Cressida's villian arc was necessary for season 3: not everyone gets a happy ending (Bridgerton s3)

[@amandaa3748]

I loved when Cressida pointed out to Colin his own jealousy of Lady Whistledown. Only she saw it and told him to his face

[@viktorijasarac1171]

I have lived for that moment. It was so satisfying that someone saw tru Colin.

[@annmarieknapp]

Have to say that did feel good.

[@juanitajones6900]

I detest Lady Whistledown and see no reason why Colin should be jealous of the column. It's interesting that once Penelope became the leading lady, the writing has been trying to portray the column in a sympathetic or positive light. I'm not buying it.

[@ellevictor474]

I love that she pointed out both Colin and Eloise.

[@violetlavi2207]

⁠@@juanitajones6900…there are multiple scenes in which Penelope directly calls herself out for causing harm with LW and makes no excuses/doesn’t try to minimize what she did (in one of those scenes, she specifically says she failed at her original mission by not “giving a voice to the voiceless” as she initially set out to do). It was also, however, important to acknowledge her genuine skill and how it gave her confidence. Both were well-addressed in the season…if you only saw the latter, I wonder what you were watching

[@nicolewilliams4827]

Colin mansplaining loneliness to Cressida had me yelling at my tv!

[@sunnynsydney4705]

He’s allowed to feel things as well. Give his perspective

[@Myatheroses]

Ya he reminds me of those people who when I share that my family emotionally abused me, they simply say, no, family doesn’t do that. Like how fucking invalidating and stupid are you to say that to someone. Ya ideally that’s how family SHOULD be, thank your stars if that’s you

[@sunnynsydney4705]

@@Myatheroses I think y’all see Colin in such a negative light. Y’all don’t understand how complicated he actually is. Is he loved by his family, yeah but they don’t give him words of affirmation. He may not still love marina but she saw her plight was not ideal.. he saw she didn’t love Philip. He thought the person who saw him as the best. Also saw him as a joke. She wrote that he didn’t know himself. He didn’t particularly know Cressida plight. Honestly things would have been better if Eloise set up the meeting.. Eloise didn’t tell them cressidas problems… information is power. they could have publicly forgiven cressida and that would have helped her social status.. if Eloise was actually a good friend to Cressida, she could have gotten Colin to find her a man… it’s all miscommunication

[@TheFever77]

How was it mansplaining? Which by the way is a sexist comment in itself.

[@bukolaalale8260]

Cressida was like a trapped animal in the end clawing away aimlessly. Desperation makes people with already questionable character do dangerous things

[@amde8554]

That’s a great summary and true

[@vavakunju17]

Sympathy for her a lot

[@pirateninjaunicorn666]

I absolutely hated how Eloise treated Cressida, even before the Blackmail thing. They were good for each other. And suddenly Eloise just stopped caring about her. It was so cruel. No wonder Cressida snapped.

[@elwiwi61616]

Same! Eloise was so selfish honestly

[@ethical13]

Eloise proved herself to be a very shitty friend, with Penelope and Cressida.

[@acivilright]

Eloise is so not a good friend. I want to like her, but she is deeply self absorbed and essentially uses people. Like the lower class printer dude. She still doesn't fully get that entire scenario, she only understands herself.

[@lucaleone4331]

Lol what? Eloise kept getting betrayed. This is also a wild take bc shes quite literally the only one who didn't care to get a husband or a man or be in the light of society. It was always her family first, friends close behind, but she still cared about them. She also kept getting put in the middle of everything.

[@justlimonika]

​@@lucaleone4331I don't really understand why it's a wild take. Cressida didn't betray Eloise in any way(before Eloise dumped her). Her claiming to be LW had nothing to do with Eloise and wasn't harmful to her family. She did that to protect herself from a terrible fate and Eloise used it as an excuse to stop being friends with her. That wasn't very nice of her in my opinion

[@1pknail]

I love how Cressida's version of Whistledown is such a caricature that everyone - including Penelope - starts to see the value of the real thing.

[@LoveK1]

Those deep sighs of relief that everyone have when they realized the issue was fake were so funny.

[@marrane87]

Bridgertons don't acknowledge their superior privileges

[@anitaokonigene1028]

This is because they are humble. When you are privileged, only those around you would notice, especially when you are born into it. They are so humble about it, that they don’t even acknowledge it.

[@ohdamnman]

Fish don't notice water.

[@Victoria-_]

True they are humble but that doesn’t mean that they still are SO privileged, which was why I found Pen calling out at Eloise’s hypocrisy so cathartic in S2

[@giuliar7944]

Being humble doesn't mean being unaware though. They are absolutely privileged, being humble would mean that they don't make everyone else feel lacking in any way. But most of the times they feel wrapped in their own reality

[@jeriekae1722]

humble is good but they can be dismissive and out of touch. Not everyone is living in the same reality as they are and they treat other people the same way. Hence, Colin's speech towards Cressida was SO great because he got called out. I still believe he didn't really see it? He just thought that he failed and made the situation much worse. Being unaware of your privilege can make you insensitive and unfeeling and just too full of yourself sometimes. Exactly how Colin came across to me during that scene.

[@Celestinewarbeck]

And can we talk about how Cressida is way more clever than Eloise? It took the girl ONE night to find out who Lady Whistledown was while Eloise was scrambling all over for months

[@BlueRoseFaery]

Yes and no, a lot of what Cressida had was luck & desperation. Eloise had to really hide from her family & the Ton that she was sneaking around, & her family is a lot larger & a lot more involved than Cressida's. At that point in time, Cressida was just so desperate to avoid her fate that she wasn't trying to be as sneaky. She mentions that she's been to multiple printers already that night asking about LW and that she'll go to them all if she has to. She lucked out that the young printer (apprentice?) was willing to talk just because he wanted to meet LW himself, if he had been more discreet she might have come up empty handed. But she definitely had more determination & a more direct approach than Eloise, and it did end up getting results so that's points for her.

[@Myatheroses]

Going through adversity and being desperate will bring out those smart instincts in you. Eloise has never been pushed to that point so she, much like Rory in Gilmore, has only book smarts and absolutely nothing else

[@viktorijasarac1171]

I really have problems with Colin, he is so blindly pevileged. That makes same scenes painful to look at.

[@allanallan2171]

Everyone in the Ton is privileged aren't they?

[@viktorijasarac1171]

@@allanallan2171 yes but there is huge difference between Bridgertons and Penelope's family. Bridgertons, Dembery and Royals are crem de la crem . Anthony can marry Ket even if she doesn't have dowry. Sharma and Featherington are at the bottom. Bridgerton is about high society so everyone has privileges. If Penelope isn't lady W. Her family would be in a dare situation if Portia didn't do everything in power. My biggest problem is that the man in Colin's situation is very well aware of their privilege and knows who to exploit it . Colin's supposed to be very well travelled but he didn't grow as a person. There's no way he is still oblivious to that.

