Netflix’s hit series Bridgerton returns for its third season, and fans are eager to see how it compares to the Julia Quinn novels. This season shifts its attention to the often-overlooked characters, Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, played by Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan. Inspired by Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the latest instalment promises a mix of beloved book moments and fresh, original plotlines.
It also explores new storylines and characters not present in the book. Here are some of the most notable differences:
The Motives Behind Colin’s Proposal In both the book and series, Colin proposes to Penelope after their racy carriage ride. But the circumstances surrounding the betrothals differ. In the novel, Colin is pressured after being physically intimate with Penelope. “I can assure you that I do not behave as I did with a woman of your background without rendering a marriage proposal,” he tells her. But the series has Colin declaring that he proposed purely out of love for Penelope, and that his feelings for her “are not a thunderbolt from the sky,” as he tells his brothers, directly quoting the novel. Book Colin comes to terms with his true emotions when he realizes that he still wants to marry Penelope even though she plans to continue publishing Whistledown.
The House of Featherington
The Netflix series has omitted Felicity Featherington, Penelope’s younger sister, meaning there is no awkward post-engagement confusion from Portia (Polly Walker) about which of her daughters Colin wants to marry. But otherwise, the Featherington family gets an expanded arc in the series. In addition to the comedic race to produce an heir, Portia opens up to Penelope about the reasons for her often unsavory parenting tactics. “I chose a match for security and he could not even provide that,” Portia tells Penelope of the late Lord Featherington. “But he gave me you girls, and my greatest wish has always been for you three to do better than I did. And you have.”
Mending generational trauma in the lead-up to Colin and Penelope’s wedding was important to Brownell. “Penelope is the way she is, in many ways, because of Portia and because of her family,” she tells VF. “Sure, some of that is negative, but I am a real Portia Featherington apologist. She loves her children just as much as Violet loves her children. She just hasn’t had the same amount of luck. She had a worse financial situation, she had a worse marriage. Most likely, she didn’t have the love of a parent the way that Violet had with her father. So if Violet were in a similar position to Portia Featherington, she might’ve sold a fake gem mine too. All Portia’s trying to do at the end of the day is protect her girls. And so it was important to me to see that redemption, and to see Penelope embracing her true self [and] embracing her Featherington-ness at the same time.”
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall On the show, Colin and Penelope’s first sexual encounter happens in front of a mirror. This is inspired by an oft-referenced line in the book, where he alludes to one day wanting to “do it in front of a mirror.”
“Because of the way the fans have attached to that really sexy line in the book about the mirror, we decided to use mirrors across the season,” Brownell tells VF. “In Penelope’s arc, it’s one of the first times she’s allowing herself to really be seen in a vulnerable way. The mirror also functions in the postcoital moment as a reminder that she hasn’t shown everything to Colin yet. So as she’s contemplating whether to tell him about Whistledown, I think the mirror shines a light for her.”
The novel has Colin and Penelope sleep together for the first time in a mirror-less bedroom. It’s a bit later into their courtship: post–engagement ball, but scandalously still prior to their wedding day. It is during the consummation of their relationship that Penelope first tells Colin, “I’ve loved you for years,” a confession she doesn’t make onscreen until later.
That Lady Whistledown Reveal By the time Colin and Penelope share their carriage ride in the book, he has already learned that she is Lady Whistledown. In the series, Colin discovers Penelope’s secret under similar circumstances—following her carriage to a seedy part of town, where he witnesses some of her shadier dealings—but the reveal happens post-engagement. “After Colin took so long to figure out his feelings for Penelope, we wanted to live in the love bubble between Colin and Pen a little bit longer before the Whistledown secret came out,” Brownell says of the switch. “And it also amps up the tension for him to find out when he does, because Pen has now held it from him much longer than she should have.”
The show also tweaks how Penelope’s Whistledown identity is revealed to the rest of the Ton. In both the book and show, upon learning her secret, Cressida blackmails Penelope about Whistledown, adding pressure to the eventual confession. The book has Colin take matters into his own hands, devising a plan to unmask Penelope at his sister Daphne’s ball without alerting his wife beforehand. But the show places the power back in the hands of Penelope, who shares her own secret—first via letters to the queen and her mother-in-law, then at the Featherington sisters’ butterfly ball. The Ton reacts rather respectfully to Penelope-as-Whistledown in both the book and series—at least for now. As Quinn writes, “Tomorrow they might remember to be angry with her, to feel irritated at having been fooled for so many years, but tonight…Tonight all they could do was admire and cheer.”
Meeting Michaela Stirling The season’s most gasp-worthy book-to-series change comes when Francesca meets her husband John’s cousin Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza)—a notable change from the book character of Michael Stirling. In the books, Francesca falls for Michael after John’s death. On the show, Francesca is visibly flustered upon locking eyes with Michaela—a visible departure from her sweet, but rather subdued reaction to John.
