Since season one, the “Bridgerton” series and its spin-off show “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” have followed a clear-cut formula: Take two characters and have them fall in love. This naturally stems from the plots in the book series, which are based on the same name that the show is based on. However, while seemingly following this simple formula, the latest season missed the mark. 

Season three, like its predecessor seasons, utilizes a cliche romance trope. Instead of fake dating or enemies to lovers this time, we get classic friends to lovers. Our first real distinction for this season is that, unlike the previous ones, we already know our leading couple, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). We have watched their slow-burn romance since the first season.

So, instead of spending time introducing us to the main characters, viewers are introduced to a few too many new characters and all of their subsequent storylines. This addition leaves many, myself included, wanting more time with our main couple to watch their romance fully mature. After all, the audience has spent more time with Penelope and Colin and is, therefore, already invested, leaving the other subplots feeling like a distraction to fill time. 

However, the biggest distractions for this most recent season are the costumes, hair and makeup. Now, “Bridgerton” has never prided itself on being one hundred percent historically accurate, in any sense of the word, but this season it was glaringly inaccurate and over the top. It is set in the Regency era of England, a time defined by its subdued fashions. Things like acrylic nails, false lashes, large pink bows and entirely feathered dresses stick out like a sore thumb. 

Finally, the thing that left a gaping hole after its departure was the original sense of urgency. As someone who binged the first two seasons before the most recent one, there was a noticeable shift.

The show’s main plot is always about getting the couple together, and in this season, they are coupled by episode four. This leaves the latter half of the season focused on the reveal of Lady Whistledown, a notorious gossip columnist who was revealed as Penelope at the end of season one. 

Penelope, being Lady Whistledown, strangely feels like less of a problem in her relationship with Colin but more of an issue for side characters like Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) or Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). This adds to the feeling of too many unnecessary storylines. Not to mention, this is all resolved very quickly in an anticlimactic finale episode. 

Overall, this season was similar to the original two seasons. There were still some magical moments between the lead couple. A stand-out scene that comes to mind is their wedding, in which an instrumental of Coldplay’s “Yellow” leads Penelope down the aisle.

There was also some much-needed character growth for Penelope’s mother, Lady Featherington (Polly Walker) and her two sisters, Prudence (Bessie Carter) and Philippa (Harriet Cains), as they evolved from cold and cruel to a genuinely welcoming family towards Penelope and Colin. 

Unfortunately, scenes like these were few and far between, leaving many fans nostalgic for that almost indescribable magic from before.