‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Part One Review: A Promising Return

The last season of Bridgerton following Collin and Penelope was a noticeable drop in quality for the show. This made me weary knowing that my personal favorite of the Bridgerton’s and their story was to be told next. Yet, based on the first four episodes of season four I do not think we have to worry. This season follows self proclaimed rake Benedict Bridgerton. Dead set on not taking a wife, Benedict goes about his time dodging hopeful mothers and eager debutants fending for his attention. All of this changes one night at the Bridgerton’s masquerade ball, when Benedict meets a masked woman in silver who catches his eye. He is now on a mission to unmask his unknown beauty, but what if the person he is looking for does not want to be found? Read our full review for Bridgerton Season Four Part One below.

I personally am loving the Cinderella-ish story that Bridgerton is attempting this season. Now there is the usual need for suspension of disbelief when it comes to him not recognizing her. I get that Benedict would not assume that the woman he danced with was a maid, but there are legit only four women who are from east asian descent in the entire town. I am happy that they did not go through a storyline of him thinking he found the woman, but in fact did not. It always ends up being boring and feeling like time wasted.

The entire story has been really successful for me so far. I specifically like the entire shift in plot to focus more on the servants in the town. There is a noticeable effort to put them forward including their reactions, what they do for these people, and how they are treated. This gives more of a depth to the sometimes vapid story of Bridgerton. It is fun to lose yourself in the glamour and fantasy of nobility in the regency era, but it can grow tiring at times. Having an outsider looking in aspect to this season has elevated it a lot. 

What has really stood out to me this season is just how great the two leads are. Though nothing could reach the heights of Jonathon Bailey and Simone Ashley in the enemies to lovers feast of season two, Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha really hold their own. Specifically new comer Yerin Ha. She is exceptional as Sophie Baek, creating a full picture of the character despite this being her first season. The entire story and characterization of Sophie is really strong. I am personally dying to know what happens next in her story and to see the secrets of her past revealed. She is extremely likable and more down to Earth than the other Bridgerton heroines of past seasons, making her one of the strongest in the entire show. Luke Thompson is also great this season as the male lead. It does seem like he is taking a little bit of the back seat, letting Yerin Ha’s Sophie be the lead of this season. Yet, he is full of charm and able to bring the swoon worthy moments needed to be the male love interest in Bridgerton. 

All together this first offering from the season is lovely. The writers really seemed to take a lot of the criticism thrown at them last season, focusing less on unwanted storylines and dialing back on some of the modern styling. The three main storylines focused on this season are maybe some of my favorites of the entire show, specifically the new romance of the mother (Ruth Gemmell). It is some of the sweetest, most romantic stuff the show has presented to us, and completely earned.

I think it is really important that they are depicting an older romantic couple and all the struggles that come with being with someone new after being married for so long and then alone for so long. The season is on track to be one of the best of the show, so let us all hope that they do not mess it up with the next four episodes dropping February 26. 

Bridgerton Season 4 Part One stars Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Ruth Gemmell, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Nicola Coughlan, Adjoa Andoh, Daniel Francis, Florence Hunt, and Golda Rosheuvel. Part One was released on January 29, and the rest of the season will drop on Netflix on February 26. 

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