‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Introduces a Surprising New Friendship

Mild readers, season three of Bridgerton is upon us in the end—and introducing a friendship that’s certain to be the discuss of the ton. Bosom buddies Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) are nonetheless estranged. However out of the ashes of their relationship rises a brand new alliance between Eloise and none aside from Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), who was as soon as a shared enemy of the previous mates.

New collection showrunner Jess Brownell admits that Eloise and Cressida are unusual bedfellows—at first look anyway. “Final season, Eloise had a little bit of a bumpy ending,” she tells Self-importance Honest. “She bought just a little political with the printer, Theo (performed by Calam Lynch), and practically bought herself and her household in huge hassle. Then, on prime of that, she realized that her greatest good friend had been mendacity to her about Whistledown all alongside. So Eloise enters this season having misplaced just a little little bit of her struggle, not less than quickly. There’s just a little feeling of, when you can’t beat them, be a part of them. After we had been speaking about who can be attention-grabbing to pair Eloise with, by way of underlining how totally different she’s feeling this yr with out Penelope by her facet, Cressida made quite a lot of sense.”

It’s a friendship that wasn’t within the Julia Quinn–written novels, which means that few may have seen it coming. However the union serves as a scrumptious “alternative to get to know Cressida just a little bit extra,” says Brownell. “I like a mean-girl character, however much more, I like understanding why a imply woman is a imply woman. As a result of imply women usually are not born, they’re made. You could have Cressida, who has been this queen bee all alongside—however three years in and not using a husband, I believe there’s some room for reflection together with her. You’re going to see some new sides from her this yr, and perceive why she is the best way she is.”

The brand new season will characteristic a glimpse into Cressida’s homelife, which largely revolves round her success on the wedding market, the place she’s competing in opposition to fellow singleton Penelope for the affections of a brand new character, Lord Debling (performed by Sam Phillips). “For the final two seasons, there’s been this rivalry between Penelope and Cressida. It felt like we needed that to come back to a head this season,” says Brownell. “So although Cressida, this yr, is attempting her greatest to be much less of a imply woman, she will’t assist however subconsciously need to go after the identical man Penelope goes after. It places the 2 of them on a collision course that was actually enjoyable to play out.”

The bond between Eloise and Penelope is collateral injury from the revelation that the latter is definitely tea-spilling Girl Whistledown. Their continued separation makes for a few of the season’s most heartbreaking moments.

“Bridgerton is about love in its many varieties, and so it felt proper to deal with friendship as properly, which I believe is simply as necessary as romantic relationships, particularly at that age,” Brownell explains. “So Penelope and Eloise’s breakup is basically, in some ways, the secondary love story of the season. They’re childhood mates who grew up subsequent door to one another, and quite a lot of instances, these mates, you outgrow them. So what we’re this season is, are they the sort of mates who it was only a section and so they’re going to outgrow one another? Or are they individually going to have the ability to mature in the identical course and are available again collectively?”

Alas, the Girl Whistledown of all of it will proceed to burden a possible reconciliation between the 2—and any burgeoning romance with one Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). “Eloise is aware of the key, and as quickly as one individual is aware of, I believe it will get more durable and more durable to maintain the key,” says Brownell. “In order that’s undoubtedly a stress that’s enjoying on Penelope this yr.”

Season three of Bridgerton will debut on Netflix in two halves—half one on Could 16 and half two on June 13.