Out Of The Shadows – As this episode of Bridgerton begins, Mrs. Varley (Lorraine Ashbourne) greets Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Lady Portia (Polly Walker) when they arrive. We learn about the newly minted debutantes, including Miss Malhotra (Banita Sandhu), Miss Stowell (Kitty Devlin), Miss Hartigan (Molly Jackson-Shaw), and Miss Kenworthy (Sesley Hope). Miss Barragan (Ella Bruccoleri) stands out from the crowd. Another Bridgerton will be making her debut this year. People stand outside of the door hoping to hear Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd). They find her playing piano. Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and the others speak to her.

Francesca insists it’s just another day. Lady Whistledown also writes about the gentleman. Girls try to get Colin’s attention outside. Colin (Luke Newton) tells Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and the others that he got stuck in presentation traffic. After the intro, Anthony and the others talk to Colin about his journey. Colin insists this time away was exactly what he needed. Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) is not impressed with the girls paraded in front of her. Violet speaks to Francesca about her debut. Francesca likes the idea of having her own house. Then, they’re presented to Queen Charlotte. Brimsley (Hugh Sachs) reminds Charlotte she’s had good luck with Bridgertons.

Portia and Varley hear Harry Dankworth (James Phoon) talking about having more weddings. Portia asks if he’d continue using Aunt Petunia’s money in the process. Penelope says she liked Aunt Petunia. In private, Varley asks Portia if anyone will believe a spinster who never owned as much as a donkey cart would have a fortune to leave her. Portia suggests she could’ve been hiding jars of coins under her floorboards. Varley warns her that the truth has a way of rearing its ugly head. Some of the girls seem preoccupied with Colin. He tells the girls that he has no intention of taking a wife, but his travels conditioned him to expect the unexpected. Penelope walks out and sees Eloise (Claudia Jessie) before she’s confronted by Cressida. Eloise interrupts and pulls Cressida (Jessica Madsen) away from Penelope who keeps an eye on them.

She overhears the other girls talking about what they want from a man. Francesca can only say she wants someone kind. Violet speaks to Kate (Simone Ashley) about returning. They discuss Francesca and Eloise. Violet admits she doesn’t understand Eloise’s new friendship. Violet is not going to interfere for the time being. She promises to move into a dower house as soon as she finds one. Kate is grateful to have her close. Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) speaks to them Colin continues mingling with girls. Portia tells others that there will be no more laying claim. The last Lord Featherington wrote a document bequeathing the estate to her girls once one of them produces an heir. Colin speaks to Penelope about his clothes. Later, Portia tells Penelope she takes comfort in knowing she’ll always be there to care take of her.

The next day, Penelope goes to Genevieve Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) to get a new wardrobe. She explains she must find a husband so she can move away from her mother and sisters. Penelope tells her what she’d like in a husband. She asks for something like what they’re wearing in Paris. Colin gives his mother a gift. When Eloise enters the room, Colin gives her a book of rare Bavarian text. She says she’s already reading Emma. Eloise explains that the book has humor, truth, and the pains of friendship. She explains that Cressida shows her kindness when no one else would. As for Penelope, Eloise says they’ve grown apart. Lady Whistledown nearly ruined her last season so Eloise has decided to join the winning side. Later, Eloise runs into Penelope who asks Rae to meet her in the carriage. Penelope tells Eloise she avoided society because she didn’t know if she wanted to see her.

She appreciates Eloise keeping her secret. Eloise is not happy about the things Penelope wrote. Now, they have separate lives. Benedict (Luke Thompson) tells Anthony he isn’t sure what to do now. Walter Dundas (Edward Bennett) arrives to see Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi). He asks Alice if she’s aware of her great aunt Lady Kent. She’s dead and she’s left her son, Nicholas, everything. He will be the next Baron of Kent. Kate and Anthony spend time in bed together. Kate stops him to say it’s her first week as viscountess and tonight is Lady Danbury’s ball. She wants to make a good impression. Penelope decides to try something a little different tonight. Before long, the ball begins. Cressida is surprised when she sees Penelope’s new dress.

