Bridgerton showrunner talks approaching Benedict’s “beautiful” queer storyline

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Throughout the first few seasons of Bridgerton, viewers have gotten to know Benedict (Luke Thompson) as the artistic and independent brother who always does things his own way.

Last season, the show delved into Benedict’s developing relationship with Paul Suarez, and this season he finds himself falling in love with the housemaid, Sophie.

It’s sweet to see Benedict so in love, but it’s easy to forget he used to need his mother to wake him up and remind him of his responsibilities to his family and society.

The latest Bridgerton episodes offer a touching glimpse into Benedict’s perspective on sexuality and societal expectations. This is a significant moment for both the show’s LGBTQ+ viewers and creator Jess Brownell.

There’s this incredible moment with Benedict and Sophie where he just lays it all out there. He basically tells Sophie that society has no right to tell anyone how to live or who to love. He confesses he’s capable of loving her just as deeply as he’s loved women and men in the past, and he’s absolutely unashamed of that. It’s a really powerful and brave thing to say, especially given the time period and the expectations surrounding him. It really struck me how honest and vulnerable he was.

Sophie paused, gathering her thoughts, then smiled at Benedict. “Love is something to always be proud of,” she said. “The world could really use more of it.”

Benedict visibly relaxed at the news, taking a deep breath before admitting his feelings for Sophie. He confessed his love was stronger than anything he’d ever experienced.

In an exclusive interview with TopMob, Brownell explained the importance of accurately portraying a specific experience. They shared that for many queer people attracted to multiple genders, their identity remains queer regardless of their partner. It’s a core part of who they are.

True love for Benedict and Sophie means complete honesty and acceptance – being loved for exactly who they are, flaws and all. Anything less, where either of them feels they have to hide something or aren’t fully accepted, wouldn’t be the happy ending we’re hoping for.

She explained that Benedict’s understanding of Sophie’s past created a mutual acceptance between them. He didn’t let it change how he felt, and loved and accepted her for who she was. She felt this was a really touching moment where they truly saw, understood, and accepted each other.

While Benedict wasn’t the main character in season 3, the show delved into his romantic life, showing his connections with both Lady Tilley Arnold and Paul.

I was so struck by what the creator, Thompson, said about how his character explored his sexuality in the later episodes of season 3. He described it as a really curious and open-minded journey, and what I loved most was the lack of inner turmoil. It was so refreshing to see a character simply explore that part of himself without any of the usual anxiety about identity. It felt really genuine and positive.

He explained that, using today’s terms, the concept is closest to pansexuality – being attracted to someone’s personality and inner qualities, not their gender. While that’s a fitting label, what’s interesting about how it’s being understood now is a growing acceptance of not needing a label at all.

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Okay, so if you’re like me and totally obsessed with Bridgerton, you’ll be happy to know all four seasons are currently streaming on Netflix. And if you want to dive even deeper into the world, you can grab the original Bridgerton book series over on Amazon. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Don’t miss Bridgerton! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-02-27 12:36