DISCLAIMER: This recap of Bridgerton Season 3 Episode 2, “How Bright the Moon,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Dearest Gentle Reader,
Episode two, “How Bright the Moon,” gives us the first phase of Polin: a kiss! It’s passionate and, oh, so sweet. Sure, the moon is bright in this outing, but not as bright as Colin’s eyes after he smooched Penelope. My boy is smitten. “How Bright the Moon” delivers on all fronts — nuanced, fearless and fully embodied performances from our two leads, a bit of steaminess here and there, juicy drama and moments of levity from the Featherington fam.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Bridgerton episode, “Out of the Shadows”
Game, Set, Match
We open with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) examining a diamond-encrusted pineapple. They discuss the current season. So far, Her Majesty isn’t impressed. None of the debutantes have gone out of their way to make a statement. However, the queen won’t let Lady Whistledown’s remarks from her latest pamphlet bring her low. She’ll play the game and show this faceless gossip writer she should be afraid. (Sorry, Pen.)
Next, Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) provides narration, telling us about the various women thought to be out of the marriage mart who went on to wed. Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) stands with her maid in front of her mirror, wearing one of her gorgeous new gowns. Mrs. Varley (Lorraine Ashbourne) mentions that she’s glad Pen’s mom didn’t make her toss out the dresses.
Learning the Ropes
Meanwhile, Will and Alice Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe and Emma Naomi) get the grand tour of their estate along with their children (one of whom is the new Baron of Kent). They learn their quarters are across the corridor from each other. It isn’t proper for married couples to sleep in the same room in the ton. No wonder everyone’s horny with all these restrictions.
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Next, Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin (Luke Newton) and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) take a stroll through the promenade. Benny pokes fun at Eloise for transforming into a socially acceptable young lady. Now, all she needs is a fancy fan. Eloise and Benedict are one of my favorite relationships on the show. They feel the most realistic and contemporary to me.
Colin reunites with Pen, and the two start with their first lesson in Operation: Find Pen a Husband (I just made that up). He claims he wants to see her flirtation skills in action, so he urges Pen to charm two lords they spot on their walk. Pen crashes and burns (I say that lovingly and as someone who would’ve done the same). At least she has her trusty fan. Nicola Coughlan is so good at comedy — she makes me want to rewatch Derry Girls for the umpteenth time.
There Is Hope Yet
Later, Lady Danbury and Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) have tea, with Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) present. Lady Danbury reveals that the queen isn’t done with the season yet. Francesca has many potential suitors with musical interests, so her prospects look mighty fine.
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Meanwhile, at the Featherington house, Lady Portia (Polly Walker) gives her married daughters, Prudence Dankworth (Bessie Carter) and Philipa Finch (Harriet Cains), the “talk.” She asks them if they’ve done the beast with two backs, rolled in the hay, the horizontal tango — I’m running out of euphemisms for sex. Prudence claims she and her husband only had sex on their wedding night. Philipa, well, I’m not sure she knows what sex entails.
Speaking of steamy stuff, Colin wraps up a hot and heavy session between the sheets with two women. I’ll try not to say anything here that sets back feminism a few centuries (but I might think it).
More Lessons
Later, Pen and Colin meet in an outdoor market to continue their lessons. He insists she doesn’t need teaching; she’s inherently a good flirt. Colin recalls their first meeting as children and how Pen had no inhibitions about charming him then. Our Bridgerton boy thinks he knows why that is … it’s because they were kids. Yes, that’s right! Oh, my sweet summer child. You still can’t see it, can you?
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Then, we see Will and Alice lying in their separate rooms, clearly missing each other. The following day, Alice visits the modiste for alterations on the gowns she inherited from the late Lady Kent. Genevieve Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) suggests that Alice use some of that newly acquired fortune to purchase more modern dresses. (In extreme Parks and Rec voice) Treat yourself, 1815!
Meanwhile, Eloise and Francesca are also at the modiste. Eloise encourages Francesca to hold out on finding a husband, ensuring she can wait longer. However, Francesca claims she hopes to get married ASAP for the peace it’ll allow her. That said, she doesn’t want the queen’s attention.
The Bridgerton House
At the Bridgerton house, Benedict, Colin, Gregory (Will Tilston) and Hyacinth play a card game in the backyard. Colin leaves said game to usher Penelope into the drawing room to do a bit of roleplaying. (Not like that; get your minds out of the gutter. We’re not there yet.) Colin reassures Pen that Eloise is out and everyone else is still playing their card game. Side note: Colin’s remark about how Benny would never miss “the spectacle” of a competitive game between the Bridgerton siblings is so me.
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Next, Pen tests her flirtation skills on Colin this time, who pretends to be a lord at a ball. She taps into her brilliant writing skills, calling his eyes “the most remarkable shade of blue.” They shine even brighter when he’s kind. Oh, I felt that, as did Colin. He admits it’s rather direct, but look at how rattled he is. Upon hearing Eloise and Francesca returning home, Colin ushers Pen into the study to hide.
There, she finds his journal chronicling his world travels. She reads a few lines about Colin declaring that Parisian women are some of the most beautiful in the world. He enters, horrified that she’s read his private thoughts. Pen apologizes as Colin picks up his journal. He inadvertently knocks over a glass case containing a candle. Colin cuts his hand as he tries to collect the glass shards.