[@kaylahensley1581]

I would have liked the privilege conversation to have happened between Colin and Penelope, I don’t think Penelope stood up for herself enough in the Whistledown argument and it would have been closer to book accurate. Also think a confrontation between Cressida and Eloise would have had more impact.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

Then you'll REALLY hate Eloise 😂The number one entitled and privileged character

[@viktorijasarac1171]

@@kaylahensley1581 me too 💕

[@annabean3871]

Cressida should hate the Bridgertons and Penelope more than anyone, every time she got even close to a proposal it was taken away from her first by daphne, and then by Penelope then she was basically put in a terrible position and every time she told el about it she just got blown off. I think she deserved a lot better than what she got

[@garlantyrell6368]

This season really got me feeling bad for Cressida in the end. I know she did a lot in this and the past seasons but the way her parents raised her, I can somewhat understand why she’s the way she is. And I partially don’t blame her for falsely saying she was Lady Whistledown. It was either gain that reward and the Queen’s favor or succumb to marry an old man who would keep her inside his house lock and key. In the end, I believe Cressida was just trying to survive this season. Both her and her mother. They’re not only both victims of society but also victims of Lord Cowper, who seemed to have shown signs of being physically abusive to both his wife and daughter.

[@이지민-j5w]

i dont think he's physically abusive just emotionally. I believe that whole scene shows how much of a bad friend Eloise is. She always abandoned her friends when they need her the most. Especially when they need her emotional support. She already knew Cressida was planning trying to get the money, and knew her whole situation but she rather get petty with Pen instead of helping a fellow woman in distress? and she's the feminist, huh?... And since she already knew the truth, instead of abandoning Cressida she should have tried to convince her nicely, and show her she didn't need to be WD, instead she also blame and insult her too. All the growth she shown in part 1, where she's more understanding of the women situation instead of judging them like always gone. And she's extremely petty, to the point of leaving her friend who needs her. She was revolting this season ngl...,.

[@lesbiangoddess290]

​@@이지민-j5w totally agreed. She gives feminists such a bad name good lord

[@agenttheater5]

I can only hope that she'll find someone who'll bring her some contentment in her life. Hoping that if she has some stable footing in society and some comfort in money and station through her marriage she'll become civil to others, especially Penelope.

[@timingmile7030]

​@@이지민-j5w Eloise is one of the most unlikable characters in the show. She ruined Penelope's engagement news and party. She makes everything about herself and only whining constantly about marriage. When the women in her life need help, she abandons them instead of helping them

[@mm-gz3hq]

​@@timingmile7030 El had to question every moment that Pen was her friend. Pen would write about things she was only able to hear being in rooms that El got her. Such as Anthony and Edwina's engagement.

[@bi_smth]

I really dont get it why she couldnt have just ended with Lord Debling. She just ended up being a plot device to push Peneleope to admit being Whistledown. There are many ways they could have approached this but I guess the producers want to write her off to reduce casting costs.

[@izzywoods794]

I dont see why that would be the producer’s motivation. It was a natural story progression. If she ended up with Debling, that’d definitely would be writing her off. But now she may return if her father dies or something.

[@lucaleone4331]

I was thinking this same thing. As the first part was playing out I was like "oh I see cressidas also perfect for his life style" But then he just disappears. And I agree that her being used to push Penelope out was a bit on the nose and didn't feel natural or smoothly written

[@SilSolo]

Now I’m all for Cressida being the stepsister in Ben’s Cinderella story, having a more drawn out redemption kinda like a female Zuko and ending up with Debling when he comes back

[@annmarieknapp]

I thought same thing. Cressida was a good fort for Debling. Alas she was needed to move plot along!

[@BlueRoseFaery]

Debling didn't really want a wife & did not like society, so I can understand that a failed engagement with Penelope just sent him packing for the rest of the season. He already didn't want to be there & that was just a final straw for him. Cressida was pleasant enough with him but didn't seem to leave a lasting impression on him since Pen was so easily able to sway him away from her.

[@amanda.batton]

Cressida wasn't a backstabber.she never liked penelope. She was weak and catty when she spilled drinks on penelope and ripped her clothes becase she thought Penelope was the one person with less power than her. She punches down. That's why she could never be whistledown. She wasn't brave enough to cause harm to anyone she thought was better than her. But she also knew how to keep a secret and not betray those she thought she might need. She might have blackmailed Daphne but she kept her secret. She also walked away and didn't gossip about Penelope because she was being a good friend to Eloise. Cressida did have redeeming qualities. We are all complex. I really hate her ending. I hope we see her again.

[@rubyanne4909]

I remember they saying her mother's name is Araminta. The name of Sophie's stepmother in the books. If Cressida's father dies and her mother brings her back home, she could possibly remarry and become the stepmother to Sophie. Also, there's an event in the books where Sophie gets help from her step sister, which could lead to Cressida's redemption. If they go that route, of course, everything is up in the air now so it's hard to tell.

[@blumelodiez]

​@@rubyanne4909i think you just spoiled the next season 😂! Good job figuring it out lol

[@roxanapachitariu8922]

I think that the next season will be about Ben and....Cressida. I've said it! Cressida wants freedom and who is the epitome of that in Bridgerton? Benedict. Also, after the events of s3 we can have a new (and better) Cressida. She has a horrible family and she wants to see the world ( as she told to Eloise). Now....how much fun it will be to see Ben trying to hide Cressida in his own home as a maid with Pen, Eloise and Portia ( she will come for tea) there 😂 And the drama? Will he choose to marry Cressida ( the not so mean girl), that no men wants her after the Wistledown incident? Or will he continue to be himself? Maybe I'm crazy, but I want to see that😂 Oh...and maybe her name is also...Sophie😮 The only problem is that she's rich and Sophie is poor(because of her stepmom). But that's just my idea, so don't take it personal😅 and sorry for misspelling.

[@agenttheater5]

@@blumelodiez I haven't read the books and only know they've made a few changes already. It could happen like this, it could happen another way. It's still a good plot line though. Hoping, in spite of her behaviour, she finds some contentment enough. At least enough for her to be civil to Penelope.

[@AJ-ff2os]

​@@roxanapachitariu8922 That would be unexpected.....and interesting too.

[@thirumagal3747]

I thought Eloise was a shitty friend to Cressida this season 😢

[@jam_is_jammin]

Eloise is a terrible friend and person.

[@ickyvicky4719]

I'll be honest, I was a bit surprised at the end when it became clear we, as an audience, are meant to dislike Cressida (even if we can sympathise with her). Everything she did, she did because she's a woman in the 1800s with very limited freedom and options. Playing by the rules for Cressida would mean living an unhappy life. Yes, she did some unsavoury things, but overall I mainly felt bad for her. I was genuinely surprised to see her get punished by the end of the season, especially after her conversation with Colin.

[@nicolersands]

Idk if we’re supposed to dislike her. Her actress confirmed her story isn’t over, and they changed her exit scene to be sadder to emphasize that (initially they were planning on having her mother go with her despite her father’s protests, which they thought would read as too much of a ‘happy’ ending for her since they know she’s coming back). Her hair was deliberately styled to look like chains in that scene too. I think we’re still supposed to feel bad for her, even in the end. It depends what they do with her next, I guess.

