‘Bridgerton’: Nicola Coughlan Reacts to Penelope’s Shocking Ending
The first season of Bridgerton had a mystery. By the end, it looks like it was solved and the cast has their own reactions to the reveal. Nicola Cughlan, who played Penelope Featherington talked about that shocking ending to the Netflix series.[Warning spoilers for the ending of season 1 of Bridgerton!]
‘Bridgerton’ Season 1 has a mystery
The new Netflix series follows the lives of powerful families during the U.K’s Regency Era. It is based on Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series.
The first season starts with the narration of Lady Whistledown giving the details of multiple powerful families. There are the Bridgertons who seem to be perfect. Then there are the Featheringtons who seem to be another rich family.
Both families have daughters who are put on the marriage market to find a husband. Lady Whistledown mostly writes about the scandals and courtships that could potentially lead to a proposal.
Season 1 ends with a big reveal
Throughout the season we see how Lady Whistledown’s pamphlet affects high society. She directs the gossip and mostly focused on the Bridgerton family. Daphne Bridgerton’s (Phoebe Dynevor) relationship with Duke Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), for example, was the talk of the town partially because of Lady Whistledown’s writing.
Eloise Bridgerton is the more rebellious daughter. She became focused on figuring out the identity of Lady Whistledown and even got the attention of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) because of it. However, she realized the queen wanted to stop Lady Whistledown so Eloise’s goal was to protect her identity.
The season ended with Whistledown in a carriage with a copy of her pamphlet. She then pulls down her hood and we see it’s Penelope Featherington.
Nicola Coughlan reacted to the big ending
Coughlan talked to Daily Beast about the reveal that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. The actor talked about her character having different sides to her.
“She’s so overlooked and ignored,” Coughlan said. “In her own family at the balls… She’s just seen as, you know, a little girl—but then at the same time, she is the H.B.I.C. in London.”
The actor also said “you can see the motivating factors” behind Penelope writing because Penelope isn’t treated very well by the people in her life. “She is both sweet and conniving,” Coughlan added. “And loving. And, you know, a bit of a B. She’s all of these things.”
Netflix hasn’t announced a season 2, but the ending shows room for a lot more story to be told. TV Line reports there will be a second season, which will go into production in March 2021. But a rep has declined to comment on this rumor.
