Penelope Featherington grew up as a girl who was never much noticed by men. Rather, she was never noticed at all. Constantly on the outside, looking in. That’s why nobody ever suspected that she could be Lady Whistledown. No one ever expects the outsiders to have all the insight. The observers of the world are the ultimate truth-tellers.
Penelope started out season 3 the same as we always knew her: clad in her tight curls wound up on her head and her vivacious bright pink gowns. She was completely unsure of herself despite being incredibly intelligent. She, after all, is the esteemed writer everybody is talking about — Lady Whistledown. Except nobody knows it’s her.
Penelope spends her season transitioning from a girl into a young woman. For many girls, this includes a wardrobe and attitude change. It may even involve lessons in charming men. Colin’s advice to Penelope is something we should all live by. It is important to let go of some inhibitions to be present in the moment. When Penelope is too worried about being perceived, she cuts herself off from the world. A person can only take isolation and loneliness for so long.
By episode four, Penelope has acquired the one thing she has always wanted: the man she is in love with. However, the real part of the journey is often overlooked. The most exciting chapter in a girl like Penelope’s life will be the one where she discovers herself. Observers like her don’t realize that the thing they are worst at observing is themselves.
What Penelope discovers about herself in the final episode is that she is remarkably clever and exceedingly compassionate. In the final act of Bridgerton season 3, “Into the Light,” Penelope stands up in front of the Ton and does the thing she is most afraid of — be herself. As a passionate writer, she has had a voice all along. She simply had to find the courage within herself to use it.
There is no characterization without interaction between characters. We will never understand love without understanding each other. I think we could all learn a thing or two about relationships by watching Colin and Penelope fall in love. While Lady Whistledown may be gone for now, the spirit of London’s greatest writer lives on in Penelope Bridgerton.
Colin says it all himself in the final minutes of Bridgerton season 3: “How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light. If my only purpose in life is to love a woman as great as you, then I will be a very fulfilled man indeed.”
What was your favorite part of Bridgerton season 3? Let us know on Instagram @valleymag.
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