Dearest Gentle Reader, Lady Whistledown returns for more gossipy hijinks as Bridgerton boldly enters its Cinderella era! That’s right—this time, the love story between maid Sophie (Yerin Ha) and hot Bridgerton brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) has been charged with the fairy tale energy of that timeless tale. This will come as little surprise to those familiar with the source material novels. Four seasons deep, and a certain comfort watch formula has begun to emerge. Last “season,” Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and her identity as the mysterious Lady Whistledown took center stage. While it was easily the weakest in terms of the love story and general chemistry between leads, Bridgerton still carried that magical spark of whirlwind romance. Thus far, judging by the first four episodes provided to critics, Bridgerton season four has recaptured the wonderment, harkening back to the first couple seasons. Worry not, for Benedict and Sophie will have viewers salivating for a forbidden yet inevitable pairing.
Our story begins with the Bridgerton household in flux: Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Francesca (Ruby Stokes) arrive home from Scotland, and the youngest, Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), remains unwed, longing for the escape of a glamorous ball. Benedict, meanwhile, awakens tangled in his sheets beside a stranger. Two sisters have yet to be married off, but this “rake” of a Bridgerton son quickly steals the Queen’s attention. Take a shot every time someone refers to Benedict as a rake, and making it through even one episode will be difficult. Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) prepares a lavish masquerade ball—the first major event of the season—whilst Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) makes a deal with Lady Whistledown.
In a rather smart creative choice, Julie Andrews still narrates with her elegant tones elevating Whistledown’s voice despite her identity already having been revealed. The Ton turns up in extravagant costumes: pirates, Cleopatras, gilded masks. The costume design absolutely lives up to Bridgerton standards, even when it dwells eons away from period accuracy. There are only a handful of modern instrumentals thus far, a series trademark that never overstays its welcome. One wishes they were more prevalent throughout this batch of episodes. Benedict exudes maximum bisexual vibes, openly flirting with men, and seems blissfully uninterested in settling down. Thompson’s toothy, devilish grin is the perfect fit for Benedict’s ever-evolving characterization.
Enter: Sophie, a mysterious woman donned in silver from head to toe. After Benedict spots her, their chemistry ignites off a mere glance. They share a dance outside in a moonlit gazebo, then Sophie promptly disappears, leaving behind only a glove in her wake. This Cinderella moment becomes the impetus for the entire fourth season, as Benedict makes it his mission to track Sophie down no matter the cost. For Sophie’s part, Ha makes for a compelling version of Cinderella. Each time she brushes against her wicked stepmother, Lady Araminta (Katie Leung), Sophie endears herself even further. Flashbacks peppered throughout help to flesh out Sophie even further. Compared to the women in past seasons, Sophie can certainly hold her own, albeit it does take awhile for her to find her footing.
There are a wide swath of side stories happening as well, to varying degrees of success. One of them that truly works falls on Lady Bridgerton’s shoulders, as she undergoes a sort of romantic reawakening that begins with cutesy glances at nearly every social gathering. Francesca’s hunt for reaching her orgasmic “pinnacle” also thrills more than it annoys. Penelope and Colin (Luke Newton) exist more on the fringes of the story, yet always inject a burst of lusty romance when they appear. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Queen Charlotte have their friendship put to the text, to ultimately mixed results. While the Queen’s hilariously over-the-top wigs are never less than delightful, her presence in Bridgerton may have overstayed its welcome. The pacing practically flatlines each time we take a detour with her.
By the time we reach the third episode—in which Benedict and Sophie must seek shelter at Benedict’s cottage during an intense rainstorm—the season truly arrives just where viewers have been hoping. Whether skinny dipping or just trying to fly a kite, a flirty tension between Benedict and Sophie hits all the right notes. This Bridgerton delivers the goods even as it forges on from dated Regency gender norms into full-on Cinderella cliche. In these tropes, a newfound beauty begins to emerge. Still sexually charged, still romantically motivated, and still joyous to behold, Bridgerton season 4 proves the Bridgertons—and their love interests—are here to stay. Can we at least get a couple more spin-offs to hold us over until our next visit to the Ton?
Part 1 of season 4 rings in the New Year with style when it debuts on January 29th, with Part 2 arriving February 26th.
