Edwina Sharma on Bridgerton Season 2 was in serious danger of being the Nice, Milquetoast Sister and little else. But in Episode 6, "The Choice," something magical happened — Edwina proved that she was the main character in her life story. For that reason alone, Edwina should get her own spinoff. Or, at the very least, that viewers get to see more of Edwina's story in Bridgerton Season 3.
Bridgerton has already been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4 and there's a spinoff limited series in the works about young Queen Charlotte. So it's not outrageous to suggest that Edwina get in on the action after proving herself to be a worthy character. I mean, if she can impress Queen Charlotte, she can impress anyone!
Though she was a little starry-eyed for Anthony in the beginning, she didn't allow herself to go through with a loveless marriage out of shame. And, as Edwina actor Charithra Chandran said herself to TODAY, "We have to remember that the Anthony that Edwina sees is perfectly curated for her to fall in love with." So who can blame her for being a little naive?
Though she's young and sheltered, Edwina is someone who, in her own words, values her own inner resources. She was empathetic and brave enough to soothe a distraught King of England. And she stood up for her self-worth while also not allowing herself to be completely overcome by anger toward a sister who, for all intents and purposes, betrayed her. And I want to see what else is in store for her.
When it comes to the books by Julia Quinn, Edwina's story is different than Season 2 with her not really falling for Anthony. Instead, in the book The Viscount Who Loved Me, Edwina gets dreamy for a Mr. Bagwell. He's an archeologist that Edwina met while at the ball at the Bridgerton family's country home while Kate was busy getting engaged to Anthony to avoid a scandal. The epilogue confirms that Edwina married Mr. Bagwell and became Mrs. Bagwell.
No such character exists on the show as of yet. And though he could be introduced in later seasons, Bridgerton seemed to be setting up a different love story for Edwina if she were to be featured on the show again. Instead of a penniless, second-son scholar, Queen Charlotte suggested in the Season 2 finale that Edwina meet her German nephew, Freddie Stroma's Prince Friedrich, who Daphne had passed over in Season 1 for Simon.
Further evidence the show could possibly go in a different direction than the books for future Edwina stories is how the Netflix series did some quote swapping with the Sharma sisters. When Edwina tells Kate of her feelings for Mr. Bagwell in the book, Kate tells her, "I think it's high time you were able to think only of yourself for a change. To make a decision based on what you desire, not what you think others need." That's a very similar notion to what Edwina tells Kate about Anthony in the Season 2 finale, "Be unafraid to follow your heart after doing the exact opposite for far too long. You have spent so much of your time shining your light on me. It is time for you to shine all on your own."
Show Edwina isn't a person who needs to be told to put herself first — instead, she's the one who dispenses that wisdom. And because of that, Edwina's future story on TV may have nothing to do with love at all. As Charithra told E! News about her possible return, "What I would love for Edwina most of all is adventure and excitement. ... I'm sort of, 'Enough of Edwina and boys!' It's about Edwina and herself." Because while there will hopefully still be some element of romance if she gets a future story (it is Bridgerton after all), what's a romantic lead if she's one-dimensional? And Charithra has proven that's something she won't allow for her character.
Although it's not currently confirmed if Edwina will return for future installments, Charithra told EW that she'd "be so open to coming back." So with so much potential — courted by a prince, going on adventures of her own, and a budding mentorship with the freakin' Queen of England — Edwina better return in Season 3 if not get her own show.
Images: Liam Daniel/Netflix, Netflix