It took Colin Bridgerton all of three 'seasons' to know that he was in love with the chubby redhead dressed in unflattering floral and citrus themed dresses, a far cry from the pastel princess-like dresses donned by other young ladies. Their primary goal is to be named the queen's 'diamond' of the season and to capture the heart of an eligible bachelor in the ton - the who's who of British high society during the Regency era.
The shy Penelope Featherington is heartbroken when she overhears Colin shun the idea of being with her while bantering with his friends in Season 2. Some of us could have smacked him silly! Still, we pardon the young man who was yet to discover himself ahead of his coming of age solo tour of Europe. Not unaccustomed to embarrassment based on the goings on of her scandalous family, we imagined that Penelope would be fine, especially after the jaw dropping discovery that this young lady who spent most of her days by the window watching the Bridgerton house, was in fact the real star of Bridgerton - Gossip Columnist, Lady Whistledown.
And so the stage was set for an intriguing Season 3 of Bridgerton featuring the love story of Colin and Penelope. I wasn't ready.
I wasn't ready for the transformation - a hot and grown-up Colin fresh from his trip across Europe and a stunning Penelope who ditched her family's signature look for her own style aided by her confidante, the seamstress, Genevieve.
I wasn't ready for Penelope's growth. Sometimes it's in the darkness that we find our way. Alone, having broken her best friend Eloise Bridgerton's heart, she is left to roam the ton as a mere shadow. It gives her space to develop her unique sense of style, and to allow herself to be seen by arriving at the ball fashionably late and literally stopping the show. She also gets to test the love waters with a suitor, though most unsuitable even with all his wealth. For a moment, Penelope appeared to be headed to the altar at last. It was practical for a young lady with a mother who is desperate to marry her off to a wealthy man. But, what's love got to do with it? For 'this author', dearest gentle reader...everything!
I wasn't ready for the heartfelt reconciliation between Penelope and her mother. They say we often dislike qualities we see in others that are in fact part of us. Until now, I never understood their similarity - the fact that in different ways, they exploited the rich.
The reckoning between the two unfolds as Penelope is faced with losing Colin's love over the revelation that she is Lady Whistledown which had written so much gossip about his family. With virtually no one in her daughter's corner, Lady Featherington finally stepped up to be a mother in the real sense. Still, we lift our feathered hats to her. Because what's a lady to do when she is Blessed with not 1 boy child to claim an inheritance, but 3 daughters, who for all intents and purposes, aren't the bell of the ball to marry rich? You plot and scheme to maintain your standing in society. And that's that! I loved when Colin put Lady Featherington in her place after she chastised Penelope for choosing love. That may have set the tone for about turn.
I wasn't ready for the 'great man' that is Colin. A young man who not only caught the eye of every young lady at the balls, but had huge balls!
Colin, unknowingly in love with Penelope, decides to help her to charm her way into a man's heart by talking, something 'this author' had grave difficulty doing on the social scene. It worked! For a moment, she had Lord Debling right where she wanted him. I was on the edge of my seat hoping the proposal would not happen, as I knew Penelope wanted more. More, like...love and Colin. I couldn't have been the only viewer shouting "run!", as Colin went after her carriage to declare his love at last! The carriage scene which ended Part 1 though...Good Lord! Whew!
When Colin discovered Penelope's secret identity as Lady Whistledown, I anticipated him calling off their engagement. But declaring that he is a man of honour, and that the wedding would go on, just melted my heart, even amid his tantrums sleeping on the couch in an attempt to force her to give up her gossip column. But Penelope remained steadfast, yet humble and remorseful. Considering that she was in love with this man for so long, and the uncertainty about the kind of marriage they would have because of her perceived folly, that took some guts, and we began to see the real Penelope emerge. Lady Whistledown is her! She is Lady Whistledown! You go girl!
Facing blackmail from Cressida, Colin asks Penelope to allow him to handle it. He puts up a valiant attempt by delivering a nice speech to a desperate Cressida who responds by doubling the cost of keeping her mouth shut about Lady Whistledown's identity. While he failed, it takes a real man to defend his wife amid his own battles with her. It begged the question as to whether Colin was truly hurt and angry about Lady Whistledown.
It turned out, he was just jealous. Here he was writing a book based on his travel journals, not knowing that his fiance was the most revered writer in the ton. It's reasonable that a man might feel small upon such a discovery. Colin confesses his initial envy as he echoed praises to Penelope following her brave and compelling speech under the spotlight revealing to the ton that she is indeed the feared and revered Lady Whistledown. I watched that scene repeatedly and I cried.
There is so much to unpack here. Many powerful women in society hide themselves in the shadows of others out of fear of being judged or disliked for what they do, what they say, or simply who they are. Sometimes they hide so their loved ones can shine. It takes a "man's man" to watch a woman shine as herself, and do nothing but love her. Earlier in the show, Penelope told him that's all she wanted from him. Kudos to her for standing down and allowing her man to defend her [although he failed]. But sometimes, even a powerful woman must allow herself to be led. For Colin to admit that he failed, and allow her to fix her own mess, was a ballsy move.
Forget the steamy love scenes. This was my favourite scene in Bridgerton Season 3, and possibly the entire series thus far. So much so, that I have the transcript.
Colin: Pen, ever since I found out you are Whistledown, I have done everything I can to try to separate you from her. But the other day I went back and read all the letters you have sent me. Your letters have always been the ones I am most eager to read. And I realised...you are her. You have always had one voice. There is no separating you from Whistledown. And after seeing you speak today...well I would not want to. Because forgive me, but that was bloody brilliant. I think in truth, I have been envious of you...of your success, of your bravery. And now I simply can't believe that a woman with such bravery loves me. How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light. If my only purpose in life is to love a woman as great as you, then I will be a very fulfilled man indeed.
Penelope: I love you. You are a very good man, Mr Bridgerton.
Colin: I love you. Now, will you please do me the honour of joining me on the dance floor, Mrs Bridgerton?
Powerful. Beautiful. Tears.
We may have seen the last of Lady Whistledown in that form, as this author, "Pen" has promised the queen to do better with her pen.
Shonda, I was not ready for the mess. I'm ignoring the nauseating behaviour of Eloise though she finally came through in the end, the unsavoury storyline of Benedict, and the destruction of a novel with that seeming plot twist featuring Francesca.
For I'll be damned if I let all that mess take away from the romance between Colin and Penelope, though at times like a fairytale, felt so relatable and real.
Dearest gentle reader...
I Am Suzette Campbell
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