Warning, spoilers. The following paragraphs show plot elements from the first episode of Season 3 of The Bridgerton Chronicles.
It’s no surprise that the first episode of Bridgerton Season 3, available May 16 on Netflix, is a hit. Fans were finally able to see the birth of one of the couples’ relationships most anticipated by readers of the Julia Quinn novels from which the series is based.
The romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) finally takes shape and the two best friends fall in love despite the obstacles they face.
Bridgerton’s Season 3 is off to a strong start
The Bridgerton Chronicles is one of Netflix’s most popular series, and its seasons, as well as its spin-off Queen Charlotte, are among the platform’s top ten viewers of all time. Knowing that Season 3 of the series, centered on Colin and Penelope, was one of the most anticipated, it’s no surprise that this first part of the season achieved audience records.
According to Figures provided by the American giantThe first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 garnered 45.1 million views (total viewing hours divided by total episode length) for a total of 165.2 million hours in the first days of airing.
Deadline It is recalled that Bridgerton season 2 had more hours, namely 193 million, but the public was entitled to the entire season of 8 episodes, which proportionally accounted for 22.7 million views during its first day. Additionally, Netflix has not released its data in the same way.
Awaiting Netflix’s Official Figures variety Recently published a mind-boggling figure of data Luminate : The first episode of Bridgerton’s Season 3 would amass 2.3 billion minutes watched in its first full week!
Halfway through the season, the third round of Bridgerton episodes is about to break all viewership records on Netflix. So why is Season 3 of the Shonda Rhimes-produced series such a hit?
Strong identification of callers with the couple Colin and Penelope
If the couple Colin and Penelope is one of the favorites of the readers of novels and won subscribers of the Netflix series, it is because it fits into the romantic trope (type (love story)) that is very popular under the name “Friends for Lovers”. A person who goes from the status of friends to lovers.
The evolution of their relationship, which has been building since the first season, has captured the hearts of the public, and the third season is finally the culmination of this hidden romance. And unlike previous couples in the series, Colin and Penelope’s romance evolves with much more romance, complicity, and less toxic rivalry (even if that doesn’t mean there aren’t obstacles).
The lover-of-friends trope is top-notch, and Pauline serves the trope to perfection pic.twitter.com/djJHvitKKI
-Ali | Polin s3 spoiler (@_colinspen_) May 23, 2024
“The trope of courting friends is top notch, and Pauline serves to make the trope shine.”
This moment right here is friends for lovers. Laughter after what happened between them is everything, they do not consider it awkward. They are happy 😭 pic.twitter.com/DBiBOePtJ8
—Jesse || bridgerton 3 spoilers 🪞✨ (@bellysinfinite) May 24, 2024
“Right now, here’s the friends of the lovers. They’re laughing after what happened between them, that’s all, they don’t think it’s awkward. They’re happy 😭”
Moreover, a large part of society identifies with Penelope because she does not conform to the “standards of beauty” of the time and is considered by society as an “old maid” that no one wants. She takes refuge in books and her writing as Lady Whistledown as she is ridiculed by her family and society, hoping that one day Colin will look at her differently.
But in this third season, she finally takes matters into her own hands and decides to be herself in the eyes of others and take control of her own destiny. And this determination and validation puts him in a new light and a new position of power, finally showing Colin what he’s always wanted.
@diaryfortiffany do we agree? #bridgerton #leschroniquesdesbridgerton #polin #netflix ♬ original sound – diaryfortiffany 🌻
And the latter absolutely does not waste time when he realizes his feelings. He knows that Penelope is the woman of his life and quickly confesses his feelings to her and asks for her hand in marriage. Unlike Simon and Anthony, Colin asserts himself as a man by fully embracing her feelings, desires, and ambitions and becoming the man Penelope deserves.
@lessiediaries maybe we’re not watching the same series i don’t know #bridgerton #polin #leschroniquesdesbridgerton #penelopefeatherington ♬ original sound – riles
Already a cult scene, which subscribers watch endlessly
There’s a scene that already ticked off subscribers in the first episode of Bridgerton Season 3, and it’s the carriage sequence! Colin finally confesses his love to Penelope in a carriage that drives them home after the ball, and the two lovers exchange a few kisses before sharing their first sexual encounter.
