Bridgerton Season 5: Who Is the New Lady Whistledown After that Shocking Bridgerton Season 4 Twist?
Penelope’s retirement from the gossip column and the emergence of a new anonymous writer left a central mystery as the series closed its fourth season, setting up questions for bridgerton season 5. The finale tied up several romantic arcs while leaving the identity of the new Lady Whistledown unexplained; who has taken up the task is unclear in the provided context.
Finale framed by a hidden tag
The season ended with a wedding scene that landed after a post-credits moment. Jess Brownell said, “So the wedding was not initially a post-credits scene, ” and described how the ending was reshaped in post-production: “In past seasons, we’ve done this thing where we fade to black and then we very quickly come up for a tag of the season. And that’s how we initially had it. But when Shonda and I got into post, we both felt like the ending of the season pre-tag was so magical and full of so much romance that it felt like we just wanted a moment to breathe and let it settle before one more romantic gift. It almost felt like a hat on a hat. But we really wanted to keep in this beautiful wedding that we shot. We also thought it would be fun for the die-hard fans who really stick around and talk about the show to get that Easter egg, and then to tell their friends who maybe didn’t stick around, and that it could create some some fun chatter. ”
Benedict and Sophie’s cottage wedding
The season closed on a happy ending for Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, and Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha, who marry at their cottage estate after a season of forbidden upstairs/downstairs love. Their kiss in the gazebo where they first met at the masquerade ball — now unmasked and engaged — was presented as the official end of their love story.
Penelope’s retirement and the new Whistledown
Penelope, portrayed by Nicola Coughlan, has been allowed to retire from her role as Lady Whistledown, but the finale made plain that someone else has mysteriously taken up the task. The new writer’s identity is not revealed in the provided context; unclear in the provided context who the successor is.
Other character outcomes listed
Several characters’ fates were spelled out in the finale. Araminta, played by Katie Leung, is facing embezzlement accusations and has agreed to keep quiet about Sophie’s illegitimate status and go along with the story that Sophie is an extended member of her father’s noble family. Alice Mondrich, played by Emma Naomi, is the new lady-in-waiting to the Queen, played by Golda Rosheuvel. Lady Danbury, played by Adjoa Andoh, is headed on a much-needed vacation. Francesca, played by Hannah Dodd, is mourning John, played by Victor Alli, alone now that Michaela, played by Masali Baduza, has abandoned her. Violet, played by Ruth Gemmell, has decided to be single rather than marry Marcus, played by Daniel Francis. Cressida, played by Jessica Madsen, returned to the ton and arrived at some peace with Eloise, played by Claudia Jessie. Kate, played by Simone Ashley, and Anthony, played by Jonathan Bailey, returned from India with their baby boy Edmund to straight everyone out. The finale also made clear who will be the lead of Season 5.
Francesca’s arc and source material
Hannah Dodd, the English actress, 30, recalled auditioning “quite intensely” for the first season for the role of Daphne Bridgerton and losing the part to Phoebe Dynevor. Dodd said she was later invited to film a self-tape for a “very secretive” project. “I had no idea it was ‘Bridgerton’ again, ” Dodd said, speaking at London’s 180 House in mid-February. The interview notes that the table was chosen to avoid anyone overhearing spoilers, though others in the club were too wrapped up in their own conversations to notice what she was disclosing about Part 2 of Season 4, which debuted on Thursday. Several months went by before Dodd learned the project was Bridgerton. “Part of me was like, ‘Oh, do I want to go through that again?’” she said. “But I genuinely loved the material. A few days later I met with the team and a week after that I was at piano lessons. ”
Dodd was cast as Francesca Bridgerton for Season 3, replacing Ruby Stokes, who had played the role in the first two seasons and departed due to scheduling issues. Dodd acknowledged feeling pressure joining the established Bridgerton family: “Their chemistry was incredible and I could see from interviews that they seemed to absolutely love each other, ” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, how do I join that and make sure that I have that chemistry?’ But the cast are so lovely and made me feel at home straight away. ”
The events surrounding Francesca in the first four seasons largely exist before those in Julia Quinn’s novel When He Was Wicked, known among fans as “Francesca’s book. ” In Season 3 Francesca made her debut into the Ton and found an unexpected connection with John Stirling, the Earl of Kilmartin, played by Victor Alli. By the beginning of Season 4 the couple had married and settled down in his London home; in Part 2, John tragically dies. Dodd said, “People who have read the books understand that none of what they’ve seen so far happens in the books. You don’t get to see her on the marriage mart. In Chapter 1 of her book, John dies and her story starts after that. ” Showrunner Jess Brownell added, “John’s alive for about 10 pages of the book and then there’s a time jump, so we’re not spending a ton of time in what her immediate grief feels like. But it’s enough that we had some clues from Julia Quinn about how she might react. ”
Season 2 precedent and production notes
The series had previously skipped a wedding — Kate and Anthony’s in Season 2 — to focus on an intimate moment. Jess Brownell discussed that decision and other creative choices, and also noted that the team had seen “hundreds of people” before casting Hannah Dodd: “We saw Hannah really late in the process and we instantly knew. She is such a subtle actor. She’s able to play shyness without seeming weak and you sense she has an inner strength that’s waiting to blossom, which was really necessary for a character who starts out in Season 3 as quite shy and reserved. But from this season and beyond, she’s a character who goes through quite a bit and is going to have a fierceness to her to survive it. ” The showrunner also discussed Season 3, the debate with Shonda Rhimes over Colin’s virginity, Julie Andrews’ fate as narrator and the visual changes coming to Season 4.
With Penelope stepping away from Lady Whistledown and a new anonymous commentator taking up the mantle, the central Whistledown mystery remains unresolved and will be a focal point as bridgerton season 5 approaches; who the new writer is remains unclear in the provided context.
