Dearest reader, it is time to return to The Ton for Bridgerton Season 4. Despite Bridgerton seasons being as infrequent as the Olympic Games, the show manages to capture the cultural conversation each and every time a new couple’s story is told. However, the wait for Season 4 has felt more laborious than previous gaps, as there was no spinoff like Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story to enjoy in the meantime.
Additionally, Season 3 felt like a departure in quality from earlier seasons, stuffing episodes with plotlines for each and every character rather than allowing the main couple’s romance time to breathe. It also deviated from key plot points from Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) novel, “Romancing Mister Bridgerton,” with changes that felt arbitrary. To some, it felt as though the things that had made Bridgerton so special were being abandoned in favor of viral moments and an ever-growing cast list.
But fear not, as this author is more than happy to report that Bridgerton Season 4 delivers not only on the original show’s structure but also supports its evolution into a true ensemble series for the next two seasons.
Season 4 focuses on the second son, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), whose Bohemian personality has always clashed with the restrictions of his society. At his mother’s masquerade ball, he falls for the enigma known only as The Lady in Silver and drives Mayfair mad searching for the woman who has captured his previously restless heart. When his Cinderella-inspired search yields no results, he finds himself developing feelings for Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a lady’s maid whose rank and lack of legitimate birth make her an impossible match. While it is eventually uncovered that the two women are one and the same, Benedict’s true love for Sophie does not overrule the realities of their society.
While there are certainly times when The Lady in Silver’s unknown identity seems far-fetched, the dynamic of a slow-burn friendship between people who could never be together feels raw in a way Bridgerton often avoids. As CT Jones writes for Rolling Stone, “Bridgerton has consistently shied away from any real acknowledgement of class” until this latest season.
While the visual appeal of the costumes, balls, and happy endings is largely due to the characters’ obvious wealth, it leaves the stakes feeling hyper-personal and, in last season’s case, rather low. Would Penelope, a woman of high birth and now a Bridgerton by marriage, really have been ruined when The Ton discovered her to be the infamous Lady Whistledown? To me, it never felt like a possible outcome. But when discussing people of different classes like Benedict and Sophie, the sacrifice of love feels real. Benedict realizes that it is one thing to reject society in favor of the arts, raucous parties, and even his own private sexuality, but another thing entirely when being with the person you love means forsaking your family and the social mobility of your potential future children.
Through Sophie, the show expands its world by revealing the “downstairs” of these high-society families. With new sets and storylines for characters who spend their days at the market or in the kitchen, the world of Bridgerton feels as inclusive as ever. The punchline of a Featherington sister requesting more biscuits is no longer just for laughs, but a reminder that even in a historical fantasy, there are vast differences in reality for the haves and have-nots. As the viewer, moving between these worlds in real time creates a more dynamic story and creates a true feeling of insurmountable obstacles for Benedict and Sophie’s romance to overcome.
When it comes to romance, Benedict and Sophie are only beaten by my personal love for Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate’s (Simone Ashley) love story in Season 2. Thompson and Ha’s chemistry is undeniable, not only in their intimate, romantic scenes but in their conversations.
Benedict and Sophie’s forbidden romance feels like a genuine slow-burn. Being from different social classes, they begin a tentative friendship that develops through humor and their lack of participation in the marriage mart. Once they cross the romantic barrier and become more than friends, their conversations deepen their attraction to one another. Despite their incompatible standings in the world, they feel perfectly suited for one another.
This feels like the truest goal of every Bridgerton season: convincing the viewer that love has conquered all. Accomplishing this feat is not only a testament to the actors’ talents but also the writers’ dedication in weaving together the plot beats to arrive at this seemingly pre-destined conclusion.
Not only did the romance feel stronger this season, but the sideplots were used effectively rather than throwing ideas at the wall. Characters were strategically grouped to ensure episode time was used efficiently, but everyone is still involved. Additionally, story events, such as the death of John Sterling (Victor Alli), impact every member of this sprawling family. Such a tragic moment functions as a catalyst for Violet (Ruth Gemmell) to discuss Benedict’s feelings for Sophie, for Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Eloise (Claudie Jessie) to analyze the importance of marriage, and as a major setup for Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) future season.
By taking this approach, Bridgerton has fully evolved into an ensemble series. Despite the central couple being featured on the season’s poster, the show is as much about its supporting cast as it is the leads. Season 4 sets up a steady future for the series to not solely rely on viewers’ interest in the primary romance.
One of Bridgerton’s biggest missing elements has been the Gossip Girl-shaped hole of Lady Whistledown. The absence of a mystery surrounding Lady Whistledown’s identity has reduced the stakes, as there is no way to make the author as antagonizing without assassinating Penelope’s character. Therefore, the Season 3 plot of the characters unmasking Lady Whistledown felt extremely low-stakes and removed a vital element of the series.
Now, in what is arguably the biggest change from book to screen in the entire Bridgerton franchise, a new writer has taken up the mantle of Whistledown. Better yet, no one, fan or character, has any idea who they could be. While the romance of Bridgerton has always been paramount to the show’s success, Lady Whistledown controls the story through her narration, provided by the incomparable Julie Andrews. Offering fans the opportunity to experience the Whistledown mystery again feels like a creative liberty that will pay off in massive ways for the lifeblood of this series.
As Bridgerton has grown from a Regency era romance to a full-blown ensemble drama, the writers have somehow found a way to make it work. When compared to the previous season, most storylines intertwined and built toward the final union of Benedict and Sophie, or set up future seasons in meaningful ways.
Just like the famous glass slipper that inspired it, Bridgerton Season 4 has managed to incorporate all its elements to create a perfect fit.
Review Courtesy of Sasha Raquel
Feature image Courtesy of Netflix via Variety