More than 10 months have passed since Bridgerton Season 2 and Netflix hasn’t confirmed the air date yet. Season 3. However, one thing we know for sure - the focus will certainly be on the fan-favorite heroine Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), as the show focuses on her romance with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). These two will bring to life the image of friends and lovers inspired by the fourth. Bridgerton novel Julia Quinnauthorized Romance with Mr. Bridgerton. It’s safe to say that the fans are enthusiastic; Penelope has been a main character since the very first episode and is the face of “Tone’s” witty gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown, who narrates the show in voice Julie Andrews.
Of course, this already makes her the focus of a major story arc during the first two seasons as she advances her career, her friendship with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), and her seemingly unrequited crush on Colin Bridgerton. Viewers already know and love Penelope, so it will be interesting to see how she finally earns co-host status in Season 3. Even more important is the fact that this will make her one of the few plus size protagonists on television. .
It’s no secret that overweight people are underrepresented in the media, and even less well represented. This is not surprising: the entertainment industry upholds strict beauty standards, especially for women, and casting directors favor thin actors who are considered attractive. Unfortunately, plus size people are often forced to lose weight if they want to be successful in business, and plus size characters are most often used in supporting roles, especially comedic ones. They could be used as a fatphobic punchline, their entire storyline revolves around their weight, or perhaps they just exist to make the protagonist seem more desirable to the public. Despite this, these characters tend to be underdeveloped and neglected - see Kat Hernandez (barbie ferreira) V Euphoriawho leaves the show after a shocking reduction in airtime in the second season.
Celebrating Diversity in the Romance and Historical Drama Genres
Yes, from time to time there are characters of large sizes, but there are very few of them, and even more so in the romance genre. Thin people are considered more desirable and popular, and therefore more profitable. Featuring a large size character as a romantic leader, Bridgerton defies aesthetic norms, as it did in the first season, by taking on the role of Simon as a biracial (Rare Jean Page), Daphne’s love interest (Phoebe Dynevor), and in season 2 with Kate (Simone Ashley), played by an Indian woman who fell in love with Anthony (Jonathan Bailey). Historical dramas are also notoriously exclusive when it comes to casting. Like Bridgerton, the action of many historical dramas takes place in historical Europe, for example, in the Middle Ages or modern times - that is, in times that, in the opinion of people, did not differ in diversity, especially among the upper social classes. This can be seen in adaptations of other Regency novels such as those who take on the work Jane Austen; most of the time all the characters look very narrow.
It’s not exactly shocking that directors from the historical drama genre aren’t casting more diverse actors, given the outrage that could result - many people reacted negatively to the news that historical fantasy dramas Dragon House And Rings of Power would be highly racially diverse. Historical accuracy is constantly used as a justification for condemning diverse casting. Bridgerton itself has been criticized for its inclusive cast, despite the show being entirely fictional. But the series will not succumb to backlash, and record number of views behind Bridgerton proves that people do I want to see more variety of love stories. It is imperative that this series continue to claim representation, normalizing it on a larger scale and hopefully encouraging more influential media to follow suit.
Romance with Mr. Bridgerton sends distressing signals
While Bridgerton is an ensemble cast, the books are told entirely from the point of view of their main couples, meaning that Penelope has nothing to do in the first three installments. It is noted that it is large; however, by the time her book comes out, she has lost two stone and has undergone a “transformation” just in time for her romance with Colin. This is a clear reflection of the fact that fat people are not perceived as attractive leaders, especially romantic ones. This triggers the message that plus size people need to lose weight in order to be loved and desired by other people. The show is already doing a better job of that, as Penelope’s size doesn’t really matter in the first place. When this is mentioned, it’s mostly due to patronizing remarks made by Penelope’s mother, who resents Penelope’s lack of popularity with prospective suitors, but it’s always clear that the show doesn’t find such treatment acceptable.
Fortunately, the series is not afraid to diverge from the books, as evidenced by Bridgerton casting people of color for roles that were written as white, making it highly unlikely overall that weight loss will be part of Penelope’s season 3 transformation. sideburns for Season 2), this will likely show up in more superficial ways, such as prettier clothes and better hair, which will boost her confidence. With any luck, at least she won’t have to wear so much yellow. The season’s original description also indicates that it is not Penelope’s appearance that prompts Colin to see her in a different light, but that she is showing interest in other potential suitors for the first time.
Penelope is the heart and soul of the show
So far, Penelope has been a very prominent and developed character, favored over Colin himself, so viewers can rest assured that her character will get justice in Season 3. to be such a complex and likable character. It’s easy to root for Penelope as she earns her living as an often-forgotten quiet woman in a patriarchal society. Her actions could not always be justified - for example, at the end of Season 2, she throws Eloise under a bus in one of her publications to prevent her identity as Lady Whistledown from being exposed.
Regardless, we can always see where she comes from and she has a lot of likable qualities that will probably only be expanded on in Season 3. and their downturns will continue to be the focus of attention. In fact, it’s nice to watch a female friendship crumble without feeling like the show is forcing us to choose sides and demonize one of the two women.
Penelope is already a 3D central character and she is just getting started. After she became a co-host in Season 3, her character may take a backseat in Season 4. But don’t worry - it’s hard to imagine her not being on the show in a big way, as that would no doubt also mean losing the show’s iconic narrative and Lady Whistledown mystery that has been at the heart of every season. Either way, Season 3 is sure to be a fun roller coaster for Polin fans, who were shocked at the end of Season 2 when Penelope heard Colin declare that he would never get involved with her.
Penelope’s story is so important because it shows that a plus-sized woman can be part of a love story as swoon-worthy and swoon-worthy as Simon and Daphne, Kate and Anthony. Bridgerton continues to challenge both genre conventions and industry expectations by presenting novels that fall short of the standard of typical white skinny beauty. In 2023, it’s high time to diversify romantic roles, and the message that people can be desirable, no matter how they look, is very important. But other than that, Penelope is just one of the best characters on the show, and she’s big.
Source: Collider
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