Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell has explained why season 3 of the period romance changes the ending of its corresponding book, and what it means for season 4. Bridgerton season 3 ended with Colin and Penelope now married, the latter revealing to the Queen that she is Lady Whistledown. However, the show makes a point of revealing she isn’t giving up her persona or gossip just yet, instead hinting that she’ll channel it differently going into season 4. This is a key deviation from the book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which sees her give up the pseudonym for good.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Brownell explained why Penelope doesn’t give up her role as Lady Whistledown at the end of Bridgerton season 3 like she does in the book. The showrunner explained how the different perspectives gossip can have motivated the decision, implying she’ll be changing how she approaches rumors going into season 4. Check out what Brownell had to say below:

We talked about her potentially giving it up at the end of this season. But it just didn’t feel right, in a season that is about a woman trying to balance love and career, for her to give up the career for the man. I do think that gossip gets a bad reputation. It’s all about the intention with which one gossips. There’s gossip that’s meant to judge or to condemn, but there’s also gossip that — especially between vulnerable players, especially women in the Regency era — that is designed to help each other avoid danger and give each other power and agency in a time when so much information was withheld. So I’m excited to see Penn lean more into the good side of gossip next season.

How Penelope Can Still Be Lady Whistledown In Bridgerton Season 4

She Now Signs Them As Penelope Bridgerton.

Her writing will be very different in Bridgerton season 4, as she continues to cultivate a new perspective on spreading gossip.

When Penelope reveals to the Queen and her ton that she is Lady Whistledown, she does so to continue to gossip, but this time in a more positive way than before. This indicates her writing will be less about scathing remarks and trying to spread unfavorable information, but instead could be used to generally inform royalty about what’s happening in their world. Her writing will be very different in Bridgerton season 4, as she continues to cultivate a new perspective on spreading gossip.

Her perspective is also likely to alter as she continues to get used to married life with Colin. Although Bridgerton included a time jump of one year into their marriage, the couple is still relatively new. This is combined with the fact they have a son now, and her writing is no longer under the Lady Whistledown pseudonym. Not only does this mean a major shift in how she writes is spread around, but it also signals how being a mother could also influence her perspective on what she does and does not write.

Because of how important Penelope’s writing has been since the very start of the show, Bridgerton season 4 will likely continue to utilize her work in a strong way going forward. While it’s unclear which sibling will be the focus of the next batch of episodes, their story is bound to be tied with what their sister-in-law writes for the public eye. With plenty of potential for story changes and new approaches to other books, it seems several unexpected events could transpire as the show continues.