Netflix and Shondaland Media’s fourth season of Bridgerton has gone off to a promising start.
Spoilers for Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1
The new season focuses on the artistic, but wildcard second son Benedict, and the mysterious maid Sophie Baek. The storylines are refreshing with their new themes including, the lives of the ton’s servants, parental loss and the female orgasm.
As shown in the trailer, the first episode focuses on a delightful masquerade ball.
The trailer did imply that the plot would be heavily inspired by Cinderella. I was apprehensive at this because the story would have been predictable, but this plot has been the opposite. While the masquerade ball had some similarities to Cinderella, there were enough original details to leave the viewer surprised. Also, the rest of the story so far is almost entirely reminiscent of the intrigue and suspense of Bridgerton.
The chemistry between Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha) is strong, electric and impossible to miss. As the two grow closer, Benedict must grapple between the idea of the Lady in Silver, and Sophie, the real woman right in front of him. Sophie juggles her feelings for Benedict with her job as a maid and escaping her cruel stepmother.
Like in Cinderella, Sophie’s stepmother Araminta and her daughters get in the way of Sophie’s goals. Araminta has interfered already, but it seems she will become a greater adversary in the second half.
A series of events result in Benedict and Sophie spending a week together in the countryside, allowing their relationship to bloom away from prying eyes. Of course, Sophie’s status as a maid begins to get in the way as she and Benedict return to London.
Since Sophie is a maid, the season focuses on the staff in the ton’s homes. The first episode begins with the Bridgerton’s staff preparing for the masquerade. This change of pace offered a fresh new perspective and set the tone for the rest of the newly released episodes.
Several characters have also changed, some for the better, others not. Eloise has decided to be more friendly to her fellow women, or debutantes, but ridicules her younger sister Hyacinth for being interested in marriage and hosting tea. This mentality is familiar within the rebellious Eloise, but season 4’s writing takes it in a new direction. Hyacinth, who has been in the shadows so far, is finding her role within the family, and her clashes with Eloise are likely to lead to more interesting scenes and storylines in the future.
There is no Bridgerton without the commanding and powerful Queen Charlotte. Just like the rest of the season, her majesty is navigating her own new story: loneliness. The viewer realises how deeply lonely the Queen is. She does not want to let go of Lady Danbury, as she wants to visit her homeland, so she must learn to expand her world within society.
Every character this season is eligible for great change. And with the stellar writing so far, these changes will be explored perfectly.
However, the classical covers of pop songs have so far been disappointing. Apart from DJ Got Us Falling In Love, the rest did not feel as inspired. One in particular, during an important scene, was so loud that it was distracting.
To end the first half of the season, the show presents two nail-biting cliffhangers. Will Benedict and Sophie become closer or grow apart? How will the Queen and her new lady in waiting influence the social season? And what will Araminta do to secure a match between Rosamund and Benedict?
You will have to find out for yourself.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 is now available to stream on Netflix. Part 2 is available from 26 February.
Featured image credit – Netflix
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
