The Prestige TV Podcast - ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3, Part 2: Penelope’s Big Secret, Spicy Polin Moments, and Throuples!?

Episode Date: June 18, 2024

Nora Princiotti and Kate Halliwell spread the ton gossip and recap the last four episodes of ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3. They start by discussing how the Lady Whistledown story line felt high stakes, Polin’s romantic development, and Penelope’s powerful monologue (1:22). Next, they talk about side plot highlights and the season’s pacing issues (16:59). Later, they look ahead and make predictions on what the future of the show could have in store (0:00). Hosts: Nora Princiotti and Kate Halliwell Producer: Kai Grady Additional Production Support: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, my name is Dave Gonzalez, and I haven't read any of the books in George R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm Joanna Robinson and I've read every book in Georgia R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. And I'm Neil Miller and I have also read those very heavy books. Years ago, we hosted a Game of Thrones podcast called A Storm Spoilers, and we're thrilled to head back to Westrose to cover the second season of House of the Dragon on the Trial by Content feed. We'll be using our book knowledge to dive deep into each episode and answer your lingering questions. So send us a raven every week to Trial by Content at Gene. mail.com. Follow and subscribe to trial by content on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast to

join us on Thursdays where these two will explain to me which Targaryen is right. Hello and welcome to the prestige TV podcast. I'm Nora Prince Yati and I am back here with Kate Hallowell to talk about Bridgeton Season 3 Part 2. Kate, hello. Hello. So excited to be back. How are you? I'm doing really well and I had a lot of fun over the weekend watching these final four episodes that came out on Thursday, so hopefully by the time people are listening to this,

they've had a chance to dive in. I will offer just an initial spoiler alert, because we're going to be getting into it. Tell me about how you consumed these final four episodes. We had screeners for the first two. Didn't get there.

Watched them all with the rest of the world. I did like a Thursday double, and then I did a Sunday double. And I will say it was very fun. The shows this weekend, you had House of the Dragon, bleak as hell, people in like black and red and green outfits being sad in their bad wigs. And then we had Bridgeton and it was people in fun, pastel, bright colors having fun in their bad wigs. And I just was like, I'm choosing, I'm so happy for all of you

that enjoy the sad dragon show. I am choosing joy for my weekend. I know some people can do both and that's great. But I just had a great time with my silly little gossip drama. I was like, ah, how will they, you know, decide how to tell everyone who's Lady Whistledown? And then everyone else was like, oh, this character. This is so sad. This bleak scene. I was like, damn, that must be tough. Sorry. Yeah. So I watched all four at once. And I felt the same of just like, I'm so happy to be in this silly little world. Yes. Where we left off after the first set of episodes was in this place where, you know, Colin leaves us on this cliffhanger of, are you going to, are you going to marry me or not, and Penelope smiles. And of course, we know that, like, she would want to do

this, but what's going to happen? And as you and I talked about, that was in some ways exciting because you leave on, you leave on kind of a cliffhanger, not just in terms of that, but in terms of how the Wistledown plot is going to resolve, how all the side plots were going to advance or resolve. But also, I think as you and I talked about, and I know this is something that I've heard echoed from friends who've been watching this season and I think in some reviews we were a little lukewarm on pollen,

especially vis-a-vis earlier lead couples of Bridgerton seasons. I have to say, I thought these last four were really strong. And I don't know if all that much changed in terms of this central dynamic between Penelope and Colin,

although I do think, you know, some of the more intimate moments in this latter half were pretty compelling. But in having kind of, in how they ended up wrapping up, not just, you know,

are they going to get married? How is he going to find out about Whistledown? But these dueling ideas of how does gossip function in this society and how does a work? working woman interact with the marriage mart and with the romantic dynamics of, you know, of Regency England, but of Bridgerton's version of that in particular. I found got to a place that that was really, really, really compelling.

And like last night I'm sitting on my couch just going like, oh shit. Like, I can't believe that happened. So I'm so happy to say that I thought that this season ended on, you know, a really strong, if somewhat chaotic note. What did you think overall? I totally agree. I still can't muster up any strong feelings about Colin,

but the great thing about this season is that it doesn't matter. Unlike the other seasons, the drama does not hinge on whether or not their relationship works out. That's not the, you know, season one, it was like Daphne and the Duke.

Like the whole conflict, all the stakes of the season were like, will they figure it out? Season two, it was all like Kate and Anthony. Like, will they figure it out? Will they fall in love? Will they not? How will they get together?

Whereas this was like, okay, we care about Colin and Phelphia. Obviously, their relationship is one of the things that is in danger because of her identity as Lady Whistledown. But, like, there was so much more that it was kind of like a side plot of its own after a certain point. Like, it wasn't the main conflict. It wasn't the main stakes. It was not the main drama. And there was so much drama in these episodes. Some of these Lady Whistledown moments with the Queen when she's confronting them, when Cressida walks into the party, all of these like, Loki like high stakes for Bridgetton, like high stakes moments.

And I was just like you, I was riveted. I was glued to my seat for these last four episodes. Huge season for Queen Charlotte. Like, no notes for Queen Charlotte. She was just like, she was a dog with a bone. She was like, I will unmask Lady Whistledown. 5,000 pounds. She was like, I'm done fucking around.

Like, let's find her. Come on. We're finding Whistledown. Yeah, no, I loved that energy from the queen. I loved the recurring need to provide the queen with a perch. No good ball doesn't have a great purse. perch for the queen. She was just, she was, she was, she was really giving a lot. And I appreciated that. You can always count on Queen Charlotte for that. The thing about Penelope and Colin, because so in these

final four, they're getting married. Mama Featherington and Mama Bridgerton are, you know, they're throwing the engagement party. They're getting ready for the wedding. And there's this sort of slow burn of how is Colin going to find out that Penelope is lady. whistle down. I thought they did a good job of, you know, there were so many head fakes of like, is Eloy's going to tell him? Is Cressida going to tell him? And then finally he follows her to the printers and uncovers it herself. The thing that I ended up feeling worked was not just the fact that the side plots were strong enough to sort of overcome the fact that Penelope and Colin didn't have quite as much chemistry or energy or whatever you want to call it or that Colin just

wasn't as compelling of a romantic male lead was the fact that, like, I never really felt like I got there in terms of, you know, wanting to lust after Colin. Yeah. But I did think that there was an interesting dynamic to their relationship where I was glued in on what was going to happen to them, particularly after he finds out where, like, the scene where, and we're skipping ahead, because I think this is in the second to last episode. but when Cressida is blackmailing them. Yeah.

