Warning! This article contains spoilers for Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton and Bridgerton season 3.

I had high hopes for Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s long-awaited mirror scene, but Bridgerton season 3 somehow made it even better than I expected. Colin and Penelope are one of Bridgerton‘s most sensual couples, and his promise of foreplay in front of the mirror is one of the reasons why. Colin is positively infatuated with Penelope’s body in a way that boosts her confidence. He is not afraid to show her how he feels, often using risqué expressions to get there.

Colin promising to be intimate with Penelope in front of a mirror is arguably one of their most famous scenes. It is symbolic, and each Bridgerton couple has their own symbol. Simon and Daphne have extreme romantic and sexual tension. Anthony and Kate have the bee sting scene, passionate love confessions, and happily married domesticity. In the books, Benedict and Sophie have the masquerade ball and the concept of falling in love with the same person twice. Colin and Penelope have a shared love for writing and palpable chemistry – typified by the mirror scene.

Colin & Penelope’s Mirror Scene Was One Of Bridgerton’s Most Anticipated Scenes

Fans Have Been Dying To See The Mirror Scene On Screen

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton teases a sexual scene in front of a mirror right before Colin and Penelope have sex for the first time. Colin stands behind Penelope and whispers how he wants to caress her breasts in front of a mirror. However, Colin only promises it will happen — it never does. Since Colin and Penelope were announced as the leads, I, and many other fans, wondered whether the show would finally deliver on this scene. Even before Bridgerton season 3, part 2 released on Netflix, the trailer confirmed the news that I’d hoped to hear: that the mirror scene between Colin and Penelope would happen.

The context of the mirror scene in the book differs from the show. In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Colin and Penelope fight after Penelope publishes one last Lady Whistledown column after promising she would not. This heated argument explodes into intense passion, leading Colin and Penelope to have sex for the first time. The narrative only teases the iconic mirror scene; the reader never gets it. However, it occurs differently in Bridgerton season 3, episode 5, “Tick Tock.” Colin and Penelope do not fight; in fact, the mirror scene occurs right after Colin vehemently defends Penelope to her mother, Portia.

Colin & Penelope’s Mirror Scene Was Great – And Better Than The Book

The Show Made The Context Far More Meaningful

The change of context makes all the difference, proving it is better than the book and that Colin and Penelope’s season is the best yet. Colin professes his love for Penelope; he validates her insecurities. For the first time, Penelope finally believes that Colin returns her feelings. In Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, the reader knows Colin loves Penelope, but Penelope herself is unaware. This aspect makes the mirror scene in the book entirely physical, devoid of their most intense feelings since they are not yet out in the open. By contrast, the emotion is transparent in the show, making the mirror scene far more meaningful.

Both mirror scenes lead to Colin and Penelope having sex for the first time, despite the different contexts.

Fans have waited for a long time to see Colin and Penelope’s iconic mirror scene in Bridgerton, but it was worth it because it was much better than the book. The comparison between the two contexts proves that the show can infinitely improve various aspects of the Bridgerton books. This change alleviates many concerns I had about upcoming iconic scenes, such as Benedict and Sophie’s masquerade ball or Francesca and Michaela’s first kiss. Most of the changes Bridgerton has made have paid off, and I’m now eager to see how else the show might change other iconic scenes for the better.