Spoiler Warning: Bridgerton Season 2Bridgertonseason 2 gave us Viscount Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) love story, introducing audiences to Kathani “Kate” Sharma (Simone Ashley) and her sister Edwina (Charithra Chandran). ThoughEdwina didn’t get her happily ever after, Kate and Anthony did have alove story that carried season 2with how phenomenal their chemistry was. However, theirs wasn’t the only chemistry hinted at in the most recent season ofShonda Rhimes’show.
Eloise (Claudia Jessie) seems to hit it off with Theo (Calam Lynch), a printer’s apprentice, but it isn’t clear where that relationship will go after what Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) wrote about Eloise. She was told by Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) that servants were gossiping about her and Theo, but after the fallout they had in the season’s last episode, it’s likely Eloise will assume Penelope was lying. Benedict seemed to hit it off with a model from his art school, but with the decision he made at the end of the season, there’s no certainty in the direction of that relationship.
There is also the matter of Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope. Fans of the show know it is very clear Penelope has a romantic interest in Colin and has for some time, but Colin has always seemed to look at her as a close friend. Per the books, the two do have a romantic relationship, but it doesn’t happen until the fourth book of the series. So far, the show has gone in book order, with season 1 covering Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hasting’s (Regé-Jean Page) story and season 2 following Anthony. If the series continues this way, season 3 should be about Benedict, the second-oldest Bridgerton. However, the show should first deviate and skip ahead to cover Penelope and Colin’s story.
Season 2 Hints
Colin returns from his journey abroad during the second episode of the season. Of course, Penelope is over at the Bridgerton home visiting Eloise when he returns, and the look on his face when he sees Penelope says that traveling helped Colin withsomething, but we aren’t sure with what.In theBridgertonbooks, Penelope recommends to Anthony that Colin should travel before finding a wife. This leads to him being away, and when he comes back, he and Penelope eventually marry. With Colin having already traveled in the television series, that’s one event checked off the list of Penelope and Colin’s love story.
Season 1 hinted at Anthony being the next Bridgerton to be married off. His mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell), continually encourages him to participate more in the social season rather than just deter Daphne’s suitors. In the final episode, when Daphne asks what his plans are, Anthony responds, “Nothing of note. Other than finding and promptly declaring my intentions to my new viscountess, of course.” This is his last quote of the season. It implies that he has intentions to marry the next social season and that season 2 would be about him, and it was.
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There is a similar line in the last episode of season 2 that has caught fans' attention. After dancing with Penelope at the Featherington Ball, Colin was speaking with a group of gentlemen that asked if he was planning to court Penelope. He responds, “Are you mad? I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington.” Penelope overhears this. She’s already hurting from her fight with Eloise, so this is a kick while she’s down. While she knew Colin would never feel for her the same she felt for him, she had never heard it verbalized, and certainly not in such a way.
However, this line is important because in Colin and Penelope’s book,Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Colin tells the other Bridgerton men that “[he is] certainly not going to marry Penelope Featherington!”. This is the line that causes Penelope to suggest his travel abroad. The sentiment behind this line is similar to what he says in the show, and many fans have taken this as a sign that the showrunners are planning to go out of book order for season 3.
No Hate, Benedict
The third book in theBridgertonseries,An Offer From A Gentleman, follows Benedict’s love story as he falls for and marries a woman named Sophie Beckett. The show has not introduced audiences to Sophie yet, just Tessa, one of Benedict’s relationships before Sophie.Sophie and Benedict’s story is reminiscent ofCinderellaand ultimately gives them both a happy ending together.
Season 2 of the series ends with Benedict at a crossroads. He has quit art school after finding out Anthony gave the school a large donation to ensure Benedict’s acceptance, and he doesn’t know where to go from there. While he isn’t the only character at a crossroads, he is the one that seems most unsure of where to go from there. Penelope begins writing again, Eloise will probably bury herself in books and literature, but what will Benedict do?
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Based on the character the show has developed, it seems like it would come out of left field for season 3 to be about him finding a wife. If Benedict had stayed and finished art school, it would be understandable that his character had reached that point in his life. However, making season 3 about Benedict and his love story after leaving him in such a place feels like it’s ignoring his character’s trajectory and not allowing him to really explore who he is as a person before settling down.
With the show already confirmed for seasons 3 and 4, it is likely we will get Penelope and Colin’s story regardless. However, it would be in the show’s best interest to give audiences their story next, giving themselves more time to develop Benedict’s character before sharing his love story.
