Bridgerton FINALLY returns for highly-anticipated third series – but critics claim Netflix period drama is ‘losing its bite’ and ‘even the sex scenes are dull’ after fans were promised the raciest series yet

Swaying bodies, lavish sets and a love affair can only mean one thing: Bridgerton is back.

But fans hoping to see more of the bare bottoms and raunchy sex scenes that made the first series such a hit will be disappointed, TV critics have warned in their reviews.

Although there is still a love story at the heart of series three, this time between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), reviews claim the ‘sex scenes are boring’.

That of the Independents Nick Hilton declared that the Netflix period drama is “losing its bite” and gave the new series a disappointing two-star rating.

However, he praised 37-year-old actress Nicola, saying: ‘Coughlan is a great screen presence and has long been one of Bridgerton’s strengths.’

The Telegraph also gave the new series two stars and claimed Nicola and Luke have ‘almost no chemistry’ – despite their close bond in real life.

But fans hoping to see more of the bare bottoms and raunchy sex scenes that made the first series such a hit will be disappointed, TV critics have warned in their reviews.

Critic Anita Sign also wrote: ‘The writers seem to have given up. Three of the first four episodes feature a nearly identical scene of Penelope running from a ball in tears. Lady Whistledown’s commentary now feels tired and unnecessary.

“Even the sex scenes are perfunctory and thrown in at once per episode as if you were meeting a quota.”

When Nicola and Luke prepared to film Season 3 of the Regency-era romance series “Bridgerton,” they knew they would be moving from supporting characters to main characters. And it was scary.

Coughlan remembers feeling relaxed watching the couples from the first two seasons perform, because the biggest pressure wasn’t yet on her.

“As supporting actors you can say, ‘I’ll do my part, but it doesn’t really matter because the main story is there,’” she told Reuters.

However, that was no longer the case when she and Newton emerged as the lead couple for the Emmy-nominated show’s third season.

“For us to become the main story, I think it still overwhelms us,” the Irish actress said.

Although there is still a love story at the heart of series three, this time between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), reviews claim the ‘sex scenes are boring’.

Developed by Shonda Rhimes’ television production company Shondaland and Netflix, “Bridgerton” follows the romantic journeys of the Bridgerton family as they navigate London’s cutthroat marriage market.

In the meantime, The guards Rachel Aroesti gave it four stars, saying that while “the banging” is sparse, it’s still “seriously steamy.”

Set in the early 19th century, the story focuses on the scandals and successes of the social season when young, marriageable nobility seek love.

Season 3, which hits the streaming platform on Thursday, follows the highly anticipated romantic arc between friends and lovers between the characters Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, played by Coughlan and Newton.

“The trope of friends to lovers, I think a lot of people resonate with that and have experienced that,” Newton said.

“I think that’s why people are so passionate and excited about the season,” he added.

Likewise, the show’s new showrunner for season 3, Jess Brownell, feels like the romance between Colin and Pen has a huge draw for viewers this time around.

“Because it’s a friends-to-lovers story, it naturally lends itself to a little more humor, lightness, playfulness and familiarity,” says Brownell, who follows in the footsteps of series creator Chris Van Dusen.

‘I think humor in particular is something that speaks to the strengths of both Nicola and Luke.’

Although the book series on which author Julia Quinn is based features a different love story before she ended up with Pen and Colin, Brownell felt that TV audiences would appreciate a unique chronological order.

‘Pen and Colin have now been on our screens for two seasons. We know them and we care about them,” Brownell said.

‘It felt like it was time to break the pattern of Colin being in the dark about Pen’s feelings for him. “We wanted to switch things up and make him work for Pen’s affections,” she added. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross; Editing by Mary Milliken and David Gregorio)