'Bridgerton' Season 1 Ending Explained: Who is Lady Whistledown? Simon and Daphne's story ends on bittersweet note
Spoilers for 'Bridgerton' Season 1
The first season of 'Bridgerton' on Netflix from Shondaland introduced viewers to the Bridgerton family with Daphne Bridgerton's (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Bassett's (Rege-Jean Page) love story. While the two pretended to court for their own gains, they ended up falling in love. However, family history played spoilsport in the relationship and though the couple enjoyed marital bliss, it was only for a really short time.
Simon had told Daphne that they could not have a family were they to be together before they married. While Simon meant that he did not want to have kids — because of the vow he made to his dying, abusive father that their family name will end with him — Daphne understood it to mean that Simon was incapable of having kids.
When Daphne learns about sex properly from her handmaiden, she realizes that Simon is forcefully pulling out because he does not want children. This causes a huge fallout between the husband and wife as we head into the final episode of the first season. Elsewhere in the season, the Featherington family has found itself fallen from the graces of London's high society because of Lord Featherington's (Ben Miller) debts, while Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) and Lady Featherington's (Polly Walker) plans to entrap Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) into marriage fails thanks to a tip from Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews).
Meanwhile, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who is Viscount Bridgerton is in love with an opera singer Sienna Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett) but is keeping his relationship with her private because of his social standing. Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), on the other hand, was tasked by Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) to uncover Lady Whistledown's identity, and she is sure it is the modiste, Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) who is sleeping with Eloise's brother, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson).
So, which of the Bridgerton siblings walks away from Season 1 with what they want? Read on to find out how the first season of 'Bridgerton' ended.
Daphne and Simon
Now back in London, things between Daphne and Simon are as cold as ever. However, Daphne uncovers Simon's letters to his father from when he was a child and learns that his father mistreated him because Simon did not speak until he was much older. Moreover, Daphne realizes his father's treatment of him is why Simon does not want to have children, and so, she begins to see him in a new light.
Before they are to leave London, Daphne arranges a ball. Unfortunately, rain plays spoilsport. Or does it? While everyone else runs to shelter, Daphne stays in the rain, telling Simon that he does not have to be perfect to be loved and if he wants to know that for sure, he only needs to look at her. She asks him to choose to love her as much as she loves him and the two reconcile. When the episode ends, Daphne gives birth to a baby boy.
Anthony and Sienna
By now, seeing Simon's and Daphne's happiness, Anthony is certain he wants to be with Sienna. He tells her this but she is less certain — while society may be more accepting of Anthony who is a Viscount, and whose sister is a Duchess, they will still judge Sienna — and she knows this. When Anthony goes to pick her up for Daphne's ball, Sienna ends things with Anthony for good, breaking his heart. He later tells Simon and Daphne that he is now looking to find the woman who will be his wife, signaling that a potential Season 2 will focus on Anthony's story.
The Featheringtons
The Featheringtons may not be the central family on the show, but they still have a lot going on. Lord Featherington — now in huge debt, which leads his daughters to lose their suitors because of a lack of dowry — manipulates Simon's friend, Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) into losing the match, so he can be assured of winnings. This does happen, but Featherington has angered the wrong people and he ends up dead. The Featherington Estate is now left to an unknown person who will no doubt make an appearance in Season 2.
Meanwhile, Marina tries to end her pregnancy after feeling remorseful over what she tried to do to Colin. She tells Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) that Colin will one day recognize Penelope's feelings. Marina also learns that the man she was seeing did not abandon her, rather, he died on the battlefield. The man's older brother proposes to rectify the situation, and Marina, not wanting to marry without love rejects him, confident that she is not pregnant anymore. However, when the doctor informs her that she is still pregnant, she changes her mind and decides to marry him.
Eloise and Lady Whistledown
While Eloise wants to know who Lady Whistledown is, she is unwilling to let the Queen punish the person for the information they write. And so, when Queen Charlotte's people set a trap to catch Lady Whistledown as she goes to the printing press, Eloise waits to warn Lady Whistledown, who heeds her warning and continues without stopping. The next day, when her brother, Benedict tells her that he spent the night with Madame Delacroix, Eloise realizes that she reached the wrong conclusion and that Lady Whistledown is, in fact, someone different.
Thankfully, we are shown the identity before the season ends. Lady Whistledown is none other than Penelope Featherington. This explains why Lady Whistledown had some of the biggest secrets in her publications, especially those surrounding her family. We wonder, however, whether her family will look kindly upon her once they find out what she has done.
Season 1 of 'Bridgerton' is now streaming on Netflix.