OPINION: I’m a curvy girl and this is what I thought watching Bridgerton Season 3

Just like Penelope, viewers were grabbing the edge of their seats while watching the first part of season 3 of steamy period drama Bridgerton. The first four episodes of the new series were released on Netflix last week.

The new series explores the love story between Colin Bridgerton, played by Luke Newton, and Penelope Fetherington, played by Galway actress and former Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan. 

Unlike season two of the show which explored enemies to lovers, this time it explores friends to lovers. 

Coughlan, who confessed the pair were “holding back” their chemistry in previous seasons, explained it was nice to be allowed to tap into it this season. While doing press for the upcoming season, Coughlan explained she was reminded “she had to act like a virgin” as Penelope is supposed to be in the series. 

The new series sees Coughlan’s character becoming a woman and exploring her sexuality. At the end of season 2, she overheard Colin Bridgerton say he would never court her so she changes up her look. 

The new series sees Penelope entering a ball in a gorgeous emerald gown with her hair wavy and to the side turning heads of everyone, including Bridgerton. The pair become closer as Colin agrees to help teach her ‘charm’ in order to find a husband. Soon, the pair are growing closer and more romantically entangled, but do not express it to one another.

Penelope, who is used to hiding secrets, is the face behind Lady Whistledown. Whistledown is an anonymous gossip writer reporting on the love interests in society and Penelope found it hard to hide these lessons from former best friend and sister to Colin Bridgerton, Eloise.

Eloise and Penelope fell out in season two after Whistledown wrote about her to distract Queen Charlotte who suspected Whistledown’s identity was Eloise. Eloise registers Lady Whistledown must be Penelope because she wrote about things only Penlope would know and their friendship breaks down. 

The friendship is slightly rekindled in season 3 as Eloise confides in Colin about the well-being of Penelope as she is caught sneaking out of the Bridgerton house to see Colin. However, society finds out about their flirting lessons and Lady Whistledown shames Penelope, who is labelled a spinster with no prospects of marriage. 

As Penelope decides to go against the grain and take on the advice of Colin, she secures the attention of Lord Debling. It is during this time we see a jealous Colin Bridgerton begin to realise he loves Penelope. Colin crashes the proposal between Penelope and Lord Debling and an upset Penelope leaves while Colin runs after her carriage, leading to a steamy and romantic scene.

The new season so far displays how love comes in different shapes and forms. It has seen many people feel validated as fans of the show label Coughlan a “bigger person” and how they were unsure if a love story like this can be translated on screen.

Coughlan is the star of the show; she radiates on and off the screen not only for her beauty but the way she carries herself. Newton and Coughlan complement each other so well and Colin lets Penelope shine while he adores. 

Many people have their opinions on shows such as Bridgerton saying “they display unrealistic expectations of love”, however I would argue it shows younger audiences not to shrink themselves down to be something for someone else. 

As the show explores quiet love this season, older love and unusual love, it is set to move into exploring more LGBTQIA+ love and while it has caused mixed reactions with fans who accuse writers of trying to stay “relevant,” it is important. 

As a fan of the show for a while, I have loved the writing of Bridgerton, the lust and yearning, but for me this season so far has felt validating and different. I was hooked before the season began and I was hooked for a different reason than any other season before.

My body is not a topic I would easily discuss but I feel in this context it is important. It has fluctuated over the years like many women; I have been skinny and I have been heavy and it is now at age 24 I have realised there is much more to life than the way you look. 

A lot of what has changed this narrative for me has been the change in writing towards women's bodies over the years, and while as a journalist I am not afraid to use my voice, it is sometimes hard to navigate the conversation around your body when it is in fact none of anyone's business. 

I am in no way calling myself a “bigger person” but as someone who has gained weight recently it is hard to navigate those questions and, while some people feel it is ok to ask me that question or point out to me I have gained weight, it has empowered me see Nicola Coughlan chose to be “very naked” in scenes in season 3 as a big “f**k you” to fans who think her weight is their business. 

It is empowering to see the negative language outweighed by the positivity and love Coughlan has received. Movies and shows such as Bridgerton and Barbie have been so healing for women and it is actresses and writers like Coughlan and Greta Gerwig who have made this possible and might help younger women realise no matter what shape, size, profession or flaw they have, that they too deserve the most pure form of love. 

Your voice matters, your needs matter, you deserve to not settle and you deserve love, and Bridgerton represents just that.