Cressida Cowper is getting a redemption arc in 'Bridgerton' season 3. Here's how it differs from the books.
"Bridgerton" antagonist Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) has a bigger arc in season three. Here's what happens and how it differs from the books.
Laurence Cendrowicz / Netflix
- Cressida Cowper has a central role in "Bridgerton" season three.
- But her redemption never happened in the books.
- Here's how the show and novels differ.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Bridgerton" season three, part one, and "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton."
"Bridgerton" season three is making a big change to the former villain Cressida Cowper.
In the Netflix show, Cressida (Jessica Madsen) is the typical pretty, mean girl. She spends the first two seasons bullying and gossiping about main characters like as Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
In season three, part one, Cressida turns a new leaf after befriending Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), Daphne's younger sister and Penelope's former best friend. However, she is still under a lot of pressure from her parents to find a husband.
"Bridgerton" book fans may be surprised by that — it's nothing like the source novels by Julia Quinn. Eloise and Cressida never become friends there, and she is successful in finding a husband.
Changes like this are not uncommon to "Bridgerton." The series has been a grand success for Netflix, with the first two seasons numbering in its 10 most-watched series ever.
It got there in part by taking a lot of liberties with the books that are its inspiration.
Cressida Cowper is a great example.
In the books, Cressida marries before Penelope and Colin's love story
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Cressida appears in two "Bridgerton" books: "The Viscount Who Loved Me," which was source material for season two, and in "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," which underpins season three.
In "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," Cressida is a vain, mean bully of London society. The unmarried Penelope Featherington is one of her main targets.
The book is set many years after "The Viscount Who Loved Me," so Cressida and Penelope are now in their late 20s. Cressida married a noble, Lord Twombley.
At this age Penelope is considered a spinster, a woman who fell short of the social expectation to marry early and well.
Lord Twombley, who has yet to appear in the Netflix series, dies before the beginning of "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton," leaving Cressida a widow and struggling for money.
Cressida pretends to be Lady Whistledown and later blackmails Penelope
Liam Daniel / Netflix
A major story thread in "Romancing Mr. Bridgerton" that is absent from season three is the race to discover Lady Whistledown's identity.
Near the beginning of the book, Lady Danbury offers 1,000 pounds — a huge sum — to anyone who can discover the gossip writer's identity.
The hunt forces Lady Whistledown's retirement.
In the shows, that arc happens in season two, but with Queen Charlotte pursuing Whistledown instead.
Since Cressida is struggling for money, she admits to being Lady Whistledown in the hope of claiming the bounty, but neither Lady Danbury nor Penelope believes her.
Going against the wishes of Colin Bridgerton, who figures out Penelope is Lady Whistledown, Penelope writes one last gossip paper to expose Cressida as a fraud.
This leads to Cressida discovering Lady Whistledown's real identity and she blackmails Penelope for money. When Colin hears this, he hatches a plan with his family to reveal Penelope's identity before Cressida can expose her.
Despite Colin's fears, Penelope and the Bridgertons are still welcomed in society, and it is Cressida who goes into exile.
Since there was a big Whistledown reveal in season two and Cressida seems to have had a moral change, this part of the story will likely be changed significantly for "Bridgerton" season three, part two, which isn't out until June 13.