7 Things Bridgerton Still Needs To Do For Eloise’s Book Story

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the Bridgerton books.

Summary

• Eloise must still do some soul-searching before she’s ready to find love, and that starts with her travels in Scotland and pursuits to change the world in
  Bridgerton.
• Eloise has to return to London before embarking on her love journey.
• Marina and Phillip Crane must return in order to tell Eloise’s story fully.

Eloise’s book story could be coming very soon in Bridgerton, but the Netflix television show still needs several more developments before it can be told. The historical romance series, created by Chris Van Dusen, is based on Julia Quinn’s book series of the same name, which chronicles the love lives of the Bridgerton family. Led by their mother Violet, the eight Bridgerton siblings come of age and seek love (some more willing to find a life partner than others). Every season of Bridgerton follows one of the eight characters, just as each installment in the novel series depicts one love story.

The first three Bridgerton seasons covered Daphne’s torrid love affair with Simon Basset, Anthony’s tumultuous romance with Kate Sharma, and the slow-burn relationship between Colin and Penelope Featherington. So, the only characters remaining who have yet to have their tales told on the screen are Benedict, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, and Gregory. Hyacinth and Gregory’s respective romances will undoubtedly be saved for the final two seasons (if Netflix keeps renewing the show) as they are still very young. So, Bridgerton season 4 will likely follow Benedict, Eloise, or Francesca. However, Bridgerton hasn’t laid all the groundwork for Eloise’s book story yet.

7 Eloise Undergoes Personal Development

Claudia Jessie’s Character Still Has A Lot Of Self-Exploration To Do In Bridgerton

Eloise, played by Claudia Jessie, still has much growing to do before embarking on her romantic journey from the Bridgerton books. When the Netflix historical romance series first premiered, the second-oldest Bridgerton sister was only 17 years old, and after a few years, Eloise is still trying to find her place in the world. It seemed like Eloise was on the right path when she experienced a lot of self-discovery during season 2 as she befriended Theo Sharpe and began attending events regarding women’s rights. However, all that progress came crashing down once Lady Whistledown exposed Eloise’s scandalous political pursuits.

Bridgerton
showrunner Jess Brownell predicts that season 4 will premiere two years after season 3’s release.

Eloise tried to assimilate into society during Bridgerton season 3 after learning Penelope’s Lady Whistledown secret. She befriended Cressida Cowper and attended various balls. However, it’s always been clear that Eloise is unlike any other lady in the ton. So, by the end of Bridgerton season 3, Eloise decided she needed to get away from London to explore the world (or, at least, a different country) and find herself in the process. Unless season 4 has a time jump, the upcoming episodes must continue Eloise’s personal growth journey, and Eloise must come to terms with who she is before finding love.

6 Eloise Must Move Back To London After Bridgerton Season 3’s Ending

Eloise Moved With Francesca & John Stirling To Scotland

One of the most important things that needs to happen before Eloise’s love story can unfold in Bridgerton is for her to return to London. Eloise decided to join Francesca, her new husband John Stirling, and John’s cousin Michaela Stirling on their move to Scotland, where John’s family estate resides. As mentioned above, Eloise must still do some soul-searching before she’s ready to find love, and that starts with her travels in Scotland and pursuits to change the world. However, once Eloise finds what she’s looking for, she has to come home to London.

If Bridgerton season 4 is Benedict’s story, it might begin with Eloise still in Scotland. However, if it focuses on Eloise and adapts her book, To Sir Phillip, With Love (the fifth novel in Julia Quinn’s series), the upcoming episodes could start with a time jump to get Eloise back to London faster. Whatever the case, Eloise must move back home before the Netflix series throws itself fully into her romantic journey.

5 Eloise Changes Her Mind On Romance

Eloise Has Been Firmly Against Marriage Since Bridgerton Season 1

Out of all the members of the Bridgerton family, Eloise is the one most adverse to romance. Since the Netflix historical romance show’s first season, Eloise has always been the most stubborn of all the Bridgerton siblings and has been opposed to finding love. Eloise was even more against the concept after she made her debut to society in season 2. She had no interest in courting anyone, and as of the Bridgerton season 3 finale, that hasn’t changed.

[Eloise and Theo’s] falling out towards the end of the second season might have made Eloise stray even further from the idea of romance.