And he's like, I'm going to do that, like, I'm going to fix this. I'm going to save the day. And then in little dribs and drabs, it's coming out that like, okay, Penelope has enough money to pay for this. Right. And he's just like subtly, it's not just that he's angry about the misdeeds of Lady Whistledown and of what she's done to him and his. his family as Lady Whistledown.

But, like, Colin trying to come to terms with, I think he says, like, how am I going to help you? And, like, what that means for a couple, like, a heterosexual couple, like, honestly, in any era. Yeah. I think I found really, really, really compelling just in the sense of, like, not just, I'm just going to accept that Penelope loves Colin and, like, you know, Penelope loved getting fingered in the carriage and, like, that's fine, and we're good.

and we'll just buy into their romantic chemistry. Yes. But once it took the step from, is Colin going to get over this? Yeah. Just get over the betrayal to, is Colin going to be able to conceive of himself as a loving husband

to a woman with this much power and agency? I was like, I was glued into that dynamic. So I have to say that even though Colin And my heart does not totally beat for Colin Bridgerton. By the end of it, I was really compelled by what was happening between that couple and in that relationship. So I give props there. Yeah. And at the same time, as half of him is struggling more with accepting, like, her independence and her power and her money, the other half of him is like respecting her more.

And all of a sudden being like, oh, this lady Whistledon thing is like, you actually have worked really hard and you really built something. And like, it isn't as easy to give up as I thought that it was. And, like, actually, your writing is really amazing and you're actually really talented. And, like, I'm embarrassed that you saw my writing. Right. And, like, so, one, it makes them more difficult for him, obviously, to accept this, you know, her status and her identity is Lady Whistledown. But also, like, it's almost like she doesn't have to explain all of this to him because

the more that this is coming out and the more power that she's revealed to be having and money and all of this, it's like he is realizing more and more that, like, she can't just give it up. Like, it's not just a, you know, hobby, like a silly little hobby. It's like a real, it's a real, like, symbol of power. Like, she's real influence. So then it's like, you see him struggling with it, but also, like, really respecting her

and growing to be impressed by, like, what she's done. And then eventually kind of accepting it. Luke Newton was very good in the scene with Cressida when he goes and is, like, mounting her defense. And, of course, he screws everything up with Cressida and only makes it worse and she doubles her asking price. Yes. But the person who needs to hear what he ends up saying is actually himself.

Right. And he starts. talking about, you know, like, how could you not want to take that, that moment of agency? And how could you not want to examine society? And she had struggled in all of these ways. And wouldn't she want to just exert that ability? And then all of a sudden, he's like, oh, I kind of get it now. And of course, he's made everything worse.

And the way that he finds out before other people means that, like, then he is defending her, you know, and, like, finding ways to protect her. And then, like, even if he doesn't want to, then all of a sudden he's, like, team whistle down. Like, he just finds himself there. then it kind of works itself out ultimately. I love whenever Penelope is wearing her cape. So I appreciate it that we got a pivotal scene where she's got the cape on.

Let's bring capes back. Absolutely. Bridger just should have more capes. Anything else from the central Penelope Colin romantic plot. We can kind of separate out some of the whistle down stuff and with the queen and all of that. Yeah. And we'll get into the, I think in our fun stuff segment, we'll get into the spiciest moments later. So we'll talk about that.

Woohoo. Yeah, it didn't bother me, ultimately. Like, there was so much other stuff going on. Lady Wilson on plot, like, had its own sort of like legs and stakes and drama. And so I really kind of have come around to the degree where I was like, I just, it just didn't matter that much, like that they weren't quite as compelling as the other couples because I think the season itself was actually ultimately really fun and really compelling. The only time when it got to me, and I suppose there's no way around this other than just having Colin feel a little bit spicier.

that this felt less petulant and more like a real loss for Penelope. The moment's when he's like, I'm going to sleep on the couch. I was like, all right. Nothing bad has ever happened to you, Colin Bridgeton. You're fine. Especially since literally earlier in the season, the monitors is when they come into their newfound wealth and they introduce them to their home and the woman's like, oh, well, couples don't sleep in the same bedroom.

Like, well-off couples don't sleep in the same bedroom. Right. So we've already established that, like, sleeping on the couch. This isn't that weird. It's actually making you closer probably than you're supposed to be. to Penelope that like most couples are. So it just kind of felt a little flat as a statement. But that couch did look really uncomfortable.

I mean, I guess it was because it was their wedding night. So there's the implication that they would consummate the marriage and he's not, you know. Though, of course, as we know, they've already done it. Right. Right. So. But yeah, I don't know. It was a little bit of a petty little move by Mr. Colin.

In terms of the whistle down reveal, not just to Colin, but to. the tongue. I thought the Penelope monologue at her sister's party in the final episode. I thought it was really, really good. And again, like the idea of, do you listen to normal gossip? I don't. I'm sorry. Okay. Great pod. Really fun pod. It's, are you familiar with the basic structure? I am familiar. Yes. Yes. It's like a sort of low stakes story taken from real life and the host and a guest talk about it. There's always a section of the beginning where they talk about sort of like their personal relationships to gossip. And I just think it's a great show, but I also think one of the interesting through lines that always comes up is like, in a marginalized community and for people on the outskirts of

not necessarily society, but the central locations of power in a society, gossip is information is power. And I thought that that monologue really found a nice way. of examining that idea and still seeming like pen, like still feeling in character. And I was just, I was like, I was riveted. And I was also like cheering for her and feeling like if I were, if I were some, you know, stuck up society made standing in my party dress,

I kind of would have been like, okay, yeah, keep writing your gossip rag. Yeah, it was. It felt so true to her character. One, like, you could tell that she was uncomfortable. Like, she didn't want to be like, here I. Like, you know, Cressida walked into that party. Like, here I am. It's me.

