Bridgerton – Season 3 Episode 3 “Forces of Nature” Recap & Review

Forces of Nature

Episode 3 of Bridgerton Season 3 begins with Colin dreaming of his kiss with Penelope. He wakes up all flustered and surprised. Meanwhile, Charlotte goes through all the suitors for Francesca and declares that he has to be of the highest standing. However, Danbury is distracted cause of a late-night visitor. At the same time, Eloise visits Pen to apologise and hopes she finds what she is looking for. While Eloise is still distant, there is a sort of truce between them.

At the park, Pen and Colin have an awkward encounter. She stops their lessons and he thinks it is because of the kiss. Both get awkward at the mention which Pen brushes aside.

At the next gathering, everyone eyes Lord Debling as the next suitable bachelor. They find it odd that he is a vegan and goes on about nature but Cressida agrees to get with him because he is rich. Pen tries to approach some men but they mock her.

Upset, she hides in a corner and is joined by Debling who doesn’t read Whistledown. When she tells him about her scandal, he commends her on her bravery and they talk all night. As for Francesca, she seems delighted that Charlotte will find her a suitor so she doesn’t have to do the hard work. This doesn’t make Violet happy as she wants her to find love.

Alice turns heads in her new look and the Mondrichs are more at ease with their newfound confidence. Benedict hides with Danbury as his partner from the last ball tries to approach him.

Cressida declares her intentions to approach Debling but Eloise tries to warn her that Pen is interested in him too. While Pen has her sympathies, Cressida reveals that she doesn’t have a supportive family so she needs Debling as her husband. A begrudging Eloise agrees to help. 

There is a hot air balloon event and the ton gathers. Pen thanks Colin for his help and tells him about Debling being interested in her. He doesn’t look too happy as he wonders if Debling likes her. At that moment, she eats a cookie and Colin gets distracted by her lips.

Outside, Eloise and Cressida catch Debling and from their research, they go on about birds that pique his interest. He spots Pen and calls her over much to all three women’s chagrin. She is out of her element as she fumbles over talks of nature while Cressida and Debling bond over their unsupportive families.

Queen Charlotte invites a marquess for Francesca and while she is disinterested, Violet thinks there is a spark. In trying to avoid his dance partner, Benedict sneaks into the engineer’s tent. The gentlemen are discussing the odds of the hot air balloon and Benedict is surprised to see a woman among them. She puts all the men in their place when they doubt the engineer and Benedict is impressed. 

The event is almost ruined as there is a strong wind. Prudence and her husband secretly make out but she pushes him when someone sees them. He breaks one of the ropes holding the balloon and it barrels straight towards Penelope.

Colin notices and runs to grab the rope. He calls for help but it is too windy. Pen trips while trying to get away and Debling shields her. At that moment the wind changes course and the engineer hops on the balloon and salvages the event. Everyone cheers Colin who watches Debling checking on Pen. Cressida is annoyed and pretends to hurt her ankle and Debling rushes to her.

A ball is held in celebration of the event. Violet drops her glove and a gentleman picks it up. It is revealed that he is Danbury’s brother and late-night visitor, Marcus. Danbury is not too happy to see him while Violet is flustered by his charms.

Inside, Lady Cowper warns Cressida that their allowance is cut in half and she needs to secure a husband as she is in her third year. Cressida spots Pen heading for Debling and she rushes over first. Meanwhile, the marquess scares off Francesca by saying he wants 8 children. She goes outside for fresh air and a gentleman joins her. They have a quiet moment before she heads back in.

Benedict runs into the woman from the tent, Lady Tilley Arnold, a widow. They banter as he says he is not afraid of her and she takes up the challenge. They dance and she is very forward which surprises him.

Will visits his club and while bartending, he boasts about an invitation to a hunt that he’s gotten. An old friend tells him he cannot keep working if he is to be accepted by the nobles. Will believes he can do what he likes but the friend says everything has limits.

Back at the ball, while talking to the ladies, Colin sees Pen hesitating and he indirectly tells her to be brave. Emboldened, she approaches Debling and confesses that she is not similar to him and tells him about her interests. He is touched as he says he wants someone who can embrace themselves and he gives her the drink meant for Cressida.

As he watches them, Colin asks his mother about her love and she reveals she was first friends with her husband. But they only became more after he had the courage to ask her. Violet realises Colin has feelings for Pen as he heads towards her. Pen looks surprised but before he can ask her, Debling takes her away for a dance. 

Everyone is surprised by the new turn of events. Phillipa gets sick and Portia realises she is pregnant. At the end of Bridgerton Season 3 Episode 3, Colin looks upset.

The Episode Review

Were we the only ones who kind of knew that the first scene of Colin and Pen kissing was a dream? But what is surprising is that it was Colin’s dream. And about time we got some rom-com tropes with the way both get flustered during their first interaction after the kiss. It will have viewers giggling at the hilarious encounter as the two awkwardly try to trudge forward while pretending that nothing has happened. 

We also have to talk about the whole Debling situation. Just as Eloise and Pen get almost cordial, the new Cressida-Debling drama will very likely ruin it. Especially since Pen isn’t supposed to get with Debling which means it is pointless. Now Eloise will have to take sides while poor Colin is heartbroken as he realises too late that he likes Pen. 

And hey, we truly missed the Vitamin String Quartet’s rendition of iconic songs. We finally get the first noticeable one in Bridgerton Season 3 Episode 3 with Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills.’ It sets the mood for all the chaos while also underlining the blooming romance between 3 couples, 4 if we count Benedict and Tilley.