This Bridgerton Book-Show Difference Makes Season 3 Look Ridiculous
The drama of the third installment isn't worth a bean.
Summary
- Season 3 will focus on Colin instead of Benedict.
- This change will ruin Penelope's arc.
- Because of the differences between the book and show narratives, Pen's struggle will be insignificant.
Since its release in 2020, Bridgerton has become one of Netflix's most popular shows, with a large and loyal fan base around the world. Based on Julia Quinn's novels of the same name, the period drama revolves around the titular family, with each season focusing on the love story of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings.
Season 1 focused on the love story between Daphne Bridgerton and Duke Simon Basset of Hastings, as they went from a fake engagement to save Daphne's reputation to a truly passionate romance. Season 2 explored the relationship arc of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, showing their transformation from rivalry to intense but forbidden affection, and finally to a happy marriage.
In that sense, the first two seasons followed the narrative pattern of Quinn's book. But Season 3 will deviate from that, delving into the love story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featheringtom instead of exploring the arc of his older brother Benedict. And this change makes the show somewhat ridiculous.
Age Difference
It's no news that adaptations are usually very different from the source material. But in the case of Netflix's Bridgerton and Julia Quinn's novels, the difference is too extreme. The problem is that the show doesn't follow the same chronology as the books. For example, on the show, Daphne met and married Simon in her first year on the marriage mart, while in The Duke and I it happened in her third year.
Of course, this reflects on the age of the characters. While the show's Daphne is only two years younger than her book counterpart, Quinn's Penelope is almost ten years older than her Netflix adaptation. And it undermines her entire arc in Season 3 of Bridgerton.
'Spinsters Do Not Need Chaperones'
Season 3 will take place in the summer of 1815. Penelope, who was born in 1796, will be only nineteen and in her third year on the mart - just like Daphne was when she met the Duke of Hastings in the book. Yet Pen's arc is filled with drama, as she fears she will not meet a suitor and even refers to herself as a spinster.
In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, this is relevant to the plot because Penelope is about twenty-eight years old, which, while still ridiculous, justifies her calling herself a spinster by the standards of the time. On the Netflix show, however, it sounds over-the-top and far-fetched, and it diminishes Pen's anxiety and fear about not being able to get married.
Sure, Season 3 will still be fun to watch when it premieres on May 16, but all of the plot and drama will be unfounded.