Just when we thought we had “Bridgerton” all figured out - the grand balls, the stolen glances, the longing looks across crowded rooms - Season 3 threw us a delicious curveball: Benedict Bridgerton, resident artist and heartthrob, dabbling in a steamy threesome with Lady Tilley and her oh-so-suave companion, Paul.

“Finally!” exclaimed every LGBTQ+ viewer who'd ever yearned for a taste of representation in the ton’s otherwise heteronormative world.

Season 4: Will Benedict's "Fluidity" Flow Freely?

But with Season 4 looming and whispers of Benedict’s “Cinderella” storyline (borrowed from Julia Quinn’s “An Offer From a Gentleman”) swirling, fans are torn. Will Benedict’s exploration of his sexuality continue, or will he be relegated to the sidelines of heteronormative romance once Sophie, the mysterious Lady in Silver, makes her grand entrance?

Showrunner Jess Brownell has offered some tantalizing hints, stating that Benedict's Season 3 dalliance is “not the end” of his journey. She even went so far as to use the word “fluidity,” music to the ears of viewers who crave a more nuanced and inclusive portrayal of sexuality.

The "Sophie Dilemma": Can a Queer Character Find Love with a Woman?

Here’s the rub: Benedict’s book-based romance with Sophie is a cornerstone of his character arc in the novels.

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