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Bridgertonoften feels divided between two impulses.
Its pleasant to watch two hot people press their faces together.
All of that must be balanced, though, byBridgertons guiding philosophy of acceptance and forgiveness.
So why couldnt it do the same forJessica Madsens Cressida Cowper?
None of them handles Penelopes secret particularly well.
Penelope lies about her nom de plume and hides it from Colin.
Eloise shoves Penelope away, breaking up their friendship and taking up with Penelopes rival, Cressida.
When Colin finds out about Penelopes writing,hes standoffish and jealous.
But what about Cressida?
Can she have, like, anything?
I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington, and then does just that.
The show presents them as two-sides-of-the-same-coin characters but cant reconcile a happy ending that works for both of them.
That different set of expectations, and more drastic punishment, for Cressida puncturesBridgertons redemptive fantasy.
Now that Penelope has all the protections of wealth and status, its time for Cressidas own glow-up.