“The first time I read When He Was Wicked, which is Francesca’s book, I really related to it as a queer woman,” Brownell tells Vanity Fair. “Her story is in some ways about feeling different, and in Julia Quinn’s book, it really has more to do with her being introverted. But for many of us in the queer community, that sense of feeling different from a young age is part of our stories. So I felt like there was already thematic richness in her book to mine for her story. In telling a queer Bridgerton story, I didn’t want to just drop a queer character in to check a box. I want to tell a story about the queer experience and let there be a richness to her story. And it feels like we’re able to do that with Francesca.”
When asked about potential backlash to making multiple Bridgerton siblings queer, Brownell said: “I understand that people are very attached to the way the books are. The books will always be there, and those stories are unchanged. So while book fans will always have their Michael, it felt like queer fans didn’t have anyone in either the books or in the series who was really featured to relate to. I would encourage people to channel some empathy for people who have not gotten to see themselves represented inside this world, which is so inclusive in other ways. That is a really, really important message to send to people: that they deserve to be included and represented as well.”
Kunle Afolayan’s Mother Passes On: A Tribute to a Pillar of Strength
The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning as Nollywood actor and director, Kunle Afolayan, loses his mother.
According to reports, Kunle Afolayan’s mother, Mrs. Afolayan, passed away on at the age of 81. The cause of her death is yet to be disclosed.
Kunle Afolayan took to his social media page to announce the passing of his mother, saying: “My dearest mother, I will miss you so much. You were my rock, my confidante, and my best friend. I will never forget the sacrifices you made for me and the love you showed me. Rest in peace, mama.”
The news of Kunle Afolayan’s mother’s passing has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian film industry, with many of his colleagues and fans taking to social media to express their condolences.
“Kunle, my brother, I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother,” wrote actor, Ramsey Nouah. “May she rest in peace and may God give you the strength to bear the loss.”
Kunle Afolayan’s mother was a pillar of strength and support to him throughout his career, and her passing will be deeply felt by him and his family.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons for re-arresting controversial crossdresser Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, known as Bobrisky.
Speaking in a telephone conversation on Friday morning, the EFCC spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, said the self-styled ‘Mummy of Lagos’ was arrested because he refused to honour several invitations sent to him.
Oyewale noted that the crossdresser was arrested in connection with the allegation of bribery against him.
“We arrested him last night and we took him to Abuja because our team investigators are in Abuja,” the EFCC spokesman said.
He continued: “He was trying to run away from mentioning those he said collected bribes from him. We sent him an invitation, but he refused to honour our invitation, and he was trying to leave the country.
“This was why we arrested him. We want him to come and mention the names of the officials involved in the bribery, but he has not shown up.”
The Guardian gathered Friday afternoon that Bobrisky has been flown to Abuja to answer questions relating to allegations of bribery and corruption.
Bobrisky was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.
The popular crossdresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.
Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC was responsible for his detention.
He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”
Bobrisky had, in a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse (aka VeryDarkMan) allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15 million to drop money laundering charges against him.
Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.
At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had hinted that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC were false.
Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.
As the weekend approaches, many of us are looking for a way to get into the spooky spirit. One of the best ways to do this is by watching a scary movie. Here are some spooky movies from 2020 to 2024 that are perfect for watching this weekend:
2020 Spooky Movies
The Invisible Man (2020): This movie is a modern retelling of the classic H.G. Wells novel, and it follows a woman who escapes from an abusive relationship, only to be haunted by her ex-boyfriend, who has become invisible.
Gretel & Hansel (2020): This movie is a dark retelling of the classic fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. It follows a brother and sister who are lost in the woods and come across a witch who has sinister intentions.
The Lodge (2020): This movie follows a family who becomes trapped in a remote cabin with a sinister presence.
Antebellum (2020): This movie follows a detective who must solve a series of murders that are connected to a mysterious figure from the past.
2021 Spooky Movies
Candyman (2021): This movie is a sequel to the 1992 classic, and it follows a group of friends who are haunted by the vengeful spirit of Candyman.
The Night House (2021): This movie follows a widow who discovers that her recently deceased husband was hiding a dark secret.
Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021): This movie follows a smokejumper who must protect a young boy from a pair of assassins in the wilderness.
The Forever Purge (2021): This movie is the fifth installment in the Purge franchise, and it follows a group of people who must survive a night of chaos and violence.
2022 Spooky Movies
Scream (2022): This movie is a reboot of the classic franchise, and it follows a group of friends who are being stalked by a masked killer.
The Black Phone (2022): This movie follows a young boy who is kidnapped by a serial killer and must use a mysterious phone to escape.
Barbarian (2022): This movie follows a woman who books a rental home, only to discover that it is already occupied by a strange man.
Smile (2022): This movie follows a woman who is haunted by a mysterious smile that seems to be spreading to those around her.
2023 Spooky Movies
M3GAN (2023): This movie follows a robotic doll that becomes self-aware and starts to wreak havoc on its owner’s life.
The Pope’s Exorcist (2023): This movie follows a priest who is tasked with performing an exorcism on a young boy.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023): This movie is a horror film based on the true story of the Demeter, a ship that was said to be haunted by vampires.
