Penelope Featherington Had the Perfect Book Ending — But It Shouldn’t Be Her Bridgerton Season 4 Storyline

The world of Bridgerton has taken Netflix by storm with its swoony romances, scandalous drama, and gorgeously diverse reimagining of Regency England. But as Season 4 looms, all eyes are on Penelope Featherington — and not just because she’s Lady Whistledown. With the series finally turning toward the beloved “Polin” romance — that of Penelope and Colin Bridgerton — there’s one question at the center of it all: should the show stick to the book, or carve its own path?

Penelope got a beautiful, satisfying conclusion in Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth novel in the series. It had charm, love, and long-overdue vindication. But while it made perfect sense in the books, giving Penelope that same arc in Season 4 might be a huge mistake.

Let’s explore why.

 The Book Ending: Sweet, Classic, and Safe

In the books, Penelope’s story is a slow-burn romance years in the making. She’s the overlooked wallflower, hiding a sharp wit under pastel gowns and a shy demeanor. Her long-unrequited love for Colin Bridgerton finally pays off when he sees her — really sees her — and discovers her secret identity as the infamous Lady Whistledown.

The result? A romance that combines trust, forgiveness, and a strong feminist undertone as Penelope reclaims her power and earns the man she’s always loved.

It’s satisfying. It’s romantic. And for the books, it works.

But for television?

 Why the Book Ending Doesn’t Fit Season 4

1. The Show Has Already Changed Too Much

Netflix’s Bridgerton is no stranger to reimagining the source material. From race-conscious casting to entirely new character arcs (see: Queen Charlotte, Marina Thompson, and even Anthony’s story), the show has never been a faithful page-to-screen adaptation — and that’s a good thing.

So why should Penelope’s story be the exception?

The Penelope of the show is not the Penelope of the book. She’s bolder, more cunning, and far more active in her narrative, especially with the ongoing tension around Lady Whistledown. The book’s version of events, where Colin is the one largely taking action, doesn’t match the energy of her TV counterpart.

Season 4 needs to reflect who Penelope has become — not who she was originally written to be.

2. Her Identity as Lady Whistledown Should Be Central, Not a Side Plot

In the novels, Penelope’s alter ego is revealed to the reader early — but Colin finds out much later. The dramatic tension in the book comes from that reveal and his reaction.

But in the show, the audience already knows her secret, and so does Eloise.

That changes everything.

Rather than waiting for a big reveal, Season 4 should focus on the consequences of her double life. The tension should come from how she balances love and power, not whether Colin will find out. Giving her the book’s soft, romantic storyline undercuts the more dynamic drama the show has built around her secret identity.

Penelope is a media mogul in a corset. Let her own that.

3. Colin Needs to Grow First

Let’s talk about Colin. He’s been charming, yes — but also immature, clueless, and sometimes dismissive of Penelope. While Romancing Mister Bridgerton offers Colin a redemption arc, the show version of him needs more development before he can believably become Penelope’s equal.

If Season 4 rushes their romance to give us a tidy “Polin” ending, it robs Colin of the growth viewers need to see.

He needs to reckon with:

• His privileged place in society

• His past insults toward Penelope

• The reality of being with a woman who’s more than just a love interest — she’s a force of influence in her own right

Penelope deserves a partner, not just a reformed rake. And right now, Colin isn’t that yet.

4. It Undermines the Feminist Power of Her Story

Penelope’s journey is about self-worth and identity. Her struggle isn’t just romantic — it’s existential. For years, she’s hidden behind a persona and watched as others dismissed her, underestimated her, or ignored her.

In the show, we’ve seen her navigate betrayal, class expectations, and internalized shame.

If her story wraps up with a simple romance, it risks reducing all of that to a love story payoff. While the book treats her love as a kind of reward for patience, the show has made it clear: Penelope isn’t waiting anymore.

Season 4 should emphasize that. Yes, romance can be part of her arc — but only if it honors the complex, powerful, and messy woman she’s become.

The Show Should Subvert the “Wallflower Wins” Trope

There’s a reason people love Penelope’s arc in the books — it’s classic underdog wish-fulfillment. But Bridgerton isn’t a traditional Regency story anymore. It’s a post-#MeToo, post-fairytale show that knows how to play with tropes.

Instead of letting Penelope “win” because Colin finally sees her as beautiful and desirable, let her win because she redefines success for herself.

Imagine a version of Season 4 where:

• She builds her own publishing empire

• She sets new rules for courtship, friendship, and reputation

• She and Colin find love through equality and shared vulnerability, not just nostalgia and chemistry

That’s not just a twist — it’s progress.

 What Should Penelope’s Season 4 Story Look Like?

H4: A Season of Power, Not Pining

Penelope should enter Season 4 not with heartbreak, but with determination. She’s shed her loyalty to Eloise, stepped into her power, and is now running London’s most influential gossip column. That alone is story gold.

Rather than chasing Colin, she should be running her world — and forcing Colin to chase her.

H4: A Real Reckoning with Eloise

The fallout between Penelope and Eloise was one of the most devastating moments of Season 3. That rift should not be quickly healed in favor of romantic plotlines.

Let their friendship be a real arc — painful, complicated, and ultimately healing. Female friendship, after all, is one of the strongest pillars of Bridgerton’s storytelling.

H4: Romance as Growth, Not Reward

When the romance with Colin does begin to blossom, it should feel like a mutual decision made by two fully developed characters — not a reward for Penelope’s endurance or Colin’s sudden epiphany.

Let Colin earn her trust. Let Penelope call out his past behavior. Let them build something new together, rather than revisiting what could have been.

 What Fans Are Saying

The Bridgerton fandom is deeply invested in Penelope’s journey — perhaps more than any other character. And while many are excited for Polin, there’s also a growing chorus of viewers who want more for her.

On Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok, fans are voicing concerns like:

• “I love Pen, but I don’t want her arc to just end in marriage.”

• “Colin hasn’t done the work yet. Why should he get her so easily?”

• “Whistledown is Penelope’s real power. That should be front and center.”

It’s clear: Penelope deserves a Season 4 that’s about more than love.

Conclusion: Rewrite the Ending, Elevate the Story

Penelope Featherington got the perfect book ending — romantic, sweet, and safe.

But Bridgerton has always been at its best when it takes risks. When it challenges tradition. When it gives its characters not just what they want, but what they need to grow.

Let Penelope’s Season 4 be about power, identity, and unapologetic self-love. Let Colin rise to meet her, not the other way around. And let the romance be the cherry on top, not the whole sundae.

Because Penelope isn’t just a wallflower anymore.

She’s the whole damn garden.