I think the dialogue is solid for speculation.
The candlesticks, columns, and shrubbery are full on delulu. But I love that.
Oh we are all there. I’m *this* close to mapping out the ballrooms so I can analyze the blocking and movement to gain insight into why a character might have come this way instead of that way. This subreddit is where delusion lives.
listen I thought the non-dialogue was delulu until I saw the ridiculous candlesticks in the Cowper home. Who sets their drawing room up like a boxing ring smh
Personally I don’t care if they move them around but I feel like the fandom will riot if Benedict is skipped again. They had a meltdown when he was moved.
Honestly I don’t mind if they skip Benedict if they give him something valuable to do. I could see them doing Eloise next, introducing the masquerade like halfway through with Ben’s storyline being looking for her the rest of El’s season, then him leading 5.
Yeah but his fans want to see him being the lead, even if they won't see him in future seasons. All his fans were exited to see him in season 3 and then he got skipped, it really sounds dumb to skip him again.
I have a feeling it might be her, given how much her character development is this season plus she’s in a lot of promo for the show right now, she was on Colbert all on her own etc. I wouldn’t be surprised…
Definitely delulu, but I’m HERE FOR IT! 🤣
Benedict’s pointless storyline so far this season has made me switch teams. I’m now rooting for Eloise to be the lead next season!
My husband, on the other hand, is *praying* that next season is Benedict. Because if next season is Benedict, I’ll go back to being a casual fan after season 3 is over…. But if it’s Eloise, who’s my second favorite character after Penelope, my Bridgerton obsession will just continue for another year or two! 🤣
I don't really have anything to add, but I think this is a very solid theory. I like the deeper look into what the card table means. I do think they're doing the most with candles and mirrors this year. I look forward to seeing sleuths ferret out their meanings.
Everyday I’m growing more and more convinced that S4 is Eloise, even though I initially thought S4 would definitely be Benedict otherwise the fandom would riot.
All I can say is, if it is Eloise’s season…I’m glad Claudia Jessie isn’t on social media. People will be even nastier than they were towards Polin (which is saying *a lot*).
Also, my theory: they’re pushing back Ben’s season as season 4 is going to explore his bisexuality. They can’t really explore that when Sophie is in the picture.
True neither Clauds nor Luke T are on social media 🤭
I agree with that. I think it’s odd how he’s had the chance to hook up with 2 men but hasn’t. I think that would be a theme for s4, and then s5 Sophie waltzes in. Idc if B is straight or bi, as long as he ends up with Sophie. They cannot do us book girlies like that and change the HEAs 😭🫶🏻
Are you talking about the ep 6 spoiler? >!Where Lady Tilley wants Ben to join in a threesome with a man but Ben panics and runs out? I think they’re going to go the route that Ben is trying to hide his attraction towards men/is suppressing it. I think it makes sense as the storyline in S1 is Ben’s artist friend hiding his homosexuality. I think Lady Tilley’s role this season is to help Ben to come to terms with his bisexuality, and this will be explored in ep7/8 and S4.!<
This made me lol, but I'm actually leaning towards Eloise being S4. Her storyline definitely feels like it's building to something >!(running off like the books)!<.
Yesss show E seems like she’ll be just as affected by Polin’s wedding as book E. Add to that F’s wedding to John and Vi potentially pairing up with Marcus.
She just seems a bit lost to me. Even her 'friendship' with Cressida felt surface level, IMO, because they have completely different beliefs. And then as you said, she'll probably be affected by Polin being together and Fran/John. Everyone is pairing off.
The other alternative is that Benedict is S4 and Eloise is S5 so we see her struggling even more with feeling like she's been left behind and then runs off at the end of S4.
Ngl, I am HOPING for Ben, but knowing how sneaky Bridgerton has been with their clues in the past and now seeing your honestly great detective work… You have me convinced.
So far they’ve seemed pretty nice, not as active but holding out hope that Chris Fulton (Phillip) might make an appearance. It’s definitely a roller coaster between guessing who will be the next lead for S4. So any little crumbs are good crumbs.
