21 Biggest Book Changes In Season 3

Warning! SPOILERS about Bridgerton season 3 and the Bridgerton books ahead.

Summary

• Bridgerton season 3 switches up various characters’ stories from the books, albeit leaving the key events in Colin and Penelope’s romance the same.
• Eloise and Penelope’s falling out and Cressida’s change in character are major deviations from the books.
• Bridgerton season 3 introduces new dynamics and relationships between characters, altering the original plot.

Bridgerton season 3 faithfully adapted various sections of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, but it also greatly changed the stories of several characters. Focusing on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s romance, Bridgerton season 3 brought to the screens the story told in the fourth Julia Quinn Bridgerton book, skipping Benedict’s story and picking up right after the events of Bridgerton season 2, which adapted The Viscount Who Loved Me. As a consequence of the order switch, some characters’ situations greatly differ from the books, bringing forth entirely dissimilar stories in Bridgerton season 3.

Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2’s focus on the ensemble of characters influenced Bridgerton season 3’s book differences, too. Indeed, Bridgerton season 3 couldn’t ignore Benedict abandoning painting or Eloise’s falling out with Penelope following her discovery of the truth behind Lady Whistledown, making their stories stand out in Bridgerton season 3, especially in the way they contrasted their book story in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. On the other hand, the heart of Colin and Penelope’s story stayed the same, having multiple scenes mirroring the book’s, even with some glaring differences in the timeline of the two friends falling for each other.

21 Eloise & Colin Butting Heads About Eloise Forsaking Penelope

They Rarely Discuss Penelope In The Book

Eloise not spending time with Penelope anymore was noticed by many in Bridgerton season 3, but nobody was left more shocked by the change than Colin. While his harsh words were entirely warranted after Eloise unwittingly revealed the secret of his and Penelope’s pact in Bridgerton season 3, episode 2, Colin and Eloise almost never discussed Penelope in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. Instead, one curious exchange Colin and Eloise had in the fourth Bridgerton book involved Lady Whistledown, as Colin was sure Eloise was her given the amount of time she spent writing, before learning the truth from Penelope.

Colin and Eloise’s discussions about Penelope nonetheless make sense in Bridgerton season 3. After all, they had both considered Penelope a friend at a time and noticing Eloise’s surprising new friendship with Cressida and her refusal to discuss Penelope greatly puzzled Colin, especially after Eloise’s slip caused Penelope not to attend society events for days in Bridgerton season 3. On the contrary, Colin wouldn’t need to accuse Eloise of being Lady Whistledown in the show, as her scandal sheets almost ruined Eloise in Bridgerton season 2.

20 Cressida’s Decision Not To Be Cruel To Penelope Anymore

Cressida Is Instead Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s Villain

Eloise’s friendship was evidently a good influence on Cressida, as just mentioning her cruelty when ripping Penelope’s dress convinced Cressida to leave Penelope alone. Bridgerton season 3, episode 2 even gave Cressida the chance to spill Penelope’s secrets as Eloise told her about Colin and Penelope’s lessons, but she abstained from it. While Bridgerton season 3 presented another side of Cressida, she was the villain in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, and one of the very few in the Bridgerton books, as after figuring out Penelope was Lady Whistledown, she blackmailed her, asking her ten thousand pounds in exchange for her silence.

A multifaceted Cressida with her own marriage mart problems

Cressida was always a key character in Penelope’s story, as she bullied her in the Bridgerton books and was mean to her in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Bridgerton season 3 could have easily kept her as a bully, with that even having a hand in Penelope and Eloise’s fight. However, by showing a multifaceted Cressida with her own marriage mart problems, Bridgerton season 3 made a choice to humanize her instead of continuing to treat her like a villain, hinting at a story-related reason for the change, as keeping her as a villain could have been easier given their backstory.

