Colin and Penelope's Carriage Hookup Is the Hottest Bridgerton Scene Yet

Bridgerton has always delivered on the sex scenes front. Season 1 of Netflix’s historical drama series, which followed Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the ridiculously attractive Duke of Hastings, Simon (Regé-Jean Page), was incredibly sexual. Episode 6 even featured a lengthy montage of them hooking up absolutely everywhere (literally no surface was safe). 

Season 2, which centered on Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley), notably changed things up and didn’t include any on-screen sex until Episode 7. However, this was for good reason; Anthony and Kate’s story is a slow-burn, and it was crucial to let the tension between them simmer first. 

Now, Bridgerton is back and as horny as ever. Season 3, Part 1 of which premiered on May 16, follows the friends-to-lovers story between Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton). There’s plenty of sex and racy scenes throughout the season, which even features threesomes and two female sex workers hooking up. But Bridgerton’s hottest moment yet is the carriage scene between Colin and Penelope in Episode 4 — even though no clothes come off.

The carriage scene marks a crucial change in Penelope and Colin’s dynamic as they cross the line from strictly platonic friends to full-on lovers. Penelope has always pined for Colin, but up until this point, he’s only seen her as a close friend. His feelings first begin to shift this season when he helps her find a suitor (even offering her private “lessons”) and finds himself feeling oddly jealous. The lines blur even more when she asks him to kiss her, admitting that she doesn’t want to die having never been kissed. When their lips meet, there’s an instant, powerful spark, and Colin has no idea what to make of it. 

After agonizing for weeks, Colin finally takes matters into his own hands. He chases Penelope down, hops into her carriage, and declares his feelings for her once and for all. He knows exactly what he wants, and it’s — we cannot stress this enough — so freaking hot. “These past few weeks have been full of confounding feelings. Feelings like a total inability to stop thinking about you,” he tells her, out of breath. “A feeling that is like torture. But one which I cannot, will not, do not want to give up.”

When Penelope admits that she too would “very much like to be more than friends,” Colin immediately leans in and kisses her, initiating what’s basically the 1800s equivalent of car sex. Things between them are slow and passionate at first, the atmosphere heightened by Archer Marsh’s stripped-down version of Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything” playing in the background. The music grows more and more intense as things start to heat up. He reaches under her dress, and she gasps and moans. They don’t tear their clothes off, and the cameras stay mainly on their faces and upper bodies — it’s actually pretty tame as far as sex scenes go. Yet the moment feels a million times more intimate and charged than any of the threesomes Colin has had.

The scene is incredibly satisfying to watch because of how succinctly it conveys Colin’s deep care for Penelope. After kissing for a few seconds, he takes a beat to just gaze into her eyes and smile, as if he’s finally realizing what’s been right in front of him all along. He also makes a point to make sure he gets her consent every step of the way. Before he moves his hands under her dress, he briefly pauses and waits until she gives him an affirmative “yes, continue” look.

It’s also worth noting how heavily the moment focuses on Penelope and whether she’s enjoying this. It isn’t the first time Bridgerton has done something like this; the garden scene in Season 2 also notably spotlights Kate’s perspective as she and Anthony hook up. However, it’s still pretty rare in general to see shows center female pleasure like this. 

As hot as enemies-to-lovers can be, there’s something overwhelmingly sexy about Colin and Penelope already having such a strong bond and sense of trust. When they’re finally intimate, it doesn’t just feel like pent up sexual tension coming to fruition. Instead, it’s the start of something deep and meaningful. They may keep their clothes on here, but they’re incredibly vulnerable with each other on so many levels. It’s a truly intimate scene in every sense of the word.

Ultimately, while there are plenty of other sex scenes and racier moments between #Polin this season, the carriage hookup stands out as the hottest. In fact, it just might be the sexiest scene in Bridgerton history.

Part 1 of Bridgerton Season 3 is streaming on Netflix. Part 2 premieres June 13. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.