Dearest reader, sound the bells and alert the ton, because Brigerton season four is FINALLY here. After two years of yearning, the Netflix gods are giving us what we’ve been begging for. We’re in for another Bridgerton brother glow up, and this time, it’s the second-eldest brother (and popular heartthrob) Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) stepping into the spotlight. So, we’re bound to be blessed with lots of chemistry, electricity, and our favourite… smut.
Now, I’m a diehard Bridgerton fan — probably to the point where it’s a little embarrassing (my friends know how insufferable I become with the release of each season). In the lead up to the latest season, I started pondering over the chaotic eight siblings, and just how dateable they all are. Sure, they’re all incredibly good-looking — and from the spicy scenes, seem pretty damn good in bed — but would I actually want to be courted and spend the rest of my life with them?
So in the spirit of the ton welcoming a new season, and our favourite impossibly-attractive family gracing our screens again, I thought I’d do some very serious and important journalism and rank them all on how dateable/fuckable/likeable they actually are.
My criteria is the following: how likeable each character is,
FYI: I’ve read all the books, so I’m basing my opinions on my knowledge from author Julia Quinn‘s OG series. This way, I can include Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Gregory (Will Tilston), who haven’t had much air time just yet. Please know that when I reference them, I am VERY MUCH REFERRING TO THEM IN ADULTHOOD!!!!
Now the formalities are out of the way, let’s make haste, shall we?
WARNING: Fellow reader, this article contains spoilers for the siblings’ love stories who have not yet had their time to shine in the Netflix series. If you haven’t read the books, or don’t want any potential future series being spoiled, continue on at your own risk.
8. Eloise Bridgerton
Oh Eloise (Claudia Jessie), how I had high hopes for you. They were very quickly crushed and destroyed when her book came around. In the earlier series/books, Eloise seemed like she’d be the sibling who’d go against the grain and defy the norm of settling down for a man. Instead, she didn’t just settle down, but also upheaved her life and ran off to meet and settle for a totally mid man she had never even met?!
I understand the 17-year-old Eloise we knew and love from the earlier seasons had to grow and mature, but I didn’t realise that meant abandoning her morals of independence.
I think that deep down, Eloise feared loneliness, and the prospect of ending up alone as a “spinster” suddenly terrified her once her best friend Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) married Colin (Luke Newton). Her 180 turned her into a shell of her typically-vibrant self, and the man she settled for, Sir Phillip, simply reduced her to a housewife. She abandoned her quirky qualities audiences and readers loved her for, and became, to put it blatantly, quite boring.
If there’s any story I hope Netflix changes, I hope it’s Eloise’s.
7. Daphne Bridgerton
Okay, from here on out, I want to preface the rankings are all veryyyy close. It’s incredibly hard to rank the rest of the siblings, since I loved all their stories so much. But for Daphne (Pheobe Dynevor), whose Netflix season of Bridgerton remains my favourite so far, I think I’m muddling my feelings for her whirlwind romance with her character herself.
If we look at the season/book as a whole, Daphne’s story would be up amongst my top three. However, in terms of dateability, I don’t think I could do it. She is so infuriatingly stubborn at times that I think we’d argue more often than not, and also when I deep it, some of her actions are VERY questionable. Forcing the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) to ~finish~ inside of her when she realised he actually wasn’t infertile, but did not want to become a father?! Soooo out of line. Yes, him lying to her was bad, but that is NOT a justifiable response.
6. Francesca Bridgerton
We’re yet to see how Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) story unfolds on screen, but readers of the series know that Netflix’s writers have already made some tweaks, changing Michael Stirling to Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). So since her story is yet to be shared on screen, I’ll be referring to book Francesca.
This poor diva’s love life is complicated. She’s grieving the loss of her new husband, but slowly realising she’s a sexual deviant… and horny for her late husband’s cousin?! And feeling guilty for all of it.
I think Francesca would be a wild ride. She’s a freak in the sheets (IYKYK), and her romance with Michael in the books is an absolute whirlwind (soon to be Michaela in the Netflix series). She’s compassionate, empathetic, and has a mischievous side that I can’t wait to be explored in her spotlight season. I feel like she’d be the perfect situationship: a sexual awakening that you’re never never truly able to move on from and look back at fondly years down the line, but I don’t think she’s endgame for me.
5. Colin
Colin falls somewhere in the middle for me. He doesn’t wildly stand out, but I am fond of a slow burn friends-to-lovers romance that takes place over the course of years.