19 The Rationale Behind Colin & Penelope’s Moments Together

Colin Doesn’t Give Penelope Lessons To Find A Husband

All the time Penelope and Colin spent alone in Bridgerton season 3 was justified by Colin’s offer to let Penelope practice how to approach the gentlemen of the ton. However, the reason for their many moments alone in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton relied on Penelope’s friendship with Eloise and the moments with the Bridgertons. Indeed, a happy habit that Penelope cherished in the fourth Bridgerton book was her being part of the daily Bridgerton tea meetings, when the family informally spent time with one another, drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Eloise and Penelope falling out stopped Penelope’s Bridgerton House visits that made Penelope feel at her most comfortable, making Penelope and Colin’s accidental meetings as they happened in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton impossible. However, Bridgerton season 3’s lessons between Colin and Penelope worked in the show in a way they never could in the book, as Penelope wasn’t planning on actively looking for a match in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, resigned as she was to have become a spinster, and even enjoying the little freedoms that came with the moniker, like eating at society’s functions.

18 Benedict’s Marital State

Benedict Had Been Married To Sophie For Years In The Book

Bridgerton season 3 presented a relatively chipper Benedict considering that the news that his brother had bought his place at the Academy prompted him to put his painting days behind him in season 2. Benedict was indeed content with having to look after the estate and having a purpose while Anthony and Kate were on their honeymoon, returning to dodge eager mamas at society functions and even beginning an affair with Lady Tilley Arnold. However, Benedict’s story couldn’t have been more different in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as he had just married Sophie and moved to the countryside in the third Bridgerton book.

Bridgerton choosing not to tell Benedict’s story in season 3, instead focusing on Colin and Penelope, made Benedict’s book absence impossible in Bridgerton season 3. After all, Benedict was still an eligible bachelor, making his stay in London during the season imperative even if he had no intention to marry.

17 Cressida’s Sad Backstory & Spinsterhood

Cressida Already Had A Husband In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

While Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 focused very little on Cressida, showing her only at her worst, Bridgerton season 3 showed her point of view. Not only did Eloise’s friendship finally convince Cressida to leave Penelope alone, but it also provided an insight into her dire family situation, which threatened her to find a match among her father’s friends had Cressida not married by that season. This and her sharp wit made Cressida likable in Bridgerton season 3, but that wasn’t the case in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, where Cressida was married and made Penelope’s life more difficult.

The sharp U-turn on Cressida’s character in Bridgerton season 3 hints there could be a story-related reason for it, which Bridgerton season 3, part 2 might unveil, given that season 3, episodes 1 to 4 only set her up as Eloise’s cherished new friend.

16 Violet & The Younger Bridgertons Still Living At Bridgerton House

They Moved Into The Dower House Years Before

Bridgerton season 3, episode 1 addressed early on the Bridgertons’ stay at Bridgerton House, which should have been passed to the new Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton after their marriage, as Violet and the unmarried Bridgertons moved to a dower house. Kate’s suggestion they all lived together as it was done in India to make her and Anthony’s responsibilities lighter pushed back Violet’s move, letting all the Bridgertons stay under one roof. However, Violet and her unmarried children played by the ton’s rules in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, moving out of Bridgerton House to Bruton St. in the third Bridgerton book.

Unlike in the books, Bridgerton House is synonymous with the Bridgerton family in the TV series. Having Violet and all the unmarried Bridgertons move to a smaller house would abide by the ton’s customs, but it would also make them less identifiable, as the Bridgerton House rooms where most of the action happens would have to be swapped for different ones without all the history, having to establish a new connection with another mansion.

15 The Reason For Penelope Discovering Colin’s Writing

Penelope Didn’t Need To Avoid The Bridgertons In The Book

Although not having many consequences in Bridgerton season 3, part 1, Penelope discovering Colin’s journals was a key point in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as it prompted Colin to start dreaming about one day publishing his travel journals. While the scene in Bridgerton season 3, episode 2 mirrored its counterpart in the fourth Bridgerton novel, the reasons behind Penelope sneakily reading Colin’s journal were different. Bridgerton season 3, episode 2 clearly showed Penelope being hidden in the study as a way to avoid Eloise, who had unexpectedly returned from her errands.

However, waiting for Eloise was how Penelope stumbled on Colin’s journals in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as Penelope was waiting for her to return as they had planned an outing together. With Eloise and Penelope’s falling out in Bridgerton season 2’s ending, Penelope waiting for Eloise would have been impossible, making the opposite work brilliantly, as Eloise and Penelope went to great lengths to avoid each other in Bridgerton season 3.

