Nowadays it is crystal clear to understand if Netflix sees one of its series as a success: if the directors decide to broadcast a new season of said content divided into two parts, it means that they expect a high return on that investment. And what is the latest series to jump on the bandwagon of this increasingly common platform trend? The Bridgertons.
The first part of the third season consists of four episodes and can be seen on May 16, 2024. To see the remaining four episodes, the viewer will have to wait four weeks, as they will be added to the catalog on June 13. The other substantial change that fans should expect is behind the cameras. Creator Chris Van Dusen, who was in charge of the first two seasons, left his position as showrunner, which is now occupied by Jess Brownell, who had worked as a screenwriter on Who's Anna?, another production from Shondaland, Shonda Rhimes' production company. behind The Bridgertons.
As is tradition in The Bridgertons, once again the period and romantic series will change protagonists. Now it is the turn of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), who signs as Lady Whistledown the pink chronicle of the time, who has thrown in the towel regarding Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), a close friend and platonic love for all time, after having heard the derogatory words he made about her. It will not be easy for her, however, to find a husband who will allow her to maintain her journalistic independence, especially when Colin returns from vacation with a new look and the air of a gallant. When he discovers that she is ignoring him, he will begin to doubt her true feelings for her. Is that spite that of a betrayed friendship or that of someone in love?
The good news is that, in addition to having a new romantic story to tell, the protagonists of the second season remain on the payroll: Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley, who play Viscounts Anthony and Kate Bridgerton, are listed as regular actors. Thus, the same thing will not happen as between the first and second seasons, when Netflix did not take into account the popularity phenomenon that would be Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor as Duke Hastings and what would be his wife and did not have them contractually tied to continue appearing in the fictional universe. There was finally an agreement with Dynevor whereby she appeared in four episodes of the second season, but it was missed that the romantic hero of the first episodes was completely absent.
With Netflix's decision to split the season into two, The Bridgertons joins the Money Heist club with its final season, Stranger Things, The Lincoln Lawyer, A Place to Dream, You or The Crown. In this way, Netflix delays the performance of its content, which otherwise usually burns out in a weekend or at most two weeks. It also has a double impact on the media, helping to retain customers for the next month and, incidentally, helping to control content investment, by covering two different weeks with premiere content.
