Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature” Spoilers Ahead
Bridgerton Season 3, Episode 3, “Forces of Nature,” is one of the funnier chapters, but it also puts things into perspective. Written by Eli Wilson Pelton and directed by Andrew Ahn, it’s aptly titled in its means of again (and thankfully) allowing the women to take charge a bit more while the men attempt to be traditional heroes.
The episode isn’t nearly as innovative as the presentations within the show, but it’s still intriguing in how many little moments we get throughout. There’s a lot riding on the characters now, and how it leads to the season’s midway point is a testament to the pacing and performances.
Nicola Coughlan Continues to Be the Strongest Performer in Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature”
What do you mean people aren’t lined up for Penelope Featherington’s hand in marriage when she’s the funniest character on the show? “I love grass […] it’s so green.” The detail that’s most accurate about Bridgerton and Julia Quinn making a wallflower the ton’s gossip columnist is the fact that it makes Penelope a true writer. Most of us are absolute garbage when it comes to thinking on the spot or talking because of our anxieties. Lord knows I am, but putting a pen to paper always feels more effortless than speaking aloud.
In truth, most of what we see in Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature” further proves that Penelope isn’t the problem; the men are. How bored are these two random men boys, whose names I can’t even bother to remember that they’re going around mocking her? Like, please tell me, how are your marital prospects, and who’s even looking in your direction? And the fact that they go to Colin, too, is honestly laughable.
What isn’t laughable, however, is the fact that Lord Debling is the best new character on the show. If I don’t see this man happily in love by the end of the season, I might throw things. And while I’m generally opposed to such story arcs, it’s so easy to adore Debling because he sees the light and tenderness in Penelope that others don’t. It’s also admirable that, unlike Dumb and Dumber up top, he isn’t concerned with what Whistledown is saying. The man just wants to eat his vegetables and save the birds from extinction. Frankly, we should be crowning him as the season’s diamond.
Additionally, much of what we see with Debling is due primarily to Sam Phillips’ performances. The character could easily be forgettable when we’re essentially meant to root against him, but instead, it’s virtually impossible to dislike him. There’s a gentleness to Debling, even while he clearly realizes that two women are vying for his attention, and it’s all getting muddied. He doesn’t mock Pen or Cressida; he goes with the flow, which is refreshing in a sea of whatever the most common type of fish is. This is why the dance with Penelope stands out; it’s a moment for her to genuinely know someone good and kind desires her for all the truths she presents to him. It’s a damn good scene.
Colin Bridgerton’s Hero Moment
As much as it’s a cliché that Colin is given an overt hero moment, it works entirely to his benefit, especially if, like me, you’re team men should always grovel. He should see and know that Pen is desirable. He needs to question himself. He needs to figure out that time is ticking, and if he wants to do something, he has to take that first step toward understanding the destruction that can occur if he doesn’t act. This will be an exciting episode and moment to reflect on when he eventually learns that Penelope is Whistledown. In “Out of the Shadows,” Colin states that he will never forgive her, but if that occurs at a time when he openly loves the woman behind the quill, then he’s going to have to do his part in damage control.
Also, while we know that all the Bridgerton men are gentlemen, moments like this showcase how well Violet and Edmund raised them. So, even though it’s meant to be hot, it’s more endearing than anything else. It feels like the type of scene that effectively takes him from a boy to a man in a seamless manner. Yet, the most heroic point for Colin in Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature” is when he talks to Violet about what she believes is the most desired form of love. He gathered the courage to ask, she tells him when referring to her friendship with Edmund, and that’s something Colin attempts to pluck up while he watches Penelope across the dance floor. It’s also easy to adore that this happens before the dance with Debling because it’s not just jealousy that stirs him, but it’s everything in between, too.
And kudos to Luke Newton because that final shot of his face might just be his best performance of the season.
To Be Lonely
Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature” also continues to underscore Francesca’s loneliness, and it does so in a way that fully works. There’s a truth to every side of loneliness: the kind only children feel and the kind those in large families experience. It’s authentication of the fact that even when you’re surrounded by people who adore you, if the way you operate differs drastically from theirs, then it’s hard not to feel alone. So, it’s fascinating that Francesca voices this to someone who also comes from an enormous family. It’s going to be the thing to establish why she and John (then later Michael) are more suited for one another than anyone else.
Thereby, when John walks out as she’s standing alone, it’s as clear as the night sky why she’ll eventually choose to marry him. Those of us who’ve read When He Was Wicked know how this story ends, but the episode shows us the start of something short and beautiful in a way that benefits both characters. We get pieces of John Stirling here that we don’t have much of in the books, and we see the communication amid the silence, which results in a love that essentially suits them both.
Benedict Bridgerton’s Heroism Foreshadowed
We have no idea how Benedict’s story will play out in the show, but the emphasis on his heroic moment with Tilley is an interesting detail that could potentially foreshadow the real act of heroism he shows Sophie Beckett. Because, if anything, it’s not about holding on to a rope, but it’s standing up to horrible people, which we know he does in An Offer From a Gentleman.
Where Tilley is supposedly all about brute strength, we know that Benedict will choose someone who adores the more artistic side of the world. He still has paths to cross before getting there, but this conversation intricately kicks off so much that it’d legitimately be shocking if his season isn’t next.
Bridgerton 3×03’s “Forces of Nature” harnesses the idea of strength in its most overt form. Yet, by the end of the episode, we see that it takes more courage to tell someone the truth about your interests than it does to stop an unruly balloon. Still, the physical and emotional metaphors of strength make for an impressive theme, which, in turn, makes the romance feel even more exciting.
Afternoon Tea and Further Thoughts
- Benedict’s use of each of the women in his life as a shield during balls is my new favorite thing.
- Yeah, no, I’m not vibing with Violet and Marcus Anderson. It’s too soon after the garden metaphors. I’m still traumatized. Maybe later.
- So when is Cressida’s dad dropping dead?
- Cressida’s friendship with Eloise doesn’t bother me nearly as much as I thought it would.
- ·Once again, what on God’s green earth is happening to the costumes this season??!?!?!
- ·Members of this society mean people do not work. LOL whhhhhat!? I really hate the idea of Will losing the club.
Now streaming on Netflix: What are your thoughts on Bridgerton 3×03 “Forces of Nature?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2024