[@dortheacaldwell6780]

I think the scene showed how the story and we can have empathy for characters and still hold accountability for their actions.

[@partyprinceyt7528]

I felt so bad when one scene where she admitted that she was scared to her mother. NGL out of all the scenes and stories in Bridgerton, that moment broke me. She was so desperate, and vulnerable. I thought Colin would understand, Cressida’s situation after their conversation-- I guess not 😢

[@Jenny-vm3yu]

I felt sorry for Cressida. She did what she did out of desperation (as said by Queen Charlotte). She would have been stuck in a loveless marriage with a horrible old man. Her being sent to the country with her aunt was probably a slightly better fate.

[@BlueRoseFaery]

Maybe, but we have examples in the show of a young woman being married off to an old man & having to live a not great life for a while, but then being a young widow with a lot of power & money, Lady Danbury. It would have been a hardship but might have set her up for a better future. Unless she died in childbirth like so many women. So is it a better fate? maybe, but I'm sure she'll endure hardship with her aunt, as well.

[@randomgeekcrap]

I really felt bad for her at the end and she said we right about Colin and his family they think everyone has it as good as they have it and you would think with Colin and his travel's he would know better

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

At least Colin pleaded with her. He could've just threatened her and ruined her family name instead. Good man

[@hefangfei]

This is also so very contemporary, even today so many people give their own good happy family for granted, thinking that everyone else has a supportive family as a safety net

[@PandoraBear357]

Privileged people back then didn't travel to see outside of their privilege. They traveled to fancy places like staying in luxe accommodations in Paris and nice lakeside hotels in Sweden, etc.

[@randomgeekcrap]

@@thelegacyofgaming2928 Good doesn't equal Smart

[@Lyserg_]

​@@hefangfeiFr. Even recently I saw: "What's your favourite memory with your father?" I beg your pardon, don't assume we all had it good like you. Not to mention, how many ppl don't have fathers or parents?!

[@carag2567]

This season was really enlightening in terms of Cressida's character. We got to see exactly why she is the way she is by being brought into the Cowper household and family. They are the opposite of the Bridgertons. Their home is dark and oppressive, I felt like it must be hard to breathe inside of the rooms of the Cowper house, whereas the Bridgerton home is light, airy, and welcoming. Cressida's father pays her no attention. Her mother is overbearing and critical. Much of the dialogue also revealed truths about Cressida. When she tells Lady Cowper that Eloise is the only person who ever treated her like a true friend, she really meant it and she was defending Eloise. Lady Cowper's reply, however, "And where is she now?" was stone cold, 100% correct, and must have hit Cressida like a train. She continues with the line about how she raised her daughter to understand that everyone is out for themselves, and nobody can be trusted, especially other women. We get a very detailed picture of the circumstances of Cressida's upbringing, her terrible home life, her nonexistent family support despite being an only child, and the motives behind her behavior. Also, the red dress combined with the strings playing in dramatic staccati as she entered the Mondrich Ball was EVERYTHING!

[@Seraphina93]

Im sorry for her. In the end, she’s also a victim. But her and Eloise as friends worked really well together:/

[@Elizabeth-hc3mi]

Cressida and Penelope were very similar. The difference is that when Cresida was catty, she was catty to their faces. Penelope hid behind a Pen Name. Cressida was basically a school bully and Penelope was a cyber bully.

[@thestarinhereyes2]

This!!!

[@shilpavijay7490]

The difference is Not at all this. 1)It is that Penelope attacks as LW only when provoked. LW came into existence after the Ton for no reason, belittled and judged Penelope. Cressida attacks for No Reason. 2)LW punches those in higher social standing ; while also says and does a lot of good things. Cressida attacks those who she assumes beneath her, her compliments are usually to gain something from the person who she compliments. 3)LW generates a source of income for some in the working class. Cressida sees them as dirt on her shoe. 4)Everybody buys, discusses, and encourages LW. Nobody paid such a subscription to Cressida's bullying. Cressida was catty to their faces, because 1)She wanted a momentary illusion of power to compensate for the powerlessness She felt in Her own home. 2)She was too lost in Her "I, Me, Myself" mindset to have some common sense.

[@Nahuelindomable526]

Another difference between Penelope and Cressida is that Penelope admits guilt for her actions; she feels remorse, guilt and regret for them and tries (within his means) to fix them. Whereas Cressida never has any of that. And this, in a subtle way, makes a big difference.

[@hannahpack586]

@@Nahuelindomable526 also I don't think Penelope ever really meant to cause harm, her intentions were never really malicious, she just lacked the maturity to realise how much power her column had until it was too late. I wouldn't call her a bully and some of the times she dumped people in scandal she was actually trying, very unskillfully, to protect them, like trying to protect Eloise from the queen's suspicions, or trying to protect Colin from being ensnared in a marriage with a woman who didn't love him and was pregnant with another man's child. It doesn't justify her actions, especially the latter, which was largely motivated by jealousy and desperation not to lose the man she loves, but I think it does cast them in a very different light from Cressida, who is intentionally mean simply because she can be and because it gives her a sense of power. That's why we root for Penelope but not for Cressida, however sorry we might feel for her (and I did feel very sorry for her in S3).

[@gaiamorgosi7181]

I hoped that she'd end up with Debling, honestly; it's true, she likes furs and whatever, but when he was talking about not being close to his family because he did not felt close to them, and her face of total understanding of the situation, yet the sadness in the parallel between a man, who can escape far from home, and a woman, forced to be literally trapped into a life she despises, it's what kind of destroyed me. Yes, she is and has been a complex person, not the kindest of all time, but still a very misunderstood individual as well, and, as a result, she became a bully, she hasn't the luxury that Eloise has to see if she finds a lovely husband, she has a family who forces her in any kind of union, I think that Debling would have been perfect and very suitable for her, she'd have become even a bit wiser in my opinion.

[@MeganSin]

I really liked cressida’s arc because in many ways she is just like Penelope. They both dress in outrageous fashion because of their mothers (or in pen’s case used to) they both have been on the marriage mart for the same amount of time, and they both are desperate to escape their family life. I think too, whenever people say Cressida wasn’t clever, Cressida is good at thinking off the top of her head but is not someone who thinks bigger picture. She created her own undoing. I know she nearly had a fate like lady Danbury and her ending didn’t go down that root luckily, but I think her ending was always going to end in her own shame. And big round of applause to Jessica madsen because she acted her tail off this season!