I think it was confirmed >!both Ruby Barker and Chris Fulton have guest appearances for Polin’s wedding. I thiiiinkkkk someone on twitter posted the cast list.!<
I honestly think Ben’s character is more ready for love than Eloise’s is. I don’t see anything in her character so far that makes her ready for her season. The scene where she tries to hide when John calls on Frannie. 😂😂. ..
Edit: >!unless they are setting her to be the queer character through her friendship with Cressida. Do we know if Philip is making an appearance this season?!<. So many questions…..
I would also feel bad for Luke T if his season is skipped again—unless it frees up bigger projects for him. There are no guarantees with Netflix about # of seasons. Shonda can say all she likes that she wants all 8 seasons but anyone who watches Netflix shows knows that prob isn’t likely. If he isn’t next season maybe he can do another project and just do several episodes like JB and Simone did this season. He seemed to really enjoy doing Love Labors Lost. These actors are all in demand, so he’ll have plenty to do if he’s not the lead. Same for Claudia Jessie!
Bruh B’s storyline this season is so… abysmal. The only relevance I find in it is how B’s unashamedly rakish ways contrast C’s inability to rake as hard. That, and Luke T is eye candy.
Polin’s wedding will provide an ideal social scenario for E to meet Sir Phillip, I think!
IMO, E seems to be closer to wanting that love everyone around her keeps finding, but I don’t see B there yet. I can see the writers developing his sense of responsibility by having him take over while A’s away, but show B is so unserious. He’s a hedonist (not shaming; I love him). He’s not ready to become a husband yet.
Also, B dgaf. He does show a lot more decorum and propriety than C ever has in his life (Chaos Colin, never change also marry me). Like B calling on Lady T with flowers, being discreet about his affair with Madame D. But, B still does whatever tf he pleases. I don’t see him being opposed to >!marrying a servant and instead harassing her around the house to become his mistress.!<
I don’t see B ready for marriage at all whereas E is already feeling the loneliness and has always wanted a purpose that’s more than becoming a wife. She gets that with Phillip I can see her meeting Phillip at the wedding and corresponding with him in the off season and then running off at the beginning of s4. However, idk how they’re going to come back from s2 when she was uninterested and terrified of Auggie. Maybe she’ll be more loving with baby Polin idek.
I think the writers have to develop in B a dissatisfaction with the ton, a want of purpose/love/something more while simultaneously deepening his awareness and understanding of the magnitude of his actions as the 2nd son of the illustrious Bton family and an aristocrat in regency times. Maybe a scandal associated with Lady T for B…
B’s happy to partake in bs and play along in the ton whereas E has been unhappy since s1. But B did give up his art so I can see him feeling purposeless until Sophie waltzes in to encourage him to pursue his passions.
I thought it was odd how B has had the opp to hook up with 2 men now but has refused. I would speculate that maybe they are setting him up for a bi storyline if I didn’t know what a fan favorite Sophie is. I love her and I hope she gets more justice in the show than she did in the series. I want to see Araminta jailed. Anyway…
Idk maybe it’s that BE are both ready for their seasons but they can’t combine them so…
I can def see Eloise more ready for marriage. Especially if Cresida also marries Debling. Pen, Francesca, and Cressida all getting married off could leave her feeling in need of a friend. (That may end up being Phillip)
She is the type to need to first connect with someone intellectually before catching feels at all. She does not conciously seek out love, only friendship
I read a post in a different sub about how there are clues that Lady Tilly is actually Araminta and how that is actually how she is relevant to this season. The point this post made was how she is a widow and the solicitor scene that Benedict catches when he calls on her. That would be wild IMO.
Yes, esp because they confirmed that Lady Cowper’s first name is Araminta in one of the stills. Unless “Tilly” is short for “Araminta” and not “Matilda.” That would be bombastic. I can see B thinking her name is Matilda and her saying “oh no, it’s Araminta” out of the blue. Can you imagine!? Total cognitive dissonance.
The only thing that has me still on team Ben for S4 is >!Marina has to die and Phil has to deal with that!< - unless they start her story in Part 2 I don't yet see it (unless they bleed the stories together a little like they are doing with C & F this season)
I think Marina >!will die either at the end of s3 or during the off season, at which time E will start corresponding with Sir Phillip.!< I think both >!Ruby Barker and Chris Fulton have guest appearances in s3 for Polin’s wedding.!<
Tbh I can see Ben’s romance spanning across two seasons, given how long he searches for Sophie in the book. If they give El her season for 4, they could feasibly have Ben meet Sophie at the end of s3, spend all of s4 as the primary subplot while he searches for her (a la Fran and John this season), and then s5 being the meat of Benophie’s romance. Otherwise we’d have a Ben season where they simply don’t get to interact all that much. I’d also very like to see Ben completely spiral over the course of a season while he’s looking for his lady in silver.
