Which Bridgerton Sister Will Lead Season Five?
Images via Netflix
Dearest gentle readers, I’ve missed our favorite British family. After an agonizing two-year hiatus, Bridgerton returns to Netflix next Friday. Notorious playboy, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), will lead this season, and we’re beyond thrilled to watch his love story unfold. Call me greedy, but this author is already curious to know what beloved Bridgerton sibling Benedict will pass the torch onto for season five. All signs point to either Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) or Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd). However, we have reason to believe the family’s feminist icon, Eloise, will be the central character of season five. Fret not, dear readers! We have evidence.
Showrunner Jess Brownell teased what fans can expect for seasons five and six of the Regency drama. Nevertheless, she left plenty of room for speculation. At the season four premiere, Brownell wore two pocket squares embroidered with the letters “E” and “F.” You don’t have to be Lady Whistledown to decipher who those characters could be. When asked, she told Deadline that “Both characters with the initials on my pocket squares will get seasons in five and six. In what order? I can’t say.”
Image via Getty Images
While that definitely hints at the possibility of season five covering Francesca’s story, we can’t help but notice how central Jessie has been to publicity for this season. In group photos from the premiere, she is right next to season four’s leads, Yerin Ha and Thompson. Jessie was also asked many times on the carpet if she’s leading the following season, to which she played coy.
One particular cast member’s resurgence at the premiere caught our attention as evidence for Eloise’s story, Footman John (Oli Higginson). Eloise would pair off with John in earlier seasons of the show as she attempted to solve the mystery of Lady Whistledown. Her pairing with John even sparked some fan theories that Eloise’s love interest might differ from the books. While Footman John is a great ally to the young lady, we don’t think writers will change Eloise’s love interest for the show. However, we do believe his sudden reappearance after his absence in season three could point to Eloise’s story ramping up in season four to take full flight in season five.
Image via Liam Daniel/Netflix
In terms of story, Eloise and Benedict are a beloved sibling duo on the show. With Benedict’s love story with Sophie unfolding this year, it’s safe to bet Eloise will be a key player this season, perhaps more so than Francesca. Benedict's season will emulate the classic Cinderella story. Sophie is a housemaid who sneaks into the Bridgerton's Masquerade Ball in disguise and charms Benedict. With her identity a mystery, Benedict is hellbent on finding Sophie after that fateful night. Who loves a good mystery? Eloise Bridgerton. Perhaps Benedict will enlist the help of Eloise to find his true love. While Francesca and her husband, John Stirling (Victor Alli), will definitely be a part of the story, their plot doesn’t seem to overlap with Benedict’s as much as Eloise's always has. Eloise and Benedict even have a promotional video together on Bridgerton’s social media accounts.
At the end of season three, Francesca and Eloise left for Scotland with John Stirling and his cousin, Michaela (Masali Baduza). Fans who have read the book will know that Michaela plays a central role in Francesca’s story. We think this season will explore Francesca’s marriage to John and set up a massive plot point from the books (we’ll spare you the spoilers here!) We think we'll see Francesca at a different point in her life for Eloise’s season, where the writers could lay the groundwork more overtly for her story in season six. The two sisters are very close, so regardless of whose story occurs first, Eloise and Francesca will definitely be there to support one another.
Image via Netflix
Bridgerton’s social media accounts have been posting promotional videos for each character in season four. In her video, Eloise portrays herself as quite content without a partner, but ready to return to Mayfair to see her family. What’s that old saying? The right person will show up when you least expect it. Perhaps Eloise believes it’s her destiny to live a life on the shelf, but this author is confident that her story will come into the light for season five.
Follow us on @reeltalkandreviews on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok to tell us who you think will lead season five of Bridgerton, and be sure to catch part one of Bridgerton season four on Netflix January 29 and part two February 26.