Eloise and Cressida listen to other girls talk about embroidery. Penelope speaks to men about what she likes to do including reading. Eloise tries to change the topic of the conversation. The men step away from Penelope to avoid giving Lady Whistledown something to write about. Lady Danbury tells Queen Charlotte about Penelope. Lord Fife and others speak to Francesca about her hobbies and desires. She quickly escapes and tells Anthony she’d like a moment alone. He tells Violet that she just needed a moment. Penelope tells Francesca she should probably get out on the dance floor. Francesca admits she didn’t like the conversation with the gentleman and she doesn’t like attracting attention. They agree it can be difficult being different than siblings. Francesca ends up dancing and telling Penelope she should do the same.

Lord Debling checks on Penelope moments later. He suspects she knows how to make one wither if she wishes. Cressida ends up stepping on her dress and ripping it. She tells her it was probably cheap fabric. Eloise tries to apologize, but Penelope rushes out. Colin watches her go before following her. An upset Penelope says she’s in her third year on the marriage mart with no prospects. Colin questions why she didn’t respond to his letters before saying he misses her. She reminds him that he told everyone he would never court her. It never occurred to her that he could be so cruel. Penelope goes back home and begins writing. The next day, Walter Dundas visits Portia. He’s been made aware that her cousin, Jack Feathering, left town with her entire fortune.

He has a document Jack signed granting the estate to one of her daughters if she produces a male heir. The Crown is currently unaware of another living male heir. Walter warns her about the upheaval should it be determined that the document is forged. Portia insists that the document is not forged. Cressida tells Eloise that she doesn’t have any competition besides Francesca. Eloise says what she did to Penelope was cruel. Cressida says it’s been hard to find a real friend. The season tends to pit the girls against one another. Cressida claims she tried to befriend Eloise on her first season, but Eloise rejected her suit. She agrees that Penelope is undeserving of her attention. Kate tells Anthony there’s something she wishes to discuss with him.

Kate suggests he shouldn’t talk to his mother about moving. She thinks they can extend their honeymoon and let his mother stay a little longer. Violet speaks to Francesca about her night. Violet hopes she will be open if love comes her way. Francesca wants to see what happens. Colin visits Penelope to apologize for his comments last season. He says he seeks her out because he knows she will lift his spirits. Colin offers to teach her charm so she can find a husband. He wants to regain the favor of the person who made him feel appreciated. Penelope shakes his hand and agrees they’re friends. Once he leaves, Penelope begins worrying about what she wrote about him. Lord Kent is welcomed to his new home. Queen Charlotte believes Lady Whistledown is playing games again.

Penelope tries to grab a copy from her sisters. She tells them whatever Whistledown said about Colin is wrong. Eloise tells Colin that he’s mentioned in the newsletter. It says Colin seems to have embraced a new personality entirely. Whistledown questions whether it’s a ploy and whether Colin actually knows. Colin tells Eloise he doesn’t care what she writes about him, but he’ll never forgive her for trying to ruin Eloise and Lady Crane. Colin doesn’t know who she is. If he ever finds out, he’ll make sure it’s her life that is ruined.

 

Bridgerton Review

The third season of Bridgerton started with familiarity considering it’s becoming the same stories rehashed and the formula is identical. There are moments where the episode is really good, but those moments are few and far in between. At this point, there are probably three likable characters and everyone else is rich, snooty, and annoying.

The story is also very predictable when it actually gets moving. Everything else is just filler and not nearly as captivating as the core story. Truthfully, much of the episode felt like much ado about nothing. The cast is excessive, yet many of the characters probably won’t matter in the least. While it’s trying to be sophisticated, this is pretty much as shallow as a story can get.

Not to mention that some of the performances are not great. Overall, the opening episode was dull with very little of substance. There is a glimmer of hope thanks to the relationship between Penelope and Colin, but it’s going to be a tiresome journey to reach the conclusion. This episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Bridgerton can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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