I'm Lady Whistledown. It is I. Lady Whistledown. You know, obviously she, you know, inhabited that moment and really, like, commanded the room for a minute and spoke her mind and very eloquently. I thought it was great. But you could tell she still was like, and I would prefer to be back in the shadows, you know, like.

And I would like to go back to writing my little column. And now you know it's me. And please let me do it. And I'm sorry. But, like, I am not meant to be, you know, not comfortable monolog. in front of an entire ball of people, including the queen, confronting the queen. And yeah, I love to how it played out with the queen as well. You know, everyone was trying to convince her the whole time.

Because the queen just lives for drama. Lives for drama. And she didn't want the game to end. Yeah, I loved it. It's like you've sort of bent the knee enough and now I just want. Right. I want to be able to. Which was very, you could tell, you know, obviously that was very purposeful by Penelty,

a little bit of like phrasing of like, you know, deferring to the queen, being like, you have won lowly little me in my little gossip column. Like, she's so smart. And I love when you can see her little brain working so much better than anyone else in the room. The last scene that is central to sort of these parts of the plot that I just want to call out is when Penelope goes to the Maudiste for her wedding dress or to start making her wedding dress. I just really loved the use of the Maudiste in that moment to kind of remind her of her passion where she, just says, you know, the thing that I love about dressmaking is, as seeing someone's eyes light up. And I would never, I would never say goodbye to that, not for anything. And it really, like,

I, I, it hurt. It hurt. Because at that moment, Penelope is going to give up her version of that, or at least things that she is or is ready to. And I just thought it was, I thought it was smart. I thought it was a, you know, a way that I didn't, wouldn't necessarily have thought of, of like, oh, yeah, this is, but this is the right character to do that and to be that sort of voice of reason. And I just, I thought that was really, really, really well-time. I mean, she's really the only similarly working woman who, like, has a very specific talent, is using it, you know, to one, like, further her independence, make money on her own,

make people happy, right? Have an impact on baton. And yeah, you're right. She was the perfect person in that moment to be like, I also have my side hustle or like my current main hustle and like you, it would be crazy to give up yours. Because really we don't have anyone else who can like talk to Penelope that way on the show. Are you looking for support in your weight management journey? Zepbound terseptide may be able to help.

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Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-800-545-9-9 or visit zepbounds.lily.com. All right, you want to get into some side plots? Let's do it. Where do you want to start? Just a couple highlights. I loved the charades scene. I think it was the first episode back in part two. Kate, I believe it's charades. Sharrads. And also it's like not, it's not. Like, it's just riddles that they're reading out of a book. It's like definitely just like wordplay. But I think they were calling it charades. That's a really good point.

That was not charades. Extremely not. No. But, yeah, and like, tensions are high. Nellaby's freaking out. She's like, they're going to find out on Lady Whistledown. She is losing it. She, like, has a panic attack.

Cressida is, like, doing her own little breakdown, meltdown. That's when she ends up announcing that she's Lady Whistledown. And throughout this all, they're playing this stupid little game. And Anthony is so bad at it, but so confident. And he's, I love that he exists for, one, sex scenes. and two comic relief in this season. Like, that's all he came back for. The dream.

Just to be obsessed with his wife, they had the cute little, you know, talk about going to India. Like, he gave us everything that he needed. And once again, I appreciate that he made the time to do so. But I was dying at the charades, but he just kept yelling out answers.

He was so confident. He'd be like, fish or like, you know, I know what it is. It's this. And it's like, no, you don't. Kate's like, oh, babe. Like, you're so just, you're not, you're made for,

you're really good at some things, but this is not your game. And I just thought that was hilarious. And it was just such a fun scene. That was another one where the tension just kept mounting up. And there were so many, like, funny things and dramatic things. And, again, I was just glued. And such a good part of how they needed to resolve Penelope as Whistled Down vis-a-vis Eloise

as well as Penelope as Whistledown vis-a-vis Colin. Right. And having, like, Anthony being so confident but so bad at the same time as, like, it's actually just Penelope and Eloise who are just trading answers. and getting everything right because they're the smartest people in the room. I just, I thought was very, very fun and like a very fun sort of visualization of that friendship and why those two are supposed to sort of belong together in a friendship context. Yes. And actually, speaking of Eloise really quick, in the same way that Colin ended up defending

Penelope, you know, like we see that from Eloise too. We're like, when Colin finds out, Eloise who previously like was horrified and hurt and couldn't believe that Penelope's Lady Whistledown, now is in the position of defending her to Colin, you know, and it's also like team whistledown in the end. So like you just see them over time like coming to respect the thing that she's built and like her work and her talent. It's just kind of like naturally happening by the each step of each person finding out. I just loved it.

I love how that played out. Can we talk about the Featheringtons? I would love to. Great redemption arc. So good. For every Featherington basically. And I loved because it did. I was thinking to myself before the final episode.

the two other Featherington girls are getting a little bit of the short shrift. Like, we're doing all of this, all of this redemption arc building for Cressida. And we're seeing her as like a fully fledged human and we understand her motivations and we understand what she's been through and that she's scared of what her father will do.

The other Featherington girls, for three out of four. And I suppose that means seven out of eight episodes here. They're a comic release. They're just the ugly step sisters. That's the whole job. And I give a lot of credit to the showrunners for sort of like sensing this or building the building the arc in a way where you can land in a place that feels satisfying. Because before the final episode, it did feel a little bit out of place of like we're doing all of this for other characters, but we're just supposed to still laugh at these girls.

And it was very fun that they got to throw their big exciting ball and have a real triumph. and have a kind moment with their sister. It was also great in the sense that you just got to see Lady Featherington on screen a lot. And she's just such a, like, she's funny, she's snarky. I think that's such a well-acted character and really fun. I do have to just acknowledge that in a finale where we wrapped everything up with a nice little bow,

all the butterflies are flying around and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And Penelope and her mother have, like, reached this, this level of understanding that we've never seen them have. She is like, it's okay that you committed fraud. Penelope is a little bit like, don't worry about it, mom. Tell them you got all that money you stole from me. And then they can't ask any questions about it. Like, babe, you're going to get audited and it's not going to be cute. Right.

