Netflix has officially released the latest clip of the upcoming highly anticipated season 3 of Bridgerton: Romancing Mr Bridgerton. This left fans screaming for more as some feel that the show’s release is too far away. The upcoming show is ready to be released on May 16 Part 1 at Netflix. Part 2 will be released about a month later, on the 13th of June.
We left off the last season where our protagonist Penelope Featherington caught Colin Bridgerton at her mother’s ball of the season, declaring that he would never court Ms. Featherington and was bemused by the whole situation in front of his friends. Heartbroken, Penelope Featherington left the scene immediately, with a certain resolve that she put this unrequited love to the end.
Zooming to the current scene in Bridgerton Season 3, the official clip gave us a tension-filled scene between Colin and Penelope (#Polin). Penelope tried to leave the conversation hastily but Colin stopped her; wondering if there was something wrong between them. And he admitted he missed her, of course with a rather proud look on his face. Penelope scoffed at his words and confronted him about his conversation about her at the last ball. Colin Bridgerton, seeing that they were in the midst of people, wanted to bring Ms Featherington to a quieter place.
Her next words cut deep as she says “Because I embarrass you, Of course, you will never court me, I am the laughingstock of the ton even when I changed my entire wardrobe. It just never occurred to me that you of all people, could be so cruel”
Netflix truly released such a powerful scene for Bridgerton Season 3. For context, Penelope does not meet the beauty standards (be it in the series or our society today) Don’t get me wrong, Penelope Featherington is a gorgeous woman. However, compared to the previous two leads in the series who are conventionally attractive and skinny, Penelope fails in comparison as she is considered as a ‘fat friend’.
Bridgerton Season 3 flips the narrative about the ‘unattractive’ ‘fat friend’ that has been portrayed in the media for many years.
Traditionally, plus-size women in TV shows have often been relegated to stereotypical roles, such as comic relief or the supportive best friend, rather than being central to romantic storylines. Also, there is a stereotype that fat women are ‘easy’ and easily pander to any gentleman who looks in their way and often so accepts ‘terrible treatment’ from these men.
This is not the case for Penelope because she calls out Colin Bridgerton for his behaviour.
Colin’s behaviour was not acceptable because he absolutely ruin any proposals for Penelope by disregarding her in public to potential suitors by exclaiming “I will never every court Ms Featherington”. This makes her less desirable and not a worthy candidate.
Not only that, the amount of times Colin Bridgerton broke the societal rules to be with Penelope is astonishing! The handholding and bringing her to a room ALONE! Mr Bridgerton is truly giving mix signals. No wonder poor Penelope holds onto the hope that he will like her back.
It is honestly so refreshing to see more representation of different body types within media and that plus-size women breaking out of the stereotypical mould.
Penelope Featherington represents everyone of us who has felt trapped within these labels set out by society just because we do not meet the beauty standard. We want to be loved and deserve to have a romance unlike no other.
I anticipate that Season 3 calls out to viewers to embrace yourself and to remind us that we are all deserving of love. Definitely, Penelope’s role in Bridgerton Season 3 is a big step in showing diverse characters in a positive light, and we are excited to see her how her role enfolds when the new season comes out. Catch Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix!