As the third brother, Colin flew under the radar before it was his time to shine. And because of this, he lacked a steadfast identity and didn’t really know what his purpose in life was. Travelling, raking around and being the most oblivious person on the planet to his best friend, Penelope Featherington’s, undying love for him was what filled his days for years.
Until he finally realised what was right in front of him.
Both before and after realising he was in love with Penelope, Colin has always been gentle, empathetic and caring. He very much gives off ‘boy next door’ vibes. While his eldest brother Anthony (Johnathon Bailey) leads his life with a sense of duty for caring for his family, and Benedict’s lease on life is a little more rebellious to tradition, Colin leads with kindness. He’s definitely husband material.
His only downfall is being jealous of Penelope having found her purpose of being Lady Whistledown, while he’s clueless as to what he wants to do with his life. However, he realises and acknowledges his jealousy — and we love a self-aware king! When it comes to communication, Colin is one of the stronger siblings.
4. Hyacinth Bridgerton
I know I prefaced this at the start of the article, but please remember I am talking about Hyacinth’s story in the book series, when she is an adult!!!
Hyacinth is WILD. She’s the fun, eccentric, unhinged sibling I pictured Eloise to be… except on steroids. By book seven in Julia Quinn’s series, I expected things to get a little stale, but oh no. Hyacinth said “it’s my time to shine, and I’m not going to disappoint.” And I love her for it.
She’s loud, unapologetically herself, and so far from the traditional ‘lady’ you’d expect to see from the 1800s. She knows she’s different and owns it.
I think Hyacinth would be that fiery, adventurous, bold love you never forget. While some people in the ton think she’s “too much”, her unhinged energy is exactly the kinda vibe that I love. It might not be a lasting romance, but it would be a bloody unforgettable one.
3. Anthony Bridgerton
Anthony Bridgerton is another sibling that was hard for me to separate the story from the character, because oh boy do I love a good enemies-to-lovers. However, once I did separate the sexual tension from the character, he still remained in my top three.
This guy knows who he is and what he was born to do — and how I love a man with direction and purpose.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Anthony is insanely stubborn, even moreso than his sister Daphne. But there’s no doubt that this man loves with a fiery passion, and would go to the ends of the Earth for the woman he loves (they probably did think the Earth was flat back in that time anyway).
Oh, I almost forgot to mention how fucking hot he is?!? Even in the book, his sex appeal practically radiates off the pages. If he were courting me, I think I’d swoon on sight.
2. Gregory Bridgerton
Again, I must stress, I am talking about book Gregory Bridgerton, when he is A FULLY GROWN ADULT! Okay, now that’s clear, let me get into my reasoning.
If you’ve read the books, you get it already. The second-youngest Bridgerton sibling is a yearner. And girls want yearners!!!
This man falls in love with Hermione at first glance. He doesn’t even get a look at her face — let alone have a conversation. He sees the nape of her neck, and it’s game over for him.
But Hermione is in hot demand. So who does he enlist to help him win her heart? None other than her best friend, Lucy Abernathy.
I bet you can guess what happens next. After wasting the season attempting to court Hermione, his mum help him realise that he actually is in love with Lucy Abernathy after explaining that love doesn’t always feel like some big grand explosion of sparks, fireworks and butterflies.
So, the man switches his yearning pathway and sprints through the town to burst into Lucy’s wedding ceremony and stop the nuptials. It’s an explosion of passion, vulnerability, longing and romance. And I’ve absolutely eaten it up.
1. Benedict Bridgerton
Ahhhh Benedict, my favourite Bridgerton sibling. I promise I’m not just ranking him in the top spot because it’s his time to shine. This man is incomparable to me, and has been since the first season/book.
He’s the complete opposite to Anthony: free-spirited, artistic, open-minded, and a little aloof. If he were to exist in the present day, he’d probably be an artist from Brunswick or Fitzroy who loves a daytime Sunday sesh at Collingwood Yards. Typically, I wouldn’t bat an eye, but there’s just ~something~ about Benedict that’s so whimsical, it draws you in.
Benedict is also a kindhearted softie. He saved Sophie Beckett — now Baek in the Netflix series — (Yerin Ha) and took her under his wing in her desperate time of need, and, after a long battle between his head and his heart), didn’t let his higher social status deter him from pursuing his budding romance with her… later to find out she was the same woman he shared that electrifying night with at the masquerade ball years prior.
Also, the sheer passion from the spicy scenes in the series had me giggling and kicking my feet. Benedict can absolutely get it *wink*.
Now you know just how dateable each Bridgerton sibling is, you must make haste to watch the new season and discover why I rank Benedict so highly.
