Polin stans: your time has come.
Pictures have finally been released for Bridgerton’s upcoming third season, teasing its central romance and a fresh helping of drama for pretty much everybody involved: mostly its protagonists Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and third Bridgerton brother, Colin (Luke Newton).
Released as part of Netflix’s Tudum Fan Event, the pictures show Penelope staring off wistfully into the distance, her and Colin at a ball of some kind, and the pair staring intently into each other’s eyes.
Details were also released about the upcoming plot: though the two were good friends, Penelope also had a rather epic crush on Colin that was mostly unreciprocated. At the end of season two, Colin finally said he had no interest in courting her (unaware that Penelope was eavesdropping). Accordingly, she is determined to move forward, and Colin is disheartened to find her giving him the cold shoulder.
He resolves to mend the friendship, but of course things aren’t that simple, and before you can say ‘romance’ there’s soon a lot more at stake. The main one being that Penelope has resolved to find herself a husband: ideally one who will get her away from her sisters, and let her continue her work as Lady Whistledown in peace.
Colin offers to help Penelope build her confidence, “but when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.”
Bridgerton is of course famous for its steamy sex scenes (in fact, season one pretty much set the internet on fire, released as it was in the middle of lockdown), and it seems like season three will be offering more of the same.
"Because we’ve had two seasons of build-up, it’s probably going to be the former," Coughlan told Variety, after she was asked if the show was going to be sexy or a slow burner.
She also added that she had high hopes for season three: ââ"I think people are going to be really obsessed. I think book fans are going to be happy.”
There are also plenty of non-romance related plot threads to unravel – including Eloise and Penelope’s massive falling out, and Eloise’s discovery that her former best friend is the gossipmonger Lady Whistledown.
Plus, last season ended with the Featherstone family facing financial ruin after their swindling cousin Jack (Rupert Young) stripped them of all their remaining funds; this may well be another decision motivating Penelope’s desire to marry.
Though Bridgerton was renewed for both a third and fourth season in April 2021, no details have yet been released about when we can expect to see season three hit our screens.
