Bridgerton season 3 sees Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton finally having their first kiss, and it’s one that corrects an issue from the book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Bridgerton season 3 part 1 ended on a cliffhanger that saw Colin and Penelope getting steamy in a carriage on their way back from a ball. Before Colin realized he was into Penelope romantically, however, he and Penelope shared their first kiss right outside the Featheringtons’ home. The moment was a game-changing one for their relationship, and was also a major departure from the book that featured Colin and Penelope’s love story.

As in previous seasons, Bridgerton season 3 took a few creative liberties with the story. Though it kept quite a few big moments from the book, showrunner Jess Brownell and her team tweaked other scenes. That included Penelope and Colin’s first kiss. In season 3, Penelope — frustrated with the prospect of finding a match and Colin helping Penelope find a husband courting scandal — asked Colin to kiss her out of desperation. This changed everything for the pair, and the writing changed along with it. That included the reason surrounding Penelope’s makeover, which was to step out of her family’s shadow.

Penelope’s Weight Loss Is A Problematic Part Of Her & Colin’s Romance In The Bridgerton Book

Her weight is mentioned a few times in the book

Image via Netflix

Colin and Penelope have known each other most of their lives, yet Colin doesn’t dream of marrying Penelope in the books. Author Julia Quinn describes Penelope as having lost around two stone, which is approximately 27 pounds, in Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Of course, there are other reasons Colin starts to see Penelope more clearly, but the fact that her weight loss is mentioned at all suggests it plays a somewhat influential role in Colin being a romantic prospect. This is especially the case considering the book’s cover showcases a much slimmer Penelope than what is described in the book.

Colin and Penelope hadn’t connected in years, and the weight loss component is something that’s mentioned, making it noticeable. Yes, there were definitely other aspects that drew Colin in, but the implication here is that Penelope also grew more confident because she had lost weight, and not simply because she was coming into herself on her own. Additionally, Penelope’s size is commented on by other members of the ton at various points, as she’s still considered to be larger than what is expected by society (though Regency standards favored non-skinny bodies).

Colin & Penelope’s First Kiss Avoids The Bridgerton Books’ Problem

Bridgerton season 3 shifts the focus from Penelope’s weight

Bridgerton season 3 sidesteps Penelope’s weight loss altogether. Penelope’s makeover has nothing to do with her weight, and the reason her dresses have been ridiculed is due to the color (Portia Featherington does love her bright yellow and green). Season 3 sees Penelope begin taking herself seriously, which makes her more confident. Colin helps her remember how smart and witty she is (something she knows already through Lady Whistledown), and Penelope channels that into her interactions at balls.

By the time of their first kiss, Penelope is feeling hopeless because, despite the effort she’s been putting in and the confidence she has, her marital prospects are nonexistent, and she needs to escape her family. The nature of Penelope and Colin’s first kiss is much the same as Quinn’s book, with Penelope asking Colin to kiss her because she feels like she’ll be a spinster forever. In the series, though, a big part of that reason comes after she becomes the talk of the ton. Penelope courted scandal, wanting Colin to kiss her in case no one ever would.

She truly believed no one would marry her after learning she sought the help of a single male friend to help her find a husband. Colin agreed to kiss her because he thought he was helping a friend, and Penelope’s weight didn’t factor in. Plus, Colin always noticed Penelope, his eyes lingering on her longer or finding her across the room, even if he was doing it subconsciously until their first kiss in Bridgerton season 3.