Bridgerton season 3 turns its focus on Penelope and Colin, and part 1 involves a carriage scene that’s very different from Julia Quinn’s Lady Whistledown story in the book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Eloise may not have shared Penelope’s Lady Whistledown secret, but it does pose a threat to her relationship with Colin, who, by the end of Bridgerton season 3 part 1, doesn’t know Penelope’s the gossip writer. This fact heavily alters Penelope and Colin’s carriage scene, which effectively changes their relationship as they go from friends to lovers.

First published in 2002, Romancing Mister Bridgerton features certain elements that didn’t make it into Bridgerton season 3. The TV adaptation of the eight Bridgerton books has long gone its own way in terms of storytelling, though it borrows some things from Quinn’s books, especially if they’re big moments. Of course, Penelope and Colin’s carriage scene is in both the book and the Netflix series, even if some of the circumstances are not quite the same. Just as in Penelope’s own life, it’s Lady Whistledown, among other circumstances, that affects the carriage scene in Bridgerton the most.

Bridgerton’s Carriage Scene Is One Of Colin & Penelope’s Biggest Moments

Things get really heated between the pair

Image via Netflix

If one were to ask book readers, they’d probably list Colin and Penelope’s carriage scene as a favorite. To be sure, it’s a game-changing moment for Colin and Penelope, who, up until that moment, were only circling each other in terms of their romance. It’s an important moment in the book, just as it is in Bridgerton season 3, as Colin and Penelope become something more to each other — something they’d (especially Penelope) only dreamed about before. The carriage scene is also steamy, and there’s a hint of thrill and danger involved because they could be caught at any moment.

Colin and Penelope’s carriage scene is just as critical to their romantic relationship as the bee scene was for Kate and Anthony in Bridgerton season 2.

It’s a scene that was highly anticipated in the show and which, despite adjustments, delivers the same in spirit and level of importance to Penelope and Colin’s relationship, which was already beginning to change (at least on Colin’s end) after Penelope asked him to kiss her. Colin and Penelope’s carriage scene is just as critical to their romantic relationship as the bee scene was for Kate and Anthony in Bridgerton season 2. In this case, however, Colin and Penelope waste no time moving forward into romantic territory; the barriers between them are gone for good after Lord Debling’s departure.

How The Carriage Scene Is Different In The Bridgerton Books Compared To The Show

Despite the differences, the scene’s essence remains the same

In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the carriage scene occurs after Colin has discovered Penelope is, in fact, Lady Whistledown. They argue over the scribe, but they kiss passionately after, no more big secrets between them. In Bridgerton season 3, however, Colin has yet to learn that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. He’s drawn to her because she is who she’s always been — kind, funny, smart, and compassionate. By the time of the carriage ride, Colin is seeing her more clearly than ever, and makes a move because Penelope confirms she feels the same about him.

Beyond the Lady Whistledown element, Bridgerton’s carriage scene is filled with many of the same things from the book — lust, being unaware of their surroundings, passionate tension, torment, and revelations. The book and show moments are incredibly distinct, but also similar. Lady Whistledown is still tied to Colin and Penelope’s carriage scene, albeit in a more subtle way. If it weren’t for Penelope writing in Whistledown that Colin was helping her find a husband, it would’ve never led to Penelope being publicly disgraced and feeling so hopeless that she’d ask Colin to kiss her in the first place.

What makes the Bridgerton carriage scene unique is that Colin is seeing Penelope on her own, with no Whistledown attached to affect his feelings in the moment. There’s also no heated exchange beyond that of Penelope being confused about Colin’s romantic feelings. It’s quickly resolved, and it leads them to finally being on the same page. The scene is similar to the book, though, in that it also includes a proposal, though it’s Colin, not Penelope, who asks if they can continue kissing.

Why Did Bridgerton Season 3 Change Colin & Penelope’s Carriage Scene?

The scene had to fit into the changes for the show and its story direction

Image via Netflix

The carriage scene was probably changed to accommodate Bridgerton’s season 3 story, especially as it comes on the heels of Lord Debling’s rejection after nearly proposing to Penelope. What’s more, keeping Lady Whistledown a secret is still a major cause of tension between Penelope and Eloise, and by extension, Eloise and Colin. Colin learning that Penelope is Lady Whistledown too soon would leave Bridgerton season 3, part 2 with no real sense of conflict between them. If part 1 was about getting them together romantically, it makes sense to keep the Lady Whistledown identity reveal for part 2.

Colin finding out about Lady Whistledown coming after he and Penelope are happy together would create some sizzling tension, and resolving it after their engagement would make things sweeter. Colin and Penelope becoming a couple and the proposal happening in the carriage scene is already enough excitement. Bridgerton season 3 will want to keep some things for part 2 so as not to exhaust the storyline so quickly. Penelope is getting everything she’s always wanted at the end of Bridgerton season 3 part 1. Throwing in the Whistledown element in advance would’ve changed the dynamic of the carriage scene altogether.