Cressida Cowper Deserved BETTER! | Anatomy of a Character

#bridgerton #characteranalysis #cressidacowper #review
After watching the third season of Bridgerton, I ended up with a few strong opinions - namely about Francesca's story, Penelope and Colin, but above all about Cressida. So join me as we do a character analysis and discuss why i think they really mistreated Cressida Cowper in this season of Bridgerton!
Intro: 00:00 - 00:45
Cressida in S01 & S02: 00:45 - 02:04
Friendship with Eloise: 02:04 - 05:41
Cressida's upbringing: 05:41 - 06:59
Lord Debling: 06:59 - 09:55
Character traits & motivations: 09:55 - 12:11
Cressida & Colin: 12:11 - 13:34

[@silver6302]

Humanizing her didn't make sense in the end, as they simply discarded all of it. Cressida's in the books is awful, but from show's perspective, she deserved better indeed. Not to mention how Eloise acted insensitive after Whistledown fake announce. The girl has some traits to heal before befriending with anyone.

[@luciehermand131]

I know so many people love Eloise but she was just AWFUL in this season... When Cressida "comes out" as Whistledown Eloise is so mad at her and I just don't get it.... Cressida told her she wanted her independance, surely Eloise understood why she was doing that ??

[@LanaMarie]

of all the people, you'd think eloise would understand cressida's desire to not be trapped in a loveless, arranged marriage, right!

[@barbara2607]

Empathy is not Eloise’s strong suit.

[@an0nnymous334]

I feel like cressida and lady featherington offers a few glimpses into what it's actually like to be in that society. I completely agree cressida deserves better, but it could also be argued that it's the show's way of saying not everybody can have the happy ending they deserve. I say this, but I will always be awaiting her return in the following seasons.

[@vangu2918]

She's a bully, she doesn't deserve what she hasn't earned, no pretty privileges here.

[@cloverazar5315]

You are absolutely right and please don’t take this as an aspersion on you - but I while I agree that the show is saying “not everyone can have a happy ending”, I think that’s why it frustrates me so terribly. That show mentality works for HOTD, where we know “this is a Shakespearean tragedy and my faves are gonna die or cry”. But Bridgerton is the fluffy, pastel-coloured, regency romance. A romance! So make it fluffy, Shonda, don’t give us a marital grape side plot. Cause you know Cressida’s gonna get stuck with some rotting, formaldehyde pickled Viserys-looking mf’er, or worse, her dad’s friend Judge Claude Frollo

[@Kenny-bu4uv]

It was a waste to almost make us like /sympathize with her and then to just turn her back completely evil for the sake of it just was trash . Also they wasted Deblins character on Polin’s story . Him and Cressida actually would work perfectly, she gets the financial security and house and land , he has a wife back in England taking care of his affairs while he galavants all over the world . A PRACTICAL marriage indeed.

[@TheLamehipster]

I want to see more of creseda in future seasons , if she is written off I'll be so pist

[@surgeon1016]

She’ll definitely not be written off her mother’s name is the name of Sophie’s stepmother and that is the hint to indicate that her family is going to play some type of role in the next season

[@constitutionalcarrot3720]

Cress bristled at living with her aunt, but being married to that old codger would have been way worse. At least now she is getting away from her parents and has the opportunity to find herself away from the politics of the ton. I hope her arc is only on the downswing but ends with her finding a way to be single and thrive - maybe she can become a modiste, start her own business and never marry! She has the drive, she has the competitive nature, she has style, she brings plenty to the table.

[@smolson8471]

I think part of why it sucks so much to see how Cressida ends off in this season is because of how underprivileged she is in comparison to a lot of the main characters thus far (the Bridgeton's). She lives in an emotionally abusive household and although Penelope did as well, at least Penelope isn't forced to wed if she can't find a husband. Cressida is in a worse position than a lot of the other characters. And when she finally gets a friend that friend lets her down at every opportunity giving her no support system unlike our other mc's. (Though tbf this didn't come from nowhere, Eloise has always had problems with listening to her friends even in previous seasons). So it feels really upsetting to see her get this tragic ending. I really hope that we aren't done with her character arc

[@Twdee2]

I’d have to disagree. I agree that she came from a fairly abusive household, but she still had a leg up in the marriage mart. Unlike Penelope, Cressida was considered attractive. Although we only see two men court her in show (the prince and lord Debling) we know the characters lives continue off screen and according to one mama “where one suitor goes the rest surely will follow” we can assume that Cressida had at least a handful of men attempt to court her in her first season or two since she was worthy of the Princes’ attention. We can be sympathetic to her plight, but we can’t ignore the question of why couldn’t Cressida secure a husband? Simple, because of her bad attitude (which apparently is known in the ton) and her lack of discernible personality/skills. She earned a bad reputation for herself which ultimately affected her chance of marriage to a man at least close in age to her and of her own choosing. Seeing how blunt Lord Crowper is, we can assume that Cressida knew from her debut if she couldn’t secure a husband he would force her into a marriage of his own choosing. Now that it was her third season out and she hadn’t secured a match yes she’s desperate and her back is against the wall but once again that was of her own doing. In my opinion, Cressida’s ending was sad but fitting. She played dirty, used deceit, and manipulation, but still could not come out victorious. Side note, Eloise is definitely a crappy friend lol

[@avi.chan23]

I love Cressidas story in season 3 so much. She did the wrong things ot of the right reasons and she so much deserves to become a more happy person. In fact, I would love seing her becoming friends with Penelope, thought, they are different, they have some things in common and the fact, that they both struggled a lot just because they had a hard time fearing the life of spinsters I think, they could make really good friends, like Penelope actually defending Cressida in one of her Lady Whisltedown papers. THIS would give the ton something to talk about :D

[@80sdreamwave32]

Writing in season bit mess for all character in show

[@nandinishah1709]

I hated the way Eloise treated her after she revealed she was Whistledown. Eloise was never a good friend to Penelope but I thought Cressida's company might help her gain perspective and get out of her 'not like other girls' phase but none of that happened 🙃 I really hope we see Cressida turn her life around in season 4

[@alenneymann4282]

Exactly my thoughts 🤝

[@JessicaLynYoung]

I think Cressida has a crush on Eloise and is jealous that Pen has a relationship with her 🌈

[@HeyTexasItsMe]

Cressida learned so much this season and still chose wrong. Same as Eloise chose wrong last season. Cressida should’ve mended a relationship with the B family instead she solidified her role as a rival. We can’t let how we grew up determine how we move forward as an adult. Her loneliness isn’t more important that anyone else. It’s not her fault her parents are terrible but it doesn’t make it right to make poor choices.

[@LanaMarie]

i don't disagree, but her upbringing does play a part in how she sees the word (same goes for all the characters) and it was great that we could understand her motivations even if we may not approve of them; if her story's not over, there is definitely room for development, as long as the show doesn't keep setting her back two steps after she's made one step forward.

[@vangu2918]

​@@LanaMarieShe is intelligent enough to make other decisions. She choose to do what she did because she enjoys the effect of what she does, pure and simple as that.

[@jh-hh6vs]

No she didn’t. In the book she isn’t redeemable.

[@nainak237]

except the show changed the characterisation of many characters, cressida actually may be also posy reiling... if we go by the hint that her mother's first name is araminta, if true then she would be an essential plot tool in benedict's story aswell and it would make sense only when she is shown to be more than a mean girl.

[@soso694]

Well the show is different frim the books.

[@calvinhobbesgatsby6869]

Ngl, Eloise is pretty selfish & is a bad friend to both Penelope & Cressida.