Bridgerton Season 4 Completely Abandons Cressida’s Controversial Villain Story

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While season 4 of Bridgerton focuses on Benedict and Sophie, many other characters have important storylines. We’ll see challenges for the friendship between Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, and although Sophie seems headed for a perfect romance, the real heartwarming story in the first part of the season belongs to Mrs. Varley, the Featherington family’s housekeeper.

The new cast for season 4 of Bridgerton is impressive, but it’s a shame Cressida Cowper, a major antagonist from season 3, isn’t included. While she faced a difficult outcome last season, there’s still potential for her character to be redeemed in the future.

Cressida Cowper Didn’t Deserve The Ending She Got In Bridgerton Season 3

Image via Netflix

The way Cressida Cowper’s story ended in the third season of Bridgerton doesn’t quite feel right thematically. While Cressida is often unpleasant and unkind – especially to Penelope – the show consistently highlights how society forces women to compete with each other. Bridgerton suggests that for women, marriage is about securing their future, not finding love, and that this competition naturally leads to harsh behavior.

The TV series delved much deeper into Cressida’s thoughts and feelings than the books did, portraying her as a warning about the harsh realities young women face when trying to find husbands. Later, in season 4, Sophie explains a similar idea to Benedict: young women feel constant pressure to secure their future before they age and their options dwindle.

Unlike Eloise, Cressida doesn’t have a secure or supportive family life, and faces the frightening possibility of being forced into marriage with a much older man. While writing as Lady Whistledown is considered her most serious offense, it’s actually a desperate act stemming from her difficult situation.

Honestly, I was really disappointed with how Bridgerton season 3 treated Cressida. It felt way too harsh compared to what happened with someone like Jack Featherington, who actually scammed everyone! Sending her away to a controlling aunt and basically silencing her didn’t feel right, especially since the show keeps emphasizing how little power young women had back then. It felt like a punishment that didn’t fit the crime and actually went against the show’s own message.

How Cressida Could Be Redeemed In A Future Season Of Bridgerton

Bringing Cressida Cowper back in a future season of Bridgerton would fit well with the show’s themes, as she’s not truly a villain. Season 3 already suggested a more realistic path for her character – one where her mother joins her in leaving society and her father is left to deal with the consequences alone.

Showrunner Jess Brownell hinted that the season finale left some storylines open, even if they aren’t picked up right away in season four. The show has already significantly developed the character of Cressida Cowper beyond the book version, so it’s reasonable to expect further changes. If Cressida is given a chance to redeem herself, it doesn’t mean her past mistakes should be ignored – instead, the story could show her developing and changing over time, perhaps through some distance from her previous actions.

Perhaps with some distance from the pressure to marry, Cressida could overcome the harsh behaviors she developed as a defense. It would be fitting if she were to find love somewhere beyond the confines of Mayfair society.

Bringing Eloise and Cressida back together would be particularly meaningful. Their friendship, at its core, was real for both of them, and Eloise has always symbolized the show’s challenge to strict societal expectations. Rebuilding their connection would strengthen that important message.

Punishing Cressida with permanent exile for simply trying to improve her situation feels wrong for a show like Bridgerton, which is all about love, understanding, and giving people another chance. The show doesn’t need to completely forgive her actions; it just needs to allow her to develop and change, like it has for so many other characters.

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2026-02-03 19:18