Bridgerton Season 3's Time-Jump Explained (2024)

This article contains spoilers for Bridgerton season 3.

At the end of Bridgerton season 3, the series unexpectedly jumps forward in time, offering a glimpse of Colin and Penelope nearly a year into their future together. Bridgerton is no stranger to time jumps, as each installment leaps forward to the next courting season. However, this final time jump in the Bridgerton season 3 ending is unique because it fast forwards right into Colin and Penelope's future. Where other Bridgerton couples have had to wait for their happily ever after, Pen and Colin get it right away.

The Bridgerton season 3 time jump is one of the most heartwarming scenes in the season. Penelope, Prudence, and Philippa all have children now, and they gather with their babies at the Featherington house, along with Portia and Colin. It is revealed that Prudence and Philippa both had girls, while Penelope had a boy, making him the Featherington heir. More importantly though, the family has clearly mended their strained relationship. Plus, Penelope now writes Lady Whistledown as herself, not her pseudonym. The season 3 time jump thus serves up a sneak peek at the future of the Bridgerton show timeline.

How Long Bridgerton Season 3's Time-Jump Lasts

Bridgerton Jumped A Year Into The Future

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Although Bridgerton never discloses how long the season 3 time jump is, it can be assumed that it lasts about a year. The biggest indicator of this is that Penelope had a baby. Penelope's baby looked to be about one to two months old, and she had to have been pregnant for nine months. Altogether, that is about one year since the Dankworth-Finch ball. Prudence and Philippa's babies also parallel this timeline, as they seem to be about three to four months old. Their clothes also hint that the season is spring again rather than winter.

If the Bridgerton season 3 time jump really lasts a year, that would mean the time jump takes place during Bridgerton season 4. Every Bridgerton installment begins at the start of the next social season, and if Bridgerton season 3 skipped ahead one year, then it would be courting season once again. At this time, there is no word on which Bridgerton sibling will lead Bridgerton season 4, however, the time jump confirms a few key details. Colin and Penelope are still together, have started a family, and should be around for the next Bridgerton season.

What Year Bridgerton Season 4 Will Be Set

Bridgerton Season 4 Takes Place In 1816

If Bridgerton follows its usual schedule, season 4 should take place in the year 1816. Bridgerton season 1 was set in 1813, and three seasons have gone by since Daphne and Simon fell in love. This also aligns with the timeline written by Julia Quinn in the Bridgerton books. Ultimately, Bridgerton's timeline will continue until 1820, when the final Bridgerton sibling gets married. At this point, the series still has Benedict, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, and Gregory's love stories left to cover.

1816 is still firmly in the Regency Era of London. Although Bridgerton tweaks the history a bit, the Regency Era refers to the span of history in which King George III was king, but his son acted as prince regent. Bridgerton does succeed, however, at portraying the culture of the Regency Era, which was focused on wealth and socializing. The year 1816 saw a number of interesting events that could appear in Bridgerton season 4 such as Lord Byron's controversial separation from his wife, Princess Charlotte's marriage, or the summer that was notably wet and cold.

Bridgerton's Time-Jump Presents A Problem For Anthony & Kate

Bridgerton's Time Jump Does Not See Characters Return

Bridgerton season 3's time jump gives audiences a glimpse at Colin and Penelope's happiness, but it ignores the fates of the other Bridgerton family members. With a year now gone by, Kate and Anthony's baby will have been born by now, and they should be back from India. However, they are clearly not part of the new baby scene at the Featherington house. It could be that the journey from India delays them, but regardless, hopes are high that Anthony and Kate will return in Bridgerton season 4.

The year-long time jump also means that Eloise should be back from Scotland. This raises questions about whether audiences will see any glimpses of Eloise's time abroad, or if she will simply come back changed. Furthermore, Eloise could break her promise to Benedict and not return by the time of Violet's masquerade ball. Her absence from the time jump makes this unclear. Overall, Bridgerton season 3's time jump brings up more questions than answers, but it does start building excitement for the next season of Bridgerton.

Bridgerton

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From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.

Cast

Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Julia Quinn , Chris Van Dusen , Jess Brownell , Abby McDonald , Joy C. Mitchell

Creator(s)

Chris Van Dusen