After throwing a full tantrum that I had to wait a whole-ass month for the Bridgerton S3 finale, I now get why they waited until June to drop part two. It’s Pride month, and the gay yearning was absolutely worth the wait. Series showrunner Jess Brownell told Pride that she wanted to incorporate more LGBTQ+ storylines in the show — and she finally delivered. I mean, the show is quite literally built around the theme of sexual discovery. Is it too much to ask for a queer character or two?!
While everyone and their mom is reeling from that mirror scene, I’m more interested in the potential queer sex scenes to come (no pun intended). I’ve made it my life’s work to find all of television’s queerest moments, so I donned my detective hat to determine if Bridgerton season 3 is finally giving us the queer representation we’ve been salivating for… or is it just queerbaiting, yet again (🙃). So, is Benedict bi? Does Francesca’s love story turn queer? Are the Eloise/ Cressida sapphic romance rumors true?! Here are the answers to these gay af questions.
*WARNING: Major spoilers ahead*
Does Any Gay Stuff Happen In Bridgerton Season 3 Part 2?
Is Francesca Queer? Who Is Michaela Stirling?!
While she’s not the diamond of the season, Francesca is dubbed the “sparkler” by the Queen at the beginning of season 3, which guarantees her access to the most suitable bachelors in the land (whether she wants them or not). Early in the season, fans were speculating if Francesca is asexual or aromantic. Despite her initial disinterest in finding a match, we watch Francesca fall for the quiet earl John Stirling.
francesca bridgerton created gay panic #bridgerton pic.twitter.com/k2kySHjRqG
— mel ʕ•̮͡•ʔ (@hcsiequake) June 13, 2024
In Bridgerton S3, part two, we’re introduced to John’s cousin. (SPOILER: In the book, Francesca ends up with the cousin after some pretty sad shit happens to John). But the show decided on a gender swap! Gotta love, Shonda Rhimes, always keeping us on our toes. Originally Michael Stirling in the books, we’re introduced to Michaela Stirling in Netflix’s Bridgerton. Francesca and Michaela share some very gay eye contact, followed by some gay panic, which may be a hint that Francesca’s romance moving forward will take a queer turn.
Do Eloise And Cressida Get Together?
I’ve been shipping Eloise/Cressida since episode 1 of season 3 — and I’n not alone. The “Cressida Eloise Ship” tag has over 23 million views on TikTok. Everyone is asking: Is a Cressida and Eloise sapphic romance possible?! Sadly — despite the two giving Brittany-Santana vibes (Glee girlies, rise up!) — this relationship is strictly platonic.
So, who does Eloise end up with in the show? If we’re going by the books, Eloise ends up marrying Sir Phillip Crane (he was briefly in the end of season 1). But if Francesca’s storyline is any indication, we can assume Shonda doesn’t exactly play by the rules. My hope is that Eloise can live peacefully as the “spinster” she’s always wanted to be.
Is Benedict Queer? What’s Up With That MMF Threesome Scene?
The question we’ve been asking since season 1: Is Benedict queer? The man clearly knows his way around sex parties, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to his sexual identity. In a 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict, gave us a pretty “queerbait-ey” answer. “Benedict has such a lovely openness and fluidity about him generally, and that’s really, really fun to play because it could go anywhere… There’s lots of space for him to explore all sorts of things.” Like, go off, Regency king, give us nothing.
Thankfully, season 3 is giving us a bit more to work with. In part 1, Benedict starts hooking up with the widow Lady Tilley Arnold, a sexually confident bad bitch who isn’t “looking for a new husband.” In episode 6, she introduces Bene Boy to her other hookup, Paul Suarez. If you’re picking up on Challengers vibes, you’re not wrong. The three enjoy a classic MMF threesome before Lady Tilley decides she wants to lock him down. But Benedict isn’t ready to let go of his freak flag yet
“What happened between the three of us, what happened since I met you, had made me realize how good it feels to be free,” he says. And if that isn’t sexual freedom, I don’t know what is.
Who in ‘Bridgerton’ Is Actually Queer IRL?
Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte)
Golda Rosheuvel is an out and proud lesbian. In an interview with Variety, Rosheuvel made it clear her partner, playwright Shireen Mul, is a major influence on their career. “My partner always says, ‘The mere fact that you’re on the screen. The mere fact that you’re in ‘Bridgerton’ as a Black, biracial, cis-gender lesbian playing the first Black queen of England. The fact that you’re there is immense.’” Go off, queen! (Quite literally.)
Jessica Madsen (Cressida Cowper)
In a recent Instagram post, Jessica Madsen made it clear that she’s “in love with a woman” and is “loud about it and proud about it! 🌈” This wasn’t the first time she was vocal about being a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. According to People, Madsen shared a similar post last Pride writing, “Bisexuals are not ‘confused'” and “bi af.” In the caption, she wrote: “Bi the way…. Happy Pride month 🌈❤️.”
Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton)
I think everyone fell in love with Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in season 2… or at the very least discovered a brat kink. Unfortunately for us girlies, he’s only for the boys. Jonathan revealed to The Evening Standard in December 2023 that he’s dating a “lovely man.” Happy for him, I guess!
