#since they also changed kate and anthony's story to avoid the forced marriage bit since s1 already had that

[myfairstarlight]

I keep seeing people say it's stupid that Penelope is considered a spinster already, and that's why they should have delayed Polin's season so it would make more sense, but:

It speaks of how little confidence she has when she calls herself that. Eloise also wistfully talked about how they'd become spinsters together, and I feel like a part of her internalised this would be her only outcome in life.

The mamas also call her that it's not just her being "self-pitying". The ton and her own mother very much already see her as hopeless in the marriage mart.

She never had a single suitor in 3 years, she only ever danced with Colin (who then publicly said he's not courting her, lowering her prospects further). For comparison, Cressida is also in her 3rd year, and yet not seen as a spinster, because she's had suitors even if no proposal was secured, she is popular with the other debutantes and her family, although harsh on her, is respected by the ton. Penelope doesn't have other friends and her family is the joke of the ton.

Bridgerton isn't exactly historically accurate but like women at the time could be considered too old at barely 20, so, isn't too far-fetched either really.

I think another season of Penelope pining and Colin and being oblivious would have just made things annoying and more difficult to root for them (when some people are already very hard on Colin right now).

I also think it's no coincidence that her secret identity, Lady Whistledown, if she were a real, separate person, would be the ideal figure for a spinster: a woman with her own business laughing in the face of the ton. She started that column in her first year out, mind you. Almost like she was already projecting.

Anyway so conclusion, my girl's self-esteem is just in the gutter. She's a hopeless romantic and although she fancies herself a pragmatic this season (deciding to accept Debling's proposal although he flat out tells her he'll never love her), she very much isn't, and a part of her accepts that if she cannot find love, well, she'll just end up a spinster, and she's already accepted that her love is an unrequited fantasy (until she's proven loudly wrong).