Courtship of Veneer Reviews Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1: A Most Tantalizing Tale

Dear friends, I hope this spring season has been treating you well. While most of my time has been spent indulging in literature and other forms of high art, I must confess that I have watched a bit of television.

Usually, I consider television shows to be a quite vulgar art form; however, I do tend to make an exception when it comes to period pieces. So, when someone first recommended Bridgerton to me years prior, describing it as a rich and complex period drama that takes place in the Regency period, I was instantly intrigued.

However, upon viewing the show I quickly discovered it was not quite what I anticipated. Each episode full of sordid theatrics and unseemly displays of passion—quite frankly, I was aghast. Yet, despite this show’s quite unladylike themes, I must admit that I simply could not turn away (I am not proud of this confession).

And so, while Bridgerton may not be quite in line with virtues we espouse here at Courtship of Veneer, I do still feel the need to offer my thoughts on the latest season. With the whole world currently seems abuzz with all things Bridgerton, how could we not take part in the conversation?

Season 2 ended with some truly shocking, heart-breaking revelations, so I was happy to see Season 3 begin with lighter fare and some refreshing new developments. The long-struggling Featheringtons are celebrating their newfound fortune which they acquired though questionable (yet satisfying) means, the rebellious Eloise has forged a surprising new friendship with the ever-vulgar town gossip Cressida, and the formerly baby-faced and innocent Colin is leaning into his new role as the town’s most handsome and eligible bachelor. However, no doubt the most notable development is proverbial wallflower Penelope’s decision to replace her garish wardrobe with more elegant attire and start actively seeking a husband.

Poor Penelope unfortunately lacks the confidence and grace of her many peers, so she is forced to enlist the assistance of her longtime unrequited love, Colin, to help her learn how to charm and woo like a lady. Oh, if only Penelope had had access to a publication like Courtship of Veneer, all of this could have been avoided…

While Colin’s training is helpful at first, it ends up being Penelope’s undoing. When high society learns that the young lady has been receiving charm lessons, Penelope becomes the laughing stock of the town. Feeling hopeless and humiliated, she boldly asks Colin to kiss her, for she fears she will live her entire life without ever having this experience. Colin hesitates, since he knows that Penelope has pined for him for years, but he eventually obliges, feeling deep sorrow for the young girl. Their kiss, while brief, ignites a fire that neither can extinguish, no matter how hard they try.

From there, much drama unfolds. Penelope, having lost all hope in her love life, ends up attracting the attention of a quite handsome, wealthy bachelor with her new laissez-faire attitude. With this attention, Penelope finds herself growing more confident and self-assured, and as a result, more attractive to those who initially dismissed her. Colin, who spent his life dismissing Penelope as simply a friend, now finds himself consumed with thoughts of her.

While I shall not spoil how Part 1 ends, I can say that it was most satisfying, shocking, as well as flusteringly salacious. And while Part 1’s end will likely have viewers cheering, it also imparts viewers with a sense of dread for the harrowing reveal that is sure to come in future episodes. For you see, in the midst of all the romance and passion still remains the fact that Penelope is secretly the author behind Lady Whistledown, the town’s gossip publication that has offended many families, Colin Bridgerton’s family included. No matter where Colin and Penelope’s love story goes, will he ever be able to forgive the sins she has committed against him and his family by way of her controversial publication? Why, we shall have to view Part 2 of the season to have our answer.

Final thoughts:

Overall, I found the start of Season 3 to be a quite glorious return to the world of Bridgerton. Besides its tantalizingly dramatic storylines, the show filled many visual delights—fantastical, colorful fashions and lavish interiors, just to name a few. Additionally, it has a beautiful instrumental soundtrack that transforms songs I would generally regard as crass and unrefined (such as Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything”) into exquisite melodies. Do feel free to sample the song below.

However, that is not to say that the season is without its faults. Those who have watched the season will have noted that my recap focused on but one storyline. That is because it would be impossible to touch upon every storyline in the season without this review going on for far too long. Season 3 is perhaps a bit overstuffed with tangential storylines in a way that can feel just a touch overwhelming at times.

So, do I recommend Season 3, Part 1 of Bridgerton? Well, as a lady who values modesty and discretion, I think it would be most improper for me to officially endorse such a salacious television show. However, do I consider it a quite spectacular tale that has left me yearning for Part 2 of the season to arrive with much haste? Perhaps…but you did not hear that from me!