Penelope faces a bounty, a betrayed husband, and an imposter on her way to happily ever after.
Congrats on surviving the excruciating month-long wait for Colin Two Fingers Bridgerton to announce his engagement to Penelope What?
Did our patience pay off?
Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
In abundance, I say.
Lets recap the final four episodes ofBridgertonseason 3!
Word of the engagement spreads quickly.
Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
But as elated as Anthony is, he sets it aside so he and Benedict can interrogate Colin.
As for Portia (Polly Walker), did you think shed be happy for her daughter?
In the future, I advise you to not sully our Bridgerton name by suggesting otherwise.
Victor Alli as John Stirling, Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Someone defended our Penelope!
And not just someone, COLIN!
Im elated for her.
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Her cleverness and bravery.
Her hair, her eyes.
Her lips, her skin, her breasts.
Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
She then watches avidly as he undresses hello, female gaze!
(Not my favorite word for the act, yet it’s the most accurate description!)
It is, as Penelope puts it, perfect.
Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Afterward, in dialogue lifted straight from the book, Colin agrees that Penelopes a mess, but sheshismess.
And when she frets about her inexperience, he assures her that none of his previous experiences compare.
Good thing, too.
Jessica Madsen, Nicola Coughlan.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Kate then leaves her husband and her dog to start work on the betrothal party.
So that night, Eloise and Colin finally talk.
He tells her that he loves Penelope and reminds her that she once did, too.
Nicola Coughlan.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Cressidas also thinking about the reward as Lord Crypt Keeper lays down the laws for their marriage.
If 5,000 could prevent all of that, whomst among us wouldnt do a little scheming?
Penelope speaks for the audience when she scoffs,Since when??
Victor Alli, James Duke, Hannah Dodd.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Agatha needn’t worry, though.
The politest thing anyone can say is that her choice of beau is surprising.
So thats where this episode gets its title.
Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
Tick tock, Penelope!
And yet again, Im left feeling bad for Cressida.Cressida!
Looking meaningfully at Francesca, he says, Her, I saw straight away.
Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Luke Thompson, Ruth Gemmell, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan.Liam Daniel/Netflix
And like that, he wins over the people in the room who matter the most.
With less than an hour before Eloises midnight deadline, talk turns to Whistledown.
At a quarter to midnight, Pen bolts from the room to have a wee little breakdown.
Polly Walker, Ruth Gemmell, Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton.Liam Daniel/Netflix
We watch in real time as an idea forms in her mind.
I am Lady Whistledown.
Penelope responds with a full-blownmy corsets too tight, damsel in distress, someone fetch the smelling saltsswoon.
(She blames it on the letters shes writing about their engagement).
After he leaves, Pen stares at the ring and considers the decisions she has to make.
But good news, at least the title-card tree looks healthy again!
(Oldest trick in the book, Marcus!)
John blames it on his father’s favoritism and says he hopes to make amends.
Yeah, Violet should maybe ask Agatha, too, just to get both sides.
Everyones excited, if a little less exuberant than they were for Penelope and Colin.
Speaking of, Colins got some questions for Eloise about Whistledown, starting with, Did you know?
Eloise does some artful dodging.
Not about Cressida, she says before promising to speak with the scribe herself.
Its truthful; its just not the full truth.
Penelope, however, isnt willing to let Cressida frickin' Cowper take credit for her lifes work.
It would break my heart, she tells Eloise.
But her former (current?
best friend says Penelope cant be both Lady Whistledownanda Bridgerton.
It is just gossip, Eloise says.
Cressida isnt having a terribly good time since her announcement either.
And that’s allbeforethe queens men arrive to escort her to the palace.
Cressida, not a great liar, claims she didnt want anyone else taking the credit for her work.
What have you observed in your life other than yourself?
the queen sniffs before demanding a fresh issue as proof.
If not, Cressida will be banished from her court.
Not such a great idea now, is it, Cressie?
At least her mother reluctantly agrees to help.
But Francesca asks her to speed things up by speaking to the queen on their behalf.
Unenthusiastic but unable to say no, Violet weakly agrees.
(Harrison Butker, is that you?)
Portia says Colin and their future children should be Penelopes focus now.
And yet again, Pens left staring at her engagement ring and the gains and losses it represents.
In other gains-and-losses news, the Mondriches have decided to sell the club.
A relieved Lady Danbury advises them to throw a ball to celebrate their full immersion in the ton.
Taking a page fromNotting Hill, they compete over the last glass by sharing sob stories.
For Colin, its the trouble hes having turning his journal into a book.
For Benedict, its the lack of direction in his floating, purposeless life.
That Sunday, everyone heads to church to hearthe banns being readfor Colin and Penelope.
The next day she basks in Portias excitement as they discuss wedding plans.
Point well made, Madame.
Time for the Mondrich ball!
And no, I have no idea how they put together this elaborate party so quickly.
Queen Charlotte changes her assessment to not bad at all and gives Alice a pleased nod.
Francesca’s had enough and tells her mother off (in her gentle Francesca way).
Then she pushes past him to go after Violet.
Lets… lets assume well be revisiting this in a future episode, hmm?
Okay, back to the Mondrich ball!
(This description is correct, and I will not be elaborating on it.)
A few people threaten to leave, but nobody wants to miss the drama.
Cressidas brought proof in the form of a short Whistledown installment promising a full issue to come.
No surprise, its not her, but Lady Cowper whos covered in ink.
Cressida really is a terrible writer.
Or forever now, Cressida Cowper.
Episode 7: Joining of Hands
Welp.
