Much adored Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has revealed a major Easter egg in Penelope’s first scene in the show. Folks, it really is a big one.
Taking to Twitter over the weekend, Coughlan asked her many followers if anyone spotted the “massive Easter Egg” about Penelope’s character in her very first scene in the series.
https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1363223714406531075
While a lot of people (me) were confused, some fans knew the answer right away.
When I filmed Penelope’s first scene I chose a prop, a massive massive feather that looked a lot like: https://t.co/d55pgRnWdy
— Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 20, 2021
Mates, I’ve watched Bridgerton a handful of times and I never noticed the massive, massive feather. But it’s there! It really is there!
It’s the QUILL.
This scene literally happens in the first two minutes of the first episode. How cheeky!
For those who have read the books/watched the first season, you know the quill hints at Penelope Featherington’s true identity as one Lady Whistledown. She is the mastermind behind the very, very scandalous column.
If you watch the scene again, there’s even a close-up of Penelope with the giant feather. Did that make a difference when I first watched the show? NOPE, so I’m glad Coughlan decided to gift us with this #FunFact now.
The quill isn’t the only Easter egg or hidden detail in Bridgerton though, there are heaps more. But the one that comes to mind immediately is the bees.
First, context: Bridgerton is based on the eight-part book series by Julia Quinn, where each book focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling.
The second book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, is about Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) as he tries to find a wife. As Netflix unveiled last week, Sex Education star Simone Ashley has been cast as his love interest, Kate Sharma (Kate Sheffield in the books).
Now, without getting into the specifics, the bees are a major plot point in Anthony’s story. Big, huge, so their inclusion in season 1 is quite the thrill.
The bees pop up everywhere as both literal bees and fashion accessories.
Bzzzzz.
I mean, season 1 literally ends with a bee landing on the windowsill of Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon’s (Regé-Jean Page) bedroom, as Daphne gives birth to their bébé. I understood this to signify the end of Daphne and Simon’s story and the beginning of Anthony’s.
Wassssup.
If you do want to read more about the bees (and spoilers), click here.
I also personally loved Simon’s quiet tribute to his mother.
The Duke of Hastings likes to wear dark clothing, so it was pretty easy to spot the green brooch he always wears.
While the diamond and emerald brooch is never explicitly mentioned throughout the series, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick revealed to Fashionista that the brooch belonged to Simon’s late mother, who died giving birth to him.
Although Simon absolutely hated his father, the fact that he wears his mother’s brooch symbolises his emotional ties to family. Simon spends a lot of the first few episodes convincing us he cares little for feelings or family, but it turns out he wears his heart on his lapel (hehe).
Bridgerton is streaming now on Netflix.
