Most Unstable Girl You Know: I Need To Get A Masters Degree

Theo, Eloise, and Season 4

Okay, hear me out:

What if Theo comes back for season 4?

(Also, most of what I'm about to say hinges on the fact that I'm pretty confident season 4 is Benedict's season.)

The swing scene at the end of season 3 seemed to pretty blatantly set up Benedict and Eloise's arcs for season 4. Regarding Benedict, that scene seems to imply he'll be meeting Sophie next season, and regarding Eloise, she straight up says she wants to explore the world beyond Mayfair and Aubrey Hall.

Now, we know Eloise will be back in London for the masquerade ball, and we also know that the masquerade is where Benedict meets Sophie. Assuming season 4 is Benedict's season, the masquerade will need to happen earlier on in the season, so Eloise won't be spending too much time in Scotland.

So, if Eloise's season 4 arc revolves around exploring the world beyond her little bubble of high society, spending an episode or two in Scotland is not enough.

She needs to go back to Bloomsbury.

We already got a taste of this in season 2, but we primarily see Eloise visiting Theo at the printshop. Season 4 offers a perfect opportunity to see Eloise go beyond the printshop and attend more assemblies, and maybe even speak at one (in season 3, one of the debutantes did call Eloise a talented speaker). Hell, maybe she even runs into Theo at one of these assemblies.

Additionally, if season 4 revolves around Benophie, working class people need to be brought into the spotlight. Enter Theo Sharpe! Introducing Sophie already opens up the world of Bridgerton in a way we haven't seen before, but bringing back Theo can expand that world and show us a more political side, which we only got a glimpse of in season 2. Not to mention, a Theloise subplot during Benophie's season can provide really interesting commentary on women marrying above/below their station.

I feel like I'm just yapping into the void.

"Maturing is realizing Dair is better than Chair." Speak for yourself, I've always known Dair is superior!

Art by: Henry James Garrett

Theloise Fic Spotlight

the theloise subset of the bridgerton fandom has some incredibly talented authors and i want to recognize their work! if anyone is searching for weekend reading material, look no further than this (non-exhaustive) list. newer fics above the cut, and old favorites below :)

The Manuscript by @pendale

modern AU, rated G, complete (3/3 | 10.9K)

“Their friendship began in a library.

[A series of vignettes in the lives of Eloise Bridgerton and Theo Sharpe.]”

nothing greens greener by @brynnne

canon divergent from the beginning of s2, rated T, incomplete (2/5 | 13.6K)

“In the midst of her first season out, hot on the heels of Lady Whistledown, and facing Her Majesty’s ire, an unlikely ally makes itself known to Eloise Bridgerton in a print shop in Bloomsbury.

Genesis by @cervidame

canon divergent, rated G, incomplete (11/? | 24.5K)

“Theo travelled to Staffordshire with his master's old suitcase and a letter all for the sake of securing an investment from a Baron he'd never heard of in the hopes of completing his apprenticeship with flourish.

However, Baron Stafford is a known eccentric and more surprises await him in the Potteries than he could have ever expected.”

The Bloomsbury Bridgerton by Jane_3yr3

canon divergent from the end of s2, rated M, incomplete (6/7 | 12K)

“Eloise Bridgerton flees polite society following the revelation of Lady Whistledown's identity and makes her way back to our favourite printshop boy. Canon compliant with season two of the series.”

a thing with feathers. by sondersoflight

canon divergent from the end of s2, rated G, oneshot (3.1K)

“He feels inadequate seeing her like this – the last couple of weeks he has been able to almost forget the invisible ocean that exists between them. Now he is too aware of his shabby clothes and his ink-stained hands. Eloise is lovelier than any flower he has seen. And she would probably roll her eyes if he were to say so out loud.”

The Fine Print by theloise

post-canon-ish(?), rated G, oneshot collection

“Sometimes, Benedict cannot help but miss the little girl who used to chase him through the halls of Bridgerton House -- the tiny, blue-eyed baby who pulled incessantly at his hair. But Eloise is more than that now; her heart beats large, and open, and wide. And it has expanded to include -- of all people -- a poor, radical printer's apprentice.

And he cannot stop it. He does not want to stop it.

shameless plug for my own works

Her. Song.

I hate it here so I will go to // Secret gardens in my mine // People need a key to get to // The only one is mine

4/7 midterms complete 🫠

in case you didn’t hear, yerin ha has been cast as sophie beckett! 🎉

It's always "hey, what's up" over dms and never: "I’ve read all of these and…I set them aside for you. I thought perhaps you might share your thoughts on them."