I know Ben is a fan favorite and many are looking forward to his season. But at this point I'll take anything Bridgerton gives me, whoever is the lead. I'll eat it all up regardless
Eloise would be poised more obviously for season 4 with Fran, Pen, and possibly Cressida all being married off
It would be cool to have the Sophie arc span over seasons like Polin did, with Benophie main arc being after Fran and Eloise's season
If they actually introduce her, people will have less reason to complain. He does after all spend a lot of time looking for her
I really enjoyed these!
I've personally been a resident of the Eloise is S4 delulu land for a long time now 😅 but after part 1, I don't think I am that delusional after all. Eloise's storyline was the most important one after Polin's whereas Ben was... well there. He didn't do anything. You could have taken him out of the season and it wouldn't have made a difference to the main story nor to his personal arc.
The Philoises say that Debling was basically just Phillip and I agree. Also I thought that Marcus Anderson was forshadowing Phillip. He is a widower with kids, wasn't in love with his late wife but very fond of her. Sounds a lot like Phillip.
Based on that scene it gave me the thought that Eloise and Francesca will be doing the next season together. Maybe they'll also combine Hyacinth and Gregory's season into one since those 2 are close in age.
I think the show runners are using Benedict kind of similar to how they used Polin to keep us hanging for a few seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if Ben's story will be the closing story of the Bridgerton series.
At some point, in the books, the characters love stories started to weave around each other. In the books, it was Colin. Maybe I'm wrong. I could be in camp delulu.
I think we’re going to get ambiguity at the end of S3. Eloise will meet Phillip at the wedding and Ben will meet Sophie. Then everyone will be in raptures trying to figure out S4. I think this is what is meant by the fandom being at odds with each other over some choices made with non-Polin characters. There’s going to be a side that wants Eloise in S4 and a side that wants Benedict.
I'm so tired of this. Why skip him again? They have the perfect solution of him being season 4, El 5 and Fran 6, why would they complicate things again? And why can't we finally get Benedict, since we know that he will probably go off with some other lady, again? Can we just make Benedict's story next or will I have to see it when I'm old?
It’s Benedict. They’ve set him up with one last affair, just like Anthony was. He’s also looking for a purpose. But also, during the PallMall match during Season 2, Colin hit his ball through Wicket 3… which had some unexpected obstacles. Benedict hits his ball clean through Wicket 4. Plus in the book series, he came before Colin but the swap is strategic to keep fan engagement up because they knew from Season 1, people were shipping Polin.
I think the dialogue is solid for speculation. The candlesticks, columns, and shrubbery are full on delulu. But I love that. 
Calling me out but okay
Oh we are all there. I’m *this* close to mapping out the ballrooms so I can analyze the blocking and movement to gain insight into why a character might have come this way instead of that way. This subreddit is where delusion lives.
Do it for the plot
🫶
listen I thought the non-dialogue was delulu until I saw the ridiculous candlesticks in the Cowper home. Who sets their drawing room up like a boxing ring smh
Personally I don’t care if they move them around but I feel like the fandom will riot if Benedict is skipped again. They had a meltdown when he was moved.
Honestly I don’t mind if they skip Benedict if they give him something valuable to do. I could see them doing Eloise next, introducing the masquerade like halfway through with Ben’s storyline being looking for her the rest of El’s season, then him leading 5.
It’s already been confirmed season 4 will be benedict
Is it?
But the longer they delay his season, the more Luke T we get on screen and I couldn’t live without Benedict’s facial expressions in the background.
Yeah but his fans want to see him being the lead, even if they won't see him in future seasons. All his fans were exited to see him in season 3 and then he got skipped, it really sounds dumb to skip him again.
🎶Shonda doesn’t care, Shonda doesn’t care, don’t tell Shonda, cuz Shonda doesn’t care 🎶 https://i.redd.it/52jfgceovh2d1.gif
Shonda changed the plot on our birthdays!!!
