Breaking Book Barriers: Why ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3’s Omission Is A Win For Body Positivity

If you’re anything like me, you’re getting hyped for the new season of Bridgerton. While the couples of the previous two seasons have had plenty of chemistry (especially Kate and Anthony of Season 2), nothing can compare to the hot chemistry rolling off of the trailer for Season 3’s Penelope and Colin. Maybe it’s the fact that actors Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton have such great off-screen chemistry. (Have you seen them together in press interviews lately? We all deserve someone who looks at us like that.)

As you may know, Season 3 of Bridgerton is based on the the fourth novel in Julia Quinn’s series: Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Although previous seasons remained fairly faithful to the original source material (even with the questionable plot from the first season), Bridgerton Season 3 has taken one important swerve from the book–and we’re thrilled.

Penelope’s Weight Loss in Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Penelope is a main character throughout the Bridgerton series, even before Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Often described as “pudgy” and having “baby fat,” her plus size characterization followed her from book to book. And considering that she was seen as a bit of a villain earlier in the series, these descriptions of her fit the unfortunate “fat villain” trope. Characters who are described as being larger than the rest of the cast are often given unseemly personalities to go along with the size.

The hope, of course, is that, by the time Penelope gets her own book, her size wouldn’t be an issue. She deserves love regardless of her weight, right? Alas, Julia Quinn got around this by having Penelope lose weight when it came time for her to find true love. In the first chapter of Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the author writes:

It helped that she’d lost nearly two stone and could now call herself “pleasantly rounded” rather than “a hideous pudge.” She was still nowhere near the slender ideal of womanhood that ruled the day, but at least she’d changed enough to warrant the purchase of a completely new wardrobe.

Two stone is nearly 30 pounds–a significant amount of weight for anyone to lose. And so begins a story in which Penelope finally wins the heart of longtime friend Colin Bridgerton. Now that she’s lighter, he sees her as a romantic possibility.

Of course, this kind of plot isn’t exactly to be celebrated. Where’s the idea that you deserve love no matter your size? Instead, the book seems to show that, if you want to be seen as human, you need to look as close to everyone else as possible–an idea that doesn’t sit right with many people of a modern audience. Luckily for all of us, though, that part of the plot doesn’t seem to have made its way to the screen.

Glow-Ups Without Noticeable Weight Loss

First, let me be upfront that I, the author of this article, am fat. Not even “pleasantly rounded” as Julia Quinn might describe. Normally I wouldn’t comment on anyone’s body, whether they’re a public figure or not, but, in showing how Nicola Coughlan looks as Penelope from Season 1 to Season 3 I’m not criticizing her size or guessing how much she weighs. I’m celebrating her. Because…I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the woman is gorgeous. Moving on…

The theme of Netflix’s version of the story, at least if the trailer is to be believed, is the almighty glow-up. Rather than a one-sided makeover like everyone’s favorite 1999 rom com, She’s All That, both main characters of Bridgerton Season 3 are getting a glow-up. But, rather than the dreaded weight loss that could have happened to Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope, she looks just about the same weight–but so much better. The hair, the makeup, the outfits, she’s like a brand new person.

And Luke Newton’ Colin, too. He’s also gotten his own movie-magic-makeover, thanks again to the hair, makeup, and costume departments. This is nothing new, of course. Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton got a similar glow-up for Season 2.

We’re just thankful that, at the end of the day, the weight loss plot was ditched for the Netflix adaptation. Nicola Coughlan is gorgeous as she is, and if she–and Penelope, too–doesn’t deserve true love, then no one does.

Catch part one of Bridgerton Season 3 on Netflix on May 16, 2024. And if you want to read a fun plus size romance while you wait, check out my list.