By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
The first part of the fourth season of “Bridgerton” was released on Netflix on Jan. 29 to expectant fans who have waited nearly two years for the show to return. Like the previous season, this one is also split into two parts, with Netflix planning to release the second on Feb. 26.
Taking inspiration from the classic “Cinderella” tale, the series has introduced its first commoner protagonist, Sophie Baek, who lives as a maid to her stepmother and two stepsisters. The first episode includes a masquerade ball, to which Sophie sneaks in and meets Benedict Bridgerton, who will be her love interest. Characters dress up as Zeus and pirates, and Lady Violet. Bridgerton is even dressed in a similar fashion to the Fairy Godmother, reflecting her well-known meddling in her children’s love lives.
Unlike “Cinderella,” however, the series starts off with a focus on the familiar characters of the Bridgerton family having breakfast, from which Benedict is missing. His introduction as the leading man follows soon after, when his mother finds him sleeping nude with two ladies in his room.
The show maintains its erotic nature but keeps the first part relatively tame, with episode one and four having the most sexual content. The season also follows the nature of the Bridgerton brothers to be rakes. “Bridgerton” book series author Julia Quinn’s quote is echoed in episode one by Sophie’s stepmother that, “Everyone knows reformed rakes make the best husbands.”
It is not until the end of the episode that Sophie is finally on screen, having received a dance lesson from Benedict before leaving when midnight strikes, abandoning her glove in the process. The episode concludes with Sophie’s identity being revealed and Benedict determined to find her.
The plotline strays further from “Cinderella” in the second episode, with other servants taking the place of Cinderella’s mouse helpers. Rather than making an announcement about finding the woman he danced with, Benedict enlists the help of Penelope Bridgerton, or rather Lady Whistledown, who writes about an anonymous man looking for a girl from the ball. Many fans online have found it amusing that in his search for his “Lady in Silver,” Benedict questions all the women of the town, despite Sophie clearly being East Asian.
Her family is also a little different. Posy, one of her stepsisters, is much nicer than Cinderella’s stepsisters, although Sophie’s stepmother shows a predictable disdain for her. It is revealed