With Bridgerton season 3 part 1 out, Penelope Featherington is finally shining like the beautiful gem she is. She had a nice glow-up this season with a new wardrobe and hairstyle that better suited her. Ditching the bright signature Featherington colors has done wonders for her, and she caught the eyes of two very eligible bachelors: Colin Bridgerton and Lord Debling. But who’s the better match for Penelope?
Lord Debling Is A Promising Match But Not The Perfect One
Lord Debling is a new face this season and one of the most eligible bachelors in the ton looking for a wife. He’s considered a bit of an odd duck because he cares deeply for conservation and protecting nature, and only eats fruits and vegetables. Though many ladies agree he’s handsome and rich, very few have dared to approach him about the prospect of marriage. Lord Debling doesn’t care much about gossip or what people think about him.
He is a good match for Penelope and would make a great husband. He admires everything we love about her. From being a wallflower, to her wit and her admiration for books and reading. Both of them don’t have many friends in the ton, and their social circles are very small and few. Not to mention, Lord Debling is a man who respects her and her hobbies, which would help her keep her Lady Whistledown persona separate from her personal life.
However, it’d be remiss not to point out Lord Debling’s flaws. As much as we adore him, he’s not perfect. His work comes first, and he wants little to do with society. That’s fine and dandy, but it’s pretty clear that wasn’t exactly the life Penelope pictured for her future. He doesn’t plan on living in London and wants to live away from the city if he can. While Penelope does love her privacy, she still enjoys some aspects of city living. They have their similarities, but their differences and how they want to live life aren’t something to ignore.
Colin Has The Charm But Still Has Some Growing To Do
As much as we love Colin Bridgerton, he sure is oblivious when it comes to Penelope. In all the years they’ve been friends, he didn’t think of her in a romantic sense until their first kiss. After that, he saw her in a new light, and viewers got to witness his growing feelings for her. Even Violet Bridgerton saw it and, surprisingly, wasn’t very pushy about it. She just gave him some subtle nudges to steer him in the right direction. Colin is a nice guy and has known Penelope for years.
They are comfortable just being themselves around each other because they’ve known each other for so long. Colin would usually seek Penelope’s company at events because he enjoys being around her. She doesn’t get too flustered around him like she did with other men. Not to mention: the carriage scene. That alone shows just how strong their romantic chemistry is.
Though Colin has a lot going for him, he can be a bit frustrating at times. Especially seeing how oblivious he was to Penelope’s affections in the first two seasons. He can be a little impulsive, as seen when he decided to marry Marina Thompson without informing anyone of this decision. He believed he was in love with her, but it felt more like infatuation. Overall, Colin lacks the maturity that Lord Debling has, and he still has some growing up to do.
So, who would be a better match? Colin or Lord Debling?
Sorry, Team Debling, but Colin Is A Slightly Better Match
Even though Lord Debling is a good man and would be a good husband for Penelope, he’s not a love match for her.
Penelope is looking to fall in love and wants everything that comes with it. She was willing to settle for a practical match if it meant getting out of her family’s home and having some independence. Marrying Lord Debling provided the out she needed, but it’s obvious that his answer to her question about love in a marriage wasn’t what she truly wanted to hear. She was willing to accept his proposal because he was a good man who would take care of her, and she would have her independence and privacy.
Lord Debling checked all the boxes — except the love match one. Penelope could’ve lived a life similar to her mother’s, married but not in love and only finding certain things to love. And while they have some chemistry together, it isn’t as strong as her chemistry with Colin. At the very least, Penelope and Debling have more in common than her parents did, but let’s be honest: our favorite wallflower deserves love.
Colin, on the other hand, is a love match. Fans have watched Penelope crush on Colin for two seasons, and some were ready to see her move on with Lord Debling. She was close to leaving him and her life in London behind, but luckily for Team Colin fans (and unfortunately for Team Debling), Colin told her how he felt. Being with him means that Penelope won’t have to move too far away unless she and Colin desire to. She can continue living in society and enjoying the life she knows and loves. While the show has yet to explore it, Colin does have a talent for writing; and in the books, he becomes a writer. The two of them could become a very successful couple, even though Penelope would have to keep her talents hidden because of her Lady Whistledown pseudonym.
Perhaps Lord Debling should propose to Cressida Cowper? Like him, she seems to be looking more for a marriage of convenience rather than love. Considering how harsh her parents are, it’s no wonder why she wants to marry as soon as possible. Similar to Penelope, Cressida is in her third year on the marriage mart and has no prospects. If she doesn’t marry her father’s friend, she’s doomed to become the dreaded spinster. She wants to avoid both fates, so becoming Lord Debling’s wife would benefit him and her. He could travel the world to his heart’s content while she looks after his estate and continues living a good and rich life. Plus, she wouldn’t have to live with her parents anymore and could gain some independence. It would be a win-win for both of them.
Team Colin might’ve won the love triangle, but there’s a storm of problems ahead. Colin is determined to expose Lady Whistledown’s identity for causing scandal to Eloise and his family last season. Eloise is threatening to tell the truth if Penelope doesn’t tell him. Then, the question becomes: will Colin still love her despite all the damage she’s caused? And that’s not all Penelope has to worry about. Queen Charlotte is giving a cash prize to anyone who exposes the identity of Lady Whistledown.
One thing’s for certain: Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2 is going to be filled with lots of drama.
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 is available to stream on Netflix now.
