Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell addresses Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) exploration of his sexuality in season 3. Based on Julia Quinn’s Regency romance novel series, the third installment followed the blossoming romance between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), as the former friends fall in love. Alongside the main romance, it also saw Benedict engage in a tryst with widow Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New), opening his worldview on who he can love and what relationships can be.

Brownell opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about Benedict’s exploration of his sexuality, and how it affects his future arc. While Benedict’s past romances and openness laid hints to his sexuality, the showrunner confirmed his pansexuality since his relationship with Tilley and Paul Suarez (Lucas Aurelio) allowed Benedict to explore beyond the limitations of societal expectations that will inspire his future decisions. Check out Brownell’s exploration below:

Benedict’s sexual identity is not a fixed belief for him. In modern terms, he might be described as pansexual, someone for whom gender doesn’t really matter. We’ve talked a lot about Benedict’s fluidity since season one, and I know that it’s something that people picked up on, and it’s something that we wanted to make a stance on and make clear about the character. Because I do think that he’s a character who would naturally be more about connection than he would be about gender. And in a bigger way, I think the threesome, or throuple, storyline for Benedict is about him learning to embrace his true self in the same way that Pen and Colin are embracing their true selves. Benedict has always been an unconventional character who lives a little bit outside of society in terms of his comfort. And so this season, Tilley is really helping him embrace who he really is and is teaching him how to own that and that’s something that will carry forward for Benedict in future seasons.

Bridgerton Season 3 Has Set Up Benedict’s Romantic Themes

Benedict’s Sexuality Is Critical For Him To Continue To Defy Societal Expectations.

Image via Netflix

This deviation from the novel fits Benedict’s arc of openness since his book also tackles those themes to defy societal norms.

Currently, it is difficult to pinpoint who will lead season 4 since several characters are positioned in places that can serve their future arcs. Alongside Benedict, Tilley, and Paul’s three-way relationship, Bridgerton season 3’s ending also saw Francesca (Hannah Dodd) meet Michaela Stirling (Masali Badouza), setting up a queer romance adaptation of When He Was Wicked. Furthermore, Eloise (Claudia) embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Scotland, allowing her to achieve her own romantic development.

Nevertheless, Benedict’s journey and broadening of his mind from Tilley’s influence has not only given the character room to explore his own sexuality but put him on course to tackle themes present in his novel, An Offer From A Gentleman. With his own love interest, Sophie Beckett, his story tackles defying the boundaries of society, as the pair engage in a relationship that exists beyond where one may reside in the societal hierarchy, by birth or circumstance. With Tilley having opened his eyes to look beyond life’s strict rulings, Benedict is set to follow his heart’s desire.

Through Benedict’s exploration of his sexuality, some viewers are sure to relate to his journey of self-discovery and see themselves in how he found himself. This deviation from the novel fits Benedict’s arc of openness since his book also tackles those themes to defy societal norms. Furthermore, with Francesca’s own story being adapted as a queer romance, perhaps the tale of An Offer From A Gentleman may have a similar reimagining once it is brought to the screen in future Bridgerton seasons.