Bridgerton Season 4 Rewrites the Regency Rulebook — and an Unlikely Sibling Saves the Season

Bridgerton is back lining up a curveball: Season 4 doesn’t just hand Benedict his long-overdue love story, it pulls Eloise into the middle of it. Yes, really.

Here’s the setup. Season 4 centers on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) finally catching feelings he can’t dodge, courtesy of a masked mystery known as the Lady in Silver. Netflix is splitting the eight-episode season into two parts, with Part 1 dropping January 29, 2026. Yerin Ha is playing Sophie Beck, and if you’ve read the books, you already know where that masked intrigue is headed. Jess Brownell, who steered Season 3, is back as showrunner.

The twist is who helps Benedict get there. Netflix’s official synopsis on Tudum says Eloise (Claudia Jessie) is pulled in to 'reluctant[ly] help' her brother as he finally takes a real shot at love. The inciting event is Violet Bridgerton’s lavish masquerade ball, where Benedict becomes obsessed with unmasking the Lady in Silver. On the page in 'An Offer from a Gentleman', Colin is the sibling who plays wingman and reality check. On the show, because Benedict and Eloise have been written as especially tight, it sounds like the series is swapping in Eloise for that job. It’s a small but spicy adaptation choice, and fans are already picking it apart in the best way.

Claudia Jessie, for her part, says she doesn’t know much about the specifics yet, but she did hint at a new lane for Eloise. In a Shondaland chat, she talked about the character getting a little distance from the ton… and the English countryside.

'I think it’s so exciting that she’s going to become slightly more independent and will learn some new things... It’s such a sheltered life. So, it’s good that she’s going to go and find out things and be in the Scottish air.'

She also called playing Eloise 'the best thing that’s ever happened' to her, which tracks.

If you’re eyeing the long game, Netflix has already locked in Seasons 5 and 6. Season 5 is expected to finally put Eloise at the center, likely drawing from 'To Sir Phillip, With Love'. So Season 4 doubling down on her dynamic with Benedict isn’t just cute sibling business; it’s setting the table.

• Season 1 (8 eps) — Showrunner: Chris Van Dusen; Leads: Phoebe Dynevor & Rege-Jean Page; Rotten Tomatoes: 87% critics, 71% audience
• Season 2 (8 eps) — Showrunner: Chris Van Dusen; Leads: Jonathan Bailey & Simone Ashley; Rotten Tomatoes: 78% critics, 73% audience
• Season 3 (8 eps) — Showrunner: Jess Brownell; Leads: Luke Newton & Nicola Coughlan; Rotten Tomatoes: 87% critics, 77% audience
• Season 4 (8 eps, two parts) — Showrunner: Jess Brownell; Leads: Luke Thompson & Yerin Ha; Part 1 premieres January 29, 2026

So, how exactly does Eloise help Benedict put a name to that silver mask and get him out of his 'never settle' era? My guess: a lot of blunt sisterly truth, a dash of detective work, and zero patience for his dithering. Your turn — how do you see her steering him toward Sophie?

Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix, with Season 4 Part 1 set for January 29, 2026.