14 Violet’s Suspicion About Colin’s Feelings

Colin’s Proposal To Penelope Shocks Everybody In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

Violet didn’t know about Colin’s interest in Penelope

Bridgerton season 3, episode 3 showed Colin asking Violet which love she wanted for Francesca, who had just debuted and was looking for a love match. His cryptic questions immediately led Violet to think Colin was asking about him rather than Francesca, and following his gaze to Penelope and Lord Debling all but confirmed why. However, Violet didn’t know about Colin’s interest in Penelope in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, and she learned about Colin’s feelings with everybody else after his proposal, being as shocked as the others.

Like many other book changes, Violet knowing about Colin’s feelings wasn’t necessary. However, Bridgerton established Violet as a guiding light for all the Bridgerton siblings in love, as she steered Daphne and Anthony on the right path to finding true love. Colin looking for guidance from Violet thus lets the Bridgerton matriarch take the role of love expert she always had in previous seasons, establishing continuity in his story with all the previous Bridgerton couples.

13 Eloise & Cressida’s Budding Friendship

They Never Befriended Each Other In The Books

Eloise and Cressida’s friendship is one of the biggest changes from Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as the two not only were never friends, but all the Bridgertons despised Cressida. Their friendship was clearly positive as Eloise and Cressida brought out the best in each other, being tough but fair and open about their problems, while also supporting each other despite their differences.

Eloise wouldn’t have needed to befriend Cressida in the fourth Bridgerton book, as not only Cressida had never stopped bullying Penelope, but also Eloise herself was still Penelope’s friend. Whether to offer a window into Cressida’s story or for other not yet unveiled plot-related reasons, Bridgerton season 3 still hasn’t explained why she and Cressida needed to become friends.

12 Lord Debling & The Carriage Scene Cause

Colin & Penelope Found Themselves Together Because Of Lady Whistledown

Bridgerton season 3, episode 4 very clearly showed how Colin’s scene interrupting Penelope and Lord Debling’s dance started the series of events ending in Colin and Penelope hooking up in the carriage. Indeed, without that scene, Debling wouldn’t have asked Penelope if she would have wanted Colin to have feelings for her, nor would have Penelope run away from the ball. However, the steamy carriage scene followed a completely different situation in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

In the fourth Bridgerton book, Colin followed Penelope to Bloomsbury because he saw her going there without a chaperone. Following her there showed Colin Penelope was actually Lady Whistledown, causing one of Colin and Penelope’s biggest fights, which in turn led to their carriage hookup. With Lady Whistledown’s reveal possibly taking center stage in Bridgerton season 3, part 2 and Colin’s searing hate for what her scandal sheets did by ruining Marina, Penelope’s Lady Whistledown reveal to Colin couldn’t work now, as it would have just caused Colin to distance himself from Penelope.

11 The Mirror Scene’s Timing

It Happened At The Engagement Party In The Book

While the meaning of Colin and Penelope’s mirror scene in Bridgerton season 3 didn’t change from the book, even including parts of Penelope and Colin’s exchange verbatim, its setting changed greatly. The mirror scene was one of the most important in the book because it included Colin and Penelope both admitting they loved each other, right after yet another fight about Lady Whistledown and Penelope’s unwillingness to let Cressida take the credit for the scandal sheets.

Indeed, Colin and Penelope’s mirror scene in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton happened at their engagement party, while it followed Colin’s rebuttal to Portia Featherington’s lack of joy at the news of their betrothal in the show. Bridgerton season 3 made the mirror scene all the more intimate, as it happened in their future home as a couple instead of Colin’s childhood bedroom, and important, as it followed a big moment where Colin defended Penelope and his feelings for her, making the changes work even as they were needed as Colin hadn’t discovered Whistledown’s identity in the show.

10 Cressida’s Publication Under The Lady Whistledown Name

She Just Wanted To Claim Lady Danbury’s Prize In The Book

Cressida took the credit for Lady Whistledown’s society papers both in Bridgerton season 3 and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, but she went even further in Netflix’s TV show, because to convince Queen Charlotte, Cressida had to go and publish under Whistledown’s name. The change was the only possible development for Cressida in Bridgerton season 3, as admitting to being the gossiper destroyed her prospects on the marriage mart, and her alternative would have been to be sent away to Wales.