The closest Eloise has ever gotten to being open to love is during her friendship with Theo Sharpe in Bridgerton season 2. However, their falling out towards the end of the second season might have made Eloise stray even further from the idea of romance. Nevertheless, Eloise needs to change her mind on love and finding a life partner in order for her love story in the Bridgerton books to work in the Netflix television series.

4 Marina Needs To Return

Marina’s Death Serves As The Catalyst For Eloise’s Love Story

As those who have read the Bridgerton books know, Marina Crane (née Thompson), played by Ruby Barker in the series, is an integral part of Eloise’s love story. Marina was last seen in Bridgerton season 2 when Colin visited her and her new husband, Phillip Crane. Marina and Phillip’s marriage is one of convenience and perceived necessity since Marina was pregnant with Phillip’s dead brother’s twins, Oliver and Amanda. The two don’t actually love one another, but it seemingly works for them. While Marina wasn’t in Bridgerton season 3, she must return to the show for Eloise’s sake.

Ruby Barker is unlikely to reprise her role as Marina in future seasons of
Bridgerton
after publicly calling out the show and Netflix for not supporting her after she suffered from two psychotic breaks.

In Julia Quinn’s book series, Marina falls into a deep depression. One day, Phillip sees her venturing into a lake and drags her out before she can drown herself. While Marina survives, she catches a fever that kills her a few days later. Marina’s story in the Bridgerton novels is tragic from beginning to end. However, her death serves as the catalyst for Eloise and Phillip’s romance, meaning that Marina has to come back to Netflix’s Bridgerton for Eloise’s story.

3 Give Bridgerton Viewers An Update On Phillip Crane

Phillip Is Eloise’s Main Love Interest

Phillip Crane, currently married to Marina, is Eloise’s central love interest in the Bridgerton books, and their story unravels during the fifth novel, To Sir Phillip, With Love. Eloise connects with Phillip after Marina’s death, and their romance takes off from there. But Phillip has been a rather small character in the Netflix historical romance show so far, with his last appearance coming in season 2. Phillip’s scenes are always brief, and it’s quite easy to forget that he exists. Consequently, the upcoming Bridgerton episodes have to remind viewers that Phillip exists to sell his and Eloise’s future relationship.

2 Eloise & Phillip Start Exchanging Letters

Eloise & Phillip’s Correspondence Is The Start Of Their Relationship

Eloise and Phillip first come in contact with one another in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series when she writes him a letter of condolence after Marina’s death. Eloise is Marina’s cousin in the novels, meaning it makes sense why she writes to him. However, Netflix’s Bridgerton changed this book detail in season 1 when the producers made Marina a cousin of the Featheringtons instead. So, if the writers of the historical romance series still want to follow Eloise’s book story, they’ll have to find a better explanation as to why she and Phillip begin exchanging letters.

The
Bridgerton
writers must (at the very least) tease Eloise and Phillip’s relationship before her season comes around so as not to make their love story seem so sudden.

Regardless, Eloise must start writing to Phillip to lay the groundwork for their future romance in Bridgerton. After season 3’s conclusion, the two have yet to come in contact with one another, and casual viewers likely have no idea that Eloise and Phillip are supposed to end up together. As a result, the Bridgerton writers must (at the very least) tease Eloise and Phillip’s relationship before her season comes around so as not to make their love story seem so sudden.

1 Eloise Needs Closure In Her Relationship With Theo After Bridgerton Season 2

Theo Was Eloise’s First Love Interest

Some are still holding out hope that the Bridgerton writers will completely ignore the Eloise and Phillip connection from the books in favor of bringing Theo Sharpe back as Eloise’s main love interest in future episodes. However, even if Eloise and Phillip are destined to be together in the show just like in the books, Theo still needs to return so that Eloise can finally have closure in their relationship. Eloise and Theo’s friendship ended rather abruptly during Bridgerton season 2’s ending. They haven’t seen one another ever since.

Eloise wanted to protect Theo after Penelope (falsely) informed her that people were discussing their meetings. Since Eloise comes from the upper class and Theo is a part of the lower class, their rendezvous could have been regarded as scandalous. But Theo assumed that Eloise desired to end their connection to protect herself, and the last time Eloise saw Theo, he was upset with her and she was heartbroken. Eloise and Theo’s relationship never got proper closure, and before she can dive into her love story from the Bridgerton books, she must reconcile with Theo.