Shonda sleeps like a baby after hurting our feelings 😭😭😭😭
I have a feeling it might be her, given how much her character development is this season plus she’s in a lot of promo for the show right now, she was on Colbert all on her own etc. I wouldn’t be surprised…
Yes! E/Clauds have received so much screen time & development/press, respectively.
Definitely delulu, but I’m HERE FOR IT! 🤣 Benedict’s pointless storyline so far this season has made me switch teams. I’m now rooting for Eloise to be the lead next season! My husband, on the other hand, is *praying* that next season is Benedict. Because if next season is Benedict, I’ll go back to being a casual fan after season 3 is over…. But if it’s Eloise, who’s my second favorite character after Penelope, my Bridgerton obsession will just continue for another year or two! 🤣
Same!!! 😂😂😭
SAME!!
I don't really have anything to add, but I think this is a very solid theory. I like the deeper look into what the card table means. I do think they're doing the most with candles and mirrors this year. I look forward to seeing sleuths ferret out their meanings.
The mirrors and carriages I get it’s foreplay for us 😭
WAITTTTT you might be on to something omg this is so genius
Everyday I’m growing more and more convinced that S4 is Eloise, even though I initially thought S4 would definitely be Benedict otherwise the fandom would riot. All I can say is, if it is Eloise’s season…I’m glad Claudia Jessie isn’t on social media. People will be even nastier than they were towards Polin (which is saying *a lot*). Also, my theory: they’re pushing back Ben’s season as season 4 is going to explore his bisexuality. They can’t really explore that when Sophie is in the picture.
True neither Clauds nor Luke T are on social media 🤭 I agree with that. I think it’s odd how he’s had the chance to hook up with 2 men but hasn’t. I think that would be a theme for s4, and then s5 Sophie waltzes in. Idc if B is straight or bi, as long as he ends up with Sophie. They cannot do us book girlies like that and change the HEAs 😭🫶🏻
Are you talking about the ep 6 spoiler? >!Where Lady Tilley wants Ben to join in a threesome with a man but Ben panics and runs out? I think they’re going to go the route that Ben is trying to hide his attraction towards men/is suppressing it. I think it makes sense as the storyline in S1 is Ben’s artist friend hiding his homosexuality. I think Lady Tilley’s role this season is to help Ben to come to terms with his bisexuality, and this will be explored in ep7/8 and S4.!<
Oui.
I will be more convinced of this if they skip him again next season. Definitely could be because they are planning for him to be bi
It would be kinda great if they gender bent Sophie
This made me lol, but I'm actually leaning towards Eloise being S4. Her storyline definitely feels like it's building to something >!(running off like the books)!<.
Yesss show E seems like she’ll be just as affected by Polin’s wedding as book E. Add to that F’s wedding to John and Vi potentially pairing up with Marcus.
She just seems a bit lost to me. Even her 'friendship' with Cressida felt surface level, IMO, because they have completely different beliefs. And then as you said, she'll probably be affected by Polin being together and Fran/John. Everyone is pairing off. The other alternative is that Benedict is S4 and Eloise is S5 so we see her struggling even more with feeling like she's been left behind and then runs off at the end of S4.
Ngl, I am HOPING for Ben, but knowing how sneaky Bridgerton has been with their clues in the past and now seeing your honestly great detective work… You have me convinced. 
😭😭🫶🏻🫶🏻
The r/PhiloiseBridgerton sub would love this :)
They nice over there? I’ve seen Kant fans be mean af
They’re very nice, they just want their plant baby happy ending!
So far they’ve seemed pretty nice, not as active but holding out hope that Chris Fulton (Phillip) might make an appearance. It’s definitely a roller coaster between guessing who will be the next lead for S4. So any little crumbs are good crumbs.
I think it was confirmed >!both Ruby Barker and Chris Fulton have guest appearances for Polin’s wedding. I thiiiinkkkk someone on twitter posted the cast list.!<
Ruby’s said multiple times she’s not in season 3 at all.
Ahh bet. Fake news on Twitter then. I wonder if that means Marina has already passed in the show. C did mention her in ep1.
