Comparing Bridgerton Season 3's Two Love Stories: The Real Reason Fans Are Upset with Polin

Summary

• Many Bridgerton fans are upset with the way Polin's love story was portrayed in Season 3.
• The writers must have relied too much on the established relationship between Pen and Colin.
• The romantic leads looked especially bad in comparison to the other love story of Season 3.

As the summer progresses, the premiere of Bridgerton's third season is receding further and further into the past. It's been almost two months since Part 1 was released and a month since the second installment of Season 3 hit Netflix, but fans of the hit period drama aren't over it yet. There's just too much frustration with Season 3 that will likely fuel viewer discussions for weeks to come.

As much as the third season of Bridgerton was highly anticipated after a two-year wait, many people found it rather disappointing. It seems that the main reason for this is the story of the romantic leads, Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, who many fans feel have been done a great disservice by the writers.

For example, some say that Colin and Penelope had little time to develop feelings for each other on screen and that their entire arc seemed rushed as a result. But perhaps the supposedly central romance was damaged by the creative decision to juxtapose it with another major love story – that of Francesca and John Stirling.

The Downside of Long-Established Characters

The notion that Penelope and Colin didn't have enough buildup for their romance may seem a bit far-fetched. After all, the two characters had known each other for years (on-screen since Season 1) and had developed a friendship of sorts. But the whole transition from friends to lovers happened pretty quickly. A single pity kiss was enough to spark Colin's feelings for Penelope and send their arc spiraling in the direction of romance.

Then came their wedding and the whole Lady Whistledown hullabaloo, and Bridgerton shifted the focus from Pen and Colin's romance to drama, sometimes foolishly exaggerated and inconsistent.

Limelight Thieves

Meanwhile, Season 3 also saw the love story of Francesca Bridgerton and John Stirling unfold. The debutante of the 1815 social season and Queen Charlotte's diamond, Francesca had little interest in the attention of the Ton and most of the suitors who pursued her. She wanted a kind man and found him in John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin, with whom she shared a love of music and sitting in silence.

John and Francesca really took the time to get to know each other, to find comfort in each other's company. And viewers witnessed feelings develop between them – especially affection. And this sweet and beautiful, if unconventional and seemingly dispassionate, love story really upstaged Polin's arc with all its steamy scenes and dramatic revelations.

Season 3 of Bridgerton failed Colin and Penelope by robbing them of the buildup to their romance, which was especially evident in comparison to Francesca and John's love story. Hopefully Season 4, whichever Bridgerton sibling it follows, won't make such a mistake.