Dearest Gentle Reader, Welcome to season four of Bridgerton—full of sex in carriages, modern classical music, and colorful costumes. This season highlights Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson). It’s out of order from Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton book series, which follows the Bridgerton siblings alphabetically. The shift was likely due to wanting to reveal Lady Whistledown’s identity earlier which gives Penelope and the Queen more to do. So here we are following goofy rake Benedict and his strong refusal to pursue marriage. He and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) have a pact not to go down that traditional road, but after seeing a beautiful woman in silver (WIS) at his mother’s masquerade ball, he’s smitten, and now we know that this season is a take on Cinderella. “The Walz”-BRIDGERTON, Pictured: Michelle Mao as Rosamund Li, Katie Leung as Lady Araminta Gun, Isabella Wei as Posy Lei.. Photo by Liam Daniel/Netflix ©2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved The best thing about the Bridgerton books is that each follows a different fairy-tale or romantic conceit and your appreciation of the book/season is generally based on what type of story you like. We’ve seen falling in love with your brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers. What also sets this season apart is that we are FINALLY seeing more about the people who work in these beautiful houses since Benedict’s WIS works as a maid and was encouraged by fellow staff members to dress up and experience life upstairs for once. Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) aka WIS is a compelling heroine. Living with her evil stepmother and step-siblings, she works nonstop cleaning, serving, and mending clothes. Her stepmother (is this the right term if Sophie is referred to as a ward of Lady Araminta Gun’s (Katie Leung) deceased husband?). The flashbacks are heartbreaking. Sophie was cared for and educated before Lady Araminta and her children arrived. At Violet Bridgerton's (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball, Sophie and Benedict share a moment outside—she’s sassy, speaks French, and can’t dance. They kiss, making Benedict reconsider his fight against marriage. After Lady Araminta discovers Sophie was at the ball, Sophie is cast out. The house staff supports her as she leaves, and Posy (Isabella Wei) gives Sophie shoe clips to pawn. They spend so much time showing these clips, you just know this is going to come back in a future episode. Sophie departs for the country in a mail carriage. Lady Araminta realizes Sophie did the work of many and begins poaching staff from other homes, sparking a staff rivalry among the ton. Staff treatment and pay varies by house—from kind Bridgertons to abusive households, like Sophie’s new position in the country. Working at Lord Phillip Cavender’s (Cavan Clarke) country estate, the female staff members have to fight off inappropriate advances from the men who have retreated there to drink and gamble. Benedict saves Sophie from an assault, but gets hurt in the process. The two escape to Benedict’s cottage, cleverly named “My Cottage,” and Benedict spikes a fever causing him to hallucinate his WIS. Benedict! She’s right there nursing you back to health! “The Field Next to the Other Road”-BRIDGERTON, Pictured: Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton and Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek. Photo by Liam Daniel/Netflix ©2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved Not wanting to leave Sophie without work, Benedict arranges for her to work in the Bridgerton home, where she impresses the women of the house. Both Eloise and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) are impressed by Sophie’s love of literature and quick conversation, and Benedict starts falling for her as well. Falling for the housemaid is simply not done, so he’s fighting that societal construct along with pursuing the phantom WIS. Benedict and Sophie’s relationship sometimes feels overshadowed by the show’s attempt to give every character an arc. In the books, the primary romance dominates, with others woven in as background. Here, balancing these arcs tends to dilute investment in the main storyline. What works? It’s nice to see Lady Violet’s garden…be tended to. Her flirtation with Lady Danbury’s brother Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) is sweet, and I hope it goes somewhere. Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John Sterling (Victor Alli) return from Scotland, and there’s a hint of sexual tension with John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza). Francesca is desperate to get pregnant; she starts to wonder if it's because she hasn’t reached her pinnacle, a strange Regency-era term for an orgasm, but better than Penelope’s euphemism of a bird eying a biscuit. Francesca attempts to take charge in the bedroom, and John calls her on faking her pinnacle. He is so kind and understanding and describes intimacy in much better terms. What has potential? The Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel)/Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) storyline only works if you watched the stand-alone series Queen Charlotte and understand why the Queen is preventing Lady Danbury from living her own life. She’s lonely and scared of what happens when the King dies. Lady Danbury encourages the Queen to add Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) as a lady-in-waiting, which has potential. Please give the Mondrich family a good storyline! What doesn’t work: We know they are seeding Eloise’s story and that she will eventually have her own love story, but for now, she’s caustic and judgmental toward everyone around her. Once entertaining, Eloise’s behavior now feels selfish, and good for Hyacinth to call her out on it. Colin and Penelope paw at each other in the background and offer advice. Bonus points for Colin sharing that the idea of taking a mistress is unappealing, which brings us to the biggest ick of part one of this season. Though Benedict thinks he loves the LIS, he starts having feelings for Sophie, but social status is a major barrier. Their flirting peaks with a stairwell encounter to Olivia Rodrigo’s Bad Idea. Benedict confesses his feelings, declares Sophie deserves better, then asks her to be his mistress. Sophie is deflated. Benedict, this is the worst declaration of love since Mr. Darcy insulted Elizabeth. “The Field Next to the Other Road”-BRIDGERTON, Pictured: Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek. Photo by Liam Daniel/Netflix ©2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved Episode four ends on a cliffhanger: Lady Araminta and her daughters move next door to the Bridgertons, clearly bringing trouble for Sophie. What will happen in part two? Was Lady Araminta truthful with her version of Sophie’s parentage? Will they set up Eloise’s love story so she can finally unclench? Will Queen Charlotte let Lady Danbury have a life of her own? Countdown to part two starts now!
