- With only three Bridgerton siblings leading seasons so far, there are five more major storylines to come in the Netflix show.
- Bridgerton season 3 sets up exciting plot points for future seasons, including Francesca’s romance and Eloise’s travels to Scotland.
- There could be some major changes to the source material going forward based by how season 3 ended.
Although Bridgerton season 3 wraps up its main storyline between Colin and Penelope, the newest installment also sets up some exciting plot points for the period drama’s upcoming seasons. Season 3 is based on the fourth of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books, Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Along with following the friends-to-lovers romance between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, the season also sees Francesca’s entrance into society, Benedict’s newfound bond with a charming widow, and Eloise’s unlikely friendship with Cressida Cowper. These and other Bridgerton characters have even more gripping plots already brewing for Bridgerton season 4 and beyond.
Netflix’s Bridgerton is already a major franchise that will only grow in the coming years. Only three of the eight Bridgerton family members have led their own season, which leaves five more siblings, and presumably five more seasons of television to make. Although Netflix has yet to confirm which Bridgerton sibling is going to be at the head of Bridgerton season 4, season 3 has already hinted at what lies in each character’s future. In many ways, the end of Bridgerton season 3 is paving the way for some big stories from the books and major changes from the source material.
One significant storyline laid out at the end of Bridgerton season 3 is Eloise and Francesca’s trip to Scotland. This new plot formed in two ways. First, Bridgerton season 3 saw Francesca form a romance with John Stirling. After bonding over their shared love of quiet, the two decided to get married and move to John’s family home in Scotland.
Francesca declares that she needs space from the chaos of the Bridgerton siblings and family to find herself. At the same time, Eloise realizes that her quest to fit in with the ton was a failure and that she would like to change the world. However, to do this, she needs to see more of the world. Francesca’s trip to Scotland is the perfect opportunity to do so. Therefore, the two leave in Bridgerton season 3’s finale, along with John and his cousin Michaela.
Like Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the franchise could release a second spinoff series to show what Eloise and Francesca did during their year in Scotland.
Like every season before it, Bridgerton season 4 will likely pick up at the start of the next social season. However, it would be a shame if Eloise’s travels to Scotland were brushed over in season 4. Therefore, Bridgerton has the chance to put out its second spinoff series. Like Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the franchise could release a second spinoff series to show what Eloise and Francesca did during their year in Scotland.
This would not only show Eloise’s character development as she steps away from London society but would also offer a glimpse at Francesca’s evolving love story. By doing this, Bridgerton would not have to squeeze Eloise’s travels into a season already packed with the other Bridgertons’ storylines. Though a spinoff has not been confirmed, Bridgerton has certainly set the stage for a new storyline in a completely different place.
Violet’s New Romance
A particularly surprising storyline to come out of Bridgerton season 3 was the love story between Violet Bridgerton and Marcus Anderson. Marcus is Lady Danbury’s younger brother, who is a fresh arrival to Mayfair during this social season. He and Violet first meet outside a ball, wherein Violet drops her gloves, and Marcus kindly picks them up for her. From there, the two continue stealing moments with each other, sharing an obvious chemistry.
By the end of the season, they decide to take the next step in officially courting each other. In many ways, Violet and Marcus’ storyline is one that both stretches into the future and ties up loose ends left in the past. These loose ends mainly have to do with Lady Danbury and the events of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
One of the best parts of Violet and Marcus’ relationship is the way it parallels the affair Lady Danbury had with Violet’s father in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. While it seems that audiences might never see Lady Danbury and Violet discuss the situation, Violet’s newfound romance with Marcus allows the two to finally acknowledge their pasts. Violet gives Agatha her blessing decades after the fact, while Agatha gives Violet her own blessing in the present.
The crown Violet’s father made even makes an appearance. In this way, Violet and Marcus’ love story wraps up a storyline that originated in the Bridgerton spinoff series but is also a plot that can extend into upcoming seasons. Being older than other characters, Violet and Marcus can showcase a different kind of romance Bridgerton has rarely explored before.
The Fall-Out From Whistledown’s Revelation
Among the many storylines present in Bridgerton season 3, one of the most pivotal is Penelope’s Lady Whistledown secret. Though audiences have known Pen was the gossip column writer since the end of season 1, her secret becomes much more important when she enters a relationship with Colin. She realizes she may have to choose between being with the love of her life and being a writer. Luckily though, the end of Bridgerton season 3 sees Penelope fix the situation, and also, do the bravest thing she’s ever done.
In the final episode, Penelope stands in front of the Queen and the entire ton and reveals that she is Lady Whistledown. She apologizes for the harm she has caused and commits herself to being better in the future. While this moment certainly mends Penelope’s identity crisis, it leaves plenty of plot still left to be explored in upcoming Bridgerton installments.
The Lady Whistledown revelation means that a new era is on the horizon for Bridgerton. Penelope is not only writing the column as herself now, but she also hints at a future where her writing could help people rather than hurt them. Viewers already got a sense of this in her issue discrediting Cressida, where she called out a harsh relationship between a lady and her maid among other less glamorous secrets.
In the future, it seems likely that Lady Whistledown will be very different. Rather than throwing barbs at London society, Penelope will probably try to use her column to shed light on important problems within the ton. More importantly, she will give power to other Regency Era women who have never had it before.
Benedict’s New Life?
The second-eldest Bridgerton sibling, Benedict, has always enjoyed things that are unique and low stakes, and Bridgerton season 3 was no different. This season, Benedict meets a beautiful and charming widow named Lady Tilley Arnold. The two quickly form an intimate and covert bond. However, things take an unexpected turn when Tilley introduces her friend Paul into their relationship. For the first time, Benedict openly confronted his sexuality in front of other people.
Fortunately, this situation seems to free him from society’s constraints, but it also leads to Tilly revealing she wants something more serious with Benedict. Yearning for more freedom, Benedict declines the offer, and yet another amorous storyline comes to an end. Interestingly, though, Benedict’s reaction to this upsetting conclusion hints at a coming change that could him from a free spirit to a married man.
A few interesting things occur in and around Benedict and Tilley’s break-up that insinuate a changing future for the former. When Benedict declines Tilley’s advances, he says he does not want to be tied down to one person just yet. He cites their relationship with Paul as having made him eager to explore more. Tilley accepts this but warns Benedict that so much excitement does not always remain exciting.
This idea seems to stick with Benedict because, later, he tells Eloise that he thinks his next life lesson could change him forever. Altogether, these moments signal that Benedict is on the way to a major character development, which is likely going to be spurred on by his love story. In the coming season, Benedict could experience one of his last free and easy storylines before becoming a more serious, grounded person.
