Biggest Conflict In Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 Might Not Be Whistledown After All
Colin and Penelope still have a lot of inner work to do.
Summary
- Bridgerton Season 3 has been divided into two parts, which seemingly contrast in mood.
- If Part 1 is more lighthearted, Part 2 promises all kinds of drama related to Lady Whistledown's secret.
- However, the main conflict of the remaining four episodes may be much deeper than that.
Though the Bridgerton creators didn't know Season 3 would be split in two for release when they wrote it, the division seems to have come about organically, with a mind-blowing carriage scene at the end of Episode 4 and the contrasting feel of the beginning and end of the chapter.
Distribution of the Drama
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 is quite lighthearted and has a strong romcom vibe. With the exception of Penelope Featherington's struggles to be accepted as an eligible bachelorette in the ton, we don't see too much drama in it.
Part 2, which is just around the corner, promises to be a whole different ball of wax. The Whistledown mystery is a black cloud hanging over Penelope's head, and it now threatens to jeopardize her dream engagement to Colin Bridgerton. The trailer for Part 2 clearly shows that Bridgerton fans are in for a lot of Whistledown-related turmoil.
But the biggest conflict of Part 2 may be even deeper than the Whistledown secret, as the clip suggests.
Confronting Inner Demons
Bridgerton Season 3 is all about outer and inner transformation, with an emphasis on the latter. The friends-to-lovers trope allows for a deep dive into Pen and Colin's view of themselves and each other. In order to be together, they have to accept things they refused to see in the past and drop their own false self-images.
It's clear from the Part 2 trailer that the Whistledown question is set to reveal the deepest demons for both characters.
'Colin I can take care of myself,' Penelope says at one point in the trailer, clearly in the heat of an argument over the Whistledown column.
'Then what good am I to you?' Colin exclaims angrily, thus exposing the fascinating conflict between the romantic couple.
Penelope has spent her entire life unnoticed and undervalued by her family, friends, and society. No one ever paid attention to her dreams and desires. As a result, she grew up savvy and independent. In her mind, it's perfectly valid to deal with her problems on her own, whether it's a crush on the neighbor's son or a huge social scandal.
On the other hand, in Colin's mind, his purpose has always been to take care of others, which probably stems from the feeling of uselessness when his father died suddenly and his mother distanced herself from the children in her grief. So now Colin feels inadequate and unworthy if he can't protect others, especially the woman he loves.
This is a clash of character flaws that have always been a part of our protagonists and that must be faced in order for Colin and Penelope to have their true happy ending. And we are certainly here for that.
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 premieres on Netflix June 13 at midnight PT.