First look at Bridgerton season 3 as Colin and Penelope take centre stage

It’s been a long wait for Bridgerton fans but Netflix has finally released a first look teaser of the hotly-anticipated season 3.

Dearest members of the Ton, we are flailing in a manner most unbecoming of a gentleman or lady this morning because Netflix finally unveiled the first footage from Bridgerton Season 3.

We’ve waited literally years to watch what happens when Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) finally makes her move on long-time crush Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Would it be awkward? Would the chemistry be there?

Watering down any doubts, the first ‘Sneak Peek’ clip shows Penelope and Colin have crackling chemistry that mixes the hot and heavy horn factor Bridgerton’s famous for with good, old-fashioned rom-com timing.

Fans have been given a sneak peek look at the upcoming third season of Bridgerton.

It will focus on Penelope and Colin’s bubbling love story.

Bridgerton is Netflix and Shondaland’s adaptation of Regency romance author Julia Quinn’s addictive Bridgerton books. Each book follows the love life of a different Bridgerton sibling and, so far, each season of the Netflix series has followed suit.

In Bridgerton Season 3, the focus shifts to Colin Bridgerton, who has run away from the pressures of London society by travelling the world.

Upon his return home, he reconnects with long-time friend and neighbour Penelope Featherington, unaware that she once harboured a deep love for him or that she has an even deeper secret. (Penelope is actually the acid-quilled gossip writer Lady Whistledown.)

Netflix and Shondaland have already revealed that Colin will offer to help Penelope catch a decent husband in the new season, and the clip seemingly offers a glimpse of these “lessons.”

Penelope earnestly tells Colin, “Your eyes are the most remarkable shade of blue, yet somehow they shine even brighter when you are being kind.”

Colin seems swept up by her words until Penelope attempts to cover up her feelings. They both grapple for glasses at the same time as Pen says, “I might say something like that if you were a suitor.”

Colin collects himself by downing a drink and says, “Well, that was rather direct.”

It looks like, despite some doubts, Colin and Penelope do share sizzling chemistry.

The scene ends with chatter from outside of the Bridgerton parlour — probably Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and one or more of her daughters? — shattering the moment.

This wasn’t the only snippet of Bridgerton Season 3 footage fans got today.

Netflix also showed off a scene where Colin visits Penelope at night in their big 2024 teaser.

They both look fixated on each other and Penelope’s hair is down, her breathing heavy.

Bridgerton season 3 hits streaming in May.

Our big takeaway from this footage? Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton definitely have the on-screen chemistry to convincingly push Penelope and Colin’s relationship out of the friendzone and into steamy sex scene territory.

The last we checked in with the Bridgerton family was for season 2, which was released in March 2022 and focused on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

A third season has been a long time coming for fans, with concerning reports emerging in January last year a storyline had been “axed” as Rhimes wasn’t happy with the “direction”, causing even more delays.

“We have been told that it needs the fun back so there are changes, which of course means delays,” said a source to MailOnline at the time.

“One thing is for sure though, the production team want to get it right for Bridgerton fans so they enjoy it as much as they have in the past.

“There are some elements that Shonda is just not happy with so wants to change them. Some of it got very dark.”

Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 premieres on May 16 and Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 will arrive a month later on June 13.

This story originally appeared on Decider and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as First look at Bridgerton season 3 as Colin and Penelope take centre stage