Despite how much I loved them, Colin and Penelope’s story in Bridgerton season 3 created a big problem with its pacing. Bridgerton season 4 had many stories set up in season 3. Initially, those other stories added a significant amount of depth to Colin and Penelope’s, showcasing why I love the friends-to-lovers trope so much. But as the second half went on, Colin and Penelope’s story seemed to become less and less important in their season.

Bridgerton season 3, part 2’s pacing started to get too fast, rushing through what I thought were important moments for the main couple. This made watching it bittersweet for me because I loved how happy Colin and Penelope were in Bridgerton season 3, part 2’s ending. Despite this, I was left disappointed because the pacing rushed through those larger story beats that other seasons lingered on, making both the ending and setup for Bridgerton season 4 completely unsatisfying.

Colin & Penelope’s Story Is Rushed In Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2

Many Important Character Beats Are Rushed Through To Fit The Runtime

Colin and Penelope’s story was rushed through in Bridgerton season 3, robbing them of tension and beats I think could have been explored more. The buildup to the Whistledown reveal was very well done. I was on the edge of my seat after Colin discovered Penelope’s secret, waiting for the fallout and how the two were going to make up. But it was here that the pacing began to speed up. Colin’s reaction and the subsequent arguments between the two created some great tension, but the story did not linger on their individual feelings.

The story only featured Colin’s insecurity and Penelope’s guilt in smaller moments despite this being their story. This made their truce at the wedding seem odd to me because so much was left unsaid. From there, the two barely had time to work things out as the Queen’s threat and Cressida’s blackmail scheme sped their story along further. That quick pacing took away some of the impact from Penelope’s reveal as we saw little of her struggle over it. Bridgerton season 3’s time jump ultimately gave them a sweet ending, but the rushed speed of everyone’s stories made it somewhat hollow.

Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2 Tried To Fit Too Much Into Its Story

Bridgerton Squeezed Too Many Future Story Setups Into Season 3

Bridgerton season 3 tried to build up other stories besides Colin and Penelope’s, taking away too much of what really made their story special. While I know Francesca’s love story and Benedict’s love story needed to be established as they also play with time, the show could have fit their narratives in more seamlessly. Francesca felt more like the main character than Penelope because of all the focus on her, which could cause issues for her story later. Benedict’s relationship with Tilley also felt rushed despite the revelations he came to, robbing him and the main couple of emotional depth.

All of these stories needed to be told, but by squeezing them all in at once, Bridgerton took so much away from everyone’s arc.

Eloise forgiving Penelope also comes too quickly, as there is so much left unsaid between them, with Eloise’s departure to Scotland now robbing them of future interactions. All of these stories needed to be told, but by squeezing them all in at once, Bridgerton took so much away from everyone’s arc. Colin and Penelope had to speed towards happiness for the sake of everyone else, rushing through what to me would have been a great, measured story of love, friendship, and forgiveness. Instead, the story simply moved the characters along to where they needed to go without truly examining why.