Though inspired by Julia Quinn's novels, Netflix's Bridgerton shuffles the order of the romances from the source material. This is especially true with Season 3 being Colin Bridgerton's story with Penelope Featherington instead of Benedict's with Sophie Beckett. The season's synopsis, per Netflix, also details that Penelope and Eloise's friendship will hold a significant focus in the upcoming season. While that story is understandable, considering how Bridgerton positions Penelope and Eloise's friendship as a great love story, it could mean that Eloise's romance will take place in the already-confirmed fourth season, bypassing Benedict again.
Unlike Benedict, Bridgerton has already established Eloise's love interest from To Sir Phillip, With Love in its canon -- Phillip Crane. Despite the romance show adjusting its timeline to benefit Colin and Penelope's relationship in Season 3 (like how Colin comes back from his travels during Season 2 instead of years later in the book), there are significant narrative beats that need more time to come to fruition before Eloise's story can take place. The same is true for Francesca after two seasons of limited appearances. So, where does Benedict fit?
Bridgerton's Season 3 Plot Telegraphs the Revised Romantic Timeline
Quinn's anthology books influence Bridgerton to tell a contained love story each season, and its status as an ensemble show creates space for individual stories beyond the characters included in the featured romance. For instance, Season 2 tells Kate and Anthony's love story, yet the biggest cliffhangers are Eloise discovering Lady Whistledown's identity and Penelope overhearing Colin say that he'd never court her. Of course, the Season 2 finale, "The Viscount Who Loved Me," also sets Benedict on an exciting path when he drops out of art school, which builds on how Season 1 sets up Benedict's romance from the books.
That continued effort to prepare Benedict for Bridgerton's version of Quinn's plot from An Offer from a Gentleman poises Benedict as a reasonable choice for Season 3's romantic hero. However, the Polin and Peneloise-related cliffhangers are far more pressing and could add more anticipation to Benedict's story. The already-announced changes to Romancing Mister Bridgerton may mean a masquerade ball in the ton's future, introducing Sophie Beckett in a matter that gives Bridgerton plenty of time to set Benedict up as the lead for Season 4. After all, Benedict's role as Anthony's confidant reaffirms that he knows romance.
Why Bridgerton Will Wait to Tell Benedict's Love Story
Though frustrating, it's understandable that Bridgerton would want to wait to tell Benedict's story. However, Season 2 leaves him vulnerable to tread the same narrative water throughout the third and fourth seasons if Bridgerton delays Benedict as the lead until Season 5 or later. Benedict's arc in An Offer from a Gentleman focuses on his role in his family, his love for art and Sophie. While Bridgerton Season 2 sees him grapple with the first more directly, it leaves Benedict in a spot to fall back in love with art and meet Sophie.
While it's not as propulsive a cliffhanger as the Polin and Peneloise ones, it does make Season 4 the most opportune time to tell Benedict's love story. Introducing Sophie at the beginning of Season 3 could set that in motion, and it can prevent Bridgerton from continuing its pattern of losing its core romantic leads to off-screen happily ever afters so soon after their seasons conclude. The show already faces questions about if Simon Basset should be recast. Now it will have to craft a reason for Daphne's off-screen presence, too.
After saying goodbye to the leads of its debut season, Bridgerton will likely want to hold on to the romances of as many of the Bridgerton brothers' big three (Anthony, Benedict and Colin) for as long as it can since Gregory's story is down the line. It's still unclear how often Kate and Anthony will appear in Season 3 and in the future. It's more likely that Bridgerton will feature Penelope (and, hopefully, Colin) beyond the upcoming season because of Lady Whistledown. With all that excitement and uncertainty, Benedict's story is worth the wait.
Bridgerton is streaming now on Netflix.