As the latest installment of Bridgerton arrives, excitement builds alongside concerns over a significant unresolved issue centered on Lady Whistledown. The first part of season four stands out as the strongest yet, yet it hurtles toward season five without tackling a key inconsistency: Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) emerges as an unintended villain.

Penelope’s Heroic Image Clashes with Her Past

Season three portrays Penelope as independent, brave, and alluring, positioning her as a central hero. However, it overlooks her actions as Lady Whistledown in season one, where she devastated Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker), the Featheringtons’ distant cousin lacking family support.

The Scandal That Ruined Marina

Pregnant and desperate, Marina sought marriage to Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) to avoid societal ruin. Exposure by Lady Whistledown made her pregnancy public, leading Colin to end the engagement. Shunned by society, Marina endured a hazardous home abortion and married her late lover’s brother.

Season four’s exploration of class divides and women’s vulnerabilities amplifies the horror of Penelope’s betrayal. As a wealthier cousin and supposed friend, Penelope faced no consequences and ultimately married Colin.

Regency-Era Realities for Unwed Mothers

Historical accounts, like Sophie Baek’s (Yerin Ha) backstory, highlight the shame of unmarried motherhood. Women risked becoming mistresses, separation from children, or starvation on the streets—fates especially dire for someone impoverished like Marina.

Season Five Implications and Book Connections

If season five focuses on Eloise (Claudia Jessie), the issue intensifies. In Julia Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love, Eloise visits Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), widower of Marina Crane, née Thompson. Devastated by her unhappy marriage, Marina drowns herself.

Fans widely view Phillip’s treatment as non-consensual. One Goodreads reviewer stated: “He knew she didn’t want the sex. He just didn’t care to stop. He was not respecting her at all. Some things do not have to be said to be real.”

The series diverges from the books, where Penelope and Marina never interact and Marina’s pregnancy follows her marriage to Phillip. Here, Penelope’s revelation directly contributes to Marina’s tragic end.

The Need for Redemption and Resolution

Television redemption demands accountability. Penelope cannot achieve it without addressing the blood on her hands from Marina’s downfall. Resolving this plot hole promises a storyline too compelling even for Queen Charlotte to overlook, underscoring Regency women’s lack of rights in unhappy marriages where they were treated as property.