The Historical Case for a Gay Bridgerton

It's simple math, really: In a family with eight children, it stands to reason, surely one of them must be queer. Bridgerton has defied other expectations of a Regency-era love story: It is set in an alternate universe where the upper class is fully integrated and race is not an issue. The show's first two seasons focus on interracial romances, and the second season at least obliquely references the history of British colonialism in India. There's one obvious candidate for such a storyline: On the show, Eloise is the most outspoken, most feminist Bridgerton sibling. She is not interested in becoming a debutante, delaying her appearance to pursue another year of studies. She often dismisses marriage, questioning why a husband and children are all that are waiting in store for women.