Netflix’s Bridgerton had us in two minds about the true identity of the Ton’s secret gossip girl, Lady Whistledown. Narrated by Julie Andrews, Lady Whistledown’s words would never let us believe that the woman behind them could be someone younger or not even a woman at all. A secret well kept.
Lady Bridgerton was always the youngest Featherington, Penelope, as fans of the Julia Quinn books must know. But while the books played her cards close to chest until the fourth novel, the series revealed them by the end of Season 1.
As the unassuming best friend to Eloise and an unseen daughter to the Featheringtons, Penelope remains a fly on the wall for most of Season 1.
She even spends a considerable time pretending to look for the woman behind Lady Whistledown with Eloise. The show drops the bomb at the end of the Season 1 finale, and even then, only the viewers are told, not the Ton.
1. Who was Lady Whistledown in the books?
In the Julia Quinn novel series, the London resident responsible for Lady Whistledown’s society papers was also Penelope Featherington. The Netflix series deviates from the novels in many ways but keeps the Lady Whistledown arc the same. It merely shortens it.
The fourth book in Julia Quinn’s novel series focuses on the love life of the second Bridgerton son, Colin. As in the series, Colin’s love life remains the center of many of Lady Whistledown’s society papers in the first three books. But readers do not learn of her real face until the fourth installment, Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
The Netflix series, however, chooses to end Lady Whistledown’s mystery by the end of Season 1 itself.
2. Who is Lady Whistledown in the show?
On the Netflix show, as in the books, Penelope Featherington is responsible for writing the disruptive gossip papers of London’s Regency society. For the most part, the show portrays Penelope, aka Pen, as a romantic soul obsessed with her neighbor Colin Bridgerton and best friends with his baby sister, Eloise.
The Netflix show unravels its biggest mystery rather nonchalantly. The Season 1 finale closes with two major revelations – Daphne and Simon finally have a baby, and Lady Whistledown lifts her hood with a smirking Penelope underneath. But while there are at least a dozen others in the room when Daphne has her baby, Penelope is revealed to just the viewer.
The blow is hard but delivered quite softly. We suddenly realize how smoothly Pen had fooled her best friend Eloise and also us, the viewers. From Madame Delacroix to Eloise herself, we doubted everyone but Penelope.
After the initial shock, fans wondered why Penelope’s cover was given up so quickly in the show. Given the large number of volumes in the Quinn novel series, there must be several seasons of Bridgerton lined up ahead. So why did the creators choose the very first season to reveal such an important mystery?
One primary reason could be that perhaps there aren’t many seasons of Bridgerton ahead. After all, the show was not renewed for a second season and is still isn’t. Maybe Shondaland wanted to give the season a wholesome end in case it had to stand alone.
3. What will happen to Lady Whistledown in the future?
Let us quickly take a look at what this big reveal means for the plot of Bridgerton Season 2, that is, if it were to be renewed. But given the wide popularity, the period-piece has gathered, we can safely expect the Netflix announcement sooner than later.
The one person who stands to be most affected by Penelope’s little secret is her best friend, Eloise. Under the aegis of Queen Charlotte, Eloise had long been investigating the real identity of Lady Whistledown. Penelope was always kept abreast of Eloise’s plans, including the Queen’s plan in the season finale.
To discover that Penelope had been fooling all along could go either way. Eloise could be in awe of Penelope for achieving so much so young, or she could feel a sense of betrayal. But one thing is for sure, Eloise had intentions of stopping Lady Whistledown’s adventures once she found her but only to convince her to write good things about the Featheringtons. Ironic, isn’t it?
That brings us to the next question, which can only be answered in the next season. If Penelope was Lady Whisteldown, why did she write such awful things about her own family and humiliate them?
Penelope revealed the truth about Marina Thompson’s pregnancy, thus implying collusion by the Featheringtons, in her papers. By doing so, Penelope endangered not only her future but also those of her sisters. Why did she do it? Maybe the future seasons will tell.
We know Lord Featherington was killed at the end of Season 1 by a couple of bookies. This could make Penelope a tad unstable and wreak havoc on the Ton because she is Lady Whistledown. There is a good chance that an unstable Penelope will not be as balanced as she was in the first season when dealing with other people’s secrets.
What do you think? How will the big reveal play out in Bridgerton’s next season?
4. 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.
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