Bridgerton season 4 might feature Benedict’s love story, but it’s the last chance the show will have to set up Eloise’s book-accurate romance, too. Based on the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, Netflix’s Bridgerton adaptation has changed quite a few things from the source material. This is mostly due to the show being structured as an ensemble series, whereas the books tend to stick more diligently to whichever sibling is slated to fall in love that season. The other members of the Bridgerton family only show up whenever needed to further the central romance or lend a helping hand.
Netflix’s approach has certainly changed the trajectory of some characters’ lives. That said, Bridgerton has typically made it a point to include Quinn’s original love interests, introducing carefully chosen adjustments to names and backstories to represent the show’s more diverse casting choices. Bridgerton is growing bolder, though, with Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) second love interest becoming Michaela (Masali Baduza) instead of Michael, and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) having an intellectual dalliance with a printer’s apprentice. Could this mean that Bridgerton is willing to do away with Eloise’s complicated book story altogether?
Bridgerton Has Not Set Up Eloise’s Book Story
For those unaware of Eloise’s book romance, you may be surprised to learn that, according to Eloise’s Bridgerton novel, To Sir Phillip, With Love, Eloise is destined to end up with Sir Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), Marina Thompson’s (Ruby Barker) husband and the brother of her children’s biological father. Marina’s story was a major part of Bridgerton season 1, showcasing the terrible societal pressure young women faced during the Regency era and the extreme choices girls made to either hide or prevent an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
Marina was vilified by both the show and its fans for her plan to trap Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) in marriage, but she seemed somewhat settled, at least, when Colin visited her in Bridgerton season 2. In the fifth Bridgerton book, however, it is revealed that Marina struggles with depression, and she eventually dies of a fever after an attempt to take her own life. Phillip Crane is left to raise his children, and Eloise, feeling lonely in the wake of Penelope’s happy marriage, begins to write to him, offering the friendship they both desperately need.
Aside from Marina and Phillip both existing within Netflix’s Bridgerton world, the show has done very little, if anything, to set up Eloise’s book romance. Eloise hardly interacted with Marina in London, as Marina’s time was mostly spent with the Featheringtons. In the book, Marina is a distant cousin of the Bridgertons, not the Featheringtons, giving Eloise a much more valid excuse to write to Phillip than she’d have in the show.
Bridgerton Season 5 Should Be Eloise’s Story
Technically speaking, Bridgerton season 5 should be Eloise’s story, as the fifth book in the Bridgerton novels features her unconventional (and secretive) romance with Phillip Crane. As we’ve yet to see season 4, we don’t know how much work will be done to set up Eloise as the next romantic lead, but there’s currently no reason Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton should delay putting the focus on Eloise. There are, however, signs that Bridgerton season 5 may home in on Francesca instead, as Francesca’s happily-ever-after love story has been set in motion with Michaela’s introduction in Bridgerton season 3.
There’s the story’s timeline to consider, as well. The time jumps in Quinn’s books are much more significant, making Eloise’s loneliness at 28 years old more understandable. In the show, Eloise is truly starting to come into her own, and it’s clear she has no real desire to find a husband yet. Given Eloise’s character trajectory, Bridgerton season 6 would make a lot of sense for her, and it would give the show more time to set up Phillip Crane as a viable option. Whatever happens, though, the groundwork for that story should be laid in Bridgerton season 4.
Even If It Changes The Book Order, Season 4 Needs To Set Up Eloise’s Story
Even if Bridgerton decides to change the book order and give season 5 to Francesca – there’s precedent, as the show swapped Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Colin’s stories, too – Eloise’s story with Phillip still needs a significant introduction. Bridgerton season 4 should at least hint at or provide some reason for Eloise to connect with Marina and Phillip, perhaps because of Penelope (Nicola Coughlan). Eloise’s letters to Phillip are the foundation of their entire relationship. She needs to have a reason to write to him.
Otherwise, why would she bother comforting the husband of a woman who tried to trap her brother in marriage? The longer Bridgerton waits to introduce their possible connection, the more jarring it will be to watch them fall in love. It needs to be believable, and the audience needs to be given a reason to be invested in their relationship. This is especially vital after they introduced Theo (Calam Lynch) into the mix, a young man who is, in all ways but one, seemingly perfect for Eloise.
Bridgerton May Be Better Off Changing Eloise’s Story Completely
Having Eloise fall in love with Phillip isn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility, but the show may be better off straying from the original book romance anyway. The show’s version of Marina deserves a much better ending than the one her book counterpart suffers through. How would Bridgerton begin to approach such a dark theme in what is meant to be a lighthearted romance?
Then there’s the fact that Bridgerton’s Eloise is a far cry from book Eloise, and I truly mean that in the best way possible. Though she hasn’t yet had time in the spotlight, Eloise is a firm fan-favorite character, and it’s easy to see why. She’s intelligent, curious, outspoken, thoughtful, wonderfully independent, and intriguingly cynical, and she deserves a man who accepts and respects all those aspects of her personality. Someone like Theo would, surely, but would Phillip?
His book counterpart is quite abrasive; he neglects his wife and children, and I find it hard to believe that the show’s Eloise would ever put up with that behavior, even if he apologizes and repents later on. Of course, the show could easily make Chris Fulton’s version of the character more palatable, but that might not be enough to make their romance work. For Bridgerton’s version of Eloise to truly fall in love, the person she meets must be someone who enriches her life in every way possible, and I’m not sure if that should, or could be, Sir Phillip Crane.
