Bridgerton Season Three (Cass’s Version) Episode One
Episode One, Out of the Shadows
This episode will likely have the fewest changes of any of the episodes I write about. I think it provided a really good set up, so I will be working off of a lot what we’ve already seen, with some changes, deletions, and things moved up.
Here we go!
We start out quite similarly, the Ton arriving back from the country, including the Featheringtons. They disembark at their house, Pen sees everyone reading Whistledown, all the young ladies aflutter at having been mentioned. She definitely has a bit of arrogance about this, is very aware that she has this much power.
The lead up to Francesca’s presentation plays out as usual. Listening outside the door, Kate and Anthony come out, they discover Francesca playing piano. Francesca is dismissive of the whole day, and Anthony is what would have previously been uncharacteristically relaxed and optimistic about it all. Benedict remarks to Violet about Francesca playing Mozart’s Funeral March.
They head outside and Pen watches them. They catch sight of a gaggle of ladies, Colin picks up the girl’s glove and kisses her hand. He returns to the Bridgertons and embraces his family (including the group hug with Anthony and Ben, and hugging Kate that we saw them shooting form the bts pics). He looks over at Featherington house, but Penelope ducks away just as he might see her. She looks annoyed at herself for doing that.
The title sequence plays.
At Francesca’s presentation, the queen is bored as usual. Colin slides in and Eloise makes her gliding remark. He talks about her ruffles, but she says “We all must dress the part we play.” As she looks him over. Colin winks at the ladies, and they titter.
Francesca and Violet have their conversation outside the doors, then go in and while Francesca does well, the Queen isn’t dazzled.
The Featherington scene plays out as usual, and they head to the garden party. There, Colin flirts as usual, we get the montage of him impressing the ladies and being totally cringey even though they’re falling for it.
Penelope sees Eloise and Cressida and El go off together, Penelope looking upset and worried.
Francesca struggles to fit in with the debutantes who always have dreamed of their perfect man, whereas Francesca struggles to articulate her desires.
Kate and Violet have their conversation, they are greeted by Lady Danbury.
More of Colin flirting, it’s getting more dramatic and ridiculously swoony.
Lady Featherington talks about the new heir being the first son the girls can have.
Penelope walks away, and as she rounds a corner, she nearly runs into Colin, who is practically hiding and consulting a notebook. He quickly snaps it shut, and all we can see is the word “Charm”
Penelope tries to turn and dash off, but Colin stops her with a soft smile, but then he seems to recall himself. You can see his entire demeanor change, his smile, his stance, and he preens over his clothes from Paris. The conversation plays out as we see in the show, his confusion about Eloise and Cressida evident.
Penelope dashes off and leaves with her family, Portia encouraging the married girls to make a son, then saying how glad she is she will always have Pen.
Pen tosses and turns in the night, then looks at her wardrobe, unable to stand it anymore.
The gifts scene plays out like usual. The only change is that when Colin gives El the book, she says that she is reading Emma, when Colin calls them silly, Eloise remarks, “It seems everything I read is doomed to be called silly. When I fill my mind with the aspirations of the advancement of women, they are silly and unrealistic. When I consume deep, introspective stories of friendship, family, heartbreak, and yes, love, they are silly and useless. Tell me, Brother, what should I read? Your travel journals, perhaps?”
Colin reacts in the immediate negative, saying no, she should definitely not read those, and that he is sorry if he caused offense. Eloise admits to being a little sensitive, given that so much has changed. Colin remarks on her friendship with Cressida.
Eloise makes her point about being on the winning side, and indicates that she sees that Colin has decided to do the same for himself.
Penelope goes to the modiste to get a new wardrobe. She explains her desire to wed. Madame Delacroix suggests a Parisian style, and Penelope says that’s far too unoriginal, and she wants Delacroix to work her own magic.
Eloise arrives at the modiste, her conversation with Penelope plays out, Eloise just wants to move on.