A Charged Moment
Pen acts quickly, grabbing a cloth to wrap around the wound. It turns into another sexually charged moment. After this, Pen flees, but not before spotting Eloise on her way out the door. Awkward.
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That evening, everyone prepares for the impending ball. Alice is excited to find the late Lady Kent owned stunning jewelry while Colin and Eloise ride together in a carriage. Colin apologizes for bringing Pen to the house. He explains that she wants to find a husband, and he’s been giving her lessons. Eloise doesn’t mind her brother being friends with her ex-bestie as long as Pen isn’t at their home. Despite claiming not to care about Pen, Eloise asks how she’s doing.
Later, Queen Charlotte, flanked by Reynolds (Hugh Sachs) and Lady Danbury, watches as the debutantes try extra hard to impress her. Violet is glad to see Eloise accept an invite from a few debutantes to “take a turn” about the room. She’s also happy that Francesca wants to meet one of her potential suitors who loves music.
The Rules of the Ton
Elsewhere, Benedict and Colin encounter a pack of debutantes as they ask if the boys will dance that evening. Benny sighs, realizing he must fulfill at least one of his responsibilities as a member of the ton. Meanwhile, Colin and Pen reunite. The whole “journal reading” thing is water under the bridge. Colin makes a deal with her. If she talks to one lord that evening, he’ll consider letting her read more of his writing. She accepts this. However, her first chat with a viscount ends in disaster when he reveals he’s grieving the death of his horse.
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Eloise hangs out with Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) and her new crew. She lets slip that Colin has been teaching Pen how to find a husband. Oh, this won’t end well. You can’t tell the resident gossip about something like this. After Benedict dances with one of the debutantes, he greets Will and Alice, who’ve just arrived for their first ball as new members of the ton.
He dispenses advice for getting by, revealing that you don’t necessarily have to follow every rule. Those rules are for the marriage mart. However, once you’ve fulfilled your duty, you’re free. At least Will and Alice are married. The Mondrichs remark that Benny’s dance partner looks smitten with him. He might need to set boundaries. I don’t blame her; I also look at Benedict that way.
Operating in Her Sphere
Meanwhile, Francesca meets a music-loving potential suitor. They initially click over their mutual love of various composers and their works. But something “unclicks” for Francesca, and the conversation falls flat. Lady Danbury and Violet watch the interaction from afar. Danbury wonders if perhaps it would be best to let Francesca operate in her “sphere,” as it were.
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Then, Portia pulls Prudence and Philipa into an empty dining room to speak frankly about their sex lives. Philipa really doesn’t know what sex entails. She claims her husband kisses her, groans and then removes his breeches. These scenes have been cracking me up. More Featherington sex shenanigans, please. Outside that room, Pen has an engaging chat with a lord who wishes to call upon her. Colin watches. I know he’s envious beneath that cool exterior.
Next, Pen and Colin overhear folks whispering about their lessons. They gossip about why Colin would bother teaching a “spinster” anything. Ouch. Pen flees in tears while Colin confronts Eloise for disclosing this secret to Cressida.
Sparkling
Later, Lady Danbury encourages the queen to check out a particular painting in another room before Her Majesty departs. Sure enough, Queen Charlotte encounters Francesca at the pianoforte. The queen claps, complimenting Francesca on her abilities. She also applauds the girl for not tripping over herself to impress Her Majesty. The queen adds that Francesca is “sparkling” indeed. Methinks we have the diamond of the season.
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Meanwhile, at the Kent estate, Will and Alice decide to buck certain societal traditions. They plan to sleep in the same room and dance with each other only at the balls. However, there’s one thing Alice wants to keep—her late great-aunt’s jewelry. Will would rather they remove their clothes ASAP.
Then, Prudence and Philipa actually have sex with their husbands, Harry Dankworth (James Phoon) and Albion Finch (Lorn Macdonald). Lady Danbury receives a note from someone unknown. She orders her staff to prepare one of the rooms for an arrival.
Sharing Secrets
The following morning, Eloise scolds Cressida for sharing Colin’s secret. Cressida defends herself, revealing she didn’t say anything to their inner circle (in her defense, she didn’t), but she noticed one debutante hovering nearby. Cressida storms off.
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Later, we hear Lady Whistledown’s voice as she reads the latest pamphlet circulating the ton. Pen wrote disparaging remarks about herself, claiming she should return to hiding after that failed experiment with Colin. My poor girl. You are more than a “wallflower.” You’re a diamond.
Portia admonishes Pen for doing such a thing, for reaching beyond the unattainable. Oof. Their reputation is already precarious, given what transpired with their cousin last season. She didn’t know Pen wanted to find a husband. Noticing her daughter is upset, Portia switches gears, stating that unmarried life isn’t so bad.
How Bright the Moon
That evening, Pen’s maid informs her that she has a caller. It’s Colin. He apologizes for what happened and his behavior — all of it. Pen gives up, believing she’s a lost cause. However, before throwing in the towel for good, she asks Colin to kiss her. Pen’s never been kissed before. Initially, he makes up excuses, but he fulfills her wish. We finally get Polin’s first kiss, and it’s glorious. After Pen thanks him and leaves, Colin clearly looks stunned.
He is in love, dear readers.
RELATED: Members of the ton, read our Bridgerton recaps here!
Bridgerton Season 3 Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: KATE SHARMA
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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