After watching this episode my first thought was - 'that was it?'. This whole season felt flat, and I will say that I am not sure if it is because the season was flat or if it was because I do not like Penelope and Colin, and the writers did nothing to make them likeable in their season, whatever the reason, this season did not live up to expectations, and from what I have seen online I don't believe I am the only one thinking this. In this context this episode is the most anticlimactic final episode I have seen in a TV show for a while.
This episode focuses on the Lady Whistledown drama, and the conclusion (of sorts) to that story arc. It should have been an episode where we cheered and were satisfied with the resolution, but it all felt too easy, even more so than previous seasons. Bridgerton is known for its quick resolutions, and the writers inability to truly follow through, and that was never more obvious than in this season with the Lady Whistledown reveal. After a 3 season build up with the conflict it was all too easily resolved, and some of the underlying issues of Lady Whistledown were never fully addressed. What should have been the conclusion of Lady Whistledown in the series failed as the writers and showrunners instead are continuing with Penelope's gossip column, showing that perhaps their interest is not in the Bridgerton family, but rather in doing their own version of Gossip Girl, which makes this show less and less interesting for those more interested in a romance featuring the Bridgerton siblings.
Image Credit: Netflix
In the beginning of the episode we see Cressida visit Penelope the morning after the wedding, letting Penelope know that she knows she is Lady Whistledown and using this knowledge to blackmail Penelope, telling her she wants £10,000 to keep her secret. During the conversation Lady Featherington arrives to see Penelope, and Cressida reveals Penelope's secret to her. Lady Featherington tells Penelope that there is no need for Colin to know about the Blackmail, but to her credit Penelope says that she doesn't wish to lie anymore, prompting her to go to Bridgerton House (where Colin had gone to earlier), where she tells Colin and Eloise that Cressida knows she is Lady Whistledown and demands £10,000. At this point Colin makes the decision that they won't pay Cressida, but rather he will talk to her.
Colin goes to see Cressida, where he tries to gain her mercy by sympathising with her plight, however, Cressida calls Colin out on his privilege, telling him that they are not the same - and never will be. This exchange led to Cressida doubling the amount for the blackmail to £20,000, and demanding that Penelope uses her column to restore Cressida's reputation. Colin tells Penelope he has the funds but has to get the sign off from Benedict, whom he will lie to in order to get the funds signed off in order to pay Cressida.
Meanwhile the Solicitor from the first episode returns to tell Lady Featherington that his investigation has confirmed the money did not come from the aunt she claimed it did since her neighbours confirmed she lived in poverty. Penelope overhears this, learning the truth about how they gained the money and confronts her mother. However, Penelope and her mother's talk reveals to Penelope that perhaps she is more like her mother than she wishes to admit, and they come to an understanding of their similarities.
Image Credit: Netflix
Francesca's wedding takes place in Bridgerton House with just family present. Prior to the ceremony we see Violet and Francesca talk with Violet revealing that when she first met Edmund she was so taken by him that she stumbled over her words and could barely talk. Violet tells Francesca that she believed that was how love was for the longest time, but Francesca has shown her that there was another way to find love. During the wedding celebrations Penelope talks to Colin where she tells him not to ask Benedict for the money as she doesn't want him to lie to his family for her. Penelope sends the Queen and Violet a letter, presumably to tell them of her secret identity.
Philippa and Prudence's ball takes place, and is much grander than they thought it would be, and whilst Philippa thinks her mother paid for it, it was Penelope who paid for the ball, though she is happy for her mother to take the credit. The ball is interrupted with the arrival of the Queen, and the announcement that she received a letter from Lady Whistledown. The letter to the Queen called upon her mercy and asked for her to address everyone publicly before the Queen passes judgement. Penelope walks into the centre of the room (into the light) and gives a speech in which she talks about Lady Whisltedown, though she never really apologises for what she wrote, but does give reasons and excuses for her writings. Penelope ends her speech by saying that if the Queen affords her the chance to continue that she means to aim her quill more responsibly, and that is her repentance and plea. As she concludes, and the Queen acknowledges this and leaves, the Ton are stunned into silence with no-one speaking, until Philippa comes to the rescue calling for Varley to release the 'bugs' (Butterflies). Penelope tells her mother that she can tell the solicitor that the money came from her writing so that they won't lose the title.
During the ball Eloise asks Francesca and John if she may come with them to Scotland, both are very pleased to have her join them, and John says that it is wonderful as his cousin has finally arrived to join their travelling party. John's cousin approaches and introduces herself as Michaela Stirling, flustering Francesca where we see her stumbling over her words, barely able to talk - just as her mother described her meeting Edmund.
Image Credit: Netflix
The epilogue shows all three of the Featherington girls with a baby, Prudence and Philippa having had girls, and it is revealed that Penelope had a boy. At this point it is a little confusing as Violet refers to the baby as Lord Featherington, but others refer to him as the heir, so it is unknown if he is the heir to the title, or the new title holder. In the epilogue we learn that Colin has published a book and it is not as bad as what Gregory thought it would be, the episode ends with a VoiceOver from Penelope showing that she is continuing to write her column.
