User Reviews

It's strange, Netflix marketed S3 as the friends to lovers story of Colin & Pen, but this story seems to have got lost in the myriad of story lines that were introduced this season.

Instead of seeing a supportive and intuitive Colin that helps to build Penelope's confidence, we get a patched together story with a Colin that insults her instead. And instead of a reveal that praises what Penelope, as Lady Whistledown, has accomplished, we get an apologetic Penelope who promises to do better. What a let down.

We didn't need more Benedict sex scenes (you won't miss anything by fast forwarding through them) and although I appreciated a focus on the various platonic friendships, it was overdone. And then of course there is the change of a character from Michael to Michaela, which we assume is to set up a same-sex relationship with Francesca. I'm just hoping that this means that the writers will leave Eloise alone, as I would prefer that the non-stereotypical female just be left as that, rather than made into another stereotype i.e. Must be lesbian if not like the others.

Overall, it was disappointing.

WARNING, SPOILERS!

I love the show. I do, but this was a bit of a letdown.

They led us in a direction they didn't follow through with.

I don't think I was the only one under the impression Lord Debling would be head over heeels for Pen. It was disappointing to not see her get that adoration. I just don't understand the thinking there.

Our girls glow-up deserved more. This too was a letdown. At least one Lord should have been giving Colin a run for his money.

I did not like at all whorey boy Colin.

We should have watched them innocently fumble through the blossom of young love. Colin is not a rake. It was kind of gross.

I did enjoy the introduction of Francesca and the sweet nature they gave her. It will pay dividends in the future is they don't screw it up like the fake rake.

I thought the Fetherington girls were hilarious these first 4. They had some great lines and Mrs F. Never disappoints.

I was really hoping either she or Mrs. B. would be given a true blue love interest that would tease to knock our socks off. They are both amazing actresses. There are so many possibilities there.

One more thing. Why on earth was Colin celebrated the hero when Debling literally saved Pens life? She's not a worthy enough treasure to leave the ton swooning at her rescue?

Some of the little side stories they are building just took up what could have been more Colin and Pen time.

It was sorely lacking. We had no big build up like the last two couples.

We all know the importance of forplay before the big scene and they stole that from us. That's what I'm most dissatisfied about.

I will continue to watch of course like everyone else and hope for more meet and potatoes but I'm afraid it will be more along the lines of kippers and mash.

I really enjoyed Season One despite some repetitive sex scenes but Season Two was a slog. Eventually I started to ask myself how many more episodes to go? There was much to like except for the boring love story that dragged on and on, only to end up in a few minutes at the very end when rather suddenly all was well and good in the world. Whatever. I won't watch this again, and I've watched Season One several times.

Last season was fun fun fun, with Episode 6 all sex, but that's another story.

This season, it's full of older men vying to marry girls who have barely turned 18.

Also this season, (I'm on Episode 4) it's all watery colors, music and weak story. Nothing is really fun, except for Queen Charlotte, of course. And Penelope. She's still a pip.

Where's the vibrance and verb and fun? It's gone.

Another Season 2 where it seems that all the good writers have been dumped and replaced by ersatz staff.

I am writing this review after having watched the series, followed by reading the book "The Viscount who loved me". This season has offended many ardent book fans and I can see why. The Kate Sheffield of the book and the Kate Sharma of the series are two entirely different people. The book was written primarily for female audience. Therefore Kate Sheffield appears to be similar to reader-favourite Elizabeth Bennet- a witty girl next door with some severe insecurities. And she has her feet swept away by the deveilish playboy of the 'ton' i.e. Anthony Bridgerton. Even though he is shown to have physically attracted to her, he always remains in control of the situation- in a way guiding Kate to a whirlwind of challenges and then confusing her feelings.

The series however was clear about its narrative character, i.e. Bridgerton. Hence Kate Sharma was written for the male audience. It takes a lot more than intelligence to impress a man. Men adore bravery, independence, free spirit and a great deal of selflessness. The charismatic Kate Sharma hence knows how to ride a horse, goes on hunting, remains undeterred by Anthony's or any man's advances, acts completely selfless to the point that she is willing to walk away after leaving her family with Sheffield money. She therefore makes Anthony crazy, as he finds absolutely no control over her. She pushes him to his extremes. When they speak its not just a witty banter, its a display of their strong character arcs. Kate Sharma is far more of a "tough cookie" than in the books. This is why its Anthony who feels swept away by the woman. He tries his best to get rid of his desire for her but she continues to make it harder, by doing , well, nothing. Yeah, its weird. While Anthony takes pride in confusing a woman in order to seduce her, he is maddened that he is unable to do that to Kate Sharma. He is unable to break her to the point until he finally breaks and admits that he loves her. He is forced to do so by his own feelings, as he grows into acknowledging that what he feels for Kate is far more than desire.

The 2 stars that I have deducted is for the almost dragging subplots of Eloise and Penelope. Even if I forgive Penelope storyline, Eloise perhaps became way more one-dimensional in the 2nd season. That is my opinion.

Nudity in this season was toned down to almost PG13 level because the content was stronger. Afterall its about a man growing out of his fear for true love and settling down with his muse. The target male audience perhaps appreciates less such scenes and more of the actual adrenaline rush.

As much as I enjoyed season 2, there wasn't enough of Anthony and Kate's story. I get that the stories of the other characters need to be fleshed out some, but there's a whole part of the story in the book that relates to the time after they're married that is juicy and got completely ignored. The actors have great chemistry, it would have been nice to see more of it.

Adaptation allows changes until the backbone of the story remains the same. So many added subplots, especially in the third session, erased even this part of the backbone. I was not sure until the end whether Colin supported Penelope or not.

If this story is new, why use the title and sell it as an adaptation? I can't buy either that this is, in fact, a Regency story. And I was there because I would like to watch one. I have no problem making the show multiracial, even I really liked the characters in the first season. I also didn't mind adding LGBTQ+ issues within the subplots, but repeating the same issue (Benedict's story in the first and the third session), although a little differently, still the same problem, is too much.

I hope Michaela Stirling is only a marketing trick and that Michael will appear somehow.

This season was completely forgettable, and I am not looking forward to the new season. As someone advised on some social media, if you don't like the show, re-read the books; I will stick to the book When He Was Wicked.

At this point, I re-read my review, and it made me wonder: Was the third season really Colin and Penelope's story?

I loved season one. Watched it twice in a row I loved it so much. Thought they did a great job and actually improved on the book. Season two, unfortunately, did not. Kate and Anthony's story is by far the best of the novels - the main reason being because it is FUNNY! I was looking forward to season two the most because of this, and while I don't mind the overall massive rewrite and plot changes they added, the writers didn't include any of the funny bits that make this book enjoyable and endearing. (And what a missed opportunity for character growth on the practically non-existent library storm scene!) The show on its own is very well done and the acting is excellent, I just hate when screen writers of book adaptations try to "beef up" the drama and, in so doing, remove all the goodness that made romance readers fall in love with the story in the first place.