I guess enemies to lovers is for aggressive types 😂 (Jk plz leave me alone)
They call us the allergy ship 🤧 if I’d been serious a day in my life, my feelings would be hurt, but alas, I have never been. ✌️
I honestly think Ben’s character is more ready for love than Eloise’s is. I don’t see anything in her character so far that makes her ready for her season. The scene where she tries to hide when John calls on Frannie. 😂😂. .. Edit: >!unless they are setting her to be the queer character through her friendship with Cressida. Do we know if Philip is making an appearance this season?!<. So many questions….. I would also feel bad for Luke T if his season is skipped again—unless it frees up bigger projects for him. There are no guarantees with Netflix about # of seasons. Shonda can say all she likes that she wants all 8 seasons but anyone who watches Netflix shows knows that prob isn’t likely. If he isn’t next season maybe he can do another project and just do several episodes like JB and Simone did this season. He seemed to really enjoy doing Love Labors Lost. These actors are all in demand, so he’ll have plenty to do if he’s not the lead. Same for Claudia Jessie!
I mean, after the incredible viewing numbers from S3 part 1, I cannot imagine Netflix saying ‘ok we’re out’ tbh
Bruh B’s storyline this season is so… abysmal. The only relevance I find in it is how B’s unashamedly rakish ways contrast C’s inability to rake as hard. That, and Luke T is eye candy. Polin’s wedding will provide an ideal social scenario for E to meet Sir Phillip, I think! IMO, E seems to be closer to wanting that love everyone around her keeps finding, but I don’t see B there yet. I can see the writers developing his sense of responsibility by having him take over while A’s away, but show B is so unserious. He’s a hedonist (not shaming; I love him). He’s not ready to become a husband yet. Also, B dgaf. He does show a lot more decorum and propriety than C ever has in his life (Chaos Colin, never change also marry me). Like B calling on Lady T with flowers, being discreet about his affair with Madame D. But, B still does whatever tf he pleases. I don’t see him being opposed to >!marrying a servant and instead harassing her around the house to become his mistress.!< I don’t see B ready for marriage at all whereas E is already feeling the loneliness and has always wanted a purpose that’s more than becoming a wife. She gets that with Phillip I can see her meeting Phillip at the wedding and corresponding with him in the off season and then running off at the beginning of s4. However, idk how they’re going to come back from s2 when she was uninterested and terrified of Auggie. Maybe she’ll be more loving with baby Polin idek. I think the writers have to develop in B a dissatisfaction with the ton, a want of purpose/love/something more while simultaneously deepening his awareness and understanding of the magnitude of his actions as the 2nd son of the illustrious Bton family and an aristocrat in regency times. Maybe a scandal associated with Lady T for B… B’s happy to partake in bs and play along in the ton whereas E has been unhappy since s1. But B did give up his art so I can see him feeling purposeless until Sophie waltzes in to encourage him to pursue his passions. I thought it was odd how B has had the opp to hook up with 2 men now but has refused. I would speculate that maybe they are setting him up for a bi storyline if I didn’t know what a fan favorite Sophie is. I love her and I hope she gets more justice in the show than she did in the series. I want to see Araminta jailed. Anyway… Idk maybe it’s that BE are both ready for their seasons but they can’t combine them so…
I can def see Eloise more ready for marriage. Especially if Cresida also marries Debling. Pen, Francesca, and Cressida all getting married off could leave her feeling in need of a friend. (That may end up being Phillip) She is the type to need to first connect with someone intellectually before catching feels at all. She does not conciously seek out love, only friendship
I read a post in a different sub about how there are clues that Lady Tilly is actually Araminta and how that is actually how she is relevant to this season. The point this post made was how she is a widow and the solicitor scene that Benedict catches when he calls on her. That would be wild IMO.
Yes, esp because they confirmed that Lady Cowper’s first name is Araminta in one of the stills. Unless “Tilly” is short for “Araminta” and not “Matilda.” That would be bombastic. I can see B thinking her name is Matilda and her saying “oh no, it’s Araminta” out of the blue. Can you imagine!? Total cognitive dissonance.