Insidious: The Red Door (2023): This movie is the fifth installment in the Insidious franchise, and it follows a family who must navigate a haunted house.
2024 Spooky Movies
The Exorcist: Believer (2024): This movie is a sequel to the 1973 classic, and it follows a group of people who are haunted by a demonic presence.
The Conjuring 4 (2024): This movie is the fourth installment in the Conjuring franchise, and it follows a pair of paranormal investigators who must solve a series of mysterious events.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024): This movie is a prequel to the 2018 film, and it follows a family as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world where monsters that hunt by sound have taken over.
Hellraiser: Inferno (2024): This movie is a reboot of the Hellraiser franchise, and it follows a group of people who are haunted by the vengeful spirit of Pinhead.
These are just a few of the many spooky movies that you can watch this weekend. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic horror film or a modern thriller, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Reflecting on his family commitment, he said, “But more importantly than I am a husband and a father. We just had our second child, who is an amazing young boy.”
Banky W and Adesua married in South Africa in November 2017.
They welcomed their first child, Hazaiah Olusegun Wellington, in 2021.
US rapper Young Thug freed after guilty plea in street gang case
Rapper Young Thug was released from jail Thursday after pleading guilty to involvement in a criminal gang as well as drug and firearms charges, an abrupt twist to the longest trial in the history of the southern US state of Georgia.
The 33-year-old Atlanta artist, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, was one of 28 alleged street gang members indicted in May 2022 on racketeering and other charges.
Prosecutors accused Young Thug of being the leader of YSL, or Young Slime Life, a part of the Bloods gang, and charged him with violating state racketeering laws.
The underlying offenses in the racketeering indictment included murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing and theft.
The Grammy-winning rapper pleaded no contest to racketeering charges and no contest to being a leader of a criminal street gang, but guilty to six other counts including firearms and drug charges.
The New York Times reported he was sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who replaced a previous judge who presided over the protracted trial.
Online Fulton County jail records showed Young Thug was released Thursday in a listing under his birth name. The disposition of the charges were listed as “time served” or “probation” on the database listing.
Jury selection in the case began in January 2023 but opening arguments were not held until November 27 of that year.
During opening arguments, prosecutors said Young Thug’s record label, YSL, was a front for a crime ring and he was the leader.
“The evidence will show that YSL checks all of the boxes for being a criminal street gang,” Fulton County prosecutor Adriane Love said.
Love read verses from Young Thug’s track “Take It To Trial,” saying the lyrics the prosecution had identified had “an uncanny similarity to very true, and very real, and quite specific events.”
“We didn’t chase the lyrics to solve the murder, we chased the murder and found the lyrics,” she said.
The defense insisted that YSL stands for Young Stoner Life Records, a hip-hop label that Young Thug founded in 2016 and which, they say, amounts to a vague association of artists, not a gang.
Defense attorneys had sought to exclude lyrics from evidence, saying that “rap is the only fictional art form treated this way.”
A rap vanguard essential to the Atlanta scene, Young Thug is one of contemporary hip-hop’s most famous and most idiosyncratic figures.
BREAKING: Popular Yoruba Actor, Charles Olumo ‘Agbako’ is Dead
Veteran Nollywood actor Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, better known by his stage names Charles Olumo and Agbako, has passed away, leaving a profound legacy in Nigeria’s film industry. The sad news of Agbako’s death was shared by fellow actor Jide Kosoko in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday.
Although Kosoko did not disclose the details surrounding Agbako’s death, he paid tribute with a simple and poignant message: “Good night ooo, Baba Charles. a.k.a Agbako, 102 years, ba wasa ba. R I P,” indicating the actor’s remarkable longevity and vibrant spirit.Born on February 19, 1923, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Agbako had a fascinating journey before finding his calling in acting. He initially worked as a mechanic and even dabbled in amateur boxing, displaying his multi-talented nature. In 1953, he took a decisive step towards acting, beginning his career with a drama group at the Apostolic Church in Mushin, Lagos State.
This was a turning point, as he soon became a beloved figure in Nigerian theater and, later, in Yoruba cinema.
Agbako’s impact on the film industry is legendary, particularly in the Yoruba-speaking regions, where his powerful performances captivated audiences.
Over the years, he starred in many popular films that cemented his status as a household name, including ‘Taxi Driver,’ ‘Jagun,’ ‘Amin Orun,’ ‘Aiye,’ ‘Jayesinmi,’ ‘Soworo Ide,’ and ‘Igbo Dudu.’ Each role showcased his versatility and skill, earning him a devoted fan base and respect from colleagues and viewers alike.
His career spanned over four decades, highlighting not only his enduring passion for acting but also his ability to adapt to the changing landscape of the film industry.
Known for his memorable performances and unique style, Agbako leaves behind an indelible mark on Nollywood and will be fondly remembered as one of the pioneers of Yoruba cinema.
His passing at the age of 102 is a reminder of a life well-lived and a career that inspired countless others.