At Will’s club, Anthony commends Benedict on how well he has run things. Ben doesn’t know what to do now that Anthony is back. Will approaches with an introduction, a playwright named Mr. Alexander Virgil, who is looking for an investment to fund his play’s run. Anthony passes that off to Benedict, and they go to talk.
Anthony invites Will to sit with them, but Will says he has other business, which is when he goes over with Alice to meet the man who tells them about the title inheritance.
Kate and Anthony’s bedplay, Anthony gets her back in bed promising to make an heir, and we see them getting into the “heir making” part of their lovemaking.
Penelope gets ready for the ball, trying something new.
The Bridgertons arrive at the Danbury Ball, Lady D talks about the theme of the four seasons, about the seasons of life, talking about new debutante Francesca, newlyweds Kate and Anthony, and herself as a meddlesome player in their games, then seems to indicate to Violet that they ladies who are not in the first blush of spring might yet “bloom again.”
Penelope’s arrival plays out as usual, the Ton is awed by her, abcedfu plays, Colin is gagged when he sees her, has to drink, and his mask of bravado he puts on falters a bit. He has to take a drink.
Pen is approached by suitors, and it’s awkward. Eloise has a parallel conversation with the debutantes, also not going well at all. Eloise leaves them behind, leaving Cressida too, who looks a bit disappointed by this.
Eloise meets a woman named Lady Tilley, who remarks that Eloise might want to discuss something more than embroidery. Eloise is delighted by this, and they discuss how there is to be a scientific exposition later in the season, and that many of the great minds frequent Lady Tilley’s home. Eloise angles for an invitation, and Lady Tilley gives her one, saying she hopes to see El there.
Pen’s suitors flee her for fear of ending up in Whistledown. As she walks off, Lady D and the Queen have their conversation about the diamond.
Francesca needs a minute away from all the questioning, Anthony takes the time to dance with his wife. On the wall, Francesca and Penelope have their conversation.
Colin comes up and asks Penelope to dance, but she declines saying that she needs refreshments.
Benedict runs into the playwright from earlier and they chat, having a spark, but Violet comes over to push Benedict to dance with Miss Stowell. Benedict agrees, but he exchanges a look with Mr. Virgil, who is amused and a little pitying.
Penelope starts eating ice cream but gets a brain freeze, then meets Lord Debling. Cressida steps on her dress, Eloise tries to apologize, but Penelope runs out. Colin sees her fleeing and goes after her.
Colin and Penelope’s conversation about what he said last season happens as usual, she leaves him reeling. She goes home and angrily writes Lady Whistledown.
Portia gets the visit about the inheritance, the baby race ramps up in stakes.
Eloise and Cressida talk in the park, the competitiveness of the marriage mart discussed.
Kate and Anthony have their moment in the study, they agree to take a renewed honeymoon. Anthony wants to give Benedict more chance to step into this new role.
Francesca and Violet have their conversation, Francesca wants different things than her siblings.
The Mondriches arrive at the new place and get a house tour from the housekeeper, separate rooms and all.
Colin goes to see Penelope, his apology very similar. However, when Penelope confesses jealousy about his ease with the Ton, he tells her that charm can be taught. He then shows her the notebook we glimpsed earlier, this time seeing the whole list where he had written “How to Be Charming.”
He confesses to her that across 17 cities, he watched and learned. He took notes and has remade himself as someone who cannot be hurt like he has been previously. And he says he can teach Pen the same. If she wants a husband, he can give her lessons.
She agrees to that, they give a lingering shake that they are friends.
As he leaves, Penelope realizes that Lady Whistledown is coming out. She races inside as voice over starts.
Colin comes home, finding El reading LW, and their conversation plays out the same, but he also mentions how critical LW is of people who only are good and sweet, like Penelope. Eloise asks if he has any idea who Whistledown is, and he says he doesn’t, but when he finds out, he will see her ruined.
