The Free Birds of Bridgerton

Eloise Bridgerton played by Claudia Jessie

​The binge, the scandal, and the emeralds looking for freedom—the free birds finally get their seasons.

​Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), Benedict (Luke Thompson), and mostly Eloise (Claudia Jessie) are my favorite characters.

​Queen Charlotte is one of the most witty and unique characters. She is, like Eloise, an emerald among diamonds. She finds her way out of the dire situation regarding her husband through gossip, scandal, and partying. It is truly her way of surviving the boredom of the "ton." If you look closely, her close friend Lady Danbury is the one who plots the political and social alliances. Queen Charlotte was going to move back to Germany if not for her love and her choice to remain loyal to King George. The Queen was told this by her loyal Brimsley. Lady Danbury helped her run the country discreetly. The Queen is very emotional and impulsive, much like Eloise; without Lady Danbury, everything would have collapsed. As a friend, Lady Danbury gave Charlotte the freedom to simply enjoy the show. Queen Charlotte did not care about the "Great Experiment"; it is Lady Danbury who keeps it spinning.

​Benedict, played by Luke Thompson, takes the stage as the free-spirited Bridgerton. As the masquerade ball approaches, he hides himself in underground art clubs and zones for spirits like himself. Then, in the ton, he carries on with the performances society expects. Lost in both worlds and lonely in a sense, he cannot simply be. This season, he also meets a woman wearing a mask. Together, they will go off to the country where they can finally be free.

​After Benedict’s, my favorite season will come: the freest bird of all, the Belle of the ton. Eloise, portrayed by Claudia Jessie, is the Queen's favorite Bridgerton and Benedict’s "swing partner" (on the swings where they can just be themselves as they discuss their dreams). She is the only character the Queen fully interacts with as an equal. Eloise is also bored by the ton.

​She just isn't a huge fan of the gossip or the games that keep Benedict and Queen Charlotte distracted. Somehow, Sir Phillip’s letters keep her so intrigued that she collects them. For someone who prizes autonomy above all else, she eventually runs off to his estate, knowing she has sealed her fate to marry him. While Benedict fell in love by sight, Eloise fell in love through language. She also runs toward her favorite brother, who lives nearby. Eloise is a pragmatist, even if she seems impulsive. She left the letters he sent her in plain view so Anthony, her eldest brother, knew where to find her. She was close enough to Benedict to run if needed, and most importantly, if she liked the arrangement, Sir Phillip had to marry her. As Anthony told her: "Life has never happened to you—you happen to it." That sums up those three perfectly. For the first time ever, Eloise wanted not to run away, but to get closer. In the end, she finds what she wants: agency and love in the countryside.

​So far, Queen Charlotte has been my favorite, so I am ecstatic for the rest of the seasons. If you read closely, these are stories of rare birds finding their freedom. The Queen didn’t want to kill Lady Whistledown, but to own her. She loved that scandal sheet; it gave her something to do and to look forward to. Eloise only read the gossip sheet for the sake of agency—Whistledown did and said what she wanted and was free. That is why, even when the Queen gave her the job to find her (a job given because the Queen sees her younger self in Eloise), Eloise was the only one smart enough to have caught Whistledown, but she let her go because she believes in freedom.

​I think a lot of criticism about Eloise going to Sir Phillip stems from the idea that because she values independence, she must want to change society. But no—Eloise’s issue with society is that it strips her of agency. Penelope is society; she is the core of society and a conformist. Penelope’s issue was that she didn’t fit in, but she loves the rules of it—hence the scandalous sheet. For many women obsessed with my dear Eloise choosing the countryside, there is a deep desire to fit into society and an inability to do so due to looks, sex, or status. That is why they adore Penelope; a lot of modern female empowerment is seen through Penelope’s eyes—the bitterness of circumstance stopping people from playing the game. Eloise wants to escape it totally. She wants her agency. Every character at the masquerade ball premiere wears a mask. Why? Because they are playing the game. Eloise doesn't have one because, well, she has never hidden.