WARNING: This article contains potential spoilers for Bridgerton Season 3 and the Bridgerton book series.

Part 1 of Bridgerton Season 3 saw big changes in the lives of Colin and Penelope, but also in Eloise, arguably the most independent and sharp-minded of the Bridgerton family. Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jesse) spent the first two seasons doing her best to avoid married life and establish a life without a husband; her striving for independence made her one of the best Bridgerton characters. But part 1 of season 3 shows that Eloise has made several surprising changes in her lifestyle and relationships, as seen through her new friendship with Cressida Cowper (Jess Madsen).

Adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn, the series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings as they each grow up and form families of their own in Regency London; while her older siblings Daphne and Anthony were searching for partners, Eloise was more interested in uncovering the true identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown, the society’s gossip columnist. At the end of season 2, Eloise is finally successful in her mission, but what she learns about Lady Whistledown destroys her friendship with Penelope Featherington; season 3 sees Eloise trying to move on from Penelope, and she ultimately finds companionship from an unlikely source.

Eloise & Cressida’s Friendship In Bridgerton Season 3 Is Divisive

It Is Controversial Considering Her Past Statements About Cressida

At the beginning of Season 3, Penelope is hopeful that she can reconcile her friendship with Eloise after their bitter falling out at the end of season 2. In season 3, episode 1, Penelope is insulted by Cressida, before Cressida links arms with Eloise and walks away, to the shock of viewers. Penelope and viewers are left reeling to see Eloise becoming friends with somebody who has never had a kind word to say about Penelope, particularly as Eloise had previously stated in season 2, that she’d rather die than be friends with Cressida.

Eloise’s decision to befriend Cressida is quite a controversial choice, considering she knows how horrible Cressida has been to Penelope in the past. Her decision to befriend Cressida is a devastating betrayal towards Penelope; in seasons 1 and 2, Eloise is shown to always defend Penelope against Cressida’s hurtful comments. While her new friendship with Cressida has the potential to make Eloise seem unlikable to viewers, it’s her way of responding to Penelope’s betrayal at the end of season 2, with a betrayal of her own; the shocked expression on Penelope’s face as Eloise and Cressida walk away proves that it was successful in its impact.

As viewers are aware, Eloise spent the majority of her time throughout season 2 trying to uncover the true identity of Lady Whistledown with the reluctant assistance of Penelope. Her discovery that her best friend was the one writing the scandalous gossip causes Eloise to sever ties with Penelope; her new friendship with Cressida could be seen as Eloise’s way of getting back at Penelope for ruining her social status with her stories. While Eloise does befriend Cressida for the wrong reasons, it is completely understandable why she turns to her former enemy for companionship.

Eloise is deeply hurt and angry by the fact that her lifelong friend, Penelope, was the one responsible for writing about the scandal surrounding her family. As explained by Claudia Jessie in an interview, when Eloise was looking for somebody to talk to, it was Cressida who filled in that role, becoming the friend Eloise needed to fill in the void left by Penelope. Her new companionship with Cressida also gives Eloise a chance to ‘replace’ Penelope and make her experience the feelings of hurt and betrayal that Eloise has suffered; it can also be seen as an attempt by Eloise to try and move on from what happened and try and figure out what to do next.

Eloise & Cressida’s Friendship Is Very Entertaining In Bridgerton Season 3

Offers Viewers A Chance To See A Side To Cressida Not Seen In The Books

The new friendship between Eloise and Cressida is one of several big changes made in season 3 from the original book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. In the novel, Eloise never breaks off her friendship with Penelope upon discovering her secret and also has no reason to befriend Cressida, whom she continues to despise in the original story. In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Cressida is the main villain of the story, as she blackmails Penelope for money after uncovering her secret identity as Lady Whistledown; the choice to make Eloise and Cressida become friends in season 3 of Bridgerton helps to humanize Cressida, which was not done in the original novel.

Eloise and Cressida have proven to be a surprisingly good pairing throughout season 3; Cressida is influenced by Eloise to become a better person and is encouraged to cease her bullying of Penelope, while Eloise is influenced by Cressida to see events in society in a different light. As season 3 progresses, Eloise also learns that Cressida is a person who has her own problems in her family life; in episode 4, she witnesses the strict regime Cressida is forced to endure from her parents and the pressure to find a husband or face an arranged marriage with one of her father’s friends. These changes to Cressida’s personality from the book and her friendship with Eloise could potentially mean big changes to the upcoming part 2 of season 3, and how her story progresses throughout the series.

Being Friends With Cressida Makes Eloise More Complex

It Helps Eloise To Grow As A Character and Makes Her More Human

Eloise Bridgerton has undergone quite a few changes in herself since the end of season 2. Having stood out among her family for her rebellious nature and desire to live an independent life, in season 3, she has changed her fashion sense to fit in with the current trends; she has also begun reading romance novels, which she previously shunned. Her older brother Colin notes these changes in episode 1, and Eloise explains that, after Lady Whistledown nearly tarnishes her status, she has decided it’s time to reevaluate everything, including her relationships with Penelope and Cressida.

Actress Claudia Jessie explains that Eloise is still growing up as a person, and she is still trying to recover from everything that has happened to her; the loss of Penelope as her best friend has shattered Eloise more than anything, and she is trying to recover in her own way through her new friendship with Cressida (via Town & Country). People who are emotionally hurt can respond in irrational ways; Eloise’s friendship with Cressida is her way of trying to heal from the pain of Penelope’s actions. This adds a deeper sense of humanity to Eloise and makes her more relatable to viewers who are suffering from loss and betrayal.

Eloise & Penelope Will Surely Make Up In Bridgerton’s Future

There Are Hints That They Will Reconcile Their Friendship Throughout Season 3

Despite the distance that has grown between Eloise and Penelope, there is still hope that they may reconcile their lifelong friendship in the future. As much as Eloise doesn’t want to show it, deep down, she still cares about Penelope; this is shown in episode 1 when she admonishes Cressida for ruining Penelope’s dress. When Eloise visits the Featherington household, she has a brief conversation with Penelope; it shows that the girls miss each other, but don’t know how they can rebuild their friendship after everything that has happened.

It is not yet known when exactly Eloise and Penelope will make up, but their potential reconciliation is still impacted by Penelope’s secret identity as Lady Whistledown. Creator Shonda Rimes has pointed out Penelope’s secret struggles; her secret life as Lady Whistledown has ruined her friendship with Eloise and could potentially hurt her blossoming relationship with Colin. Given her experiences with Lady Whistledown, Eloise wants to protect Colin; it has been hinted that part 2 will see them clash, with Eloise warning Penelope that she needs to tell Colin the truth. The secret of Lady Whistledown is what is holding any hope of reconciliation between Eloise and Penelope back, but considering their past closeness and how much they still care for each other, there is still hope that their friendship will be restored as season 3 of Bridgerton progresses.

Source: Town & Country