As Bridgerton prepares for its fourth season on Netflix, a look back at the drama of Season 3 is essential. The season focused on the long-awaited romance between Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, but also set the stage for future stories. All eight episodes of Season 3 are currently available to stream. The upcoming Season 4 is scheduled to debut in two parts. Part 1 arrives on January 29, 2026, followed by Part 2 on February 26, 2026.
The Central Romance of Penelope and Colin
Season 3 delivered the friends-to-lovers story many fans had been waiting for. The plot centered on Colin Bridgerton returning from his travels with a new confidence. He found his friend Penelope Featherington distant after she overheard him mocking the idea of courting her the previous season.
Wanting to repair their friendship, Colin offered to help Penelope gain the confidence to find a husband. His lessons worked well, leading Penelope to charm the eligible Lord Debling. This success made Colin realize his own deep feelings for Penelope were more than friendly. He interrupted a potential proposal from Lord Debling to declare his love.
Luke Newton, who plays Colin, discussed filming the now-famous carriage scene. “I’d never done anything that felt like a stunt. And it was very much treated that way,” he said.
Their engagement, however, was shadowed by Penelope’s massive secret: she was the anonymous gossip writer Lady Whistledown. Penelope’s former best friend, Eloise Bridgerton, knew the truth and threatened to tell Colin if Penelope did not. The secret caused a major rift after Colin discovered it himself, leading to a tense wedding day. Ultimately, Penelope chose to publicly reveal her identity to the entire ton to protect her family and her work. The season ended with the couple married, raising their son, and Penelope continuing to write as Lady Whistledown with the queen’s permission.
Other Key Stories from the Ton
Beyond the main romance, Season 3 advanced the stories of several other characters. The fractured friendship between Penelope and Eloise was a major subplot. After their fallout in Season 2, Eloise befriended Penelope’s longtime bully, Cressida Cowper, which caused more pain. Their friendship showed signs of healing only after they worked together to stop Cressida’s false claim to being Lady Whistledown.
Violet Bridgerton explored the possibility of new love. She met Lord Marcus Anderson, the brother of Lady Danbury, and a slow, respectful courtship began. Francesca Bridgerton had a quiet debut season, eventually forming a connection with Lord John Stirling. Their wedding was followed by a surprise appearance by John’s cousin, Michaela Stirling, a character gender-swapped from the original books.
Benedict Bridgerton spent the season exploring his freedom and sexuality, a journey that directly prepares him to lead Season 4. Meanwhile, Portia Featherington continued her efforts to secure her family’s future, eventually leading to a heartfelt moment of understanding with her daughter Penelope.
Looking Ahead to Bridgerton Season 4
The story will now shift focus to Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. His romantic journey begins at his mother’s masquerade ball, where he meets a captivating Lady in Silver. This mysterious woman is Sophie Baek, played by newcomer Yerin Ha. Unbeknownst to Benedict, Sophie is not a debutante but a maid working for a formidable lady of the ton.
“What’s striking about Season 4 is that it’s the struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale โ the romance of it โ and the actual reality of the world,” said Luke Thompson.
Showrunner Jess Brownell described the new season as a “bit of a twist on ‘Cinderella,’” filled with the magic and romance of classic fairy tales. The central tension will involve Benedict wrestling with his attraction to the maid Sophie and his fantasy of the Lady in Silver, unaware they are the same person.
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The cast will include familiar faces like Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton as Penelope and Colin, and Simone Ashley as Kate Bridgerton. New characters include Lady Araminta Gun and her daughters, Rosamund and Posy Li, played by Katie Leung, Michelle Mao, and Isabella Wei.
Bridgerton has been officially renewed for Seasons 5 and 6, ensuring more stories from the ton for years to come.
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