Whilst watching part 1 of season 3 it is hard not to see the obvious missed opportunities in the storylines, specifically with relation to Kate and to Benedict. I do believe the whole of this season could have been approached better, (and much of it changed), this post is only going to address the missed opportunities within the storyline we see on screen as opposed to what should have been done.
Image Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix
Kate and Anthony:
Kate and Anthony's storyline so far in this season comes across as very lazy on the part of writers who did not have the talent to be able to write a good storyline for the previous season's main couple. We see in episode 1 that Kate and Anthony decide to extend their honeymoon, (despite it being out of character for two people who put family first). Further, based on leaks for part 2 the show runner and writers appear to continue with their lazy writing, very much cementing the view that they are not that good at writing, or more insidiously that they aren't interested in telling a story about a woman of colour who is happy, but rather see her role as nothing more than being in service of white characters with no arc of her own. There were several opportunities for developing Kate's story, her arc and her character this season despite her not being the focus of the season, but Jess Brownell decided that this wasn't an option, and I think they really missed the opportunity to develop the Bridgerton family and the Bridgerton world as a result.
So what were the missed opportunities for Kate and Anthony, and Kate specifically? Simply put they could have told us the story that Jess Brownell tried to sell the fans of Kate and Anthony settling into married life, and Kate becoming the Viscountess. Whilst Jess may think this is boring and isn't worth telling, for the fans this is the story they wanted to see. We could have seen Anthony and Kate navigate family life as Kate settled into the family, or we could have had a storyline showing how Kate supported Anthony in his role within the family. Even the absence of Jonathan Bailey (who was filming Fellow Travelers at the same time) did not need to impact a storyline for Kate.
In fact I would argue that Jonathan Bailey's absence was the perfect opportunity to really bring Kate into the Bridgerton world as a character in her own right, not as an extension of her half sister as in season 2, or as an extension of Anthony, but as herself. This was where they could have set it up for the viewers to learn more of Kate and her background, her life before we see her in England. We could have had some scenes with Violet exploring Kate's relationships with her mother and with Mary, maybe we could have finally learned what Kate's mother's name was, or how she died, and what impact that had on Kate. They could have used this part as a way to explore how Kate and Violet adjust to the new dynamics in the house, and how a multi generational home could work for the Bridgertons. There is so much that could have been explored with Kate alone, and by not looking further than just wanting action and drama the show runner has turned Kate from an interesting multi faceted character into a one dimensional character whose only value is that of Anthony's wife, or as a character there only to provide validation to a white character.
Giving some credit (albeit very little) to the show runner, it is possible that the intent was to not centre Kate on only existing for the family, however, in doing so she reduced Kate's worth to only being about Anthony and making an heir, and deprived viewers of the storyline she claimed we would see. She has also deprived viewers of getting to know Kate within her new family, and learning more about how her past shaped her for her present.
Image Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix
Benedict
As with Kate, Jess Brownell has also missed opportunities for developing Benedict within the story that they have presented, yet again resorting to lazy writing with his character, despite trying to sell a decent storyline for him during season 3. The main thing we were told about Benedict was how we would see him taking on some of Anthony's duties, the only problem is that we haven't actually seen that at all. Instead, yet again, the show has resorted to having Benedict have a liaison with a one season original character that does nothing to advance his story arc, and again this lazy writing has been saved by the acting and not by the script.
Why not focus on Benedict filling in for Anthony with the estate, and the management of the money? But maybe also use this to propel Benedict's story forward towards his season. It has been established in the show in previous seasons that Benedict finds purpose and meaning in his art, his story begins when he loses this connection, which he did at the end of season 2, and whilst what little we have seen of Benedict suggests he has no purpose in life I believe that the show runner is approaching this in a very lazy way with the story telling. Instead of using Benedict taking over Anthony's duties as a catalyst for pushing Benedict to his lowest point as he realises that he has no purpose as himself but only as the heir presumptive, she has instead gone yet again for the idea of a woman and sex as a way for Benedict to find meaning. This is not only lazy, it shows an inability for good writing and different storytelling.
Image Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix
Pregnant Kate propelling stories forward
Whilst the show runner and writers missed opportunities for telling stories for Kate and Benedict separately, she also a missed opportunity in using a storyline of Kate's pregnancy to not only build on Kate's story but also build on the story arcs for other Bridgertons.
We could have seen Kate's pregnancy as a way for her to become closer to Violet, they could have brought Daphne back for a scene here and there and had Kate and Daphne bond over the pregnancy, or had Daphne reassure Kate about being a new mother. Expanding on that, Kate's pregnancy could have been used to explore her past and her relationships with her parents and with Mary in the past.
A storyline centred on Kate's pregnancy could have brought in more for Gregory and Hyacinth, especially Hyacinth, as we see her struggling with the idea of being 'replaced' with Anthony as the baby of the family. It could have set up a lovely big sister/little sister moment with Kate and Hyacinth.
In the case of Francesca, we could see her longing for a family as she is there to support Kate in her pregnancy, this could then contrast with her season in later years.
For Eloise, this could have called back to season 1 where Eloise expressed her fear of childbirth - which I believe is what is at the root of her disdain for marriage - and it could have been a good parallel storyline as we see her come to terms with a healthy, equal relationship and an easy birth of a child, within her home. It could create some wonderful moments with Kate and Eloise as Kate perhaps expresses a fear of childbirth that she is reluctant to share with Anthony, or of dying young and leaving her child and Anthony as her mother did to her and her father. This would have given some great moments for Eloise and Kate to be there for each other as sisters to support and love each other with a shared understanding.
Finally with Benedict. As Kate's pregnancy progresses and then as Kate gives birth to Edmund, this could have been used as a way to show Benedict questioning his place in the family and in the world. He has given up his art, and with Anthony back and with an heir, there is no place for him in the Viscountcy and as Anthony's heir, this could have positioned him well for his season.
I am sure there are many other missed opportunities for season 3, but these are the most obvious, and with the actors barely in part 1 these are the missed opportunities that are felt the most in the season.