However, Cressida didn’t need to go as far in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as she didn’t have to convince Queen Charlotte, given that it was Lady Danbury who had promised a thousand pounds to whoever unmasked Whistledown. Even then, Cressida’s claims were debunked by Whistledown’s following issue, where the gossiper made it clear how much she despised Cressida and how it could have never been her. The book change enriched Bridgerton season 3, contributing to a more multifaceted portrayal of Cressida, as the reason behind her worst actions came from her lack of options in the series.

9 Portia Featherington’s Problems With The Crown’s Solicitor

She Never Schemed To Maintain Her Family’s Status Quo

The Bridgerton books never put that much of a spotlight on the Featheringtons, focusing on them only when they aimed to highlight how much they overlooked Penelope in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. This made the Bridgerton storyline focusing on the Crown solicitor investigating where the Featheringtons’ money was coming from an original story for the Netflix TV series, which never existed in the book.

The storyline made sense as it perfectly tied up with Penelope’s eventual admission of being Lady Whistledown to the ton in Bridgerton season 3, episode 8, as Portia could avoid going to jail because their wealth was justified by Penelope’s earnings as the gossip writer. However, with the Featheringtons never being that focused on in the Bridgerton books, such a story arc could have never been part of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, even more so as the Featheringtons were never known to have money problems in the books.

8 Eloise’s Role In The Truth About Whistledown Being Revealed

Eloise Couldn’t Push For The Truth To Be Revealed In The Book Nor Was She There

Eloise was a driving force in the push for Penelope to share her secret with Colin in the series, even as he eventually discovered the truth by himself in Bridgerton season 3, episode 6. Eloise not only included veiled threatening comments in her toast at their betrothal party but also outright threatened Penelope to tell Colin her secret if she hadn’t done so herself by midnight, making her very involved with Colin and Penelope throughout Bridgerton season 3, part 2. However, with Eloise not knowing Whistledown’s identity in the books, she never had such a role in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

Not only was book Eloise not privy to the truth behind Whistledown’s identity but she also missed the reveal at the party in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, because the Hastings party offered her the perfect cover to run away, effectively beginning her book story midway into Colin and Penelope’s. With Bridgerton season 2’s ending completely changing Eloise’s involvement in Penelope’s secret, it was impossible for season 3 to keep things as they were in the book, making Eloise an even more central player in the Whistledown arc.

7 Colin’s Different Reasons Motivating His Negative Reaction To The Truth

Colin Admitted Being Jealous Of Penelope’s Success Much Earlier In The Book

Colin’s main reason for his anger after discovering Penelope was Whistledown hinged on his hate for everything Whistledown wrote, especially against Marina Thompson and his sister Eloise in Bridgerton season 3. However, his reasons were entirely different in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, as he viewed Penelope’s actions as idiotic after she published her last column to disprove Cressida’s account, wanting to protect Penelope, and most importantly, being envious of Penelope as she had already found her life’s work, while Colin was struggling to find his purpose.

Colin having already valid reasons for which to avoid Penelope after learning the truth about Whistledown’s identity made his reveal that he was jealous of what Penelope had accomplished befittingly come later in Bridgerton season 3. However, that diminished how central Colin’s jealousy of Penelope’s success was in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, and how transformative their journey was when Penelope helped Colin to publish his journals.

6 Colin’s Confrontation Of Cressida After She Blackmailed Penelope

Colin Never Faced Cressida In The Book

Cressida’s actions made her a villain in Bridgerton season 3 just like she was in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, even if the series gave her very valid reasons to pursue the path of blackmailing Penelope, having put Cressida essentially between a rock and a hard place. While he was instrumental in getting Penelope out of her Cressida problem in the book, Colin never confronted Cressida head-on to convince her to stop blackmailing Penelope in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

The change worked especially well in Bridgerton season 3, as it not only highlighted the massive differences between Cressida’s family and Colin’s but also showed how Colin’s intervention made matters worse, doubling the sum Cressida requested to keep her mouth shut. The change made it impossible for Penelope to accept Cressida’s conditions, letting her find a way to sort out the problem, thus putting Penelope in charge of her fate, while she was saved by Colin in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.

