10 Wildest Bridgerton Season 3 Theories That Could Actually Happen

Warning! Spoilers about Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books are ahead.

Bridgerton season 3 is one of the most anticipated TV releases, which is why there are a lot of ideas about how Colin and Penelope’s on-screen romance will be different from its book counterpart and which characters will be given more spotlight. Since season 3 is based on Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton, instead of An Offer from a Gentleman, certain timelines, most notably Benedict and Sophie’s, will have to be altered to fit in with the narrative of the show. Still, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing — if the Bridgerton creators play their cards right, season 3 might turn out to be the best chapter yet.

Bridgerton season 3’s release date is kept under wraps, but the key plotlines left unsolved in season 2 and the book canon allow for plenty of creative theories about what might unravel. From the Featheringtons’ financial troubles to Lady Whistledown’s impending reveal, there are quite a few things that will need to be addressed in the upcoming season 3, although some are more likely to be given screen time than others. What’s more, not all theories are exactly desirable as potential storylines for Bridgerton season 3 because some of them involve beloved characters departing from the show well before their time.

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10 Queen Charlotte Dies

There is a time jump in Bridgerton season 3

Bridgerton season 3 is likely to follow the novel’s timeline and feature a 10-year-long time jump, which is necessary for both Penelope and Colin to grow up and become worthy of each other. In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the majority of the story takes place in 1824, even though there are flashbacks that go as far back as 1812. The real-life Queen Charlotte died at 74 years old in 1818, so she might be killed off in season 3 for this exact reason. Queen Charlotte is an original character who has been in the spotlight across two shows, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has already given her story closure.

9 Penelope Gives Her Earnings To Her Mother

Bridgerton season 3 fixes the Featheringtons’ money problems

The ending of Bridgerton season 2 finale, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” features Lady Featherington taking most of the funds that her partner-in-crime, Baron Featherington, has acquired for herself while sending him off to America. However, the fraud money may not be enough to ensure a comfortable existence for the Featherington family for long, especially since they don’t seem to have any means of making a profit off of it. In her years of writing as Lady Whistledown, Penelope has earned a small fortune, and it won’t be too surprising if she gives some of it to her mother, should the family’s situation take a dire turn in season 3.

8 Benedict Explores His Sexuality

Benedict gets together with a man before meeting Sophie

Since Bridgerton is skipping Benedict and Sophie’s story in season 3, there is an assumption that Benedict might still not be done with his rakish ways. In season 1, one of his more prominent storylines involves Sir Henry Granville, a queer artist whom Benedict befriends at a party. The two even share a few ambiguous, flirtatious conversations, which hint at Benedict possibly being somewhat queer as well. Season 2 has dropped the subject, but season 3 might explore it further, as Sophie is out of the picture for now. Before Benedict is due to settle down, he might have a daring romantic encounter with a man.

7 Eloise & Penelope’s Fight Worsens

Eloise is against Colin & Penelope’s relationship

Bridgerton season 2 sees Eloise and Penelope sever ties after Eloise discovers Penelope’s secret, which is a big change to the book canon, where Eloise is the last to learn that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. The wedge between two ex-friends is likely to be one of the central storylines of season 3, and their fight might go on a lot longer than initially anticipated — after all, Penelope has hurt Eloise and her family, and Eloise might not forgive her lightly. In the upcoming season, Eloise may end up as the main external obstacle to Colin and Penelope’s relationship, and that may provide an interesting change of dynamic in the show.

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6 Bridgerton Season 3 Introduces Another Love Triangle

A mystery man makes Colin jealous & pining for Penelope

Bridgerton doesn’t mind adding love triangles to amp up the drama, even if there are none in the original story, such as the notorious love triangle between Edwina, Anthony, and Kate in season 2. However, a love triangle may provide a fresh angle to Colin and Penelope’s story — that is, if the love triangle has Penelope at the center. Season 3 might introduce a handsome suitor for Penelope who appreciates her for who she is, serving as a catalyst for Colin’s potential jealousy toward Penelope. It wouldn’t be the most original move to propel the story, but it may give way to a few hilarious moments.

5 Colin Is Turned Into A Rake

Colin sleeps around before settling down with Penelope

Another ill-advised but likely plot twist that Bridgerton season 3 might have in store is Colin becoming a rake. The show already has two male characters who have slept their way through all of London before turning into respectable husbands, and doing the same thing to Colin, who isn’t canonically the rakish type, would feel boring and repetitive. Still, the appeal of the twist is obvious — it would provide more spicy scenes, a way to show how much time has passed for the characters, and a motivation for Penelope to move on from Colin and start looking for a husband, as Netflix’s synopsis for Bridgerton season 3 promises.

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4 Eloise & Theo Become Romantically Involved

Marina Crane is spared in Bridgerton season 3

There has been speculation that Bridgerton might drastically change Eloise’s story and not match her with Sir Phillip Crane, ensuring that his wife, Marina, remains alive in the show. In season 2, Eloise meets Theo, a printing shop worker who shares her “radical” ideas of equality, and the two start growing closer. Seeing as Eloise is by far the character who is most different from her book counterpart in the sense that she is not even remotely interested in becoming someone’s wife, it would make sense if Bridgerton followed up on Eloise and Theo’s romantic storyline in season 3, setting up their love story for season 4 or 5.

3 Sophie Beckett Makes Her Entrance

Benedict & Sophie meet at the masquerade ball

If Bridgerton season 3 doesn’t use the decision to skip Benedict’s story for exploring his sexuality, it could surely use it for introducing Sophie Beckett, Benedict’s future wife. In An Offer from a Gentleman, Benedict first meets Sophie at a masquerade ball that Daphne holds, but he doesn’t learn that it is Sophie until much later. The book separates the couple for two long years, and the second time they stumble upon each other is under less cheerful circumstances. Still, the season 3 finale could easily feature Daphne’s ball that Benedict’s mystery woman attends as a way to establish Benedict’s story in season 4.

2 Francesca Grieves Her First Husband

Bridgerton season 3 welcomes Michael Stirling

Again, if Bridgerton season 3 has a time jump, Francesca’s first husband, John Stirling, has to be in the picture and, unfortunately, out of it rather soon. Francesca and John get married in 1818, and John tragically passes away two years later. Season 3 could be set in several time periods or have flashbacks and flashforwards, so Francesca and John’s short-lived romance might get a mention. In addition, Francesca is supposed to marry her second husband, Michael Stirling, in 1824, which is the year Penelope and Colin’s canonical story takes place, so Michael might be introduced in season 3 as well.

1 Lady Whistledown’s Identity Isn’t Revealed

Penelope keeps her secret from the ton for longer

Bridgerton has broken the traditional timeline by moving forward with Colin’s story before Benedict’s, thus creating a problem with Lady Whistledown’s reveal. In Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Colin makes the announcement to the entire ton that Penelope is Whistledown, but it won’t be possible to adapt the scene in season 3 because Whistledown is yet to play a key role in Benedict’s season. In An Offer from a Gentleman, it is through Whistledown’s column that Benedict learns of Sophie’s whereabouts. Bridgerton season 3 might have Colin discover Whistledown’s identity, but it has to remain a secret to the rest of the ton for the future season’s sake.