Bridgerton season 3 is coming up! Polin’s love story begins to blossom with some unexpected news. A new character will appear in the season and we are not sure yet if we are going to love or hate her. Ready?
Here we go!
According to Deadline, Hannah New is joining Bridgerton season 3 in a surprising role. She will play Lady Tilley Arnold, a firebrand widow. Widowed at an early age, she enjoys the privileges and power that come with being at the helm of her former husband’s estate, living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom.
You already know that I have practically not read any book of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn but I know that this character doesn’t exist in the literary universe. Therefore, Lady Tilley is a character created exclusively for the show.
Knowing what we know about season 3 in the sense that it will tell Polin’s love story and taking into account the official synopsis of the season, we see two options for this character. It may be that Lady Tilley is a new friend or acquaintance for Penelope who encourages her to continue her independence through marriage.
Perhaps seeing Lady Tilley enjoying life on her own terms in every way is what convinces Penelope that she would gain more independence and freedom with a husband who would let her be than by her mother’s side.
However, Lady Tilley can also be the other side of the coin and be interested in Colin, thus becoming a kind of rival to Penelope. Although this option doesn’t suit me too much and I have almost all my own hopes that they will not do this. Women as rivals for a man’s love is too cliche for a show like Bridgerton.
Also, considering that the show was criticized for focusing too much on Edwina and Anthony instead of Kate and Anthony, the leads of season 2, it’s hard to believe that Bridgerton would make a similar-sounding miscalculation again.
What seems shocking about Lady Tilley is that part of her story is Francesca Bridgerton’s story. I don’t really understand why they have introduced a character with a story so similar to hers this season. I guess this is one of those cases where you don’t understand why until you see it with your eyes.
In any case, thanks to TUDUM, we know that Bridgerton season 3’s first episode will be titled “Out of the Shadows,” helmed by new showrunner Jess Brownell, who is replacing Chris Van Dusen. Other cast additions include Daniel Francis, Sam Phillips and James Phoon as well as Hannah Dodd, who plays Francesca Bridgerton in a recasting.
Bridgerton season 3 is coming soon to Netflix, in the meantime you can enjoy season 2.
