Dearest gentle readers, it seems the tone is abuzz with whispers of the ever-enigmatic Benedict Bridgerton. The second son, long cloaked in mystery and creative flair, has finally stepped into the light, and dare I say, with splendid fluidity. Yes, his romantic horizons have expanded in this season’s most delightful twist, but fret not, hopeless romantics. His classic charm and longing for a grand love story are far from disappearance.
As the ballroom twirls and expectations shift, one cannot help but wonder: will Benedict follow the brush of passion or the ink of tradition? The hearts seem to be in motion.
Luke Thompson’s Benedict’s fluid era begins, but Sophie’s still in play
Benedict Bridgerton is officially breaking the mold, and I AM living for it.
Season 3, Part 2 of Bridgerton didn’t just give us steamy ballroom glances and love confessions, but it finally cracked open Benedict’s long-speculated fluidity. After he flirted with the bold Lady Tilley Arnold, things got even spicier. Tilley introduced him to her friend Paul, and suddenly, we’ve got a throuple in the ton.
But before fans of Julia Quinn’s books faint into their embroidery hoops, Sophie’s still very much on the table.
Showrunner Jess Brownell puts it plainly (via The Wrap): “The introduction of Sophie is definitely still in the cards, but we are going to continue to explore his fluidity.” So, it’s not a detour, it’s an expansion.
The Season 3 finale even sets the stage for Sophie’s grand arrival. Remember when Eloise tells Benedict she’ll be home for Violet’s masquerade ball? Yep. That masquerade ball.
And while Benedict turned down Tilley’s offer of monogamy, Brownell says it best: “As any fluid person knows, fluidity is a part of your identity, whether or not you end up with a man, a woman or a nonbinary person.” Modern readers would call him pansexual. He’s chasing connections – mind, body, and soul.
Plus, Bridgerton’s on a queerness roll. Francesca’s storyline flips the narrative, too, introducing Michaela instead of Michael from the books. And we’ve long had our eyes on Eloise’s potential queer arc.
So no, Benedict’s love story isn’t gone. It’s just getting richer, deeper, and way more intriguing.
Luke Thompson leads the way as Netflix doubles down on Bridgerton
The Bridgertons aren’t done charming Mayfair just yet.
Bridgerton has officially been renewed for Seasons 5 and 6 (via Netflix.com). That said, more scandals, more longing glances, and more Whistledown-worthy drama are on the way.
But first, circle 2026 on your calendars – Season 4 arrives with Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) stepping into the limelight. The Bohemian brother meets a mysterious Lady in Silver (played by Pachinko’s Yerin Ha) at Violet’s masquerade ball. Spoiler: her real name is Sophie Baek.
Season 4’s cast is stacked with returning favorites – Anthony, Kate, Colin, Penelope, Francesca, and even Queen Charlotte herself. Francesca’s love story gets a shakeup, too, thanks to gender-swapped Michaela Stirling.
Showrunner Jess Brownell is back at the helm, with Shonda Rhimes and the dream team producing. With Bridgerton already dominating Netflix’s Most Popular charts, expect these upcoming seasons to keep the tone talking.