Her mom's like, we're the same. We have both deceived people. And Penelope's like, yeah, we are the same. Like, no. You've deceived people, but in a slightly less illegal way. Yeah, but then she is like, right, and now you are. I guess it's true. She's not taking the money herself, but she is like, just say it's for me.

Just say it's that whistle down coin. You know, she's got that Featherington blood. You know, she's a scammer at heart. Everybody loves a scammer. How did you feel about the Francesca plot line? It kind of took the backseat these last four episodes. We had more important things to worry about. she sort of quietly married Lord Kilmartin.

There was a side plot with her trying to get her mom to tell the queen. And their mom was like, I don't want to. I'm afraid of conflict. And I'm afraid of the queen. And the queen was on a real role. So I can understand that. Yeah, the queen, like, in Lady Violet's defense, I definitely would not have liked to request an audience with the queen.

No, during this period. No, she was on one. But so I did enjoy that little side plot. But, yeah, she is a little hard to figure out. And I guess we haven't really gotten to like her season yet. So we haven't really, you know, maybe dedicated enough time to her personality and all of this. And maybe we'll get there. But I agree.

She just kind of, I don't know, faded into the background a little bit these last few episodes, which was fine with me, really. I guess it's just, I think I'm trying to say to myself that this is just TBD. And we don't have to have a resolution of exactly how we understand Francesca as a character. because she hasn't had her season, as you said. I do think it ends up being a little bit of a red herring in the sense that she does get married. What we know of Bridgeton is that a marriage arc

equals a character arc. Right. That's happy ever after for the rest of them. Right. It'll ultimately be kind of cool, I think, or I'm interested to see how they play it with the fact that we're being led to believe that there's a lot more. to Francesco's story.

That is true in the books. They have notably gender-swapped Lord Sterling's in the book's brother, Michael, to be Michaela Sterling, a woman

who shows up at the end as they're about to go off to Scotland. So we'll see. There's just a lot. It's an interesting choice. there's a lot left in that story clearly. It makes me feel more interested in it, having that come as a little ad at the end there.

And I think, you know, I read some stuff from the showrunners about how they decided to choose Francesca as one of the characters that they wanted to make queer in the show who wasn't in the book. And one of the showrunners, who is a queer woman herself, was saying that, like, a lot of the descriptions of her as introverted, though in the books that was supposed to be taken literally, felt sort of queer-coded to her and relatable in a way that, like, I thought that was really interesting to read about. And maybe there were things that I should have picked up on that I didn't. I did feel a little bit like I was watching a plot line that was about someone who was an introvert trying to, find their place in society, you know, with the inherently social elements of that.

And I guess I could have used a little bit more telegraphing of the plot twist to not feel like I was watching two character arcs that didn't really mesh with each other. But I'm trying to remind myself that our time with Francesco is just beginning. So there's a lot of time to sort of make it all come together. Yeah, there was only so much time. I agree. I mean, after the first four episodes, know, I think we did the segment at the end where I was like trying to predict which

sibling would be the queer one because they were kept telling us it was coming. And I think I literally was like, put it on screen. Like, there's only so much reading between the lines that they can expect viewers to do. And yes, I think, I mean, she was one of them. Like Francesco was one of them. People were like she, you know, is not that interested in any of these men. She's very easily agreeing to marriage because she just wants to get it over with. Like, you again, can read between the lines certainly.

And it's there if you look. but it kind of is like, how hard do we have to look? I just don't, like, I don't know that I felt her struggling with her choice, which I guess is great for her. Like, I want Frances could be happy. It's just, I felt, and maybe it was almost like too well-acted or something. Like, I felt she reached a conclusion by marrying him that felt pretty satisfying. Like, it seemed as though she'd sort of thought through what her relationship to have,

having a husband was going to be and she got there. And I don't know that there was anything that to me felt like still kind of restless or unsatisfied or waiting for something else. I guess her sexual awakening was just introduced to her at the party. You know, like I think she is. Yeah. Like I think she is happy. And that's, I guess, part of just the setup for her story to come.

I agree. There could have been more on screen. I would have liked if they set it up a little bit more other than like she's shook by meeting Michaela. And Michaela is like shook that she's her brother's wife. But I'm, you know, I guess we'll see it. And I'm glad that we know that there is like an actual main plot coming that is like more of a queer storyline. That was very satisfying.

Well, and potentially, potentially, too, should we talk about Mayfair's favorite pansexual Benedict Bridgetton? Hell yeah. And his ethical non-monogamous discourse with. Really? I was like, why are we doing like E&M like dating app discourse on Bridgetton suddenly? Jesus. Shonda. Shonda, baby.

She's got it going on. I love it. Yeah, we're definitely skipping ahead here real quick. But I don't know if any listeners here, you still listen to T-Time, but we did Thruple Watch on T-Time. And Thruple Watch is so back. We are so back. Benedict finally got his little queer little trist that we'd been waiting for.

We knew that it was coming. He had the potential ever since season one when he had that little, quote-unquote, friendship with that artist. I was like, he could do it. It's in there. It's waiting. Yes. And Tilly and her boy just pushed him over the edge.

And now he was like super in. And now when Tilly was like, I want to be serious with you, he was like, not without him, actually. I was in it for the threesome and I'm less interested in monogamy. Now that you taught me about ethical and not monogamy, I'm all about it. Right. Like you just expanded my horizons considerably and not willing to give that up. Yes. Thruple Watch having a huge year.

Huge year. You know, it does every year for those with. the eyes to look. That's fair. That's fair. But I do feel that it has been a particularly significant year for threesomes in culture. We have challengers. We've Bridgeton. Like, it just bring back Thruple Watch is what I'm saying. Absolutely. Yeah, I was, I thought it was great. I mean, we all knew that Tilly was going to be kind of like a one-off little side quest for Benedict. And his, you know, path towards happiness continues. I thought she was a great time. I'm glad that He got to do some exploration this season.

