In an interview published by Business Insider in May, Jess Brownell talked about season 3, including the return of Kate and Anthony. In response to a question about the thought process behind sending them away almost immediately in episode 1, Jess responded that it felt right. She said that Kate and Anthony are putting themselves first, and that if they kept them around they would have to mire them in conflict, (I disagree with this, but that is a topic for another post). Jess went on to say that we get to check in with Kate and Anthony then send them off and we then get to focus on Penelope and Colin, which is understandable as it was their season.
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Unfortunately, as much as I would like to see Penelope and Colin be treated in a similar manner in season 4 - sent away so that we can focus on Benedict and Sophie - I fear this may not be the case. In an interview with Variety in June, Jess Brownell said they weren't done with Lady Whistledown (as much as I wish there were), and that could provide a storyline for Penelope in season 4. Jess's response raises the question of how it will be perceived if Colin and Penelope have a substantial storyline that keeps them around in season 4, as opposed to them being removed from the season so that focus can be put on Benedict and Sophie.
After Kate and Anthony were sent away in season 3 not once, not twice, but three times (all without any onscreen farewell to their family), there is an expectation that Penelope and Colin will also be sent away for the majority of season 4. If this does not happen, questions could - and should - be asked about Bridgerton, and Netflix's, commitment to the diverse characters and actors in Bridgerton, especially those that are (or have been) leads. I believe that a Penelope and Colin storyline could be viewed negatively by some viewers, and perhaps even seen as them getting a substantive storyline after their season because they are a white couple, knowing that Sophie will most likely be of East Asian ethnicity.
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If the reason for sending Kate and Anthony away in season 3 was so the focus could move to the leads, but in season 4, Penelope and Colin aren't sent away in a similar manner for focus to go to the leads, then the message that the production is sending can be interpreted is that people of colour are not valued. Bridgerton is already suffering with a perception problem in the way they handled the season 3 storyline for Kate and Anthony in general, but also Kate more specifically in tying her whole purpose in the season to Anthony and not giving her a storyline of her own, something that many believe that won't happen with Penelope in season 4. It is suspected from interviews with Jess Brownell that Penelope will have a storyline independent of Colin, and she will continue to be written as a character in her own right, not just as an extension of her husband.
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It isn't just about how differently the season 2 and season 3 female protagonists have been treated as characters, and potentially how differently they will continue to be treated, it is also about the respect for the season 4 leads. If sending Kate and Anthony away was to ensure the focus was on the protagonists in season 3, but then the writers keep Penelope and Colin around with a storyline in season 4, it will tell viewers that the production has little respect, or care, for the season 4 leads - another couple that will include a woman of colour. What message does this send to women of colour who watch the show? For many it tells them that the show runner and writers, as well as the production chiefs, don't value women of colour and mixed relationships on the show, but rather wish to focus the show on a white couple, something that is problematic for them in the way the show is set up, as well as the focus they have on the diverse casting.
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A Penelope and Colin storyline won't only be sending a negative message about how the production views other couples, and the season 4 leads specifically, but also how little they value diversity in the show. The show runner, writers, and production have presented a smug, self congratulatory attitude around the inclusion of diverse casting, but they have again and again prioritised white cast members for the storytelling. Having Penelope and Colin in season 4 more than they had Kate and Anthony in season 3 will be another example of the production seemingly prioritising white characters over those that are people of colour.
