_{By: Amanda Guarragi}

Dearest Gentle Readers, 

The long-awaited season for Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) finding a wife is finally here. After reading An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, it’s safe to say that the majority of the adaptation in Part 1 is fairly similar, with some much-needed updates. 

The second Bridgerton brother has become a fan favourite for his charm, wit and zest for life. Benedict is an artist and sees things through different perspectives. He wants to enjoy the small things that matter because the wonder of the world is much more fascinating than the repetition of soirees and balls within Mayfair. 

Many things have changed in the ton since last season. The Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) has taken Penelope Bridgerton, aka Lady Whistledown (Nicola Coughlan), into her circle. She wants the hot gossip first before the new issue of Whistledown is printed, leaving Penelope to work double time in appeasing the Queen, even at balls. 

This season feels more personal, as it explores Benedict’s story with Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) more so than previous seasons with the other couples. The creative decision to centre conversations between the servants within Bridgerton house set the tone for the season. Viewers know of them, but they do not realize the role they play in stabilizing the household dynamics. 

Sophie is a maid in her household of Lady Penwood and has been mistreated by her stepmother, Araminta (Katie Leung). After losing her father at a young age, she was kept hidden from high society as she was an illegitimate child of a nobleman and his mistress. She has had a terrible upbringing, and one night, she heard about the Vicountess Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masquerade ball. 

The direction feels more intentional and imaginative in exploring the nature of the Benophie romance. What was genius about the first episode alone was introducing Sophie as the Lady in Silver first. 

The viewer is channelled through Benedict with the same level of intrigue. Who is this stunning woman? How can I have her? It’s a woman’s ultimate fantasy to have a man of status like Benedict Bridgerton to want to hold one’s attention. Without question, Luke Thompson’s charm catapults him into leading-man territory. Similarly to Jonathan Bailey’s season. 

The chemistry between Thompson and Ha is electric and instantly believable because they share grounded conversations. Even though they met at the masquerade ball and it was extremely romantic, Benedict grew fonder when Sophie gave a different perspective about the grandiosity of the ball and living in Mayfair. 

She was not accustomed to riches and therefore appreciated the time and effort it would take for these women to prepare themselves for marriage. Instead of speaking poorly about them, she defended the world she wanted to be part of, a community she so desperately craved because she grew up in isolation. 

The likability of Sophie and Benedict is strengthened in the first episode and is well developed as the season unfolds. The change in runtime for each episode surprisingly strengthened the structure and thoroughly addresses each character. The season does not feel as rushed or bloated as previous seasons (more specifically, season three) and fleshes out the romance particularly well. 

There are some lovely moments between Sophie and Benedict when they are stuck in isolation at “My Cottage,” of course, chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree (Susan Brown and Billy Boyle). After saving Sophie from a near assault, Benedict is on bed rest with Sophie tending to his wounds. She is treated as a guest by Benedict, which is foreign to Sophie. Soon, Benedict learns about her vast knowledge and cheeky retorts that counter his prying nature. 

As the romance between them continues to flourish, life back in Mayfair is being turned upside down as the “Maid Diaries” worsen in Sophie’s absence. All Whistledown can write about is Lady Penwood stealing maids from everyone in the town, or else there’s not much to report upon with the “Diamond of the Season”, Benedict Bridgerton hiding away in the country. 

There is more development of married life between Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and John Stirling (Victor Alli) as Francesca confides in Penelope about the duties of husband and wife. 

There are many conversations about a woman’s place and her duties this season, as Violet Bridgerton also becomes ready to bloom again. Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) has her own journey with Charlotte, as this season explores their friendship more and is directly tied to the prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. 

Bridgerton season four is set more as a drama with a tragic story from Sophie Baek. There is some levity Benedict brings, but it’s tonally different than previous seasons. It unfolds almost like a play, and the direction is more intimate as well. 

There’s gentleness and thoughtfulness within every movement between them because of the class divide. To have Benedict Bridgerton throw everything out the window for Sophie is true love, and it’s written all over his face. To see Benedict explore his love for her and express it creatively through his drawings was endearing; it felt all-consuming. Thompson and Ha are wonderful together, so that whenever they’re on screen, they make you believe in romance again.