Bridgerton Season 3 replicated the success of the previous Bridgerton seasons, with millions of viewers when the season debuted on Netflix. Unlike the previous seasons, Bridgerton Season 3 was split in two. And while the success and popularity of Bridgerton remains as strong as when Daphne and Simon first made audiences fall for their love story, Bridgerton Season 3 is not without its controversies.

Bridgerton Season 3 follows the third-eldest Bridgerton brother, Colin Bridgerton, and his romance with Penelope Featherington, also known as Lady Whistledown. Colin and Penelope’s romance is the basis for Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth book in the Bridgerton book series. However, Bridgerton Season 3 introduced several changes to Colin and Penelope’s story, as well as changes to Francesca Bridgerton’s story, whose book, When He Was Wicked, is the sixth in the book series. And while the changes to the source material, among other things, were a cause for controversy in each season of Bridgerton, Season 3 might be the most polarizing and controversial season so far.

Styling and Make-Up That Was Too Bold and Modern Confused Many Viewers

The Styling and Fashion in Bridgerton Has Always Been a Point of Controversy Among Viewers

Chris Van Dusen was the showrunner during Bridgerton Season 1 and 2, while Jess Brownell took over for Van Dusen as showrunner for Season 3 and 4.

Bridgerton was never known for its historically accurate setting and styling. Bridgerton’s fashion is beautiful even if not accurate to the 1800s, but the changes have always remained subtle enough that they didn’t distract from the story. Some viewers have complained about the inaccuracy of the ball gowns and dresses the women of Bridgerton wore in the series over the years. However, Season 3 took things to another level with the make-up and styling. Many viewers found it hard to immerse themselves in the story after seeing manicured nails or make-up full of highlighter and contouring that seemed more fitting to the modern day than in the 1800s.

Even though the actors looked gorgeous in the new make-up style, the change is a hard contrast from the subtle, almost no-makeup make-up style of the earlier seasons. The styling change in Bridgerton is even more evident on a re-watch, as Season 1 and 2 stand out for their subtle make-up and toned-down styling that highlighted the actor’s natural charms and brought Bridgerton closer to a historical romance, even if filled with fictional details. The strong make-up also didn’t work for every character’s arc and personality. For example, for someone as understated and subtle as Francesca, lighter make-up would’ve been the best option since it made sense for her personality.

Bridgerton always displayed a perfect balance between fact and fiction, history and fantasy, old and modern, that helped audiences ignore the subtle changes in favor of the overall feel of the series. This also set Bridgerton apart from other historical romances, creating a unique style and feel to the series that was unlike any other. However, Bridgerton Season 3 seems to have pushed the boundaries too much for many fans, some of who voiced their complaint about the fake eyelashes and manicured nails that made them break the immersion in the series.

Multiple Subplots Took the Attention Away From the Main Couple

While Other Seasons Had Subplots, Bridgerton Season 3 Told Too Many Stories at the Same Time

Bridgerton fans started a petition for the show to air the deleted scenes between Colin and Penelope from Bridgerton Season 3.

One of the biggest complaints from book fans and viewers alike was the number of side stories in Bridgerton Season 3, which seemed to take time away from the main couple. While the other Bridgerton seasons also introduced subplots, Season 3 followed many different characters at the same time as Colin and Penelope. This, in a way, hurt the development of their story, as some felt the romance between them felt rushed, especially in the second half of the season. Colin and Penelope were friends for years before marrying, even though Penelope had feelings for Colin from the start. But Colin took longer to notice and develop feelings for Penelope, and his realization should’ve been more fleshed out.

Each Bridgerton season follows a different Bridgerton sibling and gives them their moment to shine. Bridgerton Season 1 allowed Daphne and Simon to be the center of the story, even if Eloise’s quest to find Lady Whistledown’s identity and Anthony’s story with Simone were happening in the background. Season 2 also allowed Anthony and Kate to shine, even if other characters followed their own stories. Both seasons knew how to let the main couple be the protagonist of their own story while also letting the other characters have more development. But Bridgerton Season 3 focused on Francesca’s love story at the same time as Colin’s, making it the first season that saw two Bridgerton siblings getting married.

Season 3 also followed Benedict’s escapades with Lady Tilley, Eloise’s friendship with Cressida, as well as Cressida’s struggles to find a husband and the strain within her family. Audiences also saw Mondrich’s family becoming part of London’s nobility overnight and Lady Danbury’s brother coming to town and sharing moments with Violet Bridgerton, much to Lady Danbury’s dismay. These are only some of the many subplots happening during Bridgerton Season 3 that seemed to take time and attention away from the main love story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Bridgerton Season 3 also focused more on Penelope’s secret identity as Lady Whistledown and Colin’s reaction and anger after finding out, as well as the Queen’s efforts to finally unmask the gossip writer. Understandably, fans of Bridgerton were disappointed they couldn’t see many sweet and romantic moments between the two main leads this season.

The Major Twist at the End of Season 3 Might Be the Most Controversial Moment of Season 3

The Introduction of Michaela Stirling Changes Francesca’s Entire Arc in When He Was Wicked

Francesca doesn’t get married at the same time as Colin. Instead, she is already a widow by the time Colin and Penelope get married.

Francesca Bridgerton’s love story became a fan-favorite during Season 3, and at the same time, it was arguably the most controversial of all. Francesca isn’t the main focus of Season 3, and her story during this series helped set up what happens in her book When He Was Wicked. However, the small yet important changes to her story may have bigger repercussions later on, and many fans voiced their disappointment to the point where Bridgerton’s author Julia Quinn had to publicly address the fans’ complaints.When He Was Wicked is one of the few books in the Bridgerton book series that changes the formula and introduces more mature and dark themes of loss, jealousy, guilt and grief.

Unlike the rest of her Bridgerton siblings, who all saw an easy love story and happy ending, Francesca probably suffered and struggled the most. After only two years of marriage, Francesca’s husband, John Stirling, dies, turning her into a young widow. When He Was Wicked follows Francesca as she navigates her new life as a widow and eventually falls in love with John’s cousin, Michael. But Bridgerton Season 3 made a big change when introducing John’s cousin, who, instead of Michael, is Michaela. This in itself isn’t such a big change, as there have been many other differences between the Bridgerton series and the books. However, turning Michael into Michaela affects Francesca’s story in many ways. For one, Francesca’s book deals with grief and infertility in a way no other Bridgerton book ever does. Francesca is pregnant when John dies but miscarries only a few days after John’s death. She later decides to get married again because she desperately wants to be a mother but is scared that she might not be able to conceive. Making Michael Michaela might affect Francesca’s fertility journey in many ways, and this is a plot point that many Bridgerton fans wanted to see adapted to the screen.

The way Michaela was introduced also disappointed some book fans, as it made it seem as though Francesca fell in love at first sight with Michaela, even though Francesca had just married John. Even during John and Francesca’s wedding, Francesca seemed unsure and disillusioned by John’s kiss at the altar. This moment, as well as the moment when Francesca and Michaela meet for the first time, were small yet caused big controversies among book fans. Many were upset to realize that it’s Francesca who notices Michaela and seems taken by her from the start. However, in When He Was Wicked, it’s clear that Francesca was deeply in love with John until his death and only developed feelings for John’s cousin over four years after John’s death. And even then, they both feel guilty and Francesca has a hard time accepting that she can love another man so deeply after John, and that this new love she feels for Michael doesn’t negate or diminish the love she felt for John. However, having Francesca seem so shaken by Michaela from the start and seeing Francesca having doubts after her and John’s kiss at the altar almost made it seem as though Francesca wasn’t truly in love with John, which upset many Bridgerton fans.