Bridgerton season 3 has ended on Netflix. Adapted from novels, the series nevertheless made a big change which surprised fans.
The wave of Bridgerton has hit Netflix. Season 3 of the romantic series ended Thursday June 13 with the posting of the last four episodes, concluding the romance between Colin and Penelope. This finale also forged the first links for the romantic stories to come, notably those of Benedict or Francesca. Because if the latter got married, this is not the conclusion of her story, far from it.
About this last character, which Netflix subscribers really discovered at the start of this season of The Bridgertons Chroniclethe showrunners made an important change for the rest of the series. Warning, spoilers: In Julia Quinn’s novels, Francesca is a widow and suffers from the death of her husband, John Stirling. However, she finds love in the arms of her cousin, Michael.
You will have understood this if you watched the last episodes of Bridgerton, the series slowly begins this plot since Francesca has just married Lord Stirling and goes to Scotland with him, with one modification: Michael has become Michaela. John’s cousin, played by Masali Baduza, is introduced in the last minutes of the final episode of this season 3, and she does not seem to leave Francesca indifferent. If several fans were delighted that The Bridgertons Chronicle soon features a queer romance, others have regretted this gender change of a character appreciated by readers of the novels, especially since a plot emerges in the novels on Francesca’s desire for children.
The showrunner, Jess Brownell, explained this twist in the columns of Glamor magazine: “The first time I read the volume dedicated to Francesca, I identified a lot with this story as a queer woman. The book explores the Francesca’s sense of difference, which Julia Quinn initially presents as introversion, but which many in the queer community recognize as an experience of marginality.” While she believes that the fact that Francesca is queer “does not invalidate her bond with John”, she says she saw in this novel “thematic opportunities in her book to tell a queer story. Certain aspects allow us to guarantee a happy ending for Francesca and Michaela. We will now see in the coming seasons how this relationship will take shape, but we will have to be patient before finding out. Season 4 probably won’t be released on Netflix until 2026.
What is certain is that season 4 of Bridgerton will not happen immediately, since showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed that filming the series took 8 months. It’s a safe bet that the sequel will not be released before the end of 2025, or even 2026. Remember that a two-year wait separated the release of each of the seasons of the series.
There also remains a major mystery to be solved: which Bridgerton season 4 will focus on? It’s a mystery still well-kept by the showrunners, even if a few theories excite fans. Logic would indeed dictate that the next season would be that of Benedict (Luke Thompson), since he should logically, if we follow the chronological order of the books, already be at the heart of season 3.
A clue supports this theory, since the interpreter of Colin, Luke Newton, let it be known that season 4 would focus on the second brother of the family in an interview with the Mexican magazine L’Homme at the beginning of June: “c “He’s a free spirit and a rebel in a way,” he said of the character. “I can’t wait to see Benedict’s story next season.” Especially since season 3 ends with a mention that will make Benedict fans jubilant (warning, spoilers): the mention of the masked ball next year, where Benedict is supposed to meet Sophie, the woman of his life, in Julia Quinn’s novels.
Obviously, we still have to wait for confirmation from the showrunners to know with certainty whether Benedict will be at the heart of season 4 or if the masked ball which will change the life of the youngest Bridgerton will take place later in season 4. Others also speculate that Francesca’s turn should not take long, since Daphne and Eloise’s sister has already started a tiny part of her story (warning, spoilers), that of her first marriage to John Stirling, introduced in season 3. Unless Eloise is in the spotlight since her best friend has just gotten married and that is a trigger for her romance in the books? Anyway, season 4 is already being written and we will probably know more soon.
Series sheet
The Bridgerton Chronicles is the adaptation of the novels of the same name, written by Julia Quinn. Each season adapts one of the volumes of this literary saga. The first season is made up of eight episodes, lasting 57 to 72 minutes. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.
Synopsis – Set in 19th century England, under the English Regency, the series follows the Bridgerton family, and more particularly the eight children of Viscountess Lady Violet. Each season focuses on one of the family’s children, and depicts their respective love stories in London’s high society.
- Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton
- Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton
- Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton
- Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton
- Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton
- Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington
- Hannah Dodd (since season 3): Francesca Bridgerton
- Simone Ashley (since season 2): Kate Sharma
- Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton
- Golda Rosheuvel: Queen Charlotte
- Polly Walker as Lady Portia Featherington
- Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury
- Regé-Jean Page (season 1): Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings
- Will Tilston as Gregory Bridgerton
- Florence Hunt: Hyacinth Bridgerton
- Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington
- Harriet Cains as Philippa Featherington
- Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix
- Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper
- Joanna Bobin as Lady Cowper
- Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown (voice)
- Ruby Stokes (season 1 and 2): Francesca Bridgerton
- Rupert Young as Jack (season 2)
- Rupert Evans as Edmund Bridgerton (season 2)
- Calam Lynch as Theo Sharpe (season 2)
- Julian Ovenden as Sir Henry Granville (season 1)
- Ben Miller as Lord Archibald Featherington (season 1)
- Freddie Stroma: Frederick of Prussia (season 1)
- Sabrina Bartlett as Siena Rosso (season 1)
- Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson (season 1 and 2)
- Charithra Chandran (season 2): Edwina Sharma
- Shelley Conn (season 2): Mary Sharma
The first season of Bridgerton focuses on Daphne Bridgerton, the fourth child of Viscountess Lady Violet. Daphne enters the world and meets the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. The latter refuses to marry, despite pressure from his loved ones and his mentor. For her part, Daphne is desperate to find a suitable husband. After many twists and turns, Simon and Daphne manage to put aside their differences and get married to start a family. The finale of the first season revealed that Penelope Featherington was hiding behind Lady Whistledown, this mysterious character who revealed everyone’s secrets. Furthermore, Lord Featherington has been killed and his fortune will go to a man whose identity is currently unknown. But his name doesn’t seem to please Lady Portia. Find the full list of Bridgerton season 1 episodes below:
- Episode 1: A diamond from the first water (58 minutes)
- Episode 2: Shock and Delight (61 minutes)
- Episode 3: The Art of Swooning (57 minutes)
- Episode 4: A Matter of Honor (61 minutes)
- Episode 5: The Duke and I (61 minutes)
- Episode 6: Frou-frou (57 minutes)
- Episode 7: On two shores of an ocean (61 minutes)
- Episode 8: After the rain (72 minutes)
The second season of The Bridgertons Chronicles focuses on the character of Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest of the siblings who makes the firm decision to finally settle down to get married, without considering a loving union. He sets his sights on Edwina Sharma, much to the dismay of his big sister Kate who refuses that she does not marry for love. But quickly, Kate and Anthony become closer, complicating the situation even more, until they give in to their feelings. Below, the complete list of Bridgerton season 2 episodes:
- Episode 1: A scent of debauchery (70 minutes)
- Episode 2: Race day (53 minutes)
- Episode 3: Stung to the quick (68 minutes)
- Episode 4: Victory (58 minutes)
- Episode 5: What if it was written? (58 minutes)
- Episode 6: The choice (68 minutes)
- Episode 7: Harmony (58 minutes)
- Episode 8: The Viscount Who Loved Me (71 minutes)
Regé-Jean Page achieved global success by playing Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in The Bridgerton Chronicles. But the actor announced in April 2021 that he would not appear in the rest of the series. He should therefore be absent from season 2, devoted to the romance between Anthony and Kate. To justify his departure, Regé-Jean Page spoke to Variety about his discussion with production before season 1, who had told him that each season was independent and had a specific plot: “I said to myself, ‘That’s interesting.’ , because it felt like a limited series I can participate, I can contribute, and then the Bridgerton family moves forward. However, the actor is not replaced in the role of Simon during this season 2. His wife, Daphne, appears in this burst of 8 new episodes, and the Duke of Hastings is indeed mentioned a few times . However, she is not in season 3.
The Bridgerton Chronicles has been available on Netflix since December 25, 2020. To watch it in streaming, you simply need to have a subscription to the streaming platform. The entire season 1 and 2 are currently available and viewable on Netflix. Season 3 goes live on May 16 and June 13, 2024.
The universe of The Bridgerton Chronicles is infinitely expandable given the host of characters who appear in the first two seasons. Netflix has already released a spin-off dedicated to Queen Charlotte, Queen Charlotte – A Bridgerton story, May 4, 2023. This spin-off is dedicated to the rise of the Queen, and especially to her love story with King George. Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury are also central to the plot.
Golda Rosheuval, Adjoa Andoh and Ruth Gemmell appear in their respective roles as The Bridgerton Chronicles. The cast is also enriched by the presence of India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte Young), Michelle Fairley (Princess Augusta), Corey Mylchreest (King George Young), Arsema Thomas (Agatha Danbury Young), Sam Clemmett (Brimsley Young), Richard Cunnigham (Lord Bute), Tunji Kasim (Adolphus), Cyril Nri (Lord Danbury).
