With the release of part 2 my emotions are mixed, but the feelings I keep coming back to about season 3 are those of disappointment and sadness. There is so much to be disappointed about with this season, from the aesthetic to the writing to the story arcs and incomplete storylines, and there is also a lot to be sad about with the loss of quality in writing, aesthetics and storylines and the loss of the magic and charm of Bridgerton. But in it all I found some things to be positive about, as few as they were, sadly there is much more that I disliked.
So here is the good and the bad for part 2
Image Credit: Netflix
The Good:
- The Bridgerton Family dynamics: I love how these actors all work together and how they seem like a family. I really enjoyed seeing Kate interact with Gregory and Hyacinth, but truly one of the best family scenes was Kate and Eloise together.
- Francesca and John: These two just grew on me in part 2, and truly were the highlight of the season I think. They are adorable as a couple and seem to really understand each other which is so lovely to see.
- Kate and Anthony: It was so lovely to see them excited and happy about becoming parents, but also to see them just be together as a couple. I will never get enough of these two I don't think.
The Bad
- Polin Chemistry: This did not improve in part 2 I am afraid. To me it is odd that they have so little chemistry onscreen as a romantic couple when they appear to have some good chemistry offscreen as friends and colleagues. Either they were too self conscious or the directors were unable to bring out the best in them.
- Kate and Anthony going to India: Does anyone seriously believe that Anthony would risk a six month sea journey with his pregnant wife? That is not only bad writing, but lazy writing, and to have Jess Brownell confirm it was a plot device to get rid of them is just really low.
- Seeing Penelope's baby and hearing nothing of Kate and Anthony's baby: Nothing more to add.
- Colin again depending on his brother for financial security: Not only did Colin not buy the house for him and Penelope, but he also was planning to use Anthony's money (as managed by Benedict) to pay the blackmail money to Cressida. I am sorry, but this man was married but couldn't support his wife? It is the ultimate in entitled rich boy, and just gave the impression he fully expects Anthony to continue to not only support him and his family, but also to get him out of trouble.
- The Lady Whistledown Reveal: No consequences at all? This was the most anticlimactic ending I have seen in a while. The only suitable reaction is - Huh?
- Kate and Anthony not sharing their baby news with the family: These two were so excited to tell the family, and the look of extreme disappointment for both of them that they couldn't share because of Colin and Penelope was heartbreaking. Kudos to Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey for portraying that disappointment and fleeting devastation so well.
- Incomplete story arc: That the show began a story arc for Kate and Anthony (having an heir) and never truly completing it is not only a travesty, but a huge failure of the show runner and writing room. Don't make the story arc about having a baby and then never show the baby - or even mention it. This is the basics and they failed in this 100%
- Mondrich family: I had always been indifferent to the Mondrich family, but grew to like them in this season, though saying that I still don't quite understand what their story arc was supposed to achieve. Maybe it will become clear in the next season, or maybe it was just in the season as a filler, either way it didn't really have any connection to the other storylines outside of a few scenes within the Ton. Maybe that was all it was for, it just felt a little redundant at times as their storyline appeared to offer no substantive purpose.
- Mention of Kate and Anthony's wedding: Whilst I liked them mentioning their wedding, for the writers to include that knowing it was never shown appears to show contempt for the Kanthony fans, and definitely felt like a slap in the face. It was unnecessary and cruel of the writing room, and it reinforced their dislike and contempt for Kanthony.
To be honest there is a lot more that I disliked than liked about this part, but for now I think this is enough.
