Is Netflix’s Bridgerton already setting up its promised queer romance?

Whereas Bridgerton’s alternate historical past means the present is already way more racially various than different Regency-era romances, the present thus far has nonetheless been very heteronormative and deeply patriarchal, even with Queen Charlotte ruling. If girls can’t even inherit property with out a man or an inheritor, they undoubtedly can’t kiss different girls (and similar goes for dudes).

However new showrunner Jess Brownell instructed Refinery29 Australia that queer major characters will probably be featured within the present’s future seasons.

“I feel this can be a present in regards to the some ways wherein individuals love,” stated Brownell. “So it solely feels proper to indicate all of the methods wherein individuals love, together with queer love. So we’re exploring queer love tales throughout the following couple of seasons,” she added.

Now, Brownell was tight-lipped about simply which characters would have queer romances. However there are some robust contenders — particularly with regards to the Bridgerton household.

It’s clearly Benedict…

Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix

The entire older brothers have had their share of intercourse and debauchery (thanks 1800s-era double requirements!), however Benedict remains to be the one one who has seen a dude get it on with one other dude. Within the first season, he went to a wild occasion hosted by artist Henry Granville, and ultimately discovered about Granville’s clandestine relationship with one other man.

And Benedict (Luke Thompson) is essentially the most artsy-fartsy of the Bridgerton siblings. Being avant-garde and in contact with one’s creative facet is a stereotype that filmmakers and TV writers alike have used to point {that a} male character is queer for many years.

Whereas the entire brothers aren’t tremendous eager on discovering a match, he’s the one who’s arguably put the least effort in, and proven the least curiosity in, truly courting a girl. Earlier than Anthony met Kate, he was smitten together with his opera singer mistress. And Colin even proposed to Marina Thompson again in season 1. However Benedict’s solely actually been within the sexual a part of relationships. It could possibly be that he’s lacking a sure spark.

This season, he strikes up yet one more sexual relationship with a brand new feminine character. This time, although, Woman Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) is a widow, and described by Deadline as a ”dwelling life on her personal phrases with monetary independence and sexual freedom.” Within the first half of season 3, we definitely see her maintain her personal with the lads of the Ton — however may that sexual freedom imply opening Benedict’s thoughts past heterosexuality?

… except it’s Eloise

Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix

Eloise (Claudia Jessie) has rejected societal conventions from the very first season. She doesn’t need to get married in any respect and would reasonably wax on in regards to the rights of ladies. She and Penelope as soon as bonded over this, again when Eloise was impressed by Woman Whistledown. After all, that bought a wrench thrown into it, however Eloise consistently seeks feminine friendship in a method that we don’t actually see with the opposite feminine characters her age, who’re extra preoccupied with discovering a correct suitor.

Feminine characters who communicate out in opposition to marriage and conventional social norms typically find yourself coded as queer with regards to most films and TV reveals, significantly ones with historic settings. Even when they’re not textually offered as queer, many followers spark to those characters and declare them.

Regardless that she had a little bit of a flirtation with a captivating newspaper boy in season 2, Eloise’s closest relationships outdoors her household are with different girls. This season, we see her develop nearer with Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), which brings a pleasant depth to Cressida’s Imply Lady antics. Each Eloise and Cressida speak in confidence to one another about desirous to reside their very own lives with out being married. And we see them looking for out one another’s firm at occasions, in a method that nearly performs out like a conventional courtship.

When requested about potential queer-coding in Eloise and Cressida’s relationship, Madsen instructed Decider that she’d be stoked if that was the case.

“I completely love that,” she stated. “That will be the very best! Yeah, I imply, that may be cool. I wish to assume it might make sense as a result of, like, she hasn’t bagged a man. So, like, why not a gal?”

Eloise and Benedict share a very particular relationship too, one which makes them very a lot at odds with their extra marriage-focused household. They’re typically seen collectively, making jests on the expense of the women and gents of the Ton. They’re each the second-eldest son/daughter, each have a ardour for one thing apart from being a wealthy individual. Whereas a number of the different Bridgerton siblings weren’t too eager on the thought of marriage within the first place (like Anthony and Francesca), Eloise and Benedict extra brazenly reject the establishment of marriage.

… Or Brimsley’s lover returns

Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix

Now there is an current fully-fleshed out and fantastically poignant queer love story within the Bridgerton universe — however you’d have to observe the Queen Charlotte miniseries to expertise it. Because it seems, the Queen’s butler Brimsley is in a protracted relationship with the King’s butler Reynolds. We noticed the complete extent of that relationship within the prequel, however we haven’t seen Reynolds within the modern-day. He may be lifeless, but additionally we simply haven’t seen quite a lot of King George in any respect, so perhaps Reynolds is solely attending to his boss and we’ll see the homosexual butlers reunited!

… or it’s only a fully totally different character!

Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix

There’s, in fact, the robust probability that the queer Bridgerton love story doesn’t belong to one of many major siblings. In spite of everything, this can be a present with a lot of characters and facet plots. Perhaps it’s a closely featured facet character (sapphic arc for Woman Danbury, maybe?), or perhaps it’s somebody launched solely in an upcoming season to have a background romance.

Hopefully this promised queer love story is given simply as a lot weight because the heterosexual ones. In spite of everything, that is an alternate historical past, the place love conquers all and the showrunners aren’t precisely beholden to historic accuracy.

As Brownell says: “We’ve the privilege of dwelling on this fantasy world which suggests we will push again in opposition to a number of the actuality of what occurred within the 1800s.”