It is estimated that the writer Julia Quinn has sold more than 20 million books between the Bridgerton saga and the rest of her literary work. Therefore, there are many viewers who have a doubt when they see how the third season of The Bridgertons is approached. It focuses on the love story of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) when chronologically it was Benedict (Luke Thompson) who it was her turn to fall in love with. Why has the Netflix series skipped Benedict?
Jess Brownell, the current showrunner since creator Chris Van Dusen preferred to focus on other projects after captaining the first two seasons, made the decision to avoid wearing down the characters of Penelope and Colin. According to her, we have seen very clearly who Penelope’s platonic love was and also how Colin doesn’t even realize how his neighbor is in love with him. “It’s a dynamic that you can squeeze out for a while before something has to change,” defends the screenwriter in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She felt that the third season “was the right time to take advantage of what had been prepared for them.”
Let us remember that, as Netflix reports, the third season of The Bridgertons will show a Penelope who has thrown in the towel. He heard how Colin talked about her to her friends, feeling cornered by them, and he doesn’t plan to forget or forgive her lack of respect. So she is looking for a husband, only she needs a man who will give her some independence to continue with her double life as Lady Whistledown, the anonymous character from whom she writes the pink chronicles of her that even make people uncomfortable. Queen Charlotte herself.
The problem he has is that, while he has things clear, Colin’s return will disrupt his plans: the Bridgerton brother has a new look, he is more handsome and, suddenly, he has serious gallant airs. When he sees Penelope passing him by, he feels confused and offers to help her find her husband. But, between advice and advice, it is he who begins to have doubts: does he regret having lost her as a friend or is it that, in reality, he feels something more for Penelope?
The fear of wearing out the characters and the dynamic of “will they end up together or not” has meant that Benedict, for the moment, remains in the bedroom of the writers’ room. Brownell is of the opinion that they can allow him because “he is such a fun character and so loved by the fans” that they can still play with him a little more “before he settles down.”
Those who do not know the Bridgerton books and want a preview of where things will go, should be warned that Benedict has a love story inspired by Cinderella. On the pages, Benedict is attracted to a maid whom he saves from a violent situation. What he doesn’t know is that this girl is the disgraced daughter of a count, whom his stepmother refused to take care of her as her will required and turned into a maid. And what he also doesn’t know is that Sophie, that’s her name, is the person who stole his heart at a costume ball and whom he never saw again.
The third season, that of Penelope and Colin, has a release date: the first four episodes can be seen on Netflix starting May 16 and the last four will be available starting June 13. As good news, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley will continue in the cast after having their happy ending in the second season: Jonathan, who holds the title of Viscount, has a responsibility towards his younger siblings and those who are of matchmaking age.
