The second eldest Bridgerton son was confirmed to be queer during Season 3.
Benedict Bridgerton’s love life hasn’t been the primary focus on the romantic Regency era show until now, but viewers have been paying close attention.
Since his introduction in Season 1, Luke Thompson’s character has been a fan favorite, and his recurring pursuit of life outside of the traditional Ton society had many speculating Benedict may be queer. But it wasn’t until Season 3, when he embarked on a relationship with Tilley Arnold and her friend Paul, that his sexuality was confirmed.
Thompson previously told Bustle that the best way to describe his character’s sexuality in modern terms is pansexual, or “being attracted to the way that someone thinks and feels, regardless of gender,” he explained.
“That’s a word that could be used. But what’s refreshing about it, certainly in the way that it’s being discovered at the moment, is that there is a sense of label-lessness about it,” he said.
While he shares a brief kiss with a man in Episode 1 of Season 4, much of the season follows his love story with a woman named Sophie. But in Part 2, which is set to hit Netflix on Feb. 26, showrunner Jess Brownell confirms his identity will continue to be explored.
“It’s important for me that for any person who is queer — whether they’re pansexual, bisexual, fluid, however they describe themselves — that even if that person ends up in a heterosexual presenting relationship, they are still queer,” Brownell tells TODAY.com.
“It was really important to me and to the writers room to find ways to make it clear that Benedict still owns that part of himself,” she adds. “So that is something that will be touched on here and in other seasons.”
When discussing his character’s pansexuality, Thompson said at the time that Benedict specifically approaches romance “in a spirit of curiosity.”
That curiosity is also what’s driving his pursuit of Sophie, or the “lady in silver,” after he meets the mystery woman at a masquerade ball in Episode 1.
“That life of dabbling is growing thin,” Brownell says of Benedict in Season 4. “And the moment he meets Sophie and sees the childlike wonder on her face as she takes in this ball, I think it is just this instant feeling of, ‘That is the feeling I’m missing in my life.’ Benedict has done it all and seen it all, and he’s growing jaded.
“So to meet someone who everything in society is new and exciting, is really exciting for him,” she adds.