Check out this post on InstagramA post shared by AlloCiné (@allocine)
After this first moment of intimacy, Colin asks Penelope to marry him. And fans only have eyes for this sequence, because they do not hide from watching it repeatedly, which also explains the audience success of this first part.
@thebooksiveloved lemme run it back again 🙂↕️ #bridgertonseason3 #polin #colinbridgerton #penelopefeatherington ♬ Again hahahaha – 🐝
40 million of those views were just me watching Colin bite Penelope’s lips as she moans pic.twitter.com/CcjYmGnTaw
— lindsay (@colbrigertons) May 21, 2024
“40 million of those views were just me watching Colin bite Penelope’s lips as she moaned.”
Aside from the content of the much-anticipated fallout between Colin and Penelope, it’s also the music that accompanies the sequence — an orchestral revisit of Pitbull’s (aka Mister Worldwide) “Give Me Everything” featuring Afrojack and Ne-Yo — that got audiences excited.
The sequence went viral on social media, much commented and liked by netizens and it contributed a lot to the success of the first episode of Bridgerton season 3.
Bridgerton’s music always blows me away…like a pitbull being played by an orchestra??? Yes, if possible pic.twitter.com/YAJbqJFHpw
— matteo♏️ (@IgaSwiatekOUT) May 16, 2024
“The music in Bridgerton always rocks… like pit bull music played by an orchestra??? Yes, please”
A fairytale-worthy novel with an eye for detail
The Bridgerton Chronicles make no secret of it, the series forces its audience to melt in front of romances set in a retrograde era, leaving little room for female development (in ambition, couplehood or friendship). Obviously, this is a historical period of fiction that divides women who are obligated to find the perfect marriage to fulfill themselves.
With rites of passage worthy of the worst beauty pageants (introduction of debutantes to the queen and society), balls where men must sign cards attached to wrists linked to cattle and dance with them the pressures of purity and decorum. For these women who are bound to be the go-getter in all circumstances, the female characters’ journeys are light years away from what we wish for any woman today.
Every bit of feminism leaves my body while watching Bridgerton. #BrigertonNetflix pic.twitter.com/2cIQYi3b2A
— Leanne Steele (@theeightygoose1) May 16, 2024
“Every bit of feminism leaves my body watching Bridgerton.”
And yet, as some netizens say, “feminism leaves our bodies” when we look at Bridgerton and want a “fictional” dream of a Bridgerton-style novel, which brings us back to the Cinderella complex, which in some women will be the unconscious desire to be cared for by others and the fear of independence.
That’s what partly defines most Disney princesses — even if the company has been offering more independent characters for a few years — and Bridgerton’s romances remind us of that kind of love story, especially with the characters’ looks and costumes.
In Season 3, Penelope goes beyond the “make-up” box and embraces princess hairstyles and dresses that make her more attractive. Some fans also see a certain image of Little Mermaid Ariel and Prince Eric in Penelope and Colin. But if these characters are more appreciated and commented on than others, it is because they have the greater complexity that Jane Austen’s best novels demand.
They are so Prince Eric and Ariel confirmed that it’s really crazy pic.twitter.com/HXfbn7DbOj
— tired | bridgerton s3 spoilers (@visenyasecond) May 24, 2024
First, Penelope is distinguished by her own form of independence, Lady Whistledown, who spreads rumors with a keen sense of observation, great intelligence, and subtlety of writing that make her a heroine without realizing it. first.
And her relationship with Colin is very subtle with surprising details that fans notice and analyze on social media watching and re-watching the first four episodes of season 3, which also explains the impressive number of views of these episodes.
So, will Bridgerton fans be around for the second part of Season 3? With the audience record of the first part, the new success of the next episodes of the season is almost guaranteed, especially since some subscribers are waiting for the whole season to be available before it starts. We bet the Netflix series will break audience records once again. Answered on June 13.
The first episode of “The Bridgerton Chronicles” season 3 is available on Netflix.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.