is significantly worse in the book but I haven’t read any in the series past the first so that’s irrelevant to me.

I haven’t even had the pleasure of seeing the second half of season 3 but I just know he’ll do something to enrage me. He may love Pen but he might hate Whistledown just as much and that’s a little worrying. I know that with the nature of the show, he is bound to marry Penelope by the end but he has already done so much to damage her reputation. And especially after scaring away her only suitor, he is her only chance at getting married now.

The Bridgerton Women Can Do No Wrong (With One Exception)

With the exception of Daphne’s atrocious conduct, I will forever support whatever these women do to protect themselves. The truth of the matter is, the women in Bridgerton have very little power. They are at the mercy of the men in their life. Even if they are lucky enough to be raised by / married to a man who is kind, they lose all of their power and security once that man is gone. And I know that people will use Violet Bridgerton as an exception to this but the only reason she gets to enjoy a good life is because her husband was wealthy and her eldest son loves her. The moment Edmund died, all of his wealth and credibility went to Anthony.

Anthony could have very easily made his mother’s life terrible. He has the power to cast her away. She lives at his mercy. And while we know that none of those children would ever dare disrespect mama Bridgerton, that’s more luck than anything else. You just have to look at what happened to the Featherington girls. The moment their father died, they were at the mercy of a cousin they had never met before. And the only reason they get to stay in that house is because Portia is a gaslighting queen.

My favourite part about season 3 is how they expand on the characterisation of the women. None of these women, not even Cressida, are irredeemably bad. They are simply making the most of a bad situation. These women are so powerless that every bad thing they do, can be justified using the fact that that act is their only way of gaining security. At a first glance, Portia Featherington seems like a bad woman but at heart, she is a mother desperately trying to protect her daughters in a world where they have no value outside of marriage. Marina seems like a bad woman for trying to trick Colin into marrying her but again, she is simply a woman trying to gain security. She knows that without Colin, she will either be the wife of a man old enough to be her grandfather or she will be publicly shamed and cast out of society.

You can make an argument that Eloise could be the exception to this. She is a Bridgerton loved by her brothers and through that, will always have security. She has the privilege of being able to reject men and marriage because she is a pretty Bridgerton. There will always be a man wanting her, if only so they could get access to her family’s wealth and reputation. But again, being better off among the oppressed doesn’t stop one from being oppressed.

Penelope Is An Angel And I Will Accept No Criticism

I could never accept any criticism of Lady Whistledown herself: Penelope Featherington. While I understand Marina’s desire to lie, I also understand that Penelope is in love with Colin and wants to protect him. She’s already tried talking to both Marina and Colin to no avail. So she turns to her one source of power: Lady Whistledown. In a perfect world, she wouldn’t have to do that. But in a perfect world, Marina wouldn’t have had to lie either.

Not to mention the fact that Penelope’s situation is very unstable. Her prospects in the marriage market are basically non-existent. And her father wasn’t that reliable even when he was alive. So of course she’s going to turn to her writing: it’s her only source of income and security. Lady Whistledown isn’t mere gossip: it’s a lifeline. And not just for Penelope. Did we all forget how Violet Bridgerton used Lady Whistledown to get Daphne out of a marriage with a predator?

In saying that, I would understand if people are upset with her. I understand how Eloise might have felt betrayed. But I also think that the fact Eloise realised Lady Whistledown’s identity the moment she bothered to pay attention to Penelope speaks to her character and their friendship. Eloise’s problem is that she’s incredibly self-absorbed. She may be a proto feminist but she’s also a rich, white woman whose family will always protect her. She could never truly understand Penelope’s plight.

And Penelope wasn’t wrong when she said that Eloise always talked but never acted. Eloise could do so much if only she stopped focusing only on herself and looked out at the world around her.

Now Let’s Talk About That Carriage Scene

Holy shit, they did not hold back! And the fact that the curtain were open the entire time gave me genuine anxiety. Irregardless of the fact that Colin will marry her, that will still be a strong hit on her reputation. It might even break a few laws. I felt weird just watching the scene in my living room, I can’t imagine how I would react if I had witnessed a car going by with a couple engaging in those activities. And sure, by Bridgerton standards, it’s pretty tame. But I don’t think the ton would feel that way considering how they feel about a man and woman even being alone together unchaperoned.

And can we also talk about how sexy they both look! Forget Colin for a second, he was always adorable. And sure, he got more handsome but it was the amount I expected anyway after seeing the glow up Anthony received. But Penelope? Who knew that a change in costume and hair could produce such an effect? Can Shona Rhimes hire me as the next love interest? Please!

It’s like looking into the face of an angel. And I refuse to believe it was done just by changing her hair and letting her wear a colour other than yellow. The fact that she only had Lord Debling after her is the real puzzle. No wonder Colin has started dreaming about her. I would too!

Final Thoughts

Obviously, this isn’t a full review. I haven’t seen the full season yet. And yes, I might change my mind. They could do something so terrible in the second half that I give up on the show altogether but I’m hopeful. Each season seems better than the last and I don’t think that pattern will stop anytime soon. And who knows, once the second half comes out, maybe I’ll do a follow-up review.

Until then, let me know your thoughts. Is there anything you wanted me to address in a follow-up review? Did you agree with what I had to say or do you disagree with every point I’ve made? Let me know!