I would love it if he would, like, you know, get his shit together and do something real. I especially, like, notable when at the dinner they were asking him what he does. And he was like, mm, nothing. Like, I don't have any hobbies. I just hang out. He needs a hobby. Another thing that I feel has been big in culture this year is, like, discourse about having hobbies.

Benedict Bridgeton, zero hobbies. Zero hobbies. He just, like, shows up stuff, hangs out, vibes, goes home. Lady Tilly Arnold, here for a good time, not a long time. I thought she was great. She's great. And I did think it was interesting how her, when she says, like, oh, I was hoping it would just be us tonight, I do think I want something serious with you.

And he says, like, I'm not, I'm not ready for that. I don't want that type of commitment. I'm curious if that's going to end up feeling like a nod toward a turn that will come for him eventually. Because, like, something new has just been introduced to him. He's exploring his identity. He's exploring his relationship to gender. He's exploring his sexuality, and he's obviously not done doing that.

But the central question that we've always had with this character is, like, when's he going to grow up? When's he going to grow up and settle down and, like, sort of find a calling, find a purpose, find a person, whatever it is? And so I wonder if, if, you know, she has just opened this door to him to a more liberated and open life and worldview. and relationship to gender and sexuality, he's going to go have fun exploring that. But is he going to be in her position at some point, which I think will be interesting to see? I don't know if they'll combine siblings in the seasons.

I don't know if we'll get like the Francesca Benedict season or if we'll just keep doing one at a time. I believe the showrunners have indicated they don't want to combine seasons. Now, I don't know that you can take that to the grave, but I think the vibes are each Bridgeton kid is going to get a season. And I hope that's true because I think we need more time from him.

Like, he is not ready for a relationship and, like, his character is not ready to, like, carry a season from... Like, he just... Every season, he just is, like, doing stuff. And, like, he just never has, like, any main conflict or stakes or, like, storyline. He's just, like, out,

like, hooking up with people and having fun. And he's... I mean, he's great. He's, like, the best... Certainly the best... Bridgetterton brother, other than Anthony. Like, I think it's great. I'm excited for his season.

But, like, we do need some, like, emotional investment into his character and like some actual anything, I think before he gets his actual season. So I'm hoping he's kind of like, you know, one of the primary side plots like on the next season is like him actually getting some sort of like emotional like character development or stake in anything. Because I think that we need him to just be developed a little bit more as other than just a party guy like a vibes guy before he actually is like carrying a season. Well, and there's in the books, There's a character, Sophie, who sort of shows up and changes Benedict's trajectory, who in the books, I believe they meet at a ball, at a masquerade ball.

Also, just disclaimer. I'm going off of things that I've read. I haven't read the books. Me as well. But in the show, in the final episode, just before, when Aloise has decided that she's going to go to Scotland too, they talk about how Lady Violet is going to throw a ball. And she'll have to come back and they'll have to see each other then. So I wonder if that was a little bit of foreshadowing of that event.

And therefore, if there's going to be an introduction of Sophie, of a stand-in character for Sophie, of someone who is going to shake things up for Benedict and maybe start some of that character development. Because I agree, it wouldn't really work for him to get his own. season and for the first four episodes to just be like, he's out on the town. He's having a good old time. Right. And really kind of that was not to get too ahead of ourselves, but to get a little bit into the low lights, I think that was part of really one of the only issues with the season is like, you don't want the first four episodes to be too slow and then the last four episodes to be too fast, right? And like, that's what we need to avoid with Benedict is like, we didn't know call him that well. And so then we had to spend the first four episodes hearing about

Colin and learning that he likes to write and learning that he did all this other shit and like how he feels about Penelope. And like I would like to avoid that with future seasons. Like we know Eloise extremely well. We didn't know Francesca that well. But now we know Francesca, right? So like, let's develop Benedict during Francesca seasons so that we can skip all the like getting to know you and like really get into it and like give the main romance time that it needs once we actually get to his. Right. Because especially if the main romance is not like in the case of the first two seasons set up in the storyline to be this thing where it's like, boom, they meet lightning strikes.

There's instant chemistry. The sexual tension is through the roof. And like how do they overcome the obstacle of why they can't be together? And that's harder when you have more history with these characters, right? Like not everybody. Some of them certainly are, but like not everybody can have newcomer enters the picture and shakes things up and blah, blah, blah, blah. So I agree with you.

It makes sense that, you know, they're starting to lay the groundwork with Francesca and then maybe we move on and get more there, potentially as the same happens with someone like Benedict. Yeah. And then at some point, we need the Eloy season. I mean, I did, you know, I'm excited to see her get her due and figure out her deal at some point. She officially doesn't annoy me anymore. Big news. She annoyed me at first and then I was in on her and then I was out on her again. She had some annoying storylines.

this season, I thought she was great. I thought she was funny. I thought she was witty. I thought she was totally believable in how she was pissed off at Penelope, friends with Cressida, pissed off at Creseda, friends with Penelope. And I just like she, I think her character has really come along and it was like very endearing and fun. And like, especially too, even when she was at the party with the other girls, they were

talking about their talents and their things. And she was like, you know, cracking all these jokes. And they were like, that's your party trick. That's your talent. It was like being so witty and commanding and funny like in a, in a room. And I just love that. I'm like, I'm really rooting for her. I'm ready to see her cook, too.

Well, I hope we do. I have to say, like, to your point about the pacing, and I did end up really, like, it was, I think, 80% a good thing and fun and engaging how fast the last four went. Like, it just felt like big reveal, another big reveal, another big reveal. And there is something exhilarating about that. It did mean they had to cram so much into those four episodes. So it would have been great if they could have spaced things out a little bit.

Like even when Cressida was the wheels were turning and she was coming up with the idea of saying that she was Lady Whistledown. Yes. There was a moment where I was like, wait, what's it? Like, has she figured it out or, oh, no, she's going to say that it's her, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That's fine. That I can get over. I have to say that we needed a moment of like what's happening to Crescita at the end. She just gets banished to whales.

and we never even like see her go. We never see or hear from her potentially again. I mean, I'm sure maybe we will. But I did feel like that just that it was just sort of like everybody, even the Featherington girls get their sort of like resolution. And then it's just like, oh yeah, Crescentic Cowper. Like she's in Wales. We'll worry about it another time.

