5 Families To Step Into The Featheringtons' Shoes In Future Bridgerton Seasons
Who will be the new second main family of the Bridgerverse?
It's the Bridgertons, of course, who are the heart and soul of Netflix's flagship romantic series (hence the title). However, the on-screen Bridgerverse is not limited to the Wysteria-clad mansion occupied by the eight Regency-era siblings and their mother. There are other important characters and families.
Season 3 cemented the Bridgertons' closest neighbors, the Featheringtons, as the second main family. Even before the love story of Penelope and Colin, Portia Featherington and her three daughters were written as that scandalous, tumultuous household whose inner shenanigans were often the source of drama and comedy.
But now that all three sisters have found happiness, the new Lord Featherington has been born, and the financial problems that plagued Portia have been resolved, it seems that the Featheringtons will fade quietly into the background of the show, to be replaced by another noble family.
But who might fill their shoes and become the new source of scandal and comic relief in Bridgerton? Here are the top five possibilities from the source books and previous chapters.
The Mondrichs
Season 3 surprised fans with the Mondrichs storyline. Will and Alice's son Nicky inherited the title of Baron of Kent, and the boxer-turned-bar-owner family moved into a huge estate to become part of high society. Adjusting to their new life was not easy, but they did great, cementing their status as the healthiest couple in Bridgerton.
The Mondrichs' Season 3 journey was not part of the main arc and felt like a build-up to something bigger. This led many fans to theorize that Will and Alice could somehow be connected to the love interests of those Bridgertons who haven't yet found their happily ever after.
The Cowpers
Another big surprise of Season 3 was the transformation of Cressida Cowper. The insufferable bully of the ton was given a vulnerable side and a redemption arc. Yes, she still did many questionable things, but it was all tempered by the girl's horrible home situation with an abusive father and pressure to marry as soon as possible.
Even though Cressida was exiled to her aunt's house at the end of the chapter, the creators made it clear that her arc is not over. So it is very possible that her family will continue to pop up on screen in future seasons.
The Gunningworths
Fans of Julia Quinn’s novels will instantly recognize this name. In the books, it belongs to the father of Sophie Beckett, Benedict Bridgerton's love interest. Sophie is the daughter of Richard Gunningworth, Earl of Penwood, and his maid. After her mother's tragic death in childbirth, Sophie was raised as a servant in her own father's household.
Sophie's arc mirrors that of a Regency-era Cinderella, complete with a cruel stepmother and wicked stepsisters. As such, the Gunningworths promise to be a remarkable addition to the Bridgerverse.
The Royal Family
Queen Charlotte's storyline seems to be over now that the hunt for Lady Whistledown is finished. However, it is unlikely that the writers will get rid of the character who provides so many iconic and hilarious moments. Since we've already seen Charlotte's huge family in the spinoff (fifteen children is no joke), it's only natural to delve a little deeper into their lives.
After all, historically, the Prince Regent played a bigger role in the life of high society than is shown in the series. And he is said to be a hot mess of a man.
The Smythe-Smiths
Julia Quinn's fans were thrilled when singer-songwriter Lemar made a cameo appearance as Lord Smythe-Smith in Episode 5 of Queen Charlotte. With the Featheringtons stepping aside, the Smythe-Smith family could very well fill their shoes.
The Smythe-Smith Quartet is a book series by Quinn set in the same universe and timeline as Bridgerton. The series revolves around a family with numerous unmarried daughters who host annual musicales. Since most of the girls lack musical talent, these performances are more hilariously disastrous than entertaining. We certainly hope to see them in Bridgerton's future chapters.