Dear readers, "Bridgerton" Season 3 is almost over (We enjoyed the romantic drama and gorgeous costumes of the Regency era in the spin-off series "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story)," but the return of the Netflix original show I was counting down the days until

Fans were thrilled to hear that the period drama had already been renewed for a fourth season as well as a third, a full two years after Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma made everyone swoon with their love story in "Bridgerton" season 2 [This time the focus is on Anthony's brother Colin (Luke Newton) and his friend-to-lover relationship with Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), the youngest daughter of the Fetherington family who is secretly Lady Whistletown (voice: Julie Andrews) [Adapted from the popular novel by Julia Quinn, the series follows the storyline of the book series closely The first season focused on the roller-coaster relationship between Daphne (Phoebe Dinnever), the eldest daughter of the Bridgertons, and the Duke of Hastings (Leger-Jean Page), and the second season of Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and his intended sister Kate (Simone Ashley) The show followed the adulterous romance

In the third of Quinn's books, second son and aspiring painter Benedict takes the spotlight, but "Bridgerton" Season 3 skips over the content on the page and goes straight to Colin and Penelope's relationship Here's everything you need to know about "Bridgerton" Season 3 [Bridgerton" Season 3, like other top Netflix shows like "Stranger Things," "You," "Ozark," and "The Witcher," will be in two parts for the first time The first four episodes will be available on Thursday, May 16, and the last four episodes will be available less than a month later, on Thursday, June 13 Thus, this season will have a total of eight episodes, the same as the first and second seasons, but all eight episodes were distributed at once in previous broadcasts

In April 2021, Netflix announced the renewal of Season 3 and Season 4 At the time, Netflix Vice President of Global TV Bella Bajaria said, "'Bridgeton' has swept us off our feet The creative team led by Shonda knew the material and delivered a beautiful and emotional romantic drama for our members They have exciting plans for the future and viewers will continue to be captivated by this program We will be in the Bridgerton business for years to come"

In the months leading up to the release date of "Bridgerton" Season 3, several sneak peek clips were released The latest one showcases the tension between Penelope and Colin" Indeed, Miss Fetherington has been fatigued by Colin Bridgton's misleading behavior" Netflix captioned a minute-long video posted on YouTube on February 14

"These wallflowers have had enough of being trampled on

Since "Bridgeman" Season 3 will focus on the coupling of Colin and Penelope (nicknamed "Pollin" by fans), actors Nicolas Coughlan and Luke Newton will be returning as this season's stars, Penelope Fetherington and Colin Bridgton, who They will return

Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Claudia Jesse as Eloise Bridgerton (Penelope's former best friend and one of the few characters who knows Lady Whistletown's secret), and Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, all of whom were previously Key characters from the season's "Bridgerton" will also join the cast

Yes, "Cantney" fans will be delighted to learn that Anthony's wife and viscountess Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) will also appear in new episodes, exploring her marital life and duties as head of the Bridgerton family

However, one Bridgerton will not be joining the rest of the family: Phoebe Daimber will not be reprising her role as Daphne, the eldest Bridgerton daughter" Sadly, (I'm) not in season 3, possibly in the future," the actress told ScreenRant 'But I can't wait to watch season three as a viewer" Fans of "Bridgerton" should also not get their hopes up that they will see Daphne's handsome husband, Simon Bassett (Ligier-Jean Page), played by Daphne - the actor told Variety magazine right after the first season ended that he would not return for season two And, barring a miracle in the TV world, expect the same for Season 3

Other returning cast members include Golda Rochevell (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Ando (Mrs Danbury), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs Varley), Harriet Seaborn Harriet Seaborn (Mrs Varley), and others Varley), Harriet Caines (Phillipa Featherington), Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington), Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridlington), Martins Imhambé (Will Mondrich) Will Tilston (Gregory Bridlington), Polly Walker (Portia Fetherington), and Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown)

Along with these familiar faces, the romantic drama will introduce several new characters in Season 3; according to Netflix, Danielle Francis will play Marcus Anderson" A charismatic presence, he lights up any room, attracts the attention of certain matriarchs of the Tong family, and incurs the wrath of other matriarchs" Sam Phillips plays Lord Devling" A "genial lord with quirky tastes," he will have "no shortage of interest from young ladies this season James Hoon plays Harry Dankworth" What he lacks in wit and intelligence," he "more than makes up for in serious good looks"

The series also recast Hannah Dodd as the sixth Bridgerton sibling, Francesca Bridgerton She succeeds Ruby Stokes, who left the show to head the Netflix series "Lockwood and Co"

In the casting announcement, Netflix said, "Francesca Bridgerton is a bit of an enigma in a chatty, outgoing family Despite her reserved nature, she manages to get around socially, befuddling the fidgety Tong, yet anchored with a dry wit and pragmatism that draws attention to her when she least wants it

Spoiler alert: The following is a list of the characters in Julia Quinn's novels "An Offer From a Gentleman" and "Romancing Mr

The "Bridgerton" series does not follow Quinn's novels entirely, but seasons 1 and 2 are her first " The plot of the two "Bridgerton" novels, "The Duke and I" and "The Viscount Who Loved Me," closely follows the plot of the first two "Bridgerton" novels Several storylines were changed from the later books, including the revelation of Lady Whistledown's identity

Season 3, however, diverges from the books It takes no storyline cues from volume 3, "An Offer From a Gentleman," which features a Cinderella-like romance between Benedict Bridgerton and a new character named Sophie Beckett

Instead, the fourth film, "Romancing Mr Coughlan," which focuses on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Fetherington, is set to be released in the fall Nicolas Coughlan, star of the film, revealed the news at a special Netflix event

"Like Lady Whistledown, I can confirm to you all that season 3 is a love story between Colin and Penelope, something I've kept a secret for a long time," Coughlan said 'I've been keeping it a secret since two weeks into season two This is the first time I'm saying it here"

Shondaland confirmed Coughlan's announcement, saying, "In the third year that this author will record Marriage Mart, Mayfair's social season will focus on the third son And it is only natural that the focus should be on the third daughter," he said in a statement Will Penelope's days as a wallflower fade and will she finally blossom? Time will tell

At the end of Season 2, things between Colin and Penelope became very uncertain She ran to her room in tears, where she took up her pen again as Lady Whistledown There is no fury so fierce as that of a scorned writer

But in the book, the two are united, so "Pollin" fans can breathe a sigh of relief this seasonIn "Romancing Mr Bridgerton," Colin begins to shed new light on Penelope But her big secret threatens to get in the way of their happiness

Other stories we may see include romantic sparks between Eloise and her printer's assistant Theo as they pursue their political interests, Edwina Sharma's continued search for a marriage partner, and Lady Fetherington's latest attempt to get her daughters married

Tom's Guide will keep you up to date on all things "Bridgerton" Season 3, but in the meantime, you can rewatch the drama's first two seasons on Netflix