[@Laurtew]

Cressida resorted to blackmail to try to secure freedom, but Pen also made bad choices to get hers. She defamed her friends, family, and neighbours to get money and power so she wouldn't be at the mercy of someone else's decisions. Her mother's plans for her were to keep her single and as a nursemaid for her after her other daughters were married. She knew that and did something about it. If she had never married, she had money to run off with. Honestly, Pen and Cressida were two sides of the same coin. Pen could have gone the villain arc and flirted with it a few times by printing damaging stories on people who hurt her. She could have been bitter and become much more ruthless. But, I think Eloise and Colin grounded her and gave her the acceptance that Cressida didn't get. Pen's own family was cruel to her and devalued her, but the Bridgertons were kind and accepting. She had to write stories to save them and her love for them was so great she almost let Cressida take credit for her work. I suppose all that is a good illustration of what women had to do just to be able to make their own choices at the time.

[@thefairychild]

I don't think it's technically defamation if it's true. Certainly they all had secrets they'd rather have not been published, but the only accusation of WD not being true was from Eloise this season, and only because she was sulky and petty, not because anything published had actually been false.

[@Nahuelindomable526]

The difference between Penelope and Cressida is that Penelope admits guilt for her actions; she feels remorse, guilt and regret for them and tries (within his means) to fix them. Whereas Cressida never has any of that. And this, in a subtle way, makes a big difference.

[@biboebbs624]

@@Nahuelindomable526i think she is empathetic at times especially her friendship with eloise

[@mimisunshinelove]

Maybe I'm just a sucker for redemption for nuanced characters, but I was kinda sad that Cressida was never given a rope to climb herself out of the hole she's in. Especially that we can all agree that she didn't dig all of that hole alone.

[@blockboi3816]

Cressida's arc in 1 word: Desperation.

[@victoryv116]

I likes this because bullies do not change that easily ..moreover they are complex ..because they can be good to others whom they think are equal to them but at the same time , they are savage and inhumane to people whom they think are beneath ....I don't like how media shows bullies as mono dimensional or after some incident they are transformed or are misunderstood so they deserve our sympathy ..such portrayal often do disservice to the victim of bullying ..and the scar they have left with

[@crystalcastillo7575]

i LOVE this take

[@MariaHidalgo-dq8uk]

Penelope was a bullying too thats what lady w does

[@violetlavi2207]

We also see how her mother reinforces her “eat or be eaten” mindset, and how her home life reinforces that too. Cressida changed…but when she no longer had positive influences, she fell back into her old habits that protected her

[@Hendrik_McSims]

I think Cressida becoming a villain again also makes perfect sense with Elouise and Penelope reconciling and becoming friends again.

[@carag2567]

Agreed! She served as the reason why Eloise and Penelope rekindled their friendship.

[@strawberryfox8819]

Which is so sad. Eloise was the only one she truthfully considered a friend.

[@nicholkola9975]

The Red Dress was amazing and I lol’d when the lady signed ‘the devil’

[@girlygal58]

Cressida is cunning but I wouldn’t say clever. She should’ve known she was just going to end up alienating herself

[@viktorijasarac1171]

Cressidas red dress is reminding me of Elizabeth of York's red wedding dress in White Princess. I think it is because it's like decorations of war. Red lipstick 💄 in cinematography usually is used to represent change or metamorphosis of characters and takeing the agency

[@Elyfairy]

That was her “Scarlett O’Hara” moment

[@viktorijasarac1171]

@@Elyfairy I love that 💕

[@alexgilmour3907]

I thought the red dress gave the same effect as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, when she turns up to an event (uninvited! Like Cressida at the ball) after being involved with scandal, wearing a bold red dress. Like when I saw that, my brain just went - Scarlett O'Hara!! Why are you blonde now?

[@princesskiski1]

For me the scene reminded me of the movie Jezebel where Bette Davis’ character shows up to the debutante ball in the red dress, marking the beginning of her fall from grace.

[@ariesdelastella9831]

You had to pity Cressida because her lack of suitors is ultimately her own doing. Her circumstances were pitiful but she had to have known that her outright bullying Penelope and probably other girls had an audience. Right in the first season look at how brazenly she poured a drink on Penelope, did she think that just because no one but Colin stood up for her that no one took note of the bad attitude? Everyone was always watching and no discerning mama would want a daughter in law with that attitude or lack of manners. No man would want someone so scandalous as the lady of their house or else they’ll be fending off scandal after scandal.

[@ChromeDrone.]

I totally agree with this logic for modern views and values. But I also wonder if it wasn’t more acceptable before for conventionally pretty women like her to bully others? I’m thinking back to even as recently as the 2000s, when the hottest girl in teen movies was ALWAYS the meanest. I do wonder if Cressida rightly assumed the bullying wouldn’t affect her, as most men in that time wouldn’t actually care about the personality of the women they married, just about how the marriage enhanced his social status. IMO, Cressida’s fatal “flaw” is that she’s always competing for the best match of the season, gets so close that she doesn’t entertain any Plan B options (or is too cocky to), and then is outmaneuvered every time.

[@thefairychild]

@@ChromeDrone. Yeah, there's no way she didn't get other suitors in season 1. Everyone would've been aware she'd have a sizeable dowry. But in holding out for the best (the prince), she likely turned down offers, and the only man who's going to offer twice is a man who needs her money or connection (like Nigel Berbrooke with Daphne). There'd have likely been fewer offers in season 2, and we saw how well liked she was by the men this season. The only person who showed any interest is one who was unaware of her reputation.

[@etherealtb6021]

If she'd not been greedy and had just taken the 4,000 lbs for unveiling Lady Whistledown, she could've had her independence. Sad.

[@velzanna2281]

My unexpected favourite character in the whole Bridgerton series is Lady Featherington. She is a woman who is very much a product of the society she has been raised in, always told that she is lesser than a man, in a state of survival like you said. She isn’t well educated or mannered, she isn’t refined or special. But she is so incredibly strong. When everything is crumbling down around her she doesn’t sit in the corner and cry. She fights tooth and nail and she leads her household because there are people who depend on her - her daughters and her staff, and she has to pull through, for them. Despite it all she is still a person who loves her family even if she isn’t good at showing it. She beats Jack Featherington at his own game, she acknowledges when she is wrong, she recognizes the strength in Penelope and the power she built for herself - and recognizes herself reflected in her own clever, cunning daughter. She is a flawed character, but that is the point - she is raw and real and perfection is boring. I love her so much.

[@s8450631]

I loved Cressida walking in the ball with red. And I still wish she married lord Debling

[@jenniferdrucker3981]

I loved that Cressida’s bold red dress was the perfect contrast to Pen’s emerald green dress. They were perfect visually set as opponents

[@maritta2504]

I am really happy that they kept Cressida's story like that and not shoehorn in a full blown redemption arc with her getting married and live happily ever after. I did feel sympathy for her, until she blackmailed Penelope. I like that they didn't make her a straight up villiain though. You could still feel for her and understand why she did it. But not enough to make you pity her, just enough to understand her motivation and still thought she got what she deserved at the end. Maybe Lord Debling is still interested? 😄 He really would have been a great match for her, and Penelope did ruin that.

