“And I want to do it in front of a mirror.” With those immortal words from Colin Bridgerton, a fan fixation began. There may not be a love scene in front of a mirror in “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” but those who love Colin and his romance with Penelope Featherington want one. Now Netflix’s Bridgerton can give them one in season 3, and there are good reasons why the scene needs to happen.
Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) has loved Colin (Luke Newton) from afar for years. Her feelings are unrequited, though they are friends. These things are the same in the novel and the television adaptation.
However, the writers of Bridgerton have changed a lot from the book, and the vast majority of it has been painful angst. The mirror love scene would be a positive addition in many ways for season 3. The fans want it, the characters deserve it, and the series needs it.
For Penelope
Penelope Featherington is a relatable and sympathetic character. And she is still those things to the audience of the show, despite Shondaland’s misguided attempts to add drama by having her write things that hurt the Bridgerton family as her alter ego, gossip columnist Lady Whistledown.
Penelope was faced with impossible situations when she did that, however. I have nothing but empathy for her. We all know how unrequited love feels. Many people know how it feels to be overlooked. Penelope is like so many women who deserve happiness but find it hard to speak up for it. She is a true introvert.
The show version of the character has had even more to deal with. She had to watch Colin court and become engaged to a woman who was tricking him. And Colin has explicitly friend-zoned her more than he did in the book.
It would only make sense that Penelope needs to be convinced that he sees her as a sexual prospect, and the mirror scene would be an effective part of that. A mirror shows us ourselves. It would be a powerful moment to watch Penelope come to see her reflection as Colin sees her: as the beautiful woman she is.
For Polin
For all the commonly-held ideas about historical romance novels, the Bridgerton series is not as graphic as some other works in the genre. Yes, sex scenes are a staple of them. But out of the 8 Bridgerton novels, a few of them only have one full, explicit love scene. Colin and Penelope’s story is one of them.
Their carriage scene is an intense and heavy makeout session, but the night of their engagement ball is the only complete sex scene they have in the book. The show can deepen the physical relationship between these two wonderful characters by adding this scene.
Sex is an important part of a romantic connection. This show certainly hasn’t shied away from presenting that. Colin and Penelope should have their share. Bridgerton season 3 is their love story after all.
If the writers add the mirror scene, it would go a long way to counteract the painful time fans had to watch as he just didn’t feel “that” way about her. Also, the mirror is an erotic detail that would make it unique among this show’s love scenes.
For Women Watching
It’s a sad fact of our world that women are judged more for their looks than men. We’ve been conditioned over the centuries to compare ourselves and it’s exhausting. Penelope is described as having a body type that falls outside of the narrow definition of attractiveness in our society.
I think this term can sometimes be overused but I truly believe that the mirror scene could be a game-changer in this way. A mirror is inextricably connected to physical appearance. Including this scene would expand the definition of female desirability on-screen, and that is a win for the women in the audience.
A well-executed romance is a gift in entertainment to begin with. The show can stage the scene just as romantically as the other lead couples’ sex scenes on this show.
Since the scene is never dramatized on the page, the show has the opportunity to add romantic dialogue. The music, lighting, and editing can also combine to create an atmosphere of love and romance. The mirror love scene has the potential to be one of the most body-positive sex scenes ever put on screen.
Bridgerton season 3 premieres May 16 on Netflix.
