‘Bridgerton’: Your Colin & Penelope Episode Guide to Their Major Relationship Moments
Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) are a unique case in Bridgerton. Most of the Regency drama’s couples are introduced in the same season that they have a starring role in, but Penelope and Colin burned for two seasons before they ruined the friendship. That means key moments in their journey don’t just occur in Season 3, and Polin fans have quite a bit of material to work with if they want to do a rewatch specific to their ship.
With that in mind, we think Polin is worthy of getting their own episode guide. Colin and Penelope’s story literally begins in the first episode of Season 1. From that point on, there’s a brief engagement to someone else, a departure from Mayfair, a falling out at a ball — and that’s all before the Polin wheels really start turning in Season 3. We’re breaking down those points, as well as Colin and Penelope’s first meeting, kiss, and more, below.
Season 1
When do Colin and Penelope first meet?
Season 1, Episode 1, “Diamond of the First Water”: Penelope’s pining after an oblivious Colin is established during a ball at Vauxhall Gardens. They’ve met before, since Penelope has been friends with Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) since childhood, but it’s their first interaction onscreen. Their friendly conversation is ruined when Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) purposely spills her drink on Penelope, but Colin brings Penelope’s spirits up by taking her for a spin on the dance floor.
When do Marina and Colin break up?
Season 1, Episode 7, “Oceans Apart”: So, Colin engagement to Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) throughout Season 1 isn’t really a great time for Polin, but at least it’s short-lived. Via Whistledown, Penelope exposes her cousin’s pregnancy to society, revealing her plot to marry Colin for security. Colin calls it off. He leaves town in the next episode, and before he goes, he tells Penelope that she inspired him to travel. Penelope bursts into tears when she’s alone, her feelings for Colin still bottled up.
Season 2
When do Colin and Penelope reunite after his travels?
Season 2, Episode 2, “Off to the Races”: It doesn’t take too long for Colin and Penelope to meet again (onscreen, at least). After it’s revealed that they exchanged letters while Colin was away, they cross paths at the races. Colin says Penelope’s letters encouraged him to understand himself before returning to the ton. He’s also sworn off women. When Penelope remarks that she’s a woman, Colin friend-zones her, “You are Pen. You do not count. You are my friend.”
When does Colin say he’ll never court Penelope?
Season 2, Episode 8, “The Viscount Who Loved Me”: Penelope and Colin have another conversation in Episode 6 that helps them grow closer, but it all goes down the drain at another ball. Surrounded by his guy friends, they ask if Colin’s dance with Penelope means they’re courting. “Are you mad? I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington,” he says, which Penelope overhears. And that’s after he said she was special to him during their dance. Nice going, Colin.
Season 3
Obviously, every single episode of Season 3 is relevant to Polin, but we’ll put their greatest hits below:
When is Colin and Penelope’s first kiss?
Season 3, Episode 2, “How Bright the Moon”: The kiss that changed lives! In Episode 1, Colin resolves to help Penelope find a husband, and a dejected Penelope asks Colin to kiss her because she’s never been kissed and doesn’t think she ever will be. It stirs up feelings in Colin that he didn’t know he had.
Netflix
When does Colin propose to Penelope?
Season 3, Episode 4, “Old Friends”: Lord Debling is good for one thing only: Making Colin confront his feelings for Penelope. When Colin finds out about Debling’s imminent proposal, he rushes to the ball they’re at. Debling figures out what’s going on and ends things, and Penelope hails her carriage to head home. Colin hops in, proclaims his feelings for Penelope, and they hook up — and he caps things off by asking if Penelope’s going to marry him or not.
When does Colin find out that Penelope is Lady Whistledown?
Season 3, Episode 6, “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton”: Not Polin’s best moment, but a crucial one. We have to have a sort-of third-act breakup, after all! When Penelope heads to her printer to refute Cressida’s claims of being Lady Whistledown, Colin follows her. Her secret is out at last, and Colin thinks he’ll never forgive her. (Wrong.)
When do Colin and Penelope get married?
Season 3, Episode 7, “Joining of Hands”: Colin and Penelope don’t officially break up after the Whistledown drama, and they go through with their wedding. It’s a gorgeous ceremony, even though the air isn’t totally cleared. Regardless of everything, Colin reassures a nervous Penelope as she walks down the aisle.
Netflix
When do Colin and Penelope have their baby?
Season 3, Episode 8, “Into the Light”: At last, Penelope reveals her secret to the Ton, and Colin forgives her. He delivers love confession 2.0: “I have been envious of you. Of your success. Of your bravery. And now I simply cannot believe that a woman with such bravery loves me,” he tells Penelope. Iconic. In a flash forward at the very end of the episode, Penelope and Colin’s son, Eiliot, is born. Not only is he a Bridgerton, but he’s also the Featherington heir.
Season 4
In the first four episodes of Season 4, Colin and Penelope don’t hit any major relationship milestones. They’re blissfully (and hornily) in love. They attend the masquerade ball in Episode 1, and they get frisky in another carriage in Episode 3, which is their most drawn-out scene so far.
There you have it! Check back for updates once Season 4 Part 2 drops, and tell us your favorite Polin episodes in the comments.
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 1, Streaming Now, 2026
Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 2 Premiere, Thursday, February 26, 2026
