Leaning into the concept of “who doesn’t love a good love story?” Bridgerton season 3 gave us the love-filled tale of Polin. But here’s the thing: Netflix cut out Penelope’s other sister from the ‘Bridgerton’ Series, and she would have changed the dyad between Pen (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton) into quite a dramatic love triangle. Needless to say, that only scratches the surface of how much the omission altered the storyline. But why, we ask?
Bridgerton season 3’s writers were pretty by the book when it came to author Julia Quinn’s depiction of their first kiss, her unauthorized peek into his diary, and that steamy carriage scene. But there were quite a few changes in the mix, including the absence of an entire character, Felicity — the fourth Featherington sister. Despite these changes, the adaptation still attempts to remain loyal to the essence of the original book series.
Who Is Penelope Featherington’s Other Sister?
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In Quinn’s Bridgerton novels, the Featherington family is larger than the one on the Netflix show. Philippa, Prudence, and Penelope have a younger sister — Felicity — notably absent from our screens. Unlike her older sisters, Felicity is considered a catch among the members of the ton. Naturally, this was music to the Featherington matriarch, Portia’s (Polly Walker) ears. At that point, she had given up hope on Penelope’s marriage prospects and focused all her attention on Felicity.
Since Felicity is roughly around the same age as Hyacinth Bridgerton (in fact, they’re practically besties in the novels), she wasn’t quite as out there in the social scene as her sisters were. By 1824, she made her debut, and thus began her quest for a husband. Fast forward to her happily ever after, Felicity follows her heart and marries Geoffrey Albansdale, much to her mother’s horror, as Portia had someone else in mind.
Why Felicity Featherington Isn’t in ‘Bridgerton’
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At first glance, cutting Felicity Featherington from Netflix’s Bridgerton might seem like a head-scratcher. With the show mainly revolving around the Bridgerton siblings and their rollercoaster-esque love lives, throwing in all four Featherington sisters could have turned the series into an overstuffed mess. As Jess Brownell, the showrunner, told Insider TV, Felicity’s storyline had to be sacrificed to keep the focus sharp and the storylines neat, especially with Colin and Penelope’s scandalous romance heating up in season three.
Also, there’s the fact that Felicity, who’s the kinder sister from the books, just didn’t fit into the show’s dramatic plans. Cutting her out further isolates Penelope, so she’s left with sisters who aren’t exactly BFF material and a mother who constantly underestimates her. This move didn’t just make Penelope’s journey more compelling and relatable, it proved that sometimes less is more.
Felicity Featherington’s Absence Changes One Major Part of The Novel (and A Lot More)
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Colin and Penelope’s relationship had its complicated twists and turns from the get-go, and adding Felicity into the mix would have turned it into a full-blown soap opera. In Julia Quinn’s “Romancing Mister Bridgerton,” Colin returns from his adventures across the globe, which is right at the start of Felicity’s debut season. Naturally, Lady Featherington dives into her signature frantic matchmaking attempts and humorously attempts to match the much older Colin with her youngest daughter. Get this: they have a whopping 12-year difference.
Just like in the screen adaptation, Colin finally gives in to his feelings for Penelope, and after their steamy tête-à-tête in a carriage, he proposes to Penelope. But instead of heading to the Bridgerton residence, they end up at the Featherington house. Portia, in her usual over-the-top fashion, assumes Colin wants Felicity’s hand, leading to an exchange that stretches Colin’s patience. Needless to say, Lady Featherington eventually got the memo. As funny as that scene would have been, it had to go “for the greater good”. In return, we did get to see a whole new side of the Featherington household, so it was a win-win.
Netflix Cut Out Penelope’s Other Sister From the ‘Bridgerton’ Series To Keep Things Unchaotic
But let’s be real: keeping Felicity in the show would’ve made things messier by introducing unnecessary drama and stealing attention from Colin and Penelope’s already layered romance. There were already so many moving parts in the season 3 plot, with Francesca (Hannah Dodd), Benedict (Luke Thompson), Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), and even Cressida (Jessica Madsen) getting their time in the sun.
Then there’s the fact that Penelope’s tight-knit bond with Felicity in the books would complicate the sisterly dynamics, turning the plot into some sort of unnecessary back and forth. Who knows, maybe with her in the picture, the whole Whistledown arc would have been unusually complicated too. So, by giving Felicity the axe, the show smartly trims the fat, letting Penelope’s character shine brighter and her relationship with Colin flourish without the extra baggage.
In the mood for pitch-perfect romance? All seasons of Bridgerton are currently streaming on Netflix.