[@justlimonika]

Oh I'm sure they are a lot of people who pity her- She needed the money for (I think) some independence from her terrible father, and Penelope had the money. I guess blackmail is bad but Penelope also used her column to her advantage without taking any responsibility a bunch of times. And Penelope gets literally everything she ever wanted. Apparently, even her family loves her now. Btw I don't dislike Penelope I just think her "I was a young powerless woman" argument works for Cressida so well. I don't think Cressida "got what she deserved" and I hope to see her more in the future.

[@maritta2504]

@@justlimonika dunno, Cressida was a bully right from the beginning. Hurtful home doesn't justify this... Because Penelope's upbrining wasn't that nice either, her mother and sisters have been really cruel to her as well (and dad was indifferent). The difference between those two is pretty noticable in the two Whistledowns they bring out. The one from Cressida is just full of slander and hate, whereas Pen only writes what people are actually saying without making things up....

[@thefairychild]

@@maritta2504 She explained to Eloise that she used to have genuine friends as a child, but her mom trained her on how to be once out in society, which is to be ruthless and look out only for yourself. We don't actually know how awful an upbringing she had, only how her home life currently is. Being put on the marriage mart was expensive. You needed an entirely new wardrobe every year. The reason Cressida's mom complained about her allowance being cut and having to wear those dresses again is because you actually were expected to wear a different gown to every ball you attend. You could get away with re-wearing walking dresses, but not ball gowns, and this was Cressida's 3rd year in society. She was costing her family so much money, and I'm sure her dowry couldn't be touched in order to give her a chance at higher ranking suitors, such as a duke or prince. Her father was probably always cold (it wouldn't have been fashionable for noble families to be as involved with each other as the Bridgertons), but he may not have gotten nasty until his daughter continued to be an unexpected drain on his finances (doesn't matter how wealthy they are, people generally don't like having to financially support others they weren't expecting to), and through what he perceived as her poor choices. I would think she turned down suitors for not being good enough, at least in season 1, except for a throwaway comment that a man enjoyed WD but disliked Cressida. I think I got a little off track there. I was surprised Lord Debling didn't just pivot to Cressida since at wasn't as if he'd much genuine affection for Penelope, but I guess he left for his trip right after that proposal. How quickly was he planning to marry if Colin hadn't mucked things up? I liked Debling and hope we see more of him.

[@maritta2504]

@@thefairychild well the irony of Cressida actually is that I'm pretty sure the reason she doesn't have suitors that much is because of how she behaves, which was trained by her mother... She constantly showed the world what kind of person she is (it's well known in their first season already, Daphne sees right through her with the fake fainting for example). It feels like that "well I Bett cared anyway" kind of behaviour, when in reality it's different and she cares how people see her deep down. Had she been nicer, she might have gotten more suitors. (I don't think they didn't had enough dowry for a duke or marquis or whatever, as she went for the prince in S1 🤷🏼‍♀️). The only reason her upbrining was shown to us this season was to make her a bit more sympathetic, so that her "downfall" is bigger... Which didn't really work for me personally :D. And yeah, it's really disspointing how quick Debbling disappeared after the botched proposal. Nobody ever talks about him anymore from one day to the other. But he probably felt very embarrassed.

[@julecaesara482]

I don't see Cressida as a good wife to Lord Debling ... He and Eloïse maybe, but Cressida is not very empathetic, which Lord Debling is so much he refuses to eat animals

[@hefangfei]

100% agree with everything that you said, excellent video. I hoped for a happy ending for Cressida all of season 3, because despite all I pitied her, but the fact that she did not have a happy ending is, sadly, more realistic

[@alexgilmour3907]

They could bring her back for season 4 - apparently her mother has the same name as the main villain of Benedict's book, so that may be a hint of a future plot?

[@hefangfei]

@@alexgilmour3907 Possibly! I haven't read the books so I don't know. But her storyline could definitely have more to say

[@lucaleone4331]

Honestly if Penelope got away with basicslly no repercussions and everyone loving her again, cressida atleast deserved the queens reward... Im actually surprised the nature guy just disappeared and didnt end up with Cressida instead. Since her lifestyle would have also been a good match.

[@aarspi]

As much as I’m a sucker for redemption arcs, I do appreciate that, even though we saw what Cressida experiences and that she was desperate, it was still a well thought out storyline that desperation or being a victim can still lead to consequences when you continually take the wrong path or make bad choices. You still felt bad for her, but couldn’t agree with her decisions, even if it was from a place of desperation. Although I’m they didn’t just have her end up with Lord Debling. Kind of like with the prince in the first season with Daphne 😂

[@XX-le1wn]

I get that Cressida was trying to save herself from a fate worse than death by being forcibly married to that old troll. However, she was cruel to Penelope long, LONG before that. The way she always sabotaged Penelope when it looks like a man took interest in her (season 2 Colin and season 3 Lord Debling), and how she bullied her and made fun/insulted her, she would always or almost always have this look of malice and enjoyment in Penelope's suffering. That's how I know her bullying wasn't about saving herself. Key words here Cressida was sabotaging Penelope, she wanted Penelope to have the same exact fate Cressida herself is going to face. I assume by the weird rules in the series that Penelope's mom would have forced Penelope to marry if Penelope didn't marry by the end of the third year, most likely, and old troll like the one who wants to marry Cressida.

[@alexgilmour3907]

Completely agree with you. Her end isn't a happy one, but it's one that's sort of her own doing, although you get why she did what she did. I'm just left scratching my head at so many comments I've seen online that Penelope or the Bridgertons should have helped her out? She deliberately went out of her way to bully Pen, since season 1, and even though Eloise befriended her, it's worth noting that Violet was side eyeing it the whole time. The Bridgertons as a group don't like her. Why would they help her, especially since she'd JUST put out a fake Whistledown insulting them.

[@shilpavijay7490]

This is so true. That Cow shot herself in the foot.

[@user-bg7nm4ez3i]

No I think Penelope’s mom would have kept her as an unmarried helper, who could have been there when she gets to old age and looked after her, as reference in the 1 episode of season 3. Cressida’s mother did say she has to be looking after herself instead of being friends with other women, so maybe that influenced her choices in this season as well as the pervious ones.

[@kianajohnson9984]

Exactly! This is why I don’t understand why everyone is saying that Penelope should’ve helped Cressida. After everything Cressida did to her, it wouldn’t make sense

[@MindfulMya]

I actually empathized so much with Cressida. Everyone just seemed so cruel to her..I also hope they truly bring Eloise back to her OG character.

[@luigi-1545]

To me, the real villain this season was none other than Eloise. She befriended Cressida purely out of spite and pettiness just to ditch her when she realized Cressida was actually capable of development and was not only a pair of ears whom she could badmouth Penelope to. Not only that but even when she knew the full extent of Cress' precarious situation never she sought a way to help her, repeatedly ignoring her pleas as well as taking the chance to shun her completely when Cress claimed credit for whistledown (using what whistledown wrote as an excuse, even when she damn well knew that she wasn't her): And don't let me start on all the pain she caused Pen.

[@katefarrell9898]

I know "slow poison like arson" was a mistake and you meant arsenic, but now I'm imagining Cressida slowly setting fire to the whole ton and I love it.

