Does Bridgerton Have a Happy Ending? (Season 1 Ending Explained)

Netflix’s Bridgerton is one of the most wholesome shows currently streaming, not unlike most of Shondaland’s creations. Almost every loose plot end is tied up fair and square by the end of Season 1. Some are happy, and some heartbreaking.

All in all, Bridgerton ends on a happy note, with most of the characters getting what they wanted. Daphne and Simon finally get together and have a son, Lady Whistledown is revealed, and Lady Bridgerton successfully marries off her eldest daughter in the first season.

On a sadder but satisfying note, Siena gives Anthony proper closure, Colin is heartbroken but will fulfill his dream of traveling, and Marina finds a suitor despite her premarital pregnancy.

The series did leave some crucial plot points open-ended and some mild cliffhangers, too, indicating a potential Season 2. We still don’t know what happens to the Weatheringtons after their patriarch is killed due to his betting habits.

Second, in line for marriage at the Bridgerton house, Eloise’s future hangs in the balance after she struggles to deal with society’s expectations of her. Also, will Anthony find true love again?

Everything you need to know about the Bridgerton Season 1 ending.

1. What Happens to Daphne and Simon?

Bridgerton’s Daphne and Simon definitely had one of the most tumultuous will-they-won’t-they story arcs. But despite the toxic aspects and a tad immature conversations, their relationship was swoon-worthy for most parts.

By the end of Season 1, Daphne manages to uncover the real reason Simon is unwilling to ‘sire children’. The loveless and toxic relationship with his father, mainly over the Dukeship, makes him vow to end the Hastings bloodline with him. As a payback.

It takes Daphne to play some less-than-proper and downright deceptive tricks to learn the truth. The controversial scene where she forces the Duke to ejaculate inside her in the hopes of getting pregnant was one of them. Fans were especially unhappy with the show’s creators picking up the male rape scene from the books and making it worse. In the book, Simon is drunk.

However, Daphne sort of makes Simon see another way of getting back at his dad. By becoming a loving husband and protective father, something Duke Sr. never was, Simon could reject his father’s legacy.

The Duke and Duchess have a completely consensual union and even welcome a baby boy by the end of Episode 8. Simon again wins hearts by not just accompanying Daphne throughout the birth but also continuing the Bridgerton tradition of naming the children alphabetically.

2. Does Anthony Marry the Opera Singer?

One of the steamiest romances of Bridgerton Season 1 had to be that of Anthony Bridgerton and Siena Rosso. Kicked off in the very first episode with Anthony’s bare arse, their chemistry remains electric throughout the season. However, they do not end up together.

For all the talk of searching for a proper and respectable alliance for his baby sister Daphne, Anthony’s wayward behavior was nothing short of hypocrisy. The eldest Bridgerton’s romance with an opera singer was far from an acceptable match in the Ton. This causes many a rift between Siena and Anthony even though the ‘electricity’ joined them every time.

That is until Siena finally finds a more suitable match for herself and decides to settle down. They share one last lovemaking before Siena puts her foot down and asks Anthony to leave her alone.

By the end of Season 1, a heartbroken Anthony announces it was time for him to look for a bride for himself. It can be a hint that he will be the focus of the next Bridgerton season. It may be noted that Bridgerton has not been renewed for a second season yet, but Netflix can be expected to do so anytime now.

3. Who was Lady Whistledown?

Viewers are finally told of the true identity of the Ton’s gossip girl, Lady Whistledown. It is none other than the sweet, well-read, and largely ignored Featherington sister, Penelope.

The reveal came as a surprise to all those who had not read the Julia Quinn books. The show had managed to misguide us with at least three convincing options for the woman behind Lady Whistledwn – Eloise, Lady Bridgerton’s lady’s maid, and Madame Delacroix.

Penelope turns out to be the last in the line of suspects. The youngest Featherington is mostly playing second to either Marina Thompson or Eloise Bridgerton. She even plays along with Eloise’s plans to uncover the true identity of Lady Whistledown.

The revelation of Penelope as Lady Whistledown was a breath of fresh air amid the Ton’s toxic patriarchal smog. The largely overlooked fat girl of the family whose crush considers her a baby sister turns out to be the one in control of who courts who and when.

4. Who Gets the Featherington Estate?

For the Featherington family, Season 1 ends tragically with the death of their patriarch. Lord Featherington was a gambling addict who had lost all his family fortunes and the dowry money of his three daughters the process.

When Lady Featherington discovers the truth that they were on the verge of bankruptcy, she pushes the man to do something.

The Lord comes up with a devious plan of fixing a boxing match before betting his whole estate on it. He wins and takes home more than enough money for his whole family. However, the truth is out soon enough, and he is killed by two bookies when they find out about his tricks.

Since it is the 19th Century, Lady Featherington is not liable to receive the Lord’s estates, and thus we have a mysterious new owner of the family property. This remained one of the few cliffhangers of the season.

5. What Happens to Marina Thompson?

After creating ripples through the Ton’s season, the new arrival Marina Thompson was revealed to be pregnant with a child out of wedlock. Lord Featherington had known of her condition when he allowed her refuge on his estate. He owed money to Marina’s father and took care of her marriage in exchange for not paying back the debts.

Things end on a bittersweet note for a young Marina. The Army man she fell in love with dies on the battlefield. She then plans to lure a clueless and smitten Colin Bridgerton into marrying her, which is foiled by Lady Whistledown, who reveals the truth about her pregnancy. With no other option left, she tries to kill her pregnancy with…tea, was it? Yes, some weird concoction of tea leaves, among other herbs, was supposed to kill her child.

She obviously remained as pregnant as ever and is forced to accept the proposal from her lover’s younger brother instead. In the end, Marina finds safety and security for both herself and her child but misses out on a happy ever after with her beloved.

6. About Bridgerton

Bridgerton is an American streaming television period drama series created by Chris Van Dusen and produced by Shonda Rhimes. It is based on Julia Quinn’s novel series of the same name, set in the competitive world of Regency era in London.

The show’s ensemble cast includes Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jonathan Bailey, Ruby Barker, Sabrina Bartlett, Harriet Cains, Regé-Jean Page, Bessie Carter, Nicola Coughlan, Phoebe Dynevor, Ben Miller, Golda Rosheuvel, Luke Newton and Julie Andrews among many others.

The series follows the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family on their journey to find love and happiness in London’s high society.

The first season debuted on December 25, 2020. The second season premiered on March 25, 2022. The series was renewed for a third and fourth season in April 2021. In May 2023, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was released, a spin-off series focused on Queen Charlotte. The third season will premiere in two parts; the first premiered on May 16, 2024, and will be followed by the second on June 13, 2024.