Although Bridgerton season 3, part 1 left Penelope and Eloise’s friendship on a questionable note, a recent update from Bridgerton’s creators hints that audiences shouldn’t be worried for the former friends. Since the very beginning of Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington and Eloise Bridgerton have been best friends. Both bookish and opinionated, Pen and Eloise have long bonded over their shared interest in writing and their distaste for the traditions of the ton. However, at the end of Bridgerton season 2, the duo is split due to the revelation of Penelope as Lady Whistledown. Thus far, season 3 has continued this rift.
Despite the fact that Bridgerton season 3 centers on the romance between Colin and Penelope, audiences are still completely invested in Pen and Eloise’s friendship, and unfortunately, at this point, nothing seems to have gotten better. However, fans shouldn’t be too nervous. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell reveals that the end of Bridgerton season 3, part 1does not represent the complete end to Pen and Eloise’s story. In fact, in many ways, it is just a small segment of the whole that is the story of their wonderful friendship.
Bridgerton Season 3 Promises A Happy Ending For Eloise & Penelope’s Friendship
Brownell confirms that Eloise and Pen will make up
Regardless of the hostility still brewing between Eloise and Penelope, Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell has offered a major hint about how the friends’ story will end, at least in this season of the period romance. In her Hollywood Reporter interview, Brownell described Penelope and Eloise’s friendship as “the secondary love story of the season.” This is high praise considering that Francesca has formed a bond with John Stirling and Benedict and Lady Tilley Arnold have an unavoidable spark between them this season.
Furthermore, Brownell goes on to say of the Bridgerton creators, “… we’re very invested in happy endings.”
Considering that Brownell mentioned happy endings so soon after calling Eloise and Penelope the secondary love story, there is little doubt that their friendship will mend itself by the season’s end. Truthfully, this is no surprise. Brownell is right when she says the Bridgerton team is committed to happy endings. It’s never just the main couple that works things out in each season. The secondary and supporting characters also pan out their issues and end up, arguably, happy. In this way, it is more than likely that Penelope and Eloise will be friends once again by the season 3 finale.
Why It’s Important Bridgerton Fixes Eloise & Penelope’s Friendship
Penelope needs more than just romantic support
Although Penelope and Eloise’s resolution is not entirely surprising, it is a huge relief. Bridgerton would have been making a massive mistake in keeping the two separated. In reality, Penelope and Eloise need each other. As two black sheep within the ton, the women are in desperate need of understanding. Though Eloise has her family, no one truly sees her the way Penelope does, and vice versa. Furthermore, season 3 has only emphasized how alone Penelope is, and though she will have Colin by the end of the season, she needs more than just romance. She needs a friend.
On top of that, there are some obvious logistical problems that would arise if Penelope and Eloise did not make up. First and foremost, when Penelope and Colin inevitably end up together, it would be quite strange for Eloise to continue icing out her sister-in-law, especially considering their shared history. If Eloise truly could not get over her grudge, this would continue to be a huge problem for the rest of Bridgerton. When Penelope becomes a Bridgerton, it will only make sense that her and Eloise will have patched things up for the general peace of the show.
How Will Eloise & Penelope’s Friendship Be Fixed?
Lady Whistledown will fix Eloise and Penelope’s friendship
Because Lady Whistledown is what tore Eloise and Penelope apart, it only makes sense that she would bring them together again, especially when considering where Bridgerton season 3, part 2 is heading. At the end of Bridgerton season 3, part 1, Colin proposes to Penelope, sealing their relationship. However, Penelope still hasn’t told Colin the truth about her identity. In this way, because Eloise knows about Whistledown, she will likely have some sort of confrontation with Penelope. Ultimately, this tension will have to result in an eventual blow-up wherein Colin finds out, but Penelope and Eloise also make up.
It certainly won’t be an easy road, but Penelope and Eloise are definitely not doomed. Just as Penelope and Colin form a special bond, Penelope and Eloise will regain what they had before. This will be a huge relief, and will only make both of their lives better. On top of that, Penelope and Eloise have learned more about themselves while away from each other, and now, they can enter this new era of their friendship with maturity and more understanding. This will help bring Bridgerton to the next level.