[@Seldarius]

Not sure if she’s bilingual but Arsen does mean Arsenic in some languages. Easy slip-up if you have more than one language crowding your brain. 🤷‍♀️ That said, some of those hairdos would burn like cinder I imagine 😂.

[@cashmoneychanel1209]

I’m heartbroken for Cressida 😢

[@jodiem3520]

From a costume designers perspective when I seen Cressida red dress it was sort of her full transformation into the villain she is, normally a dark red can symbolise danger and evilness ( but on the flip side love and lust), when if first seen it I thought the shape and colour kind of reminded me of the red dress in gone with the wind so like scarlett she’s telling the audience Iv done something immoral and not particularly ashamed about it, I thought maybe it was a nod to that part of costume history in film And fashion history wise i would imagine wearing red in regency would have been a huge no with most of the colours being pastel and soft where as come the 1830/40s I think we seen a lot more red tones but I feel like most reds were left to older women (I’m thinking the sister in crimson peaks) and would stand out if a unmarried young women wore it it was to mature to emotional a colour to wear maybe

[@TheSweetieDarling]

I like that they kept her a villain, although a very vanilla villain. Not every character needs a redemption arc or happy ending. Her back story didn’t erase the cattiness she’s displayed in the past but it’s nice to see what has shaped her. I think she’ll be back and still possibly have a more positive ending.

[@iamnotjack.whydidichange]

I never got why Cressida was seen as the villain. All she did was say some snarky comments, literally like everyone else in the show, mainly Pen through whistledown. Yet, Cressida is the villain and not Pen. Pen gets no consequences for everything horrible she did. It was the lamest season ever. I also don't get why Eloise suddenly got upset with Cressida. She knew Cressida wasnt whistledown and what were her reasons. You would think Eloise of all people would understand Cressida not wanting to get married but no. It was so weird. Eloise and Pen think they are smarter than what they are and accuse others of cruelty, when they are the cruelest ones. And the whole "I cant let Cressida take credit for whistledown", b*tch whistledown is nothing but gossip, nothing else, And Colin forgave pen way too quickly. It was tragic how easy everything was for pen

[@amirahazhar4192]

agreed - pen is as catty/self sabotagey as cressida is which was why both their friendships with eloise made sense. I thought they were setting up cressida to be a foil to penelope, cress does it publicly while pen privately through her writing. Either ways, it's an interesting and refreshing choice for media geared towards women, where we see very little effort to develop stories.

[@pamelawilliams2235]

I think the showrunner said they will address how Pen gets along with society in season 4. Also I read somewhere that Jessica Madsen may be returning to the show.

[@vavakunju17]

Cressida was less villain than Penelope but Penelope had some people who loved her. Cressida didnot. Often there are some people who have nobody. Penelope was neglected but she did have sisters and a friend and Colin. Cressida was all alone in that dark house. I have utmost sympathies for her character. Her attachment towards eloise when she questions her mother for writing bad about her even though eloise doesnot help her shows Cressida craves for love and once she would have got it would have definitely redeemed herself .

[@KrisztinaH.]

I have my thoughts about why Cressida is still not married at the end of her 3rd season. Her bullying: While we only see her bullying Penelope, whose to say that she didn't bully other girls. Who would want to court a woman, who bullied your sister/cousin/childhood friend/male friends sister/cousin? Not many. Her mother: Her mother failed her, like many other mothers but in a different way, than for example, Violet failed Daphne. Cressida's mother raised her to see every other woman as a rival, that is evident. But going so far as to ruining other's dresses shows: a, bad manners: it shows bad upbringing b, dresses cost money, a lot of money, not many families would want someone near them that could ruin others belongings. And the fact that Cressida is doing this in her third season and with not a word of discouragement from her mother. No suitor's mother would allow a woman with bad of a behaviour into her family because she (Cressida) may raise her future daughters to be the same and the husband's family name would be put in a bad light by the potential future daughter's behaviour. Another thing to think about regarding Cressida's mother is that she was probably a bully herself in her own time. And maybe because of that she also had to have an arranged marriage. Others, now mothers themselves with eligible bachelor sons wouldn't let their sons court or marry the daughter of their former bully. Her "charms": Cressida tries too hard to impress men. So hard in fact that it comes across as fake. Others, even shy ones,like Pen, or obnoxious ones, like Eloise, despite all their flaws are natural and can be if not charming but pleasent to be around. Even girls, who just want marriage have some interest,like music, dance, art, riding etc, they are able to charming and natural, so men find them more suitable to marry. Also, regarding Cressida's cleverness: she a bit clever in the short run (has a good idea to begin with) and is resourceful and determined to see that first idea through but not clever in the long term of things. She doesn't realise that her bullying affects her marriage prospects; she doesn't realise that her "charm" so fake that it is actually a turn off; nor does she think about the fact that Queen Charlotte will demand proof that she is Lady Whistledown before she gives her the reward, nor that her blackmailing her backfire because Pen has the power to reveal herself, nor does she realise that Whistledown not only observes but she is well read. So Cressida has enough cleverness to come up with a good idea but not enough to really turn it into an advantage for herself.

[@ChiliCrisp88]

I like that they make every character complex and morally gray. Cressida, Penelope, Daphne, etc. It’s so human to be flawed and make bad choices. There were things about season 3 that didn’t do it for me (mainly Colin and his characterization) but the thing I hated most, Julie Andrew’s no longer being the voice of Lady Whistledown😭😭😭 I totally get why and see the power of Penelope claiming her alter ego, but Julie Andrews😭😭 I love her too much

[@elsagreen1476]

I really appreciated the show giving us an insight into Cressida's family life this season. This is a deeply troubled, abused, lonely character. I hope we get to see more of her.

[@roseeudicot]

I honestly wished there was a final confrontation between Cressida and Penelope (and maybe even Eloise). I kinda hope she comes back and they can talk it over in the future, and maybe get a lil redemption arc

[@sovereigncrux]

I did not read the books, but I have watched the series since its release. I never gave much thought to Cressida's character before, she was very one dimensional. Everything about her style and manner were screams for attention she rarely received. She is, in many ways, no different from the Featherington family and their garish, loud outfits in this sense. But in S3, I have to say that they gave the viper depth and I wanted to hug her because it really became more understandable as to why she was so desperate and making brash choices. I'm rooting for her, hoping they make use of a redeemed Cressida who had to lose all privilege and good name to find herself.

[@viktorijasarac1171]

Thanks for new wonderful and insightful video. I really love how they develop Eloise and Cressida. I think it is interesting change as to why she claims to be Lady W. Show is making her very interesting and books print her as just bully and make you wandering does she have depth.

[@siyrean]

I thought the whole thing painted Eloise much worse than Cressida. She was heartless half the time.

