Challenges Arise as Bridgerton Season 3 Faces Character Absence in Colin & Penelope's Love Story

Netflix has already revealed some spoilers about Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

The updates for Bridgerton season 3 have hinted at a lot of drama in Colin and Penelope's story. However, the absence of a certain character from the show could have a big impact on a key book storyline.

With the way things were left between Colin and Penelope in Bridgerton season 2's finale, and with a recent clip from season 3 showing Penelope confronting Colin about his hurtful comments, it's clear that they will be facing many challenges.

In addition to the main characters, Lord Debling and Lady Tilley Arnold, who are original characters in the series, could also add to the mix of unresolved feelings. Lord Debling is Penelope's suitor, while Lady Tilley Arnold might catch Colin's eye.

Felicity's Absence Means Bridgerton Season 3 Will Lose A Major Part Of Colin & Penelope's Book Romance

However, besides focusing on Penelope and Colin's romance, Bridgerton season 3 should also delve into their individual journeys, similar to how previous seasons explored the characters' personal growth. In the fourth book of the Bridgerton series, "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," the dismissive attitude of the Featherington family towards Penelope is highlighted. This treatment allowed Penelope to secretly write as Lady Whistledown, but it also left her feeling saddened as she rarely defended herself against their criticisms. This contrast becomes even more apparent when comparing Penelope's situation to that of a character absent from the Bridgerton series.

The younger Featherington was the only one her family believed could win over a Bridgerton

Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton season 3 - The younger Featherington was the only one her family believed could win over a Bridgerton - Felicity's Absence Means Bridgerton Season 3 Will Lose A Major Part Of Colin & Penelope's Book Romance

In the Netflix series Bridgerton, only three Featherington sisters were shown, but the books also mentioned a younger sister named Felicity Featherington, who was close in age to Hyacinth Bridgerton. Portrayed as the sister blessed with both natural beauty and charm, Felicity was believed by many to be the only one capable of marrying a Bridgerton, according to Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. However, with the time jump between seasons 2 and 3 of Bridgerton not being as significant as in the books, Felicity's absence from the show makes sense, although it does impact Colin's interactions with the Featherington family.

Portia Featherington's belief that only Felicity could catch the interest of a Bridgerton led to comical moments where she pressured an uninterested Felicity to pursue Colin, even as Colin was trying to court Penelope. From trying to send Penelope away when Colin visited the Featherington house with her, to subtly encouraging Felicity to show her artwork to Colin, Portia completely misread the situation. This confusion even led Colin to nearly shout that he wanted to propose to Penelope, not Felicity. The absence of Felicity in Bridgerton season 3 will eliminate these humorous misunderstandings.

The Featheringtons Lacking Respect For Penelope Is A Huge Factor In Her Bridgerton Book Story

Colin can't believe they're so dismissive of Penelope & she lets them

James Phoon as Harry Dankworth, Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington, Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington, Lorn Macdonald as Albion Finch, and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton season 3 - Colin can't believe they're so dismissive of Penelope & she lets them - The Featheringtons Lacking Respect For Penelope Is A Huge Factor In Her Bridgerton Book Story

In Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2, we saw how the Featheringtons looked down on Penelope, with Prudence and Portia being the worst offenders. However, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton really highlighted just how dismissive they were towards her. Penelope's point of view in the book brought to light the struggles she faced as she became accustomed to their disrespectful treatment. Whether it was her mother not even considering her as a potential match for Colin or Portia assuming Colin was proposing to Felicity when he was actually with Penelope, it was clear that Penelope was often overlooked and undervalued.

Penelope’s habit of accepting her family’s subpar behavior toward her without fighting it eventually became less frequent because she shared her life with Colin, who was amazed by her, cared for Penelope and even initially defended her against her family’s comments. Being with Colin gave Penelope the strength to answer back in the book, to both Prudence and Philippa, but also Cressida when she tried to blackmail Penelope with the Lady Whistledown secret.

The Featheringtons’ abysmal behavior in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton even prompted Colin to intervene in Penelope’s defense, as Penelope repeatedly accepted Portia’s hurtful blunders. With Penelope overcoming the Featheringtons’ dismissive behavior having such importance, Bridgerton season 3 will have to find a way to include Penelope’s development, even without Felicity.

Bridgerton season 3's part 1 releases on Netflix on May 16, with part 2 following on June 13.

Editor's P/S:

This article provides a thought-provoking analysis of the upcoming third season of "Bridgerton," highlighting the impact of Felicity Featherington's absence on the show's adaptation of the fourth book in the series. The author argues that Felicity's role in the book as the only Featherington sister believed capable of marrying a Bridgerton adds a layer of complexity to Colin and Penelope's relationship, which will be diminished by her absence in the show. The article also raises concerns about how the show will handle Penelope's journey of overcoming the Featheringtons' dismissive behavior, which is a significant aspect of her character development in the book.

Overall, the article offers a well-informed and critical perspective on the challenges facing the showrunners in adapting the source material. It sheds light on potential plot holes and missed opportunities, while also acknowledging the difficulties in adapting a beloved book series for television. As a fan of the series, I am eager to see how the show navigates these obstacles and whether it can maintain the essence of the original story while making necessary changes for the screen.