Yeah. Sorry about her. Yeah, I liked her sort of stake in all of this. I liked her involvement in the drama. I did think it was really funny when. the like scenes where she was trying to be Lady Whistledown and she was just too dumb to do it. And everyone was like, it's not Cress and I'll like, be so serious. And she just kept me and like, yes, it's me.

And everyone was like, you're an idiot. I thought that was really funny. But yeah, you know, they spent all this time getting us invested in like, how's she going to, you know, get rid of her dad. She needs the money. She needs all this stuff. And then it's like, well, she failed. She's going to Wales. Tough.

She'll be back. She and her hair line will be back. Any other things that didn't work for you? You know, Nicole Cochlin is such a fun actress. She's so fun and funny in Dairy Girls and on red carpets and interviews. And I wish she was able to have more fun as Penelope. Like, during, other than her speech in the ball, which again, you can tell her character is like very uncomfortable giving. Satisfying, but like she's not having fun with it.

I just wish she was able to have more fun in this character. She is on the verge of tears in 80% of these episodes, like at all times. Like, she's like, I'm sorry that I did this. I want to do this. I don't want to give it up. Like, I'm sorry, Colin. Colin's mad at me. I'm getting married and I'm going to cry.

And, like, I, the character is fine and the character is fun because, like, we know that she has, like, these talents and this internal monologue and, like, all these, like, relatable struggles. But I just wish she was able to, like, choose some scenery, you know? Like, have some fun. I don't know. Sure. Like, in Cresita, I had so much fun being Lady Whistledown that I just was like, I wish Penelope,

like, was able to just have a little more on-screen fun as Lady Whistledown. Yeah, I wish she could have had, like, one montage. where she's just like really killing it. I will say she did start not just these episodes, but this season in a tough spot. Right? Like that was in some ways like that was one of the central challenges of Penelope and Colin in general, which is like Colin's issue is that he didn't get enough male while he was abroad.

And Penelope like has the weight of trying to be a career woman in a really retrograde society. and also like being, you know, being ignored by her mother, being ignored by the rest of the ton, being looked over by the man that she loves, having a feud with her best friend. She has this massive secret. The queen is after her. Like, Penelope is going through it. So I suppose I would say that I do buy that it was a tough stretch for our girl. Yeah.

No, the tears were valid. I would have been in tears versus on the verge of tears. Like, I get it. I just like, I don't know. part of me was like, I just want to see her be funny. Like, give her some humor, you know? Like, let her, I don't know, let her have some fun. But, yeah, also, I'm assuming she'll be back for future seasons.

So now, once everything is now resolved, then she's happy, then she can have some fun. Yeah, I want to talk a bunch about sort of like predictions and what we think is to come. But before we do that, do you want to do the fun stuff? You want to do the songs? You want to do the clothes? Let's do the fun stuff. Okay. Needle drops.

I mean, do you want to go first with your fave? I feel that there was another Taylor Swift moment, which obviously, like, really spoke to me. They keep giving you Taylor Swift. How much money are they cranking out for these? I know. And I have to say, I thought I'd ride a little bit more for you belong with me than for snow on the beach.

Yeah. A little more recognizable to the average viewer as well. Yeah. But that one was great. What did you? What was your favorite? They danced to that. They danced to that at the ball, right?

That was, yes. I mean, the ball dance moments are the best, the best needle drops. My favorite one was Demi Lovato Confident playing, I believe, for Cressida while she kind of took on the Lady Whistledown Mantle. And it's been stuck in my head since I watched the episodes, the little string version of it. I thought it was great. It's one of those where I'm like, I know the song. How do I know the song? And then once it hits the chorus, I was like, yeah, great choice.

Yeah. No, I thought that was awesome. They had yellow by Coldplay during the wedding sequence. And then Ellie Goulding Lights for the final ball. I thought it was a great choice. great one. I love that song. So recognizable. Also, with yellow by Coldplay, at first I was like, this is a weird choice. But, and I don't know if this is purposeful. I'm assuming that it was. I don't know if you remember the scene where Penelope, like, has her whole makeover. And she's

like, I'm never wearing yellow again. Like, she like put away like the citrus colors. Like she got married. But then, you know, she's getting married. And she's like, I don't want to see another citrus color. I don't know if I'll have to go back to it. Like, there's like all this, like, internal drama. And then they play yellow by Coldplay. And I was like, oh, can't tell if that's like, supposed to make us worried that she is going to end up. wearing yellow again because she's going to be a Featherington again. But either way, great choice. And it made me think of crazy rotations. They also have a great yellow cover in that movie. I really liked lights as well for the ball. Really great pick.

That's a song where I'm always like, oh, I haven't listened to that in a while. That song slaps. Spiciest moments. We had a couple more intimate Penelope-Colon scenes, but we have their first true sexual encounter together. Yeah. Which I thought was really like thoughtfully staged and it was, you know, I'm not going to say that it was exactly that it felt true in the sense that we're supposed to believe that Penelope loses her virginity and then reaches climax like 90 seconds later. But we're in Bridgerton land. Yeah, it's not like primary concern in Bridgerton.

It's fine. You know, again, yeah, other than all the like fantastical elements, I actually thought it was really well done. I thought it was really like gorgeously lit. I thought Nicole Coughlin looked incredible. She looked like a painting. They just made her look like this beautiful, like Victorian painting laying on the couch. I was like, oh, Titanic.

Like you got a red head on a couch. No, she's like so in repose. Incredible. It was perfect. Yeah. And I mean, even Colin, it's like, okay. You unbuckle that bell, Colin. I mean, they did the gratuitous just like such a close up shot on his, his abs.

It's like, all right, we see him. We see him. Which even if it doesn't. doesn't really do anything for me. Like, I get what they are telegraphing. You know? I get that they're, like, I'm willing to suspend my disbelief and be like, oh, yeah, what I'm happy for Penelope in this moment.

Right. Like, good for you, girl. Yeah. Good for you. Yeah. It was fine. It wasn't fine. It was good.