[@NoorAhmed-nk2jq]

Well said, I also liked how the blackmail plot impacted the season and sort of brought out the character development of all the characters full circle, I also think the fandom is treating Cressida's ending as like a failure to acknowledge her difficult situation, but did they expect the show to shoehorn in some happy ending? it's not even that bad, so she will be living with her aunt in wales, at least she won't be under that same pressure from her father and maybe can figure out herself, it's not really that tragic of an ending, and who knows, maybe in a season or two we hear her father died and she moves back in but is now more mature and able to find a good husband on her own or at peace where she can live single.

[@timingmile7030]

I liked her story this season and it defintly added the needed drama. Her ending was satisfying because she was horrible to penelope, she always bullied and belittled her. Cressida did not deserve a happy endng, atleast not yet. I hope she returns for another season to have some proper redemeption.

[@Starr_Podcastofficial]

Yet Penelope was forgiven by the Queen and the ton IMMEDIATELY, even after all the horrible things she said, basically ruining people’s lives and their families, which was, if I may add, none of her business and making money off of it. Okay. That’s fine. One question though? Isn’t Penelope also a bully if we’re being honest? She just does it behind papers. Why does she deserve a happy ending and not Cressida?

[@rainbow_doglover8301]

This made me feel better about that ending, I was sure they were setting up a redemption arc and it threw me off that they didn't at the last second. I do hate how it feels like if only she'd made a better choice it could have ended differently somehow, like Eloise and Penelope could have helped her if she'd been a better person to them.

[@Starr_Podcastofficial]

She never did anything wrong to Eloise though

[@harumiwashere4733]

Cressida makes really good points actually. When her and Eloise break their friendship, she says “Is this truly about Lady Whistledown? It is no wonder Penelope abandoned you, all you ever do is talk” Eloise *knows* Cressida isn’t LW, and should be aware of why she’s doing this. Cressida had been trying to tell her plan to escape a horrible marriage with a man triple her age. Eloise was just a bad friend to Cressida, straight up terrible She points to Collin that HE was jealous of Penelope and how achieved she was as LW. He even admits to it at the end. Like buddy, you did not reach to that conclusion by yourself!

[@PannaKwiatek]

When her mother said, "Didn't I raise you to believe that in this world it's every man for himself? Especially among women." I felt really sorry for Cressida. She was 'just' brought up without love.

[@israeliana]

Love that you're channel is growing!!

[@M24071]

I didn't saw her as a villain even when she was blackmailing pen i just felt bad for her she was stuck in an impossible situation and didn't had much of a choice she is complicated but i don't think she's a bad person deep down

[@mollyjonesreacts]

The entire ”Cressida” wardrobe makes me laugh & it is SO peculiar that no mention of all these oddities is EVER included. I mean, it’s awful & worse in EVERY scene!

[@mskitten2708]

Her character reminds me of Nellie Olesen from Little House on the Prairie. Her love struggles, domineering mother, exaggerated way of being dressed, her friendship struggles, to name a few.

[@seraphim9333]

*Arsenic (they did have it then) x

[@leslievanhouten]

Arson would work too. Just much faster

[@dawnnewell237]

She had to have meant arsenic (a highly toxic heavy metal chemical element) vs. arson (the willful setting of fire to cause property destruction.) 😄

[@dawnnewell237]

@@leslievanhoutenAhahahahaha … good one !😂

[@yemio1005]

Cressida deserved a better story arc imo she was a women going up so many unfair things. It was sad to see her end like she did. She wasn’t likeable but she did try. She deserved way more grace

[@sophiabreidfischer6242]

I was rooting for her to get the queens reward money and dissapearing on her own.

[@Olivia-ek9ib]

You made really good points in this. I never read the books, and I was pretty annoyed when they gave Cressida a whole arch, only to return her to a villain. This video gave me a whole new perspective on her.

[@TaratheEnchantress]

I love see someone talk positively about the three seasons. I loved the season. I couldn’t bring myself to watch some other creators videos because they were soooo negative and was ruining my vibes about season 3. I appreciate see others acknowledge the good parts and the not so good parts.

[@ku1747]

I agree with everything. I like how she was obviously a horrible person but it's clear to the audience that we can sympathize with her, that women's realities at that time could push them to do things like this. Although, a part of me who loves redemption arcs still wishes that she would change and she would be able to get a happy ending on her own.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

I like how she was made an example of

[@lunak6561]

I agree with the lack of drama in part 1. Some people really hate part 2 because they think the romance was bad. But I loved it because I watch Bridgerton for the drama.

[@thefairychild]

I loved that Cressida kept holding up a mirror to Eloise and pointing out she wasn't as perfect as she thought she was. Unfortunately, I don't think it ever actually sank in for Eloise. In their final conversation, it seemed Eloise felt Cressida was being nasty just to be nasty. No, hun, you really do just use people and are appallingly oblivious to how the people around you actually feel because you don't listen to them.

[@hanautomo4980]

As someone who dislikes Cressida, I was pleasantly surprised that she is still the villain of the story. I actually like that for once we see lasting consequences for someone’s actions. Imo, a lot of people on twitter ‘forgave’ her far too easily when she never apologized or made amends with people she had bullied since S1. Heck, I’ve seen a comment from a book reader saying that the book even explicitly states that people gave her more grace as a spinster compared to Pen because of how different the way they look. I can dislike a character but still appreciate her as a villain, which for me makes it really odd to see people having so much sympathy or begging for a redemption arc for her.. or even just downright downplay all the things she did. An explanation and backstory for someone’s misdeeds does not excuse their bad behavior and character. Antagonists should receive consequences for their missteps as protagonists do, that makes a more satisfying and grounded story instead of only one of them. The only problem for me is that part 1 and part 2 felt like it was written by differing sets of writers who couldn’t discuss their ideas cohesively. Part 1 felt like it was dragging, then the episode 5-7 rushed a lot of things until it lags again in episode 8. That’s what makes a lot of people, including myself, think of this season as a disappointment.

[@Seldarius]

I believe the Queen was relieved in finding that Cressida was not Lady Whistledown. Cressida is mildly ridiculous and not well liked by the ton. Penelope isn’t only known to be a smart girl, shes now also a Bridgerton, who The Queen respects and HM had the added bonus of (kinda) figuring it out. I imagine she can also respect Penelope coming forward to protect them rather than for money. I was somewhat surprised that Cressida got no relief at all from her dire fate in the end. Sure, she didn’t deserve a happy ending, but they did so well in painting the picture of why she did it that it was hard not to feel at least some sympathy for her.

[@dortheacaldwell6780]

I think the story showed (and executed quite well) how we can have empathy and accountability for a character. The why of someone’s actions doesn’t take away from the what it does to others and the hurt. And responsibility and accountability are a part of character growth.

[@CarlCiullaBenavides]

Not gonna lie, I was pretty disappointed at how so easily Eloise wrote off Cressida. She even said herself that she was the only person that showed her kindness in the countryside when no one else would. Season 3 really did a good job and humanizing Cressida and I so so hope that in season 4 we see her find a smidge of happiness.

