Bridgerton fans are just realising why Eloise looks so different in Season 4

It's taken Netflix viewers no time at all to rattle through the first four episodes of the brand-new season of Bridgerton.

Part one hit the streamer last week (29 January) with the final four episodes soon to grace our screens at the end of this month (26 February).

The spacing has given Bridgerton fans all the time in the world to take to social media and natter on about their thoughts on the latest instalment of the 'Ton, with some upset over missing characters, some perplexed over 'AI slop' comparisons, and others up in arms over an LGBTQ+ character marrying a woman.

And there's a whole lot of discourse online about why Eloise, the fifth child of the prestigious Bridgerton family, looks so different in season four, with many reckoning it's all to do with setting the character up for a 'glow-up' in a later season - a trope we've seen play out a number of times on the Netflix show.

Eloise, played by Claudia Jessie, has a pretty important role in this season so far, as we see Benedict Bridgerton fall for a maid known only as the Lady in Silver at the masquerade ball.

With the reluctant help of his younger sister, Benedict begins to set out in society to uncover the young lady’s hidden identity, who we later know as Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), who works for the formidable Lady of the house, Araminta Gun (Katie Leung, known for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films).

Taking to Reddit, one fan shared their thoughts under a post titled 'Eloise’s makeup in Season 4'.

They began: "Just wanted to start a thread about this. You can tell they are trying to mute her down for her self-imposed on the shelf look.

"Also - another hint towards Eloise being season 5 - this is their way of glowing down (instead of up) before her next season, which we will see here at her most confident (maybe not right away), but they will change her hair and have more makeup that highlights her beautiful eyes.

Bridgerton fans have rushed online to share their theories over Eloise's makeup in the latest season (Netflix)

"This season, they have given her what they want to seem is a natural muted look. Any other observations from makeup and clothes thus far in part 1?"

It didn't take long for fellow period drama lovers to rush in and share their thoughts with a second Redditor theorising: "I think the reason why Eloise’s appearance seems muted this season when compared to the other characters is not only just because they’re planning her glow up next season, but also because a large point of her character this season is to not be noticed by society (ie. avoiding suitors).

Claudia Jessie stars as Eloise Bridgerton in the hit period drama (Netflix)

"I think it mainly illustrates her pulling away from society or not conforming to societal expectations for young women of nobility. Not feeling the need to get 'done up to the nines' to possibly attract someone or make herself seem eligible. But that’s my interpretation, would love to hear y’all’s thoughts!"

And a final person agreed: "Yes, I wholeheartedly agree!"

What do you make of it?

Bridgerton is currently available to stream on Netflix.