Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Bridgerton, Netflix, TV And Film
Isobel Pankhurst
Back in the first season of Bridgerton fans were left wondering if the second eldest Bridgerton, Benedict, was perhaps gay or bisexual following what was a seemingly flirtatious relationship with artist Sir Henry Granville.
However, with Henry Granville not appearing in the show's second season, Benedict's possible exploration of his sexuality seemed to vanish with him.
Instead, Benedict focuses his sexual and romantic affections on Tessa, a woman he meets while attending art school.
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Showrunner Chris Van Dusen has cleared up some of this confusion in an interview with TVLine: "I've seen a lot of discussion about Benedict’s sexuality in season one... but the storyline [of Benedict and Henry] was really about tolerance in a really intolerant time, and showing Benedict in that world.
"I love the story in Season 1 and would love to continue it into the future."
The third Bridgerton novel, An Offer From A Gentleman, tells the story of Benedict's Cinderella-like romance with a woman named Sophie. Although, Shonda Rhimes has previously said that the show may not follow the books exactly.
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Van Dusen says fans will “have to wait and see” if Benedict's sexuality is explored in later seasons, adding “it was as conscious choice not to have [his sexuality] be fluid in season two.
"Benedict is very much someone who is trying to figure out where he fits in with this huge family as a second son.”
Van Dusen finishes by adding: “He’s been afforded some privileges because of that, and he doesn’t have to carry on the family mantle. Being the second son allows him more freedom to do the things that he loves as a creative pursuit.”
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Talking to Entertainment Weekly about the possibility of exploring Benedict's sexuality actor Luke Thompson said: "Benedict has such a lovely openness and fluidity about him generally, and that’s really, really fun to play because it could go anywhere."
Luke pointed out that: "We’ll see what happens with Benedict, but we’re only on season two, so there’s lots of space for him to explore all sorts of things."
Continuing the conversation, he added: "As a final note, the only thing I would say is I tend not think in terms of hoping too much because an actor’s job is to fully step inside the character’s shoes. If I had an opinion on that, I would be one foot in and one foot out."
Well whatever the show has in store for the second eldest Bridgerton we'll certainly be there watching it.