If Bridgerton decides to follow along with the book series, it has already set up seasons 4 and 5 far better than it has season 3. Netflix's hit Regency-era romance series has so far kept in line with author Julia Quinn's books, with each following a different Bridgerton sibling as they embark on their own love story. Fresh off the enemies-to-lovers tale of eldest child Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), Bridgerton promises to tell a vastly different love story for season 3. However, if the series keeps along with tradition, it is in a difficult place.
The next book in Quinn's series is An Offer From a Gentleman, a Cinderella-esque tale that revolves around second son Benedict (played by Luke Thompson). While at a masquerade ball, Benedict becomes entranced with a mystery woman who, unbeknownst to him, has been relegated to a servant's position in her own household by her stepmother. This woman is Sophie Beckett, who sneaks into the ball to give herself one fairytale night. Bridgerton season 3 might very well follow this story, thus giving Benedict his time in the spotlight and introducing Sophie as the series' newest prominent love interest.
However, Benedict's Bridgerton story is at a disadvantage, and that is because the subsequent seasons are already far more developed. Again assuming the series will follow Quinn's lead, Bridgerton season 4 will properly explore the relationship between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), whereas season 5 will be all about Eloise (Claudia Jessie). These stories are not supposed to come for some time, yet they are actually better suited to arrive before Benedict's. Bridgerton has more setup for Eloise's tale and Penelope's infatuation with Colin than it has with Benedict.
So far, Benedict's time on Bridgerton has been defined by his artistic pursuits and the freedom he feels at being the second son. His storylines are often separate from the main action, whereas Eloise and Penelope are much more central. Bridgerton season 2 finds Eloise continuing her search for Lady Whistledown while falling for a print shop employee (Calam Lynch's Theo Sharpe), practically making her a secondary lead to Anthony. Penelope gets plenty of attention due to her role as the aforementioned gossip columnist. Penelope and Colin have several scenes together that establish their relationship; the Bridgerton season 2 finale even pushes it into a very interesting place when Penelope overhears Colin scoff at the idea of ever being with her romantically.
This isn't to say that Benedict isn't capable of leading his own Bridgerton season, or even that season 3 will be a disappointment compared to what has come before. Producer Shonda Rhimes hinted the series might not actually follow the books, so Bridgerton season 3 could be about someone else entirely. Until the next lead is revealed, though, it can be assumed that Benedict will be taking center stage, and the simple fact is that he hasn't been given as much time to shine as Eloise, Colin, and Penelope. Bridgerton season 3 story could be the perfect opportunity to give more depth to his yearning creative soul, even if it isn't solely about him. Beyond his dreams of being an artist, it isn't entirely clear what kind of person he is, so hopefully Bridgerton will find a way to deepen Benedict's character going forward. That way, his season can be just as fulfilling as the previous ones have been.