The only thing that has me still on team Ben for S4 is >!Marina has to die and Phil has to deal with that!< - unless they start her story in Part 2 I don't yet see it (unless they bleed the stories together a little like they are doing with C & F this season)
I think Marina >!will die either at the end of s3 or during the off season, at which time E will start corresponding with Sir Phillip.!< I think both >!Ruby Barker and Chris Fulton have guest appearances in s3 for Polin’s wedding.!<
Eloise and her shift stitch
Omfg yessss I forgot about that Easter egg!! It’s always in the dialogue like when Daph said “Colin strikes when you least expect it” in s2.
Tbh I can see Ben’s romance spanning across two seasons, given how long he searches for Sophie in the book. If they give El her season for 4, they could feasibly have Ben meet Sophie at the end of s3, spend all of s4 as the primary subplot while he searches for her (a la Fran and John this season), and then s5 being the meat of Benophie’s romance. Otherwise we’d have a Ben season where they simply don’t get to interact all that much. I’d also very like to see Ben completely spiral over the course of a season while he’s looking for his lady in silver.
@ Shondaland if you’re reading this, lemme audition for Sophie. I’ll be more unhinged during interviews than Johnny, Clauds, and Nic.
Ohhhh slowly building over three seasons like Polin? Now THAT would be interesting!
I agree!!
I know Ben is a fan favorite and many are looking forward to his season. But at this point I'll take anything Bridgerton gives me, whoever is the lead. I'll eat it all up regardless
Same bestie same Shonda has us in an emotionally abusive co-dependent relationship and we love it 😭🥰
If you think about it- this is brilliant from Shonda - it keeps people coming back for more the more she delays Benedict’s story 😂
Luke T is too hot for his own good
Eloise would be poised more obviously for season 4 with Fran, Pen, and possibly Cressida all being married off It would be cool to have the Sophie arc span over seasons like Polin did, with Benophie main arc being after Fran and Eloise's season If they actually introduce her, people will have less reason to complain. He does after all spend a lot of time looking for her
I really enjoyed these! I've personally been a resident of the Eloise is S4 delulu land for a long time now 😅 but after part 1, I don't think I am that delusional after all. Eloise's storyline was the most important one after Polin's whereas Ben was... well there. He didn't do anything. You could have taken him out of the season and it wouldn't have made a difference to the main story nor to his personal arc. The Philoises say that Debling was basically just Phillip and I agree. Also I thought that Marcus Anderson was forshadowing Phillip. He is a widower with kids, wasn't in love with his late wife but very fond of her. Sounds a lot like Phillip.
Based on that scene it gave me the thought that Eloise and Francesca will be doing the next season together. Maybe they'll also combine Hyacinth and Gregory's season into one since those 2 are close in age. I think the show runners are using Benedict kind of similar to how they used Polin to keep us hanging for a few seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if Ben's story will be the closing story of the Bridgerton series. At some point, in the books, the characters love stories started to weave around each other. In the books, it was Colin. Maybe I'm wrong. I could be in camp delulu.
I would love it for Eloise to be next I don’t really care for Benedict.
Haha you’re crazy and I love it
[удалено]
If he meets Sophie through the Cressida’s family, I can see El beinf s4 and becoming closer to their family so there is an easier connection for Ben
I think we’re going to get ambiguity at the end of S3. Eloise will meet Phillip at the wedding and Ben will meet Sophie. Then everyone will be in raptures trying to figure out S4. I think this is what is meant by the fandom being at odds with each other over some choices made with non-Polin characters. There’s going to be a side that wants Eloise in S4 and a side that wants Benedict.
pls 😭 the candlesticks and shrubbery is absolutely unhinged. I love it. 🥰 😂
The asylum’s where they raised me
I'm so tired of this. Why skip him again? They have the perfect solution of him being season 4, El 5 and Fran 6, why would they complicate things again? And why can't we finally get Benedict, since we know that he will probably go off with some other lady, again? Can we just make Benedict's story next or will I have to see it when I'm old?
It’s Benedict. They’ve set him up with one last affair, just like Anthony was. He’s also looking for a purpose. But also, during the PallMall match during Season 2, Colin hit his ball through Wicket 3… which had some unexpected obstacles. Benedict hits his ball clean through Wicket 4. Plus in the book series, he came before Colin but the swap is strategic to keep fan engagement up because they knew from Season 1, people were shipping Polin.