In a surprising turn, it was recently announced that Bridgerton season 3 will be skipping ahead in the book order to tell of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope’s romance next. Though it is unclear why the Netflix series is breaking from author Julia Quinn’s order, this means that Bridgerton’s Penelope and her alter-ego, Lady Whistledown, will take center stage as Quinn’s Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is brought to screen. Quinn’s book, however, changes Penelope in a way that the Netflix series must avoid at risk of harmful messaging.
Many classic tropes of the romance genre are prominently featured throughout Quinn’s writing, with the author seemingly striving not to break the mold, but to capitalize on it. Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 tell the classic enemies-to-lovers story with season 1’s Daphne and Simon falling in love despite their conflict as well as season 2’s Anthony and Kate. And while the first two Bridgerton romances have been unfolding, viewers have been guided by Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) who is always watching and perpetually overlooked. This too is building into a romance trope—the age-old, ugly-duckling turned beautiful swan story that will play out in the forthcoming book and Bridgerton season 3.
The problem, however, is that Penelope’s transformation in the source material is fueled by her weight loss. Described in Quinn’s early books as “cloaked in baby fat,” “round,” and “plump,” Penelope loses nearly 30 lbs. in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton before Colin notices her and their romance begins to take shape. It is a fatphobic storyline with the plot suggesting that Bridgerton’s Penelope must lose weight in order to be loved and this element should never make it to screen in the Netflix series.
So far, Netflix’s Bridgerton has done well avoiding the idea that Penelope’s weight has anything to do with her being a perpetual wallflower. Aside from her mother and sisters’ early comment in the show that Penelope is “two stone heavier” than her sisters, Penelope’s weight has rarely been mentioned. The idea that Bridgerton’s Penelope is overlooked by nearly everyone in every situation has smartly been accomplished by the character’s lack of confidence, a path of reasoning the Netflix series would do well to continue.
When asked about Penelope’s coming weight loss, Bridgerton’s new showrunner, Jess Brownell seemed to confirm the series’ more inclusive view on Pen, saying, (via Variety), “We think that Penelope is beautiful, and I don’t think it’s really a part of her story.” Though straying from the source material is rarely well-received, there seems little question that having Penelope’s transformation be one of self-confidence rather than physicality would only enhance her character rather than detract from it. Furthermore, including Colin (Luke Newton) in this inclusive turn would enhance his character and cast him, not as the size-focused, superficial Colin from Quinn’s books, but as the lucky Bridgerton to snag the incomparable and beautiful Penelope.
All episodes of Bridgerton are available on Netflix.