Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three of Bridgerton and Cressida Cowper.
At the start of Bridgerton’s season three, if one had predicted that we would be rooting for Cressida Cowper to get her own happily ever after, it would have been hard to believe. Yet, here we are. This season, Cressida has undergone a remarkable transformation from a background character and nemesis to someone viewers genuinely feel for.
Unexpected Friendship Blooming
The revelation that Cressida and Eloise Bridgerton are now BFFs was stunning. In earlier seasons, they shared considerable animosity, partly due to Cressida’s past threats against Daphne Bridgerton and Simon. Yet, in Season 3, an unexpected friendship blooms between Cressida Cowper and Eloise, hinting at potential deeper feelings that’s sparking excitement among viewers.
From Villain to Sympathetic Character
As Jessica Madsen’s role took on more prominence this season, we learned about the pressures at home driving Cressida. Her desperation to marry stems from her parents’ incessant demands. They even threatened her with an arranged marriage if she didn’t find a match soon.
The Pursuit of Love
One significant plot twist is Cressida’s competition against Penelope Featherington for the love of Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), a new character this season. It becomes clear why Cressida is desperate – failing to secure a respectable match could lead to being paired off with someone thrice her age.
A Bold Move
When her parents start arranging a marriage with a family friend while the queen hunts for Lady Whistledown’s identity, Cressida pretends to be Lady Whistledown in a bid to avoid marriage and save face. However, the ruse backfires as the queen doesn’t believe her claim, causing Eloise to cut ties with her.
The Downfall
This decision leads to painful consequences for Cressida. Her father withdraws her dowry, and both she and her mother write an entire issue of the Whistledown newsletter only for the real Lady Whistledown (Penelope Featherington) to release a statement discrediting her work.
Banishment and an Uncertain Future
Cressida faces banishment by her parents to stay with an aunt in Wales, creating an uncertain future for her character in the show. Despite hopes for a possible queer love story between Eloise and Cressida among fans, this turn raises questions about what lies ahead for her.
Divergent Paths from the Books
It’s worth noting that Cressida’s journey in the TV series diverges significantly from Julia Quinn’s novels. In the books, by the fourth installment centering on Colin and Penelope, Cressida has already married Lord Twombley but recently became widowed—a stark contrast to her screen tale of struggle and unfulfilled romance.
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