Plenty of developments set up Bridgerton season 3’s story, but some need to be kept in mind more than others. Focusing on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, Bridgerton season 3 is set to adapt Julia Quinn’s fourth Bridgerton novel, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. Like Bridgerton‘s previous seasons did with their protagonists, season 3 will concentrate on Penelope and Colin’s romance and individual journeys while furthering some secondary characters’ stories. Some characters’ journeys in Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 already suggested who could continue being the focus, while Bridgerton season 3’s trailer also introduced which characters will likely have a bigger role.

Bridgerton season 3 happening after both Bridgerton season 2 and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story‘s present timeline guarantees the central events from both shows will inform its characters’ stories. However, with Colin and Penelope being Bridgerton season 3’s focus, the most crucial developments to remember involve their journeys, how they left things with each other in Bridgerton season 2 and the biggest events in the lives of those closest to them. Finally, given Queen Charlotte and the mamas’ centrality in making or breaking matches on the marriage mart, their greatest, most recent story developments will also have to be remembered.

Eloise Discovered Penelope Is Lady Whistledown (& It Ruined Their Friendship)

The Reveal Prompted Their Biggest Fight In Bridgerton Season 2

Eloise’s biggest priority since the appearance of Lady Whistledown’s column had always been uncovering who was behind it, admiring the writer at first, before becoming disillusioned with her focus on the ton after meeting Theo and reading the books and pamphlets he recommended. However, accidentally connecting the dots between Penelope’s wittily scathing comments about members of the ton and Lady Whistledown’s tone led to Eloise uncovering Penelope as Lady Whistledown in Bridgerton season 2’s ending. Finding the money Penelope made from the column was the damning proof Eloise needed, leading to the two friends’ worst fight.

Between Penelope claiming Eloise was only jealous of her success and Eloise being disgusted by the pain Whistledown caused to both Marina and Colin, not to mention herself once Whistledown wrote about her association with “political radicals,” the two friends accused each other of the worst things possible in Bridgerton season 2’s ending. Their fight can have massive implications for Bridgerton season 3’s story, as Eloise was always Penelope’s biggest ally at the ton’s functions. Their falling apart thus leaves Penelope starting her story in Bridgerton season 3 exceptionally isolated, as she never was completely before.

Colin’s Mean Words About Penelope At The End Of Bridgerton Season 2

Colin’s Words Hurt Penelope Also Because They Echoed What The Ton Thought

 

Almost every interaction between Colin and Penelope was positive in Bridgerton season 2, with the third Bridgerton sibling even coming to her family’s rescue once he realized Jack was defrauding the other gentlemen and thought he was taking advantage of the Featherington ladies. From talking about Colin’s trips and debating what would have entailed finding their life’s purpose, Colin and Penelope were closest as ever in the second Bridgerton iteration. However, their dance in Bridgerton season 2’s finale drew the attention of Colin’s peers, who jokingly asked Colin whether he intended to court Penelope, leading to Colin’s unfortunate, mean answer.

Who Francesca Bridgerton Is & Where She Was Previously

The Sixth Bridgerton Sibling Was Mostly Absent From Bridgerton Seasons 1 & 2

Bridgerton season 3’s trailer and sneak peeks showed Francesca Bridgerton finally making her debut in society, putting her in the spotlight after being barely onscreen in Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2. The sixth Bridgerton sibling in line and the second-youngest Bridgerton sister, Francesca was only briefly shown in Bridgerton season 1, before being sent to study with an aunt in Bath only to reappear by Bridgerton season 1’s finale. Despite staying in London with the other Bridgertons, Bridgerton season 2 also showed very little of Francesca, having her only appear in the first three episodes of season 2.

While the reason for Francesca’s absence in the latter half of Bridgerton season 2 wasn’t given, her not being out in society yet made it easier for the period drama not to show her. However, Francesca’s debut propels her to be the center of attention in Bridgerton season 3, making her one of the characters to look out for in the upcoming season. This is especially true considering how the sneak peeks already showed Francesca hesitant to enjoy the ton’s attention but willing to make a good impression, setting her apart from Daphne and Eloise.

Anthony & Kate Were Married In Bridgerton Season 2

The Viscount & Viscountess Bridgerton Have Very Different Roles In Season 3

Fresh out of being Bridgerton season 2’s protagonists, Anthony and Kate Bridgerton are returning for Bridgerton season 3, but their roles will be very different. Having gotten married by Bridgerton season 2’s ending and effectively become Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton, the two won’t spend too much time in the spotlight, but will still lead the family and accompany them at the ton’s functions, especially considering Anthony’s status as the head of the family.

Anthony and Kate, now Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton, are set to return in Bridgerton season 3, not being in the spotlight anymore but supporting the Bridgerton family in any way they can.

Anthony and Kate are the ones more present in the books following their story, holding balls and giving support to any Bridgerton in need of advice. While Bridgerton season 3’s sneak peek only showed them as deeply in love during one of the ton’s functions, Anthony and Kate will likely be particularly involved with Francesca’s debut, given their titles, settling in their role of chaperones rather than the center of attention as they were in Bridgerton season 2.

Lady Danbury’s Backstory As Revealed In Queen Charlotte

Her Tragic Backstory Can Make Her Choices In Bridgerton Season 3 Even More Nuanced

 

Lady Danbury has always been a key character in Bridgerton, in the show and the books. However, before Queen Charlotte, not much was known about her backstory, only being known as a meddlesome and witty ton member who could get away with saying whatever she wanted. Queen Charlotte explaining how Lady Danbury’s marriage was loveless and abusive, making her husband’s death the event that effectively granted Lady Danbury freedom, added another layer to her story and her advice.

