How the season 3 finale of 'Bridgerton' addresses one of the most scandalous storylines from 'Queen Charlotte'
Season three of "Bridgerton" addresses Lady Danbury's past affair with Violet's father, Lord Ledger.
The two women acknowledge the affair in the finale and emphasize the importance of their friendship.
Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, told Business Insider she enjoyed the "delicate resolution."
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season three of "Bridgerton."
The season three finale of "Bridgerton" addresses one of the biggest unresolved storylines from the prequel spin-off "Queen Charlotte" involving Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) — and the result is a heartwarming scene that solidifies their friendship.
Season three of "Bridgerton" focuses on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) friends-to-lovers relationship, while also juggling multiple character arcs. Among those is the arrival of Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), Lady Danbury's younger brother whose presence forces her to reckon with their complex past. Lady Danbury's friendship with Violet also becomes complicated when Marcus takes an interest in her.
Here's how the season three finale provides a satisfying resolution for Lady Danbury and Violet.
In 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,' young Lady Danbury has an affair with Violet's dad, Lord Ledger
"Queen Charlotte," released in 2023, alternates between the 1700s and the present-day world of "Bridgerton."
Although the miniseries centers on the relationship between young Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) and young King George III (Corey Mylchreest), it also dives into the backstory of young Lady Danbury and explains why she has such an affinity for the Bridgertons.
After the death of her husband, Lord Danbury (Cyril Nri), she connects with Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and the pair go on secret walks together. They have a brief affair but mutually agree to stop seeing each other.
Then in the season finale, set in the present day, Violet comes to the realization that Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger had a relationship.
Violet tries to lightly prod Lady Danbury into confessing by asking if she ever had the desire to marry again or take a lover after Lord Danbury's death. Lady Danbury, playing coy, says that she "wanted to feel alive."
"I have loved and been loved," she says. "And that is all I shall say."
Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton acknowledge the affair in the season 3 finale of 'Bridgerton,' but harbor no hostility
While having a drink together, Violet asks for Lady Danbury's blessing to pursue her feelings for Marcus. In response, Lady Danbury says that it's not her place, and they're both adults who are free to do what they wish.
"After all, it is not as though I asked your permission," Lady Danbury adds, subtly referencing the affair. "You know, yes?"
In response, Violet says: "I know my father was a good man. And that you have been a very good friend. And that is all I need to know."
Lady Danbury reciprocates Violet's sentiments and makes it clear that no man, even a family member, will ever come in the way of their friendship.
"And my brother is a good man," Lady Danbury says. "And you are a good friend. And that is all I need to know as well. But if he sours things between the two of you, I will pick you over him."
Adjoa Andoh was pleased with the 'delicate' way the show handled the drama
In an interview about her hopes for Lady Danbury in season four, Andoh told Business Insider that she had been waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop ever since Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger's affair occurred in "Queen Charlotte." That additional context about Lady Danbury's backstory also informed her performance in season three of "Bridgerton."
"I was really fascinated to see if it would and how it would impact the narrative of season three," Andoh said. "And I've really enjoyed the way Violet and I come to our own delicate resolution, but also in that mix obviously is the brother. It's kind of lovely. There's a lot of complexity in there for Lady Danbury."
"Queen Charlotte" shows young Lady Danbury's fragility and obstacles that she had to overcome before establishing herself as the powerful, commanding woman that fans have come to love in "Bridgerton."
"When you come to season three, you've had all of that, plus you know that she had this great love of her life and it makes your understanding of why she's so invested in the Bridgertons stronger. Why? Because they are the offspring of the man of her heart," Andoh said.
Marcus' unexpected return to the ton throws Lady Danbury off because she's pushed to confront their strained dynamic, which stems from him foiling her plan to escape the night before her wedding to Lord Danbury — a betrayal that she never forgave him for.
Even though Lady Danbury is supportive of Violet wanting her garden to bloom (a metaphor for her horniness) she becomes protective of her friend when Marcus enters the picture.
"She wants to protect Violet from someone who she has banished to the far reaches of her mind because, for her, he's a betraying, terrible brother, and that makes him a betraying, terrible person," Andoh explained. "And she does not want that person anywhere near her friend. Especially as she's been the one that's been going, 'Go on Violet, get back on the pony, you can bloom that garden, sister… Not with him. Don't do it with him. He will make it wither.'"
Andoh said she has fond memories of filming the scene with Gemmell, whom she describes as a "goddess." The heartfelt, non-confrontational scene also reflects the two women's respect and care for each other.
"Friends are hard to come by and long-term friends are really hard to come by," she said. "You hold tight to them if you can. So I think that's what you saw in the scene. There was a delicacy in it that was born out of love and devaluing of the preciousness of friendship and the wanting to hold onto it."
All episodes of "Bridgerton" season three are streaming on Netflix.
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