5 Penelope, Portia & Their Family’s Reconciliation

Penelope Embraced Her New Family Without Sorting Out Her Problems With Her Original One

After the Featheringtons had taken Penelope for granted for seasons, Penelope’s betrothal to Colin made her worthy in the eyes of Portia, with Philippa and Prudence not understanding Portia’s change of perspective. This perfectly mirrored Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s Featheringtons, who continued to ignore Penelope as a possible bride-to-be even when Colin entered their house with her and didn’t show any interest in Felicity, the daughter Portia was pushing toward him.

However, Bridgerton season 3 went further, finally letting Penelope and Portia understand each other through the sharing of their failings. Portia learning about Penelope’s secret identity as Whistledown and Penelope discovering Portia’s forgery that almost led her to jail indeed pushed the two women closer, creating an understanding when before there had only been cold-heartedness. Coupled with Philippa and Prudence’s positive comments about Penelope in Bridgerton season 3’s ending, the series finally let the four women become a warmer family, bringing forth one of the best improvements of a book story.

4 Penelope’s Solution To Her Cressida Problems

Colin Solved Her Cressida Problem By Unmasking Penelope As Whistledown In The Book

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton saw Colin find a solution to his and Penelope’s Cressida problem, with him refusing to share the plan with Penelope, instead putting her on the spot during a toast at the Hastings party when he shared with the entire ton Penelope was Whistledown. With Penelope’s secret in Bridgerton season 3 causing many more problems, as it ruined or almost ruined various debutantes, and having to deal with Queen Charlotte’s interest in unmasking her, Bridgerton season 3 couldn’t let Penelope off the hook that easily, especially if she wanted to continue writing.

However, Penelope’s solution for her Cressida problem empowered her, as it didn’t let her rely on the Bridgerton funds but also made her the mastermind behind the reveal of her secret identity. By sending first private letters to Violet and Queen Charlotte, and then asking the ton for forgiveness, Bridgerton season 3 changed the book ending by letting Penelope continue with Whistledown’s society papers. The change aptly solved Bridgerton’s biggest secret while also not betraying the themes of season 3, not forcing Penelope to choose between a husband and a career.

3 The True Union Of The Featherington & Bridgerton Families

Season 3 Showed Them Spending Time Together With The New Couple

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton rarely showed the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons together, instead preferring to show Penelope’s wish to become a Bridgerton in action with the scenes focusing on the family moments between Penelope and the Bridgertons. However, Bridgerton season 3 showed the Featheringtons and the Bridgertons tentatively making peace at first, with Portia and Violet trying to understand why Colin and Penelope didn’t talk to each other before Bridgerton season 3’s ending time jump introduced the two families as being even more at ease with each other.

While such a scene would have clashed with Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s focus, it made perfect sense for Bridgerton season 3, as the series was always an ensemble TV show. In addition to that, it redeemed the Featheringtons after their multiple faux pas and cold behavior toward Penelope, making the union of the Featheringtons and Bridgertons mirror the many achievements of Penelope and Colin at Bridgerton season 3’s very ending.

2 Penelope’s Continuation Of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers Under Her Real Name

Penelope Stopped Writing Her Scandal Sheets In The Book

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton marked a shift in the Bridgerton books because, after Penelope’s reveal as Whistledown, the society papers stopped being published, making each chapter in the latter four Bridgerton books not anymore corralled by Whistledown’s words. While Penelope choosing Colin over Whistledown worked in the book because of the lesser focus of each Bridgerton book on other characters apart from the main couple, such an ending would have clashed with Bridgerton season 3’s themes.

Indeed, with Bridgerton season 3 putting the focus on Penelope’s purpose being writing and the power of Lady Whistledown, the possibility of choosing Colin over Whistledown wouldn’t have made such an ending a happy one for Penelope. The change enriched the story, offering a happier ending that reflected the changes Bridgerton season 3 made to Colin and Penelope’s book story, acknowledging the importance of both love and career for its protagonists.