Which Bridgerton sibling will season 4 be about?

Bridgerton fans have been eagerly awaiting the show's third season, the first half of which has now landed on Netflix, but there was one thing that was noticeable: the series skipped over sibling Benedict in favour of Colin.

Luke Thompson's Benedict is the character whose book was next in line to be adapted, but the series chose to wait to tell his story and instead adapt the novel featuring Luke Newton's Colin and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). While fans are delighted they get to see Colin and Penelope's romance blossom, there was some concern over when Benedict would get his chance to shine.

Read more: What you need to know about Bridgerton season 3

So it may be equally concerning that Season 3 suggests that the focus of the next season is not so clear cut. Here's why, but be warned that there are some spoilers for season 3 part 1 in this article.

Who will Bridgerton season 4 be about?

Season 4 of Bridgerton should logically be about Benedict, given he was not chosen as the lead for the third season. His story is told in Julia Quinn's third novel An Offer From a Gentleman, which follows his first encounter and romance with Sophie Beckett — the daughter of a noble who fell from grace when she was forced to become a servant by her step-mother.

In the novel, Benedict has been a part of the marriage mart for years, and is much happier enjoying life as a bachelor and avoiding the prying mamas hoping he take notice of their daughters. But when he meets Sophie at a masquerade ball he is immediately smitten with her, and hopes to find her after she leaves him at midnight with only a glove to remember her by.

If you think this sounds familiar to a certain fairytale you're not wrong, there are a lot of similarities between Quinn's novel and Cinderella. That said, the Netflix series may well make some changes to the story so that it's not exactly the same —as has been tradition with the series thus far.

The show's iteration of Benedict is certainly getting closer to his book counterpart in terms of maturity and sentiment, but while a lot of fans expect him to be next in line to have his romance told there is an argument to be had that it might not be his time yet.

Why, you ask? That's because of his sister Francesca (Hannah Dodd). Series three sees Francesca step into the spotlight, with her character making her debut into society and starting to be courted by various suitors. Francesca isn't too happy about it, but there is one person who catches her eye: John Stirling (Victor Alli).

Read more: Who is Hannah Dodd? Meet Bridgerton’s new Francesca in season 3

The pair bond over their mutual introverted nature, and the reason their meeting is important is because it relates to Francesca's book When He Was Wicked. In the novel, Francesca's love interest is Michael Stirling who first meets and falls in love with her when she is engaged to his cousin — could this be John? Almost certainly, so perhaps the show is setting up her story already.

The pivot towards Francesca does suggest that she will become the focus of the show soon, but it would certainly be a controversial choice given Benedict and Eloise's romances have not yet to been told. There is also the possibility that Benedict could be passed over in favour of Eloise, but the character's disinterest in society life makes this seem unlikely.

In order to avoid uproar from fans it makes sense for Netflix to return to Benedict and tell his romance next. The character is ready to step up to the plate, so while Francesca is being prepped to have her time in the spotlight it feels only right for her brother to go first.

If the writers don't then it will be difficult to predict how the series will keep Benedict occupied, his role as the fun older brother in season 3 may be amusing but his dalliances with other women can only keep him feeling relevant for so long.

The good news is that Netflix are likely to tell fans who the focus of Bridgerton season four is ahead of time, like it did when it confirmed Colin and Penelope would be the focus of the third season. Fans will no doubt know more once season 3 part 2 has been released.

Bridgerton season 3 Part 1 is out now on Netflix, Part 2 will be released on Thursday, 13 June.