[@JayJayTravels]

Cressida created her own downfall. Just walked right into it

[@Multifandom04]

Cressida is my favorite side character/side plot. Want her to have a happy ending.

[@gabrielazepeda587]

what angers me the most is that eloise turn on her SO FAST. like GIRL maybe you can't save her but help explain what is happening to her!! diminishing their friendship moments as just a way to bitter penelope ughhhhh mad

[@mariaskabardonis8353]

I haven’t seen it yet but I wish Cressida had married Debling or Penelope helped her take over for Whistledon. I felt she deserved better

[@dunadanfer]

they need her for Eloise, I guess.

[@shilpavijay7490]

She doesn't. This is entirely demeaning to People who have been the victims of bullying. Why would Penelope help her ? She was so downright mean to Penelope ever since the start of Season 1, for no reason at all. Help her take over Whistledown, Penelope's entire Life's Work ? What has Cressida done to deserve Whistledown ? She neither has the heart nor the brains to successfully take its reins over from Penelope. Pen and Cressida came from almost the same family background. Penelope converted Her hurt and lack of Love from family to be Lady Whistledown and was bold enough to voice it out against those in a higher social standing, while generating income for those less fortunate, like the delivery boys. Cressida transferred that Hurt and targetted those She had the audacity to assume, are beneath Her. She ended up exactly where She belonged - at the bottom most rung of the ladder.

[@kianajohnson9984]

Why would Penelope help Cressida take credit for her work when all Cressida does is bully her?

[@mariaskabardonis8353]

@@kianajohnson9984 I understand I just felt in S3 she was headed towards redemption but unfortunately she backtracked due to her desperate situation. I know she was a bully but I felt bad for her parents make Portia at her worst look like a fairy godmother

[@Scipio0404]

@@shilpavijay7490 Fr, like we can have her being a complex antagonist who has redeeming qualities, but why the hell should we bow to her and give her everything just cause she acted nice for 2 seconds. Yes she had a fucked up upbringing, but its no excuse to her actions and she has to deal with it.

[@bukolaalale8260]

I wonder when he mother drew her sleeves down , was that ink or bruises?

[@da1911]

Me to

[@thatfatginger]

idk what her storyline is like in the books and I understand the necessity of her arc this season but I kinda wish she and Lord Debling ended up together cause she did have moments where I felt for her

[@natalieschannel7675]

She may have just went to live with her Aunt Jo for a while…. I don’t think we have seen the last of Cressida

[@moritzmartini4132]

Im glad that they made bisexual Benedict canon but I’m also sad they didn’t made bisexual Eloise and lesbian Cressida canon 😞

[@Cazi_Orddu_Medea]

I still hope for this two... It's still not too late.

[@charity9660]

I felt bad for her fr. It really bothered me that nobody saved her. Not even her mother. And what happened to the bird guy ? She couldve married him. Poor girl.

[@Kenzalina_]

Huh, I have never thought of “clever” as someone cunning. I looked up both the English and American versions of cunning. I was honestly surprised to discover. That in the Merriam-Webster version of the dictionary, it does include the term cunning. Whereas in the Oxford dictionary it is generally a positive term. That makes so much sense to me.

[@jesss7930]

Great point on Cressida taking the big hit for Penelope! You’re right and I didn’t think of that.

[@NissiShamiso]

Lord Danbury should do jail time he was too old

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

This isn't 2024. They don't care back then. It is what it is.

[@LoveK1]

@@thelegacyofgaming2928we all know that. Cressida almost married a grandpa too. We’re just talking, relax.

[@thelegacyofgaming2928]

@@LoveK1 Calm down. You guys are getting too invested in a fictional story.

[@tacituskilgore875]

😂 If we take real life into accout, Pen is 37...

[@michelleheadley2911]

And here i thought she was getting a redemption arc.

[@jeilee3860]

I didn’t mind Cressida’s arc. It sucks for her but you’re right not everyone can get a happy ending. My problem was the way Eloise abandoned her once Colin and Pen were engaged. Not to say the outcome would’ve been different if Eloise helped but the way she kicked Cressida to the curb was foul. Especially after Eloise said Cressida was the only one who showed her kindness in the off season. I like Cressida as a character because she’s true to herself. She’s a bully and she knows it. Eloise acts like she’s better than everyone else and completely misses that she’s just as bad as Cressida but in a different way.

[@PurpleSurple]

Does anyone else think Claudia Jessie/Eloise looks like a young Diana Ring from her Avengers days? I think she's got a beautiful and interesting looking face.

[@zj98]

It didn’t work on the show. Maybe in the book. She was fighting for her life so I understand the blackmail. She was begging Elouise was help prior to that.

[@annmarieknapp]

People with a privilege often are aware and acknowledge their good fortune. My parents paid for my undergraduate education and helped methrough graduate school. I needed a small loan for 12K to finish my doctorate in the 90's so I didn't have insane student debt and could survive and buy a home. Am a college professor and have many students who work full time with kids to get their degrees. I called my Dad one day out of the blue about a decade ago and thanked him profusely for all of their fiscal and emotional support throughtout my education. I had thanked my parents over the years and while a student, but seeing my students struggle really amplified just how huge their support was to me. I am quite grateful. So Bridgertons are very privileged and I did like Penelope telling Colin just how important having a voice was for women.

[@sonorasgirl]

I mean, Eloise kinda DID point out to her that she wasn’t married cause she was mean…it was brief dialogue but it was there. I think in like episode 2 or something

[@karenholmes6565]

I want Cressida it get redemption. I actually like her more than many of the Bridgertons. Her behavior is really understandable considering her origin story. Cressida deserves a break as much as anyone else on this show does.

[@kateflanagan9355]

Arsenic was definitely around it was used in cosmetics and to make a very lovely shade of green paint and wallpaper

[@juanitajones6900]

I'm tired of the rampant hypocrisy and increasingly bad costumes that have marred this season. I'm through with this show.

[@dc3174]

She asked for too much money though 20k then is equal to 3million in todays dollars

[@williethomas5116]

I hope this is not the end of her story. I think people are confusing the ebbs and flow of change with choosing evil in the end. First, this isn't her end. You can see where Colin's words got to her because they were from the heart but he's also the guy that she liked the most who from her point of view strung her along. Yeah, we all knew that Pfn was his endgame but that doesn't mean Cressida's heart wasn't cracked along the way. Probably more than she would ever admit to. Change is a process there is no magic beam of light that fills you with goodness, compassion and mercy. It start when you realize that you are not the only one in pain and ends when you refuse to be the person who hurts other people because it only creates other monsters. The world owes you nothing. But you can choose to step off the board and refuse to play the game.

[@mavenoire3704]

Ive been saying that Eloise is a fake advocate of her beliefs because she has all these strong words for change in the world and society that she cant even bother to HELP any of these fellow women around her who suffer because of the way their society is structured. All of these strong and clever woman that she knows cant help this desperate girl? She cant talk to pen and try to help cressidas situiation? It baffles me that she (her show counterpart) could be any help for change in this world when she gives up on friends so fast.