The wind-tossed title-card tree is back.
And how could it not be?
Instead he uncovered her lies.
I will never forgive you, he says, a tear shining on his cheek.
But he probably ought to be alittlegrateful after Cressidas fake Whistledown hits the streets.
THE AUDACITY, CRESSIDA.
OR, MORE ACCURATELY, CRESSIDAS MOM.
Voice to the voiceless!
And thats curtains for Cressidas lies.
To Wales with you!
Although shes ready to forgive Pen, Colin isnt there yet.
Not cool, Col.
He then asks Pen if she’ll stop publishing as Whistledown.
But shes so adorably flustered by his visit that its clear shes amenable to his suggestion.
Benedict tangles his fingers together as he admits hed never been tempted by a man before.
Unless being called Mr. Suarez is Pauls thing??
Its on Benedicts mind the night of Colins stag do, when theyre joined by Will and John.
The latter is drinking because his future mother-in-law doesnt like him.
Benedict suggests he do something foolish and bold to declare his feelings, like throwing rocks at Francescas window.
(it’s possible for you to get an amen, Gen!)
Incidentally, has anyone else noticed Penelopes hair slowly turning intoJessica Rabbits?
When Colin gets home, Kate and Anthony are waiting up to offer relationship advice.
This is way more than a single mistake!
He also suggests that Colin try the three-raw-egg hangover cure in the morning.
(I would choose the hangover.)
Yes, Penelope made her share of mistakes, but Im so happy to see her so happy.
The wedding breakfast afterward is packed with well-wishers; even Prudence is sincere in her congratulations to Penelope.
He then sets down his wine glass and leaves, apparently taking his own advice.
He complies, and they sway to Duomos cover ofTaylor Swifts You Belong with Me."
Theyre soon joined by other couples, including John and Francesca.
Ergo, Whistledown is a Bridgerton.
Great news for Fran and John, but the queen’s here for Whistledown.
Anthony hotly denies the involvement of anyone under his roof technically true!
Pen lives across the street!
so Charlotte gives them until tomorrow.
Its pretty obvious who the culprit is, though; Penelopes the only one who looks ready to vomit.
Because that’s exactly what he’s doing.
WE DID IT, JOE!
Anyway, back to the not-so-happy couple.
Frustrated by their disagreement, Colin icily tells her that hell sleep on the couch that night.
Cressida, meanwhile, has some regrets.
Her mother reminds her that the Bridgertons needed knocking down a peg, and other women are competition.
Geez, Cressida never had a chance, did she?
Pen emerges from the bedroom the morning after her wedding to nervously greet her new husband.
You just know hes gonna complain about his stiff neck at some point.
He hurts Penelope’s feelings by going to breakfast at Bridgerton House alone.
Then a maid announces that Pen has a visitor without specifying that its not Portia, as Penelope expects.
Instead, it’s Cressida.
Thats shockingly bad maid-ing.
Give a girl a heads-up, yo!
Cressida knows that Penelope is Whistledown and sneers that of course it would be someone so forgettable.
At this point, he just might demand an annulment.
Heres to finally having Eloise on Team Polin!
Everyones mind is blown when Penelope says her Whistledown earnings can cover Cressidas 10,000 blackmail, especially Portia.
In this instance, though, Portia was correct about maybe not telling Colin quite yet.
He says things will die down and her family will eventually welcome her back into their loving embrace.
This is emphaticallynotthe argument to use on Cressida.
She accuses Colin of being jealous of Penelopes success (accurate!
Whistledown-level observation skills!)
and doubles her blackmail ask.
That fades when Colin walks in to announce, It seems I have made everything worse.
Let your wife handle her business!
The theme is purple and orange and crystal and gold and flowers and, at Philipas insistence, bugs.
This is gonna be a trainwreck.
The morning of Francescas wedding, Penelope leaves early to avoid them having to share a carriage.
Poor Pen, especially when Colin doesnt even have a go at stop her.
The conversation ends in a semi-positive place when Portia acknowledges that she overlooked Penelope for too long.
If we survive this round, she says, we must do better.
Violet in turn says she better understands the beauty in a quieter approach to love.
She also says he can stop trying to prove that hes worthy of her.
Just being you is enough, Colin.
We also learn whats going on with Tilley.
He then joins Eloise on the swings for another of their backyard heart-to-hearts.
Shes done trying to fit in and wants to see the world so she can help change it someday.
Benedict, too, is open to new experiences (um, obviously!
), and they agree to more regular swing meetups so they can be confused about life together.
Okay, the time has come to reveal the miracles that Varley performed for the Dankworth-Finch ball.
Its stunning, actually!
(There are no bugs in sight, thankfully.)
She then points her royal finger at Penelope.
But she now understands that it takes courage to live openly, and that gossip can forge bonds.
(True, by the way!)
Good work, Varley!
Penelopes most important conversation, though, is with Colin.
Knowing this could still reflect badly on the Bridgertons, she offers him an annulment.
But after rereading her letters, he finally realized theres no separating her from Whistledown.
They always had one voice, Penelopes voice, and its bloody brilliant.
How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light.
I’m as shocked as you are that I wouldn’t mind seeing her return in a future season.
Operation See the World is officially underway!
That is… interesting.
Benedict and Eloise agree that they’ll see each other at their mothers masquerade ball.
Masquerade ball, yall!
Its now written by the previous wallflower, current columnist, observer, wielder of a quill Penelope Bridgerton.
She’s stepped out of the shadows and now lives in the sun.
