Following on from Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) romantic proposal to Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), Bridgerton season 3, part 2 hints that Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) may stand in their way and reveal Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown. Throughout Bridgerton, Lady Whistledown has remained a dark cloud hanging over the ton, threatening it with gossip and scandal. However, Bridgerton season 3 promises to bring the heat on Lady Whistledown and perhaps rid her from the ton for good with the help of Eloise.
Eloise and Penelope’s friendship has tied each season of Bridgerton together as the main focus of each season revolved around a different Bridgerton sibling and their love interest. However, the more Eloise delved deeper into discovering the identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown, the more suspicious Queen Charlotte became of her true intentions. A last ditch effort to save Eloise by Penelope ruined not only Eloise’s social status, but her friendship with Penelope. Now in Bridgerton’s season 3 part 2, Eloise and Penelope look set to clash more than ever before.
Bridgerton Season 3, Part 2’s Trailer Has Eloise Threaten To Reveal Pen Is Lady Whistledown
Their Relationship Is A Key Part of Bridgerton
Though the presence of Lady Whistledown was not as strong as previous seasons, Bridgerton season 3, part 2 promises to up the ante and deliver a tense conclusion as all eyes look towards Lady Whistledown and her true identity. As evident by Bridgerton’s latest trailer, this burden weighs heavily on Penelope. She has finally gotten what she has always wanted in her engagement to Colin, yet his clear loathing of Lady Whistledown makes her impending reveal all the more poignant and Eloise could play a key part in that.
Eloise and Penelope’s relationship may be the real casualty of the impending Lady Whistledown reveal.
In Bridgerton’s trailer, Eloise delivers an ultimatum to Penelope: if she does not reveal her identity to Colin, she will do so herself. Shonda Rhimes hinted at how Lady Whistledown’s secret would affect Bridgerton season 3, particularly with how it would affect her relationship with Colin. Rhimes cites how seeing this conflict feels fresh, but could spell danger for their future relationship. However, Eloise and Penelope’s relationship may be the real casualty of the impending Lady Whistledown reveal, with Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell describing Penelope and Eloise’s friendship as the season’s secondary love story.
Does Eloise Reveal Penelope Is Lady Whistledown In The Books?
The TV Show’s Reveal Is Very Different to the Books
Bridgerton season 3 greatly differs from Julia Quinn’s novels, and the Lady Whistledown plotline is no different. In the books, Lady Whistledown’s identity isn’t revealed until the fourth book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, which depicts Colin and Penelope’s love story. Eloise plays a much smaller role in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown plot than she does in the television series, and Eloise is not the one who reveals her secret to the ton. However, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton’s villain forces Penelope’s hand and her secret is revealed to the public by someone totally unexpected.
Cressida is the main villain of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and looks to be a foreboding force in the Lady Whistledown plot in the second part of Bridgerton season 3
Though Bridgerton season 3 has diverged away from Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels, Cressida’s increased screen time does not seem to be a coincidence, as Cressida is the main villain of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton and looks to be a foreboding force in the Lady Whistledown plot in the second part of Bridgerton season 3. A turn of phrase tips off Cressida to Lady Whistledown’s real identity in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, leading her to blackmail Penelope in the hopes that she will be able to earn money in return for keeping her secret. However, her plans are soon thwarted.
Colin becomes aware of Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown much before Eloise does in the books, which is almost the reverse of the Bridgerton television series. Colin’s discovery of Penelope’s alter ego in Romancing Mr Bridgerton shakes his feelings for her, but they ultimately get married. Cressida’s blackmail comes after their marriage, but is stopped by Colin, who reveals Penelope’s secret to the public with her permission. Before he does this, Penelope confesses her secret to Eloise, who already knows of Penelope’s identity thanks to Hyacinth.
Why Eloise Probably Won’t Reveal Penelope Is Lady Whistledown
Revealing Penelope’s Identity Would Ruin Their Friendship For Good
Though the rift between Penelope and Eloise does not exist in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, the distance between them in Bridgerton season 3, part 2 seems to be bigger than ever as Colin and Penelope’s engagement is announced to the ton. Eloise, as one of the only members of the ton who knows Penelope’s secret, wants to protect her brother from the collateral damage of the Lady Whistledown reveal, knowing first hand just how harsh society’s views can be. Eloise’s stance may seem blunt in Bridgerton season 3, but it is unlikely that she would want to cause actual harm to her friend.
Eloise and Penelope’s friendship is a core link throughout Bridgerton. If Eloise were to reveal Penelope’s identity to the ton, she would ruin Penelope’s social status as well as her upcoming marriage, making reconciliation seem impossible. Eloise and Penelope still evidently care for each other, watching Eloise destroy Penelope’s future feels like an injustice to a friendship that has played such an important role in Bridgerton so far. Though things initially don’t look good, seeing the toll that Lady Whistledown’s reveal has on Penelope could lead Eloise to change her mind and instead reconsider her friendship with Penelope.
