As fans eagerly await Bridgerton’s fourth season, it makes sense to reflect on the characters that have become so beloved by fans and to ask ourselves who needs more screen time. With the focus of the upcoming series being on Sophie (Yerin Ha) and Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) love story, there will be new opportunities to further establish characters who have already been introduced. As the story centers on these two, there are many other characters to explore.
Since the series is fortunate to have a large ensemble, it makes sense for Bridgerton to continue branching out, and further develop the stories about characters within and outside the Bridgerton family. Since the source material is a TV series, there is more than enough time to allow stories outside the core romance to flourish. There are some characters who have been introduced briefly and who haven’t been seen much since. Other characters are being set up for larger stories, and could be given more prominent roles in the meantime.
Alice Mondrich
Played by Emma Naomi
The Mondrich family is unique to the show and does not appear in any of the books. As a family, Alice (Emma Naomi) and Will (Martins Imhangbe) provide a unique perspective on the society in which Bridgerton takes place as they adjust to coming into money after Will has spent most of his adult life operating his bar. As outsiders looking in, they don’t have the rose-colored glasses through which to see British high society. Will’s friendship with the Bridgertons has provided an entry point into this family’s story. Alice is more than ready to continue this.
While Will’s story with his bar has been an interesting one to explore, Alice clearly has more to say as a character. While this entire family is compelling to follow, Alice has specific opportunities to integrate further into the ton and be an outsider worth rooting for. In a series that mainly follows women as they navigate their way through British high society, Alice could provide a much-needed point of view. Bridgerton Season 4 will presumably see Sophie navigate this world as an outsider herself, and she will need allies like Alice to succeed. She could be a friend and confidant to Sophie, as Will has been to Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings
Marina, Lady Crane
Played by Ruby Barker
Marina (Ruby Barker) is introduced in Bridgerton as a Featherington cousin looking to hide her pregnancy. After initially looking to Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) for a possible cover, she ends up marrying Sir Phillip Crane (Chris Fulton), her deceased husband’s brother. Although a member of the gentry, Marina struggles to integrate into the ton due to being treated poorly by the Featherington family. Portia (Polly Walker) repeatedly stresses the dire nature of Marina’s situation, and the importance of finding someone to marry to avoid scandal.
In the Bridgerton universe, Marina’s story is among the most tragic. Since the series has shown that it is willing to deviate from the source material, it would make sense to give Marina more of a story. While she could ultimately still meet a tragic and untimely end, one criticism of the source material is that it treats the character of Marina as less than human and simply a vessel to further Sir Phillip’s story. The series has the chance to delve deeper into this character, and show how her grief and the trauma she lived through ultimately led to the illness from which she never recovered. She could be much more than a piece in her husband’s story.
Gregory Bridgerton
Played by Will Tilston
As the second-youngest Bridgerton sibling, Gregory (Will Tilston) hasn’t yet had much to do while his older siblings meet the loves of their lives and get married. So far, Gregory has remained firmly in the background, mainly with his younger sister, providing occasional comic relief. He’s cute and charming, and there have already been flashes of the personality he’ll eventually grow into. While he still has older siblings that will take center-stage in the series, there’s no reason Gregory can’t play a more prominent role in the story. The upcoming Season 4 could be a perfect opportunity to give him more to do.
As the presumptive future of the Bridgerton family and universe, Gregory needs to be further established. While his older siblings still have their own stories coming up, Gregory needs to be given his own voice in Season 4 to set him up for the future. He can still be comedic relief, but he can also take up more screen time as his older siblings, who are already married, continue to settle into their new lives. Gregory could be a leader in the Bridgerton household, which will continue to see seismic changes as the family grows. He has the opportunity to have some of the most compelling character growth in the show if he’s waiting for his turn in the spotlight.
Hyacinth Bridgerton
Played by Florence Hunt
Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) is the youngest Bridgerton sibling. She and Gregory represent the next chapter of the Bridgerton family story. Unfortunately, like Gregory, Hyacinth has remained in the background for much of her time in the show. Hyacinth clearly loves her siblings and has always wanted to be at the center of the action. She’s the only one of her siblings to have never met her father, and yet has a special connection to him through her name, since Hyacinth was his favorite flower. Through her short time on screen throughout the series so far, it’s clear she’s observant and takes in all the surrounding drama.
