Fan Reactions: Bridgerton’s Books vs. Series – What Readers and Viewers Prefer

BRIDGERTON: Comparing the book and the series. 

Speculations about season 4: It’s been confirmed that the next season is going to be about Benedict Bridgerton. 

The war between book readers and show watchers. Considering the fact that we’re both, today we’ll be revealing what the fans think and if we agree or disagree,

But, regardless, the one thing we can all agree on is that the tensions are still running high between Polin.

Major Differences Between the Books and the Show

One of the very important differences that possibly ruined the show for a considerable amount of book readers, was the fact that instead of revealing Penelope Featherington’s identity as Lady Whistledown in her own book, Shonda Rhimes decided to blow her cover during the finale of season 1 itself. At least for the audience watching.

And by the time her season finally rolled around, it felt like the characters were giving it more importance than it was required, and honestly felt a bit dragging. But we still watched it, for you (and for us). And now we’re going to compare Bridgerton season 3 from the TV show and the book. 

Subplots, nobody invited you

One of the main differences between the books and the TVshow that you cannot miss is that there are multiple subplots in all three released seasons of Bridgerton, while it’s not so in the books.

A TV Show fan, who watched the show first and then started to read the books, found the lack of subplots to be boring, while another fan commented on the overcrowding nature of the multiple subplots in the TV show.

And we agree, because when you add so many unnecessary plots the way that Bridgerton did, it removes focus from the main couple, which is basically the only reason why we’re even watching that season.

More than half the differences between the TVshow and the books were because of the added subplots. For example: Benedict’s newly awakened sexual tendencies, Eloise’s new but brief affair with one women’s rights activist, Theo Sharpe, Anthony’s affair with the opera singer, and Colin’s whirlwind romance with Marina Featherington.

Season 3 was about Colin Bridgerton, i.e., the fourth Bridgerton sibling and Penelope Featherington, his childhood friend who wants to be more. Or was it? Because the show had so many subplots, it was hard to keep track of Colin and Penelope’s story.

The only thing the show did better: Cressida Cowper’s storyline

From one of the sub plots, was the storyline of the Ton’s ill-mannered debutante, Cressida Cowper’s. She was Pen and Eloise’s archnemesis in previous seasons, suddenly becomes BFFS with one of them, and you can guess who after the finale of season 2. And that’s not all, you actually start to empathize with her after finding out the pressures she’s going through back home. By the end of season 3, we became so invested in Cressida’s storyline, and we have to talk about her ending today.

After they fleshed out her character and humanized her a bit in the TVshow, we became so invested in her storyline that we’re pretty sure, at one point, we were shipping Eloise and Cressida together. And although the added storyline of Cressida did make sense, what didn’t make sense was her ending, where she was banished to the countryside after pretending to be Lady Whistledown and even publishing a newsletter claiming the same.

Just Another Sub Plot

One of the other things the show did better was adding the Queen’s characters and giving it as much screen time as possible. Because she truly deserves it, with her impeccable acting skills and her interesting backstory.

• Eloise and Pen: Eloise and Pen never have a fight in the books, especially because of her identity as Lady Whistledown.

• Francesca’s courtship with John Stirling isn’t covered at all in the books, and only introduced in Francesca’s own book, 

Major differences in Polin’s love story

Finally, we come to the main lead’s romance.

Slow-burn: In the book, Colin gradually goes from feeling nothing when he looks at Pen, to feeling and thinking about all sorts of scandalous thoughts when it comes to her. And only after that does their slow dance towards romance start. While in the show, it seems like a single kiss was all it needed to change Colin’s mind and heart.

Another love triangle? Unlike in the book, Pen has to fight yet another woman for Colin’s affections in the beginning of season 3 of Bridgerton.

Timeline: In the book, Colin finds out Penelope’s identity before anything much happens between them. And their romance officially begins when he announces that he would marry her right after he found out her identity. While in the show, he’s indifferent to her secret, having no particular reaction to the information.

The book has an added character of Pen’s younger sister, Felicity, who is basically the only Featherington who is on Pen’s side. At first, before Colin makes his obsession with Pen clear, it’s assumed (mostly by Pen’s mother) that he would marry Felicity.

Power-writing couple: yes, you would be delighted to know that Colin’s efforts to protect Pen’s identity from the ton don’t stop there in the books. He goes as far as to help her write and publish. Talk about a supportive husband.

Michaela Sterling: Francesca’s season is going to be so, so Gay

But do we like it?

Michaela Stirling, introduced during the finale of season 3, is alleged to be Francesca Bridgerton, the sixth Bridgerton sibling’s main love interest. Now, book readers would know her as Micheal Stirling, the cousin of Francesca’s husband, John Stirling. She is a genderswapped reinterpretation of the character Michael Stirling. It feels forced and there’s no other way to say this, but still gives us hope for a queer Bridgerton love story.

The Wait for Season 4

And since that quickly got out of hand and went from a 500 word blog to a 1000 word one, lets end it on the note that, season 4 has been confirmed. 

It’s been confirmed that the next season will be focused on Benedict Bridgerton, who originally found love in book 3 of the series, An Offer From A Gentleman.

And all we can say about it is that: at least one thing is common between The Ton, and it’s that we’ll all be waiting for another 10 years before they finally release the next season.

We’re parched for new updates, so you’ll find us taking a page from the ton’s book and drinking lemonade.