Now that Bridgerton‘s third season has officially concluded, fans are experiencing an array of emotions. Many are completely over the moon with how things turned out between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). Some are curious about what will come of Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) while they are away in Scotland. Then there are a handful of devoted audience members who have completely devoured Julia Quinn’s novels and have a slight idea of what is to come with the future seasons.
The producers, writers, and even the cast members are keeping quiet about the specifics of season four, but many fans have a genuine concern about one particular aspect within the next season being a make or break for the success of the entire series. The issue is that characters who have found their happy endings get nudged into the background so that there is more camera time for others to find their perfect matches. However, now that Penelope, who has completely outed herself as Lady Whistledown to all of London, has found her match and started a family, will she also fade into the background? Can the series continue on with its success with Lady Whistledown focusing more on her family and staying off the screen?
Find out why this issue needs to be addressed before details about Bridgerton‘s season four start getting published.
The Problem with How Bridgerton Ends Seasons
Former Lead Couples Fade into the Background
While many TV shows tend to add new characters and new situations as the seasons progress, Bridgerton likes to focus on a completely new lead in each of its seasons. Following Julia Quinn’s novels, it makes sense for each season to highlight a certain Bridgerton as they find their perfect match during the social season, and it is equally important that audiences fall in love with the supporting characters, who may very well be the next lead or love interest, as they deal with their own shenanigans. However, the problem that we have noticed with the second and third seasons is that once a match has been made, the former leads are barely seen.
After Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page) finally got their affairs sorted out and started a family in Season 1, they pretty much faded into the background. Daphne joined her family for brief moments in the second season, but the Duke was nowhere to be found. Then, in Season 3, neither cared to join in on the festivities. The same thing happened to Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). They were hot and heavy as the leading couple in the second season, but they were barely seen in the third season. With Colin and Penelope finding their own happiness in the latest season, fans cannot help but wonder if this same disappearing pattern will continue with them.
Lady Whistledown (Penelope Featherington) Needs to Stick Around
The Gossip Must Go On!
While it would make sense for Colin and Penelope to want to skip out on certain festivities to stay home with their newborn son, Lady Whistledown simply cannot afford to miss out on the town’s latest gossip. Everyone, including Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), now knows that Penelope is the voice behind the scandalous gossip column, and they will probably still expect her to report on the crazy and intriguing things going on during London’s social season.
If Penelope were to take some time away from the lavish parties and social gatherings, maybe her Lady Whistledown pamphlet could speak about the insane and beautiful things that come with motherhood. Some very important individuals may even seek her out to relay their own latest news or the rumors that have been milling about the town. It is a challenging situation for all now that the cat is out of the bag, but with Penelope being a very determined woman to keep her successful career, it truly seems like she is not going to be edged out while others get the spotlight.
Rumors of Bridgerton Season 4 Thus Far
Leading Couples and LGBT+ Potential
The specifics about who will be the leading love interests or what exactly will be featured in Bridgerton‘s fourth season have all been kept a secret thus far, but there is quite a bit of speculation due to Julia Quinn’s novels. Going in order of the Bridgerton children, Anthony, the eldest, has already been married off and is quite pleased with his match, but the second-eldest brother, Benedict (Luke Thompson), has yet to truly discover who he is.
In the third season, Benedict realizes that he is bisexual, so his pool of potential love matches just got a lot bigger. Then we have Colin and Daphne, who have both found their matches and are currently loving being parents. Next on the list is the second-eldest daughter, Eloise, who has seen two social seasons, but she is determined to put herself and her studies ahead of any man. With Eloise joining her sister Francesca, who has been hinted at also having another potential love interest with her new husband’s female cousin, there are a lot of different ways the season can go.
At this time, it seems like Gregory (Will Tilston) and Hyacinth Bridgerton (Florence Hunt) are too young for a proper social season, but since Bridgerton‘s fourth season isn’t supposed to premiere until 2026, maybe we will see them being promenaded around the gardens. Whatever the case may be, it will definitely be full of happiness, laughs, and a touch of drama. We just hope that Lady Whistledown is able to report on it all when she is able to pull herself away from her dashing husband.
