Review: Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 – “A new twist to a Cinderella story.”

Dearest Gentle Reader,

The ton is buzzing as the second Bridgerton son, Benedict, is finally ready to take a wife. But, don’t get too excited, ladies, because the dashing rake only has eyes for one woman in particular. The only issue is that he doesn’t even know her name or even what she looks like.

A Secret Identity and a Smitten Bridgerton

The fourth season of Netflix’s smashing hit Bridgerton centers around Benedict (Luke Thompson). Always a fan favorite, Benedict was a fun side story, but now he gets to be Prince Charming, literally. Season 4 is a new take on a Cinderella story, and honestly, they chose the most charming Bridgerton boy to be the “prince.”

During his mother’s masquerade ball, Benedict is enamoured with the “Lady in Silver.” After the alluring night, he begins his search, but the only clue he has is a glove. Later, we learn that the “Lady in Silver” is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). Once a distinguished lady, Sophie is now a maid after being left in her stepmother’s care.

Main Focus

The hunt is the main focus of Part One this season. Through it, we learn of Benedict’s intentions, and we’re introduced to Sophie. This is one of the first seasons where we get to know the background of a love interest that’s not just surface-level or told through exposition. Knowing Sophie’s background, you can’t help but root for her, knowing that Benedict would give her the life she has always dreamed of. That also speaks to how well the show has developed its main cast throughout the years. While Benedict was never the center of attention, he was never overshadowed by the leads of the previous seasons. The same goes for the women of Bridgerton.

Stories Being Set Up

A small focus of the story (so far) also surrounds Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Francesca (Hannah Dodd). Eloise is a character the series continues to follow throughout. They constantly portray her as a spinster opposed to love. When she finally gets her season, it will surely knock us off our feet. For now, we’re blessed with more humorous scenes from Jessie as she learns how to be the “perfect” wife.

As for Francesca, her story has sparked some controversy. While we got to see a portion of her story unfold last season as she met her now-husband, Lord John Stirling (Victor Alli), fans who read her book know there is still more to unfold. Last season her mother didn’t believe she married for love because she never seen a spark between the couple. In its last scene, she meets Lord Stirling’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza), and there was definitely electricity happening. While we don’t see much of Michaela in Part One, Francesca and John are adjusting to married life and hoping for a child. Francesca’s naivety is endearing to watch, and although you can feel a disconnect in their relationship, they are sweet together as they try to navigate the next steps in their lives. On a side note, as a fan, I can’t help but be excited to see how this story plays out. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes has never shied away from pushing the boundaries of the Bridgerton story and molding it to portray the modern world. She handles these characters with care, and you can’t help but feel that their stories are in safe hands.

Part 1 Conclusion

Though I have only been given Part One of this season, I can safely say it’s just as enamoring as always, if not more so. I’ve always likened Bridgerton to a bag of chips. Once you start, you just can’t stop. It consumes you. Now, as the series takes on a fairytale approach, it’s just as addictive as ever. With its sweeping anachronistic orchestrations, stunning set design, and gorgeous costumes, you can’t help but be swept away. If the series finishes as strongly as it began, it may just be the best season of the show yet. So get ready, Gentle Readers, because Benedict Bridgerton is in the spotlight, and they couldn’t have picked a better prince for this Cinderella story.