Looks Like Netflix's Season 3 Split Did Bridgerton Dirty

Summary

• Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 3 was a disappointment for many fans.
• People took to social media to express their criticism of the story of Colin and Penelope Bridgerton.
• However, those who rewatched the season in its entirety over the weekend had a surprising discovery.
• Bridgerton Season 3 was not bad, but done dirty by Netflix's marketing.

Bridgerton Season 3 has been the talk of social media for the past month. From the release of the first four episodes on May 16th to the conclusion of the chapter on June 13th, fans and casual viewers alike have been drooling over every little detail and speculating about what's in store for the new lead couple, Penelope and Colin Bridgerton aka Polin.

Naturally, it all created so much buzz that Season 3 broke all kinds of records on Netflix, topping the streaming giant's charts for several weeks in a row. Add to that the fact that Bridgerton fans had to buy a two-month subscription instead of a one-month one, and the split of the new season into two parts (the first for Bridgerton) feels like a win-win situation. Well, not exactly.

From Excitement to Disappointment

The premiere of the second part of Bridgerton Season 3 marked the beginning of a very disturbing trend: thousands of people took to social media to vent and express their disappointment with the new episodes.

Aside from a jaw-dropping change in Francesca Bridgerton's story that infuriated fans of the original Julia Quinn novels, many viewers found Part 2 confusing, trying to fit in too many storylines, and lacking both the heartwarming friends-to-lovers vibe and the logical development of the Polin relationship.

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 focused on the Whistledown part of Penelope's journey, changing some of the canon twists and pushing Colin aside. And that didn't sit well with many fans on the first viewing. However, those who rewatched the season in its entirety over the weekend found that the Polin story felt much better when absorbed in one sitting.

Part of the Problem

After the initial wave of negative emotion, some Bridgerton fans have calmed down and given the story of Penelope and Colin another chance. And it seems they all agree that Season 3 was designed for multiple binges.

Of course, some of the criticisms of the Polin storyline, like the uneven distribution of steam in the couple's arc, or Colin's anger at discovering Lady Whistledown's secret being taken a step too far, remain valid no matter how many times you rewatch Season 3. But it looks like much of the disappointment was caused by the questionable PR campaign and the month-long hiatus in the middle of the chapter.

Netflix and Shondaland promoted the Polin season with a vengeance, promising fans spice and drama they had never seen before. Of course, the people who had been waiting for the new chapter for over two years bought into the hype and set their expectations high.

The break between two parts of the season gave viewers time to speculate and create a whole list of must-see scenes that they never got. So instead of enjoying the story the creators delivered, Bridgerton fans felt robbed of the story that had become their headcanon.

There's no doubt that in time, Bridgerton fans will come to appreciate Season 3, flaws and all. But Netflix might want to rethink its release and marketing policies.