It was better than I expected. And they had a couple other, like, little ones sprinkled in. Honestly, like, this season, these last four episodes were like too busy for sex. Like, yeah. Even when they put the thruple, they were like cutting back and forth to the, Thruple in the midst of all the, like, Lady Whistledown drama, I was like, okay, like, we're busy. Let's get back.

Let's get back to people find, like, she's being blackmailed. Okay. Can you do this another time? Although I'm glad you're having fun. I do think the thruple was the actually apex steamy moment of this. 100%. And I also, that's why I was annoyed. I was like, okay, we need to do this another time because I need to focus on this.

And right now I'm really invested in Crested up blackmailing Penelope. Like, I can't focus on both of these things at once. I'm glad that you can. Is that a meta commentary on the? the experience of being in a throuple. True. There's so much going on. Split your attention.

No notes, really for the throuple. It was great. I thought Benedict did a great job. I'm glad that he had a good time. So did I. But, yeah, I was like, okay, can we put this somewhere else? Because I'm really worried about Cressida and Penelope right now.

I also feel that I should acknowledge. I was surprised, but I suppose it makes sense to learn that Anthony and Kate did indeed conceive a child. They got past that first step that Anthony's so obsessed with. Therefore, in the world of Bridgerton, they do have penetrative sex. Yes.

As implied otherwise by him. I'm a little sad to have lost what I thought was going to be the plot point of them not having a kid because Anthony Bridgetton couldn't stop going down on his wife. But I guess that's a different show. He got there eventually and I'm happy for him. He got there eventually. Good on him. Good man. And I did think it was very sweet.

They're a little like, let's go. to India. I'm going to teach our child about their culture and being a Sharma as well as Bridgerton. I was like, yes, Anthony, you have come so far. You've come so far. Very sweet. I did love it. Although I do, I hate that that, I think

that means that we'll see less of them. Although I know, that was his out. That was him being like, I did this season. Now I'm done. I have to go do wicked press. Yeah. Yeah. I got it. Yeah. G2G. I got two wicked movies to shoot you guys. I don't have time for this. Fashion moments. Yes. Can we talk about Penelope's

pink wedding dress. Oh my God, I would love to. I thought that was, so I thought it was beautiful, but I was, it, I was sort of transfixed by it because when she came out in it, I thought for a second, wait, is it just because of her coloring or is this a light, is this light pink? It's a very pale blush. And I didn't even realize it until kind of like the after scenes. I was like, oh, it is pink. Like, did she change? And I was like, no, she didn't. It's been pink the whole time. I love it. Redheads can wear pink. You know, they say you can't, but you can't and should. Yeah. Yeah. We love an off-color wedding dress.

Well, and she's been on such, like, a color journey. Yes. That I don't know. There's something about it felt appropriate. Did you have a favorite outfit moment? When she walked into the final ball with that red lip, that, like, statement lip, I was like, it's going to go down. The lady whistle down shit is going down. Our girl is going to be the center of attention because that lip says, like, spotlight on me.

I knew it. And I was right. And, like, it's from her actual lips. Like she's speaking as herself. I loved it. It was like that matte, like just bright fuchsia red. And I was like, it's about to get real. And she looked amazing.

And she also was wearing that peacock color again. She kind of matched her mom, which also was kind of like, you know, the resolution. Back to sort of the feathering tin colors. Her sisters were wearing purple, green, et cetera. She kind of matched her mother, which was, they're both wearing that like peacocky and in sparkles. Right. So she was like kind of in the Bridgeton colors. scheme, but kind of in the Featherington

color scheme. She's, you know, resolves everything with everyone. But yeah, I just love that makeup choice. I was like, yes. Step into the spotlight. Also,

we have to talk about Cressida, again. Her outfits just, and her hair. They just remain. It's the hair for me. It's the hair, actually. The out,

I could do it be one or the other. Like, I could do one or the other. But I, and it's almost too far. Like, it's the point where, like, I can't take her character

seriously. Even when she's trying to be threatening, when she, know, walked into the ball, like, as, like, Lady Whistled down, holding her head high in that red dress. I was like, why is your hair, like, going in 17 different directions? And you have the Jojo Siwa, like, hairline.

And I just can't take her seriously as a threat. No. I just, I'm like, you are not a threat to anyone. You are so silly. So, yeah, I think at this point, like, almost works against her character. How very, very silly they have made her hair. There was one scene where it was, like, down and braided. I mean, I think it was during the scene with Colin

during that episode where she has, I think it's a pink dress and the hair, it's not that her hair is tied in a bow. Her hair itself has been fashioned into a bow. Yes. Like the Lady Gaga bow from back in the day. Wild. Wild.

Yeah, I just, it went slightly too far to being distracting to me. Maybe that's what will happen in Wales. She'll let her hair down. Like, for real? let that hairline breathe. And then kind of a boring pick, maybe, but I actually really liked Francesca's low-key wedding dress. I just thought it was really lovely.

Kind of matched her personality and everything. Yeah, I don't know, slightly less over the top, other than Cressida fashions, this half of episodes. The queen didn't show off quite as much. I don't know if this is right, or if they were, like, replica or whatever. But I am absolutely obsessed with the jewelry designer, Jessica McCormick, which is like, way, you know,

so far beyond my price point, I could never even dream of it. However, I do think they're really, really, really beautiful. And I think, and like her, she has a signature of, I think it's called like button back,

like jewels in these settings. And I do believe it is like a sort of a recreation of an older style. So it might actually just be like period accurate. But in one scene, I thought Lady Violet was wearing a pair of what looked like emerald earrings done in that style. And I was just like drooling over them. Good eye.

All right. Should we take a look to the future? Let's go back to the future. Yes. Season four, unfortunately, the scuttlebut is that we might be waiting over a year, maybe two years before. Yeah. I've been seeing two, which is so tough. Like, what are these other people have going on?

It's eight episodes. Get them back in there. Maybe they're just recovering from like how tight the corsets are from season to season. I don't know. You got to breathe. But yeah, it's a long way away. We have a lot of time, I guess, to wait. And the bummer is like, every time I watch Bridgeton, I'm reminded how fun Bridgeton is.

Like, you know, in between seasons, we're like, oh, what shows do you really like? What shows? I'm like, blah, blah, blah. I don't know. Like, I love Bridgetton. It's so fun. It's so fun to watch. I love when it's Bridgetton season and everyone is just like being silly.

and talking about silly fashion and watching Bridgetton and the sex scenes are making the rounds on Twitter and we're all talking about the pit bull strings cover. And it's just like, it's so fun when this show is like coming out that I just wish we didn't have to wait so damn long between seasons. Maybe, I mean, that's not to say that there won't be another spinoff a la Queen Charlotte. That's true.

In the meantime. So hopefully we'll get some good stuff out of Shaundleland. Let's like just really build out the Bridgeton extended cinematic universe. Yeah. Please. What else have we got going on? this season. Yeah.

With all of these side plots, I'm here for it. Please. What are, when we do eventually get to season four? I mean, do you have any predictions

of which character we're going to follow, of what you're hoping to see resolved? I do hope we see, like, some Scotland. This is a complete side note, but my,

I was texting my mom because, you know, Lady Violet has that little meltdown where she's like, I can't believe Francesca is going to get married and go off to Scotland and, like,

not going to be really far from me. My brother got married to a Scottish girl and, like, fucked off to Scotland. So I texted my mom and was like, is this a little PTSD for you? Dealing with your child, getting married and then disappearing to Scotland. I do hope that we get some of Francesca and Eloise and Michaela in Scotland.

I feel like that may just be a time skip, like their version of when Colin goes off to find himself. You know, like they'll just get back from Scotland and they'll be different and grown and, you know, and all of these different ways. But I would like to see the castle. You know, I would like to see a little, like,

setting change. We're always just, like, in the tawn, which is fine. It's what the show's supposed to be, and that's part of the fun of Bridgeton. But I think it would be fun, maybe just, like, may have some scenes next season

that are, like, set elsewhere. I don't know. I kind of want to, like, expand the world of Bridgeton a little bit. Yeah, let's get out of Mayfair. Yeah. Just, like, take a, just one episode. Take a little trip, and then we can come back.

But, yeah, I don't know. I mean, I think, like we discussed, it'll be Francesca. and they'll be sort of following the book storyline to some degree with the gender-swapped character. But I do hope that we get some more development for, like, Eloise and Benedict. I think Eloise is likely, since, you know, she is kind of like Francesca's confidant on this journey. And I'm sure they'll get closer. But, yeah, Benedict as well, kind of like we said, I hope that he gets like a real plot and not just like fucking around.

And I hope that he continues his, you know, yeah, pansexual journey discovering himself. I do too. And it is, to your point on Eloise, it's time for Eloise to go live some life, right? Like, because in season one, we start with her and Penelope as these two, you know, the two sort of outsider girls who have a different perspective than most of the ton on marriage and what it means to be a woman in the society and they have different goals and different aspirations. and they bond over that. Penelope has actualized a lot of that. And Eloise has it, really. So I'm excited to see what happens there. And then the last thing, or I don't know if it's the last thing, but the thing that sort of looms large for me in terms of what's going to happen next is what the role of Lady Whistledown or of columnist Penelope Bridgetton is going to be, both in terms of

of how that functions as a plot point. And if we're going to see Penelope dealing with the fact that she is now unmasked, and if she writes things about the ton and people, she's going to have to put her name to it and be known as the author. And then also just, you know, as a hardcore Julie Andrews Stan, what her involvement is going to be going forward because at the end of this season, her voice sort of, you know, I thought that was a really cool touch

where she's speaking as Lady Whistledown and then by the end, it's Nicola Coughlin speaking as Penelope, which was very cool. But if that's going to stick, what the role of Julie Andrews in Bridgerton is going to be

as something that I'm very curious about. The showrunners have said that they like want to keep her around. I hope they do. I mean, I can understand that. I mean, like, we don't have to pay her anymore. Like, let's just have Nick Colacocco and do it.

But doesn't hit the same. Sorry. Doesn't it the same at all. You got that Shonda money. You got that Netflix money. If you can have Julie Andrews involved in your show, you should have Julie Andrews involved in your show. I hope that they just like somehow acknowledge, like, yes,

it's Penelope writing as Lady Whistledown. And then they just go back to the narration as it is because it's so fun. And it just, again, I love that she's like taking ownership. I love the transition, like you said at the end. But I'm like, okay, we get it. Like, let's go back to Julia Anderson. it's her. Everyone knows it's her. It's fine. And it does join that sort of gossip girl pantheon of like the iconic voiceovers. Yes. And I'm not, I agree. I would be more than willing to sort of

ignore the inconsistencies with that. I don't care. Again, realism is not a concern. I don't care. We don't care. I'm Bridgerton. Shandaland, if you're listening, we don't care. We don't care. We don't care. Pay her whatever she asks. Oh, you know what we didn't hit on? We'll just see 30 seconds here. Hit me. Lady Violet and Lord Mark. Yes. Happy for them. I ship it. They're ready for exploration. Give her a second wind.

Lady Danbury gave her approval, which I did love their little side plot as well. They Danbury and Violet and their little friendship. Marcus is hot. Like, let's get, her nest is emptying each season. Her kid just moved to Scotland, like she's got empty rooms. Give her a little, have a little fun. I love it.

Ruth Gemmel, I hope I'm saying that. Right. I did really, really laugh because she did an interview with Vulture where she said. that if they do, if that relationship does progress, she's not doing any sex scenes. And what she said was, I won't get my ass out for anyone. I respect that greatly. I love how that's progressed. I love that she's her own little character now. I thought she had some really fun moments this season. Yeah, I'm looking forward to that too. And she won't get her ass out for anyone. Maybe that's the right

note to end on. If you, let's learn one thing from Bridgerton. Don't get your ass out just for anyone. That's Bridgeton season three. Kate, what a joy to do these pods with you. I've had a really, really good time. Thank you so much. Hopefully it won't be a full two years until we're able to reunite and chat about this wonderful show some more. But this has been the Prestige TV podcast. I'm Nora Pinciotti. She is Kate Hallowell. Thank you to Kai Grady for producing this episode and to Justin Sales for additional production supervision.