Bridgerton season 3 is missing a crucial element in an otherwise excellent adaptation

Generally, The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3 is a great success. Although I have already found fault with this, especially during the first half of the season, it is clear that when it comes to book adaptations, The Bridgerton Chronicles's third release is actually excellent.

Adapting a book to the small or big screen is notoriously difficult. It's almost impossible to transfer all the nuance, emotion, and narrative impact from one medium to another. Cuts will inevitably be made, leaving some lovers of the source material (understandably) furious or genuinely heartbroken, while others will gloat over the chosen changes, impressed by how they've improved the characters or the story. When it comes to The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3, I'm firmly in the latter group.

The love story of Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) is based on the fourth novel in Julia Quinn's Regency-era romance series, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. While I enjoyed the book for what it was, I couldn't help but be disappointed by Colin's characterization, especially – in fact, in the Bridgerton books I've read , and admittedly it's not all of them, I was surprised by how gruff, domineering, and even brutal the male leads were (Benedict's book, in particular, was a bit of a letdown after watching Luke Thompson's performance in the series). This is probably, in part, simply a byproduct of the era in which these books were first written, but it's certainly easy to appreciate how the series took the best parts of these characters and them elevated to the ranks of the romantic heroes we now know. love.

The Bridgerton Chronicles However, season 3 isn't just a solid adaptation because of how it handled its main male love interest. Considering all the changes the series has already made to the source material (the change in timeline, extensively expanded stories, additional minor characters, etc.), the series still managed to include almost all major parts and minors of Penelope and Colin. romance in one way or another.

Penelope and Colin discussing their first meeting at the market was such a clever way to reference their first meeting in the book. Their first kiss, although prompted by different events, was just as sweet and romantic as in their original love story. The carriage ride, the way Colin discovered Whistledown's true identity, his struggles with envy and lack of purpose, it was all there, seamlessly integrated into this version of continuity. The story may not be exactly the same, but all the important parts of it are certainly present and explained.

There's only one thing I really missed Romancing Mister Bridgerton, and, in fact, it has nothing to do with the great romance of Penelope and Colin. This concerns a completely different character.

Honestly, we needed more Lady Danbury

Adjoa Andoh's performance as Lady Danbury was a highlight of The Bridgerton Chronicles since season 1. Unwavering, strong and intriguing, Lady Danbury's relationships with the Queen (Golda Rosheuvel), Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and the rest of the Bridgerton family have given the series a fun, fresh and emotional perspective. Learn more about its history in both Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story And The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3 was a highlight for me. Andoh perfectly strikes that balance between independent and eminently vulnerable. I wanted to see more of her.

In fact, I wanted to see more of her in relation to a specific person. In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Lady Danbury forms an unlikely friendship with none other than Penelope Featherington. In the novel, it is Lady Danbury who tells the Ton that they could win a cash prize for unmasking the real Lady Whistledown. At the same time, she and Penelope become closer at various social events, as Lady Danbury begins to see that Penelope is much smarter and kinder than she is given credit for. Penelope returns Lady Danbury's respect in kind, and together they become the most formidable ladies in society.

Now I won't say that The Bridgerton Chronicles season 3 completely ignored this dynamic: in the final minutes of the last episode, Penelope and Lady Danbury exchange a few choice words. Lady Danbury reveals that she suspected Lady Whistledown of being Penelope all along, and they share a secret smile and a hint of friendship to come. But that wasn't enough for me. Imagine how much fun these two could have had together! While Lady Danbury's history with her estranged brother and her charming friendship with Violet Bridgerton were a major plot point this season (understandably, after what happened in Queen Charlotte)I wanted even more.

If, during their argument, Eloise (Claudia Jessie) had the chance to befriend Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) and the rest of Ton's maidens, why couldn't Penelope also have another friend and ally? Her romance with Colin was of course the focal point, and Penelope and Eloise's broken friendship was undeniably an important part of both their stories, but Penelope also deserved to have someone else to confide in. I wish it was Lady Danbury, at least to some extent – although I admit I'm very happy that this season includes a few scenes of Penelope with Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), another wonderful woman and perhaps being the only one who understands Penelope's true talent for business as well as gossip.

Platonic friendships are just as important as romantic friendships, and even though The Bridgerton Chronicles has, in the past, done a decent job of showing this (Penelope and Eloise have often been the focus of the series, even during their separation), I wish they could have done a little more this season too.