Bridgerton’s unexpected coming-out scene was surprisingly perfect, and paves way for future seasons

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Bridgerton season 4 part 2 spoilers follow.

Benedict Bridgerton is now married to Sophie, following a season of him clearly pining after her. Whenever a character who is attracted to more than one gender ends up in a relationship that appears straight, it often sparks debate – and we’ve seen that happen online since the first part of the season was released.

Just because Benedict ends up with Sophie doesn’t change the fact that he’s queer. His past relationships weren’t simply a temporary part of his life, and they still matter in making him who he is.

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Thankfully, Bridgerton addressed the criticism surrounding Benedict and Sophie’s storyline in the latter half of their season, delivering a brief but impactful moment that resonated with many viewers. When Benedict and Sophie finally shared their feelings, they expressed a deep desire to truly know each other.

Considering they were impulsively running away to the countryside together, they actually didn’t know much about each other beyond their names.

Benedict explained to his partner that he often talked about rejecting tradition, pausing thoughtfully as he did so. It was a moment anyone in a similar situation would recognize – the hesitation before revealing your true self to someone you care about.

Benedict went on to say that society shouldn’t control how people live their lives, or who they choose to love. He explained that he was capable of loving and caring for this person just as deeply as he had loved women from high society, or the men he’d been close to. He firmly stated he had no regrets about his feelings or past relationships.

Seeing a character come out in Bridgerton was surprising enough, but the fact that it was handled without shame felt truly groundbreaking. Many viewers didn’t expect to see such a moment, which made it all the more powerful. It wasn’t about fitting into a storyline or moving the plot forward; it simply affirmed Benedict’s identity and cemented his place as a queer character.

Sophie considered his words and then happily accepted Benedict completely, realizing that loving someone is something to celebrate.

Beyond the story of Sophie and Benedict navigating social expectations – he’s rich and she’s a servant – their isolation and need to hide suggests a deeper meaning. Their rejection by the community and retreat to the countryside can be interpreted as symbolic of something more than just class differences.

Michaela Stirling is joining the show and is expected to add a new and important perspective to its portrayal of LGBTQ+ stories, based on her role in the original source material.

Francesca is telling her sister-in-law about the upcoming drama – her brother, Benedict, has fallen in love with someone who works at their house. She assures her that the entire Bridgerton family fully supports their relationship with Sophie.

Michaela’s ears perked up at that. “Your family is really surprising,” she said, sounding much warmer now that she’d heard how accepting they were. “Love doesn’t always look the way you think it will,” she added.

The conversation between Benedict and Sophie – about a love without rules or expectations – finds a parallel in the connection shared by Francesca and Michaela.

This development sets the stage for a lesbian romance to become a central focus in future seasons of Bridgerton. Michaela has discussed feeling like an outsider, and her strong bond with her late cousin John provided a haven for her in a world that often doesn’t understand – a feeling many people with close-knit, non-traditional families can understand.

Her firm refusal to meet any suitable bachelors made her feelings perfectly clear.

Michaela seems to understand her feelings, even though she’s currently avoiding acknowledging her connection with Francesca after their recent closeness. However, Francesca, who is recently widowed, is just beginning to explore her own path, and we’re excited to see where it leads.

The show has already hinted at Francesca’s struggles with societal expectations around relationships, particularly in season four, where it was clear she felt unfulfilled despite loving her husband. Her connection with Michaela suggests she might finally find the deep satisfaction she’s been looking for.

It took some time, but Bridgerton has now demonstrated that its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters is meaningful and not just for show. We’re excited to see how this develops in future seasons.

Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.

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2026-02-26 19:51