'Bridgerton' Season 3, Part 1 Review: The Netflix Show Delivers
Huff PostLuke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in the third season opener of Netflix's "Bridgerton." In a Laney Boggs-esque moment — which has been teased in the trailer — Penelope descends the staircase at Lady Danbury’s ball, the momentous first ball of the season, to reveal her new aesthetic. There was a complexity in “Queen Charlotte” that — as much as I have enjoyed watching “Bridgerton” — was missing from the first two seasons of the show. Now, after two seasons and a spinoff, “Bridgerton” is using the foundation it has laid to its advantage, adding layers of meaning to every scene and lines of dialogue that allow it to explore the same rich themes as “Queen Charlotte.” This effect is felt most acutely with Brimsley, Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, whose backstories elicit sympathy and give all their interactions — even the queen’s seemingly silly game with Whistledown — greater meaning. It also helps that, unlike Seasons 1 and 2, which relied on flashbacks to create emotional depth, “Bridgerton” is relying on fans’ pre-existing investment in Colin and Penelope.