If you're reading this, you've probably breezed through the first half of Bridgerton Season 3 and have no idea how to move on after that cliffhanger. Well, same! It's a bummer: fans will have to wait until June 13 to see the rest of the episodes roll out. But in the meantime, why not rewatch the latest episodes and pay special attention to all the Easter eggs you missed on the first one? Specifically... errors.
Yes, Bridgerton loves the insect theme. The most hilarious (haha) of them all is of course the bee, which has been featured in various costume designs since season one. It wasn't until season two, when Edmund Bridgerton died from a bee sting, that its full significance was revealed, changing the fabric of the family forever. Anthony is traumatized by the incident, leading to a particularly tense scene where Kate is stung and he realizes how afraid he is of losing her.
But there's another insect waiting for its moment to shine - one with strong thematic ties to Colin and Penelope's love story. So, what is the meaning of butterflies in Bridgerton Season 3?
Bridgerton butterflies go way back
They may have just burst onto the scene in season three, but Butterflies has been a part of Bridgerton since the beginning. For example, in the first episode of the series, Penelope wears a butterfly accessory in her hair.
In the same episode, she also donned a beautiful butterfly dress.
Not only did the butterfly appear near Penelope, it also appeared on the clothes of other people in Featherington, as well as on the stairs of their home.
But from the very beginning of the series, it's clear that the symbol does indeed belong to Penelope. The trend continued in season three, when she wore a pair of butterfly earrings when her mom told her "I find comfort knowing you'll always be here to take care of me." The next thing Penelope does is change her wardrobe and resolves to get married so she can move out of the Featherington home, which is fitting - as butterflies are a symbol of change!
meaningful topics
In an interview with Shondaland , showrunner Jess Brownell described Penelope in season three as "a butterfly emerging from her cocoon." She also told Bustle that butterflies and their connection to metamorphosis were "very thematically relevant" to Colin and Penelope's story.
“More than ever, people are transitioning in the opposite way to what they were in the past,” she said.
In fact, butterflies begin as cute caterpillars before taking on their final dazzling forms. But these are not separate animals – they are just different stages of the same life! Likewise, Penelope may have called herself a "wallflower" at one point, but there's nothing wrong with her appearance. She simply decided it was time for a new, more confident wardrobe that reflected her changed sense of self.
More importantly, the new era has wings! An important part of Penelope's journey is her desire for independence, but like a flightless caterpillar, she feels trapped at home (in addition to the already suffocating restrictions women faced during the Regency outside). She sees marriage as a way out. "It's hard enough living by my mother's rules, but what about my sisters? To live by the whims of the most cruel or simple person I know... I have to find a husband before that happens," she Tell Madame Delacroix. "it's time."
