With the Arrival of the 'Bridgerton' Season 3 Trailer, It's Officially "Polin" Season

Springtime means many things: Warmer weather, colorful flowers blooming everywhere, young lovers frolicking in beautiful pastoral settings, and, of course, Polin. (But not the kind that gives you allergies.) Yes, with just over a month to go until its popular period romance Bridgerton returns, Netflix has finally released a trailer for the third season, and the swoon-worthy two-minute clip more than proves that everyone involved with this show knows precisely how hard we've all been shipping these two and seems ready to give us the love story of our dreams. 

Wallflower Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) charming, seemingly unrequited crush on her best friend Eloise Bridgerton's (Claudia Jessie) elder brother Colin (Luke Newton) has been a focal point of the series since it first began. And now the show is set to finally pay off all that flirting and yearning, with a proper romance --- and a little sooner than expected, at that.

As most fans are probably aware by now, the Netflix series has decided to shift the order in which it is adapting author Julia Quinn's books, jumping ahead to the events of Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth installment in the series, which focuses on Colin and Penelope's romance. Given how much screen time the show has already spent on the pair's friendship, as well as the fact that Eloise now knows Penelope's secret identity as Lady Whistledon, it's a shift that certainly flows better, narratively speaking, than suddenly pivoting the story to focus on Benedict, who is technically the star of the next chronological book in the series. (And could use quite a bit more depth in the show.)

The story will see Penelope determined to finally find a husband, if only to get out of living at the Featherington house. (Well, that, and the fact that her chances will be ruined if it becomes public knowledge that she's the author of the ton's most notorious scandal shet.) Desperate to get back into her good graces --- Pen's still well angry about the hurtful comments she heard him make last season --- Colin offers to coach her in the ways of catching a man. 

Unfortunately for him, this all works a little too well when Penelope catches the eye of a handsome new suitor named Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), and the prospect of a girl he claimed he didn't care for suddenly marrying someone else is a powerful motivator when it comes to Colin being forced to confront his own feelings. 

Though Season 3 will primarily focus on Colin and Penelope's much-anticipated friends-to-lovers romance, the show will also introduce the new Francesca Bridgerton, now played by Hannah Dodd (Enola Holmes 2) who has taken over the role from Ruby Stokes (Lockwood & Co.). And "Kanthony" fans will doubtless be delighted to see that both Jonathan Bailey (Fellow Travelers) and Simone Ashley (Sex Education) are reprising their roles as Anthony Bridgerton and his new wife Kate, giving viewers a chance to see what their happily ever after looks like post-marriage. 

(Sorry, folks, neither Phoebe Dynevor nor Rege Jean-Page, who play Daphne Bridgerton and her husband Simon, the Duke of Hastings, will be making an appearance this year.)

Here's the third season synopsis. 

From Shondaland and new showrunner, Jess Brownell, Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it’s time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope’s attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly. Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he’s disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope’s growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.

Other cast members returning for Season 3 include Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Harriet Cains (Philipa Featherington), Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington), Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton), Polly Walker (Portia Featherington), and Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown.) 

Bridgerton Season 3, Part 1 will premiere on May 16, 2024, with Part 2 set to follow just under a month later, debuting on June 13, 2024. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Netflix.