The new Bridgerton showrunner promised queer romances in future seasons. Could it be Benedict, Eloise, or another character entirely?
While Bridgerton’s alternate history means the show is already much more racially diverse than other Regency-era romances, the show so far has still been very heteronormative and deeply patriarchal, even with Queen Charlotte ruling. If women can’t even inherit property without a man or an heir, they definitely can’t kiss other women (and same goes for dudes).
But new showrunner Jess Brownell told Refinery29 Australia that queer main characters will be featured in the show’s future seasons.
“I think this is a show about the many ways in which people love,” said Brownell. “So it only feels right to show all the ways in which people love, including queer love. So we are exploring queer love stories across the next couple of seasons,” she added.
Now, Brownell was tight-lipped about just which characters would have queer romances. But there are some strong contenders — especially when it comes to the Bridgerton family. It’s obviously Benedict…
All of the older brothers have had their share of sex and debauchery (thanks 1800s-era double standards!), but Benedict is still the only one who has seen a dude get it on with another dude. In the first season, he went to a wild party hosted by artist Henry Granville, and eventually learned about Granville’s clandestine relationship with another man.
And Benedict (Luke Thompson) is the most artsy-fartsy of the Bridgerton siblings. Being avant-garde and in touch with one’s artistic side is a stereotype that filmmakers and TV writers alike have used to indicate that a male character is queer for decades.
While all of the brothers aren’t super keen on finding a match, he’s the one who’s arguably put the least effort in, and shown the least interest in, actually courting a woman. Before Anthony met Kate, he was smitten with his opera singer mistress. And Colin even proposed to Marina Thompson back in season 1. But Benedict’s only really been interested in the sexual part of relationships.
