One of Penelope Featherington's most notable suitors, Lord Debling, sets himself apart in Bridgerton season 3 as a vegetarian who "loves wildlife." Here's why being one in the series already caught fans' attention.
Sam Phillips Joins Bridgerton S3 as Lord "Vegetarian" Debling
Sam Phillips, who is best known for his notable role as Equerry in Netflix's The Crown, joined Bridgerton season 3 as Lord Alfred Debling, aka a part of Penelope Featherington's highly anticipated love triangle.
It is worth mentioning that Lord Debling is not a character from the novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, but rather an original role made especially for the Netflix series, which means the most that we do know about him came from Phillips:
Phillips describes Lord Debling as an "outsider" seeking someone who "goes against the grain". His interests lie in "other things outside of the norms of society," in this case, he spots Penelope among the crowd.
In three words, the actor summarized his character as someone who "loves wildlife, a conservationist, and a vegetarian", which caught fans' attention.
The lattermost part of his sentence definitely shocked fans in the most unexpected way. Here's why being a vegetarian in the Regency Era is quite uncommon.
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How Being a Vegetarian Sets Lord Debling Apart From Colin Bridgerton
While being a vegetarian in modern times is no new concept, keep in mind that the Bridgerton series is set in the Regency Era, which means the term is considered an advanced mindset during their time.
At the time, vegetables were considered "bad" and unconventional. They were usually dipped in rich butter sauce, and butter was more expensive than meat, which would likely come into play in showing how rich Lord Debling is.
Meanwhile, fans couldn't help but point out how hilarious their initial theories of Lord Debling's involvement with animals meant he would be depicted as a cruel man, rather than someone who loves wildlife.
It wouldn't be far-fetched to see Penelope Featherington take a liking to someone like Lord Debling, especially since both happen to be introverts (as Phillips recently revealed).
There is no question that Penelope would be interested in a man who speaks of uncustomary beliefs and opinions that would get her out of her shell, which Bridgerton season 3 will surely shed more light on soon.
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The first four episodes of Bridgerton season 3 premiere on Netflix on May 16.
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