Exploring the Parallels: 'Bridgerton' Season 3 vs. Julia Quinn's 'Romancing Mister Bridgerton'

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in ‘Bridgerton.’ Liam Daniel/Netflix

Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington share a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance in Bridgerton season 3, mirroring their story in the book.

Please note that this post contains spoilers for Bridgerton season 3, part 1.

Colin and Penelope’s onscreen journey was inspired by Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth book in her Regency romance series about the eight Bridgerton siblings. (Fans lovingly refer to them as Polin.)

A summary of the book describes Penelope Featherington as having secretly admired her best friend’s brother for what seems like forever. After years of observing Colin Bridgerton from a distance, she believes she understands him completely. However, when she uncovers his deepest secret, she begins to question whether she truly knows him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being seen only as a charming but empty-headed individual. He is weary of the monotonous routine of his life and frustrated by everyone's obsession with Lady Whistledown, the scandalous gossip columnist who never fails to mention him in her writings. When Colin returns to London after a trip abroad, he is taken aback by the changes in his life, especially the sudden presence of Penelope Featherington, who has captured his thoughts and dreams.

Bridgerton season 3 premiered on Netflix on Thursday, May 16, with both similarities and differences compared to Quinn's original novel.

Nicola Coughlan, who portrays Penelope, shared her thoughts on the special moments for hardcore fans. She hopes they feel acknowledged and joyful. She mentioned the challenge of balancing the iconic moments from the book with new additions that suit the characters.

Now, let's take a closer look at how Bridgerton season 3 stacks up against its source material:

The Time Frame

Romancing Mister Bridgerton is set 10 years after Benedict’s story in An Offer From a Gentleman. In the book, Benedict finds love with Sophie Beckett after Daphne and Anthony have gotten married. When we catch up with Colin and Penelope in Romancing Mister Bridgerton, they are now ten years older. Penelope, who is still writing as Lady Whistledown in secret, has also accepted the idea of remaining single.

Meet the [Extended] Featheringtons

In the show, we meet the Featherington family shortly after season 2. Penelope, who is not yet considered a spinster despite three seasons on the marriage market, is actively searching for a husband in season 3. This shows that she is not content with remaining a lifelong bachelorette.

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

In the series 'Bridgerton,' James Phoon plays the character Harry Dankworth, while Bessie Carter takes on the role of Prudence Featherington. Harriet Cains portrays Philipa Featherington, and Lorn Macdonald plays Albion Finch.

All Eyes Are on Cressida

With Penelope taking the lead this season, we are able to see more of her family. Just like the book, the show has confirmed that her sisters Phillipa (Harriet Cains) and Prudence (Bessie Carter) are both married but still return home for frequent family meetings. One Featherington sister, however, is notably absent: Felicity. As mentioned in the book, Felicity is the youngest of the bunch and is supposed to be around the same age as Hyacinth Bridgerton. She has not, and still does not, appear in the show at all.

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix

Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) takes on a more prominent role in season 3 as she becomes close friends with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), a new development. Amid her growing friendship with Eloise, Cressida has conflicts with Penelope. The bullying dynamic remains consistent in both the book and the show, although there is a new backstory introduced.

In the book "Romancing Mister Bridgerton," the rivalry between Cressida and Penelope mainly revolves around Lady Whistledown. However, in the show, their rivalry is centered around a new suitor, Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), as both Penelope and Cressida are in search of husbands within the ton. Unlike in the show, Cressida is not single in the book and is actually married to Lord Twombley.

Penelope’s Glow-Up

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

Kathryn Drysdale portrays Genevieve Delacroix and Nicola Coughlan plays Penelope Featherington in the popular series 'Bridgerton.' In the show, Penelope decides to ditch the green and yellow dresses for fabrics that she personally prefers, just like how she is described in the book Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Specifically, Penelope opting for blue tones is also accurately depicted.

A New Twist in the Love Triangle

The idea of Penelope having a suitor, Lord Debling, is a fresh addition to the show. In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Colin didn't have to vie for Pen's affection, and she didn't have to compete with other ladies for Debling's attention in London. Unlike in the book, Colin (played by Luke Newton) didn't coach Penelope on charm to find a husband because she wasn't seeking one.

Colin’s Time to Shine

Much of Colin’s journey in Romancing Mister Bridgerton — from his rakish behavior to his writing ambitions and first kiss with Penelope — is spot-on in season 3.

Let’s Talk About Benedict

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

Luke Thompson plays Benedict Bridgerton in the popular series ‘Bridgerton.’ In the latest episodes, Benedict makes it clear that he is not ready to pursue a romantic relationship with a lady just yet.

For fans of the pairing of Benedict and Sophie, also known as Benophie, there is no grand love story unfolding on the screen at the moment. In the book series 'Romancing Mister Bridgerton,' Benedict is portrayed as a successful artist living in the countryside with his wife Sophie, raising their sons. However, this storyline has not been introduced in season 3 of the show.

Meet John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin

In season 3, we are introduced to Francesca's eventual first husband, John Stirling. Despite being the Earl of Kilmartin as portrayed in Francesca's book, he surprisingly does not have a Scottish accent. After their wedding, according to "When He Was Wicked," Francesca will reside with him in his family's ancestral home.

It’s Getting Steamy in the Ton

How Is Bridgerton Season 3 Different From Novel Inspiration

Most of Colin and Penelope’s intimate scenes in ‘Bridgerton’ are taken directly from the book, except for one particular moment. In the novel, they share a kiss in Colin’s carriage after he discovers Penelope's secret identity as Lady Whistledown. However, in the show, this romantic moment happens in the Featheringtons’ carriage on their way back from a ball, with Colin still unaware of Penelope's writing endeavors. Despite this slight change in setting, the essence and actions of the scene remain true to the original story. So, don’t worry, dear viewers.

After the carriage scene, Colin still asks for her hand in marriage. Their engagement in the book happens after the big Whistledown reveal, not before it.

The first part of Bridgerton season 3 is now available to watch on Netflix. The rest of the episodes will be released on June 13.

Editor's P/S:

Bridgerton Season 3's adaptation of Romancing Mister Bridgerton has captured the essence of the beloved novel while introducing fresh elements. The show's exploration of Colin and Penelope's relationship, from their initial friendship to their romantic awakening, has been both captivating and satisfying. The casting of Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan as Colin and Penelope has perfectly embodied the characters' chemistry and vulnerability.

The show's expansion of the Featherington family dynamics and the introduction of new characters like Lord Debling have added depth and