Like Gregory, Hyacinth has so much to offer that has so far gone unexplored. In Bridgerton Season 4, Hyacinth could build on the aspects of her personality that she’s already shown. If her older siblings continue to be less prominent characters in the series, it would be natural to look to Hyacinth to fill this gap. Since she is the youngest Bridgerton sibling, she has a unique perspective on the inner workings of her family, which could be unpacked in the upcoming fourth season and beyond. Hyacinth has a naturally charming sense of humor that the series could use as it continues.
Daphne, Duchess of Hastings
Played by Phoebe Dynevor
Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is the fourth-eldest Bridgerton sibling, and the eldest sister. Bridgerton’s first season revolved around her romance with Simon. Since then, her presence has been noted, except for several cameos. Since her season, her appearances have always brought joy to her family, and it’s evident that they want to see more of her. Unfortunately, since Page hasn’t re-appeared in the series, Daphne has been kept at a distance from her distance as a character. This misses the opportunity to show how her role in the family has evolved.
For all of her flaws in Bridgerton’s first season, Daphne’s subsequent brief appearances paint a picture of a woman who’s matured and come into her own. As she and some of her siblings continue to settle into their new lives with spouses and children, Daphne could provide valuable insight as the first one to leave home and get married. The fact that she loves her siblings so much, and they feel the same about her, could be built on as the series continues. Ultimately, it makes little sense to continue sidelining a character who was the one who kicked this story off.
Kate, Viscountess Bridgerton
Played by Simone Ashley
As the current Viscountess Bridgerton, Kate (Simone Ashley) is the leader of her family. While she’s already had an entire season devoted to her and her love story with Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), she has become an essential member of this family as she leads it into a new chapter. In addition to her continued love story with her husband, Kate has proven herself to be one of the show’s best characters in her own right. Her empathy and compassion make her stand out in a family that is prone to only seeing their own problems to the exclusion of everything else happening around them.
Kate’s brief appearances in Bridgerton Season 3 highlight how essential she remains to this series. In her new role as Viscountess, she has new leadership experience that makes her someone her family can rely on for wisdom and advice. She can be the leader the Bridgertons need in Season 4 and beyond as she continues as a Viscountess. Kate has shown herself to be someone who brings people together. This can serve the story well as new characters get introduced. Anyone joining the series will need someone to guide them, and Kate would be perfect for this.
Eloise Bridgerton
Played by Claudia Jessie
Although Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is presumably going to be the central figure in an upcoming season, she could be an integral part of the story as Bridgerton looks to its fourth season. Since being introduced, Eloise has been one of Bridgerton’s most dynamic characters. She has made an impact as Penelope’s (Nicola Coughlan) closest friend, and as someone who often stands out in her otherwise mostly traditional family. She has no qualms about challenging the social norms of her day and age, and has always been ahead of her time in many of her views.
As one of the most fun Bridgerton siblings to follow, Eloise doesn’t need to prove she needs more screentime in the upcoming fourth season. While she might be away from the rest of her family, it would make sense to at least spend some time with Eloise as she and Sir Phillip set up their future romance. She could also be part of Marina’s story, and the two could bond over shared views and experiences. This could add depth to both of these characters, and make the conclusion of Marina’s story all the more devastating when it eventually happens.
Benedict Bridgerton
Played by Luke Thompson
Benedict has been one of the most interesting Bridgerton siblings to follow since the beginning. As another sibling who has shown contempt for some of the traditions of the culture, he stands out as he navigates the cultural expectations that he clearly finds confining. His artistic nature also makes him stand out among his siblings as he sees the world through a unique lens. While this temperament could make him insufferable, Thompson makes Benedict a deeply sympathetic character who is easy to love as he tries to find his place in the world.
Although Benedict is going to be the central figure of the upcoming fourth season, it makes sense to be concerned about the amount of screen time he will be given based on what happened with Colin in Bridgerton Season 3. Season 4 is an opportunity to distill everything that makes this character one of the easiest ones to invest in. Benedict’s love story will be easier to invest in if he is given a chance to shine and show why he is one of this family’s most colorful characters. Hopefully, the focus of the upcoming season remains firmly on him so fans can more fully appreciate the romance that will be at the heart of the story.