Queen Charlotte’s revelations already made Lady Danbury’s intervention in getting Daphne and Simon first, and Anthony and Kate later married more impactful, especially considering how her view on marriage greatly differed from Violet Bridgerton’s, having had completely different experiences. However, Lady Danbury’s backstory can make her input in Colin and Penelope’s story even better, especially considering the big role she already has in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, which can easily be translated to the screen.

Benedict Discovered He Didn’t Earn His Spot At The Academy (& Stopped Painting)

Losing His Purpose In Bridgerton Season 2 Will Change His Lifestyle In Season 3

Although Benedict isn’t set to have a too-central role in Bridgerton season 3, his journey through Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 has great changes in store for him. Indeed, Bridgerton season 2 brought him closer to exploring his passion, with Benedict getting into the Academy, finding his people and improving his art. However, learning that Anthony had bought his place in the Academy prompted Benedict to leave his art studio and painting behind, effectively leaving him stranded and purposeless, worse than how he was in Bridgerton season 1.

Without an ambition to cultivate, Benedict can be all the more prone to debauchery, marking his path in season 3 to be the setup before Bridgerton season 4 centers Benedict’s story. Putting a stop to painting due to feeling like a fraud and not having earned his spot at the Academy makes it easier for Benedict to feel lost, but it can also prompt a different story for him in Bridgerton season 3, one focusing more on having fun within the ton than making something of himself.

Violet Bridgerton’s Wishes As Expressed In Queen Charlotte

Violet’s “Garden In Bloom” Speech Can Finally Become A Reality

Besides offering a window into Agatha and Violet’s past, Queen Charlotte also made them closer friends in the present. Violet Bridgerton was only seen discussing love when she talked about her late husband Edmund in Bridgerton, but Queen Charlotte episode 5 introduced a big change with Violet’s “garden in bloom” speech, which openly mentioned an opening towards exploring romantic feelings or lust, something Violet never saw as in her present or future, the prospect having died with Edmund.

The introduction of Lady Danbury’s friend, Lord Marcus Anderson, can easily make Violet’s Queen Charlotte wishes come true in Bridgerton season 3. An affair would not limit the freedoms Violet acquired through widowhood and it would present her as an all-round character and not just a maternal figure, finally delivering on the promise hinted at by Queen Charlotte episode 5.

The Featheringtons’ Wealth Was Earned Back In Bridgerton Season 2

With Jack’s Money & Him Gone, Portia & The Featheringtons Are Back On Top

After Lord Featherington’s death left the Featherington ladies with so little that they had to let go of most of their staff, Bridgerton season 2 bringing Jack Featherington into their lives eventually got them their money back through illicit means. Although Penelope, Prudence and Philippa didn’t know about the scheme to defraud most of the ton of their money, Portia was the one behind it all, with Jack Featherington being the one to propose the other gentlemen to invest in a non-existent American mine.

Colin uncovering Jack’s fake gems scheme unwittingly gave Portia Featherington an out, as she could blame Jack for everything and send him away while still keeping the money they illicitly made together.

Colin discovering the truth in Bridgerton season 2’s ending eventually put a stop to Portia and Jack’s scheme, but it also unintendedly offered Portia an out. Indeed, by making out Jack Featherington as the bad guy who swindled them all, Portia could just send him away and keep the earnings of their scheme, as nobody knew about them becoming almost poor in Bridgerton season 2. This brought the Featherington back on top by Bridgerton season 2’s ending, setting up a thrilling future for them in Bridgerton season 3.

Queen Charlotte’s Need To Uncover Lady Whistledown Briefly Ruined The Bridgertons in Season 2

Penelope Only Wrote About Eloise’s Secret To Protect Her From The Queen

Queen Charlotte has been as interested in unveiling Lady Whistledown as Eloise since Bridgerton season 1, but some of the queen’s riskier moves to uncover the person behind the column almost ruined the Bridgertons in Bridgerton season 2. Indeed, the queen accusing Eloise of being Lady Whistledown left Penelope with not many options, eventually prompting her to write about Eloise and her radical acquaintances so that the shame befalling her would have convinced Queen Charlotte that Eloise couldn’t have been Lady Whistledown.

Although Whistledown’s last column erased any doubt about Eloise’s involvement in it, Queen Charlotte is still on her quest to find out the ton member behind Lady Whistledown. Bridgerton season 3 can up the ante of her search even more, finally delivering Queen Charlotte the truth if the series were to follow the events of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

Bridgerton Season 2’s Events Almost Stopped Lady Whistledown’s Work – Until She Reprised

The Sad Events Of The Featherington Ball Prompted Penelope’s Biggest Changes

After publishing the column about Eloise in Bridgerton season 2, Penelope vowed to stop writing as Lady Whistledown, aware of having gone too far, even if it was just to protect her best friend. However, Eloise finding out the truth about Lady Whistledown and Penelope overhearing Colin’s mean words changed everything for Penelope in Bridgerton season 2’s ending, sending her right back to her writing desk to draft Lady Whistledown’s next column.

Penelope continuing her venture was confirmed by Lady Whistledown’s presence in Queen Charlotte. In addition, Bridgerton season 3’s trailer and sneak peeks confirmed a big part of Penelope’s reasons to find a husband had much to do with protecting her freedom away from the Featheringtons, showing that Penelope made Lady Whistledown even more of a priority in Bridgerton season 3. This will greatly influence Penelope and Colin’s Bridgerton story, as the only reason they would spend so much time together was to find Penelope a husband as she wished, only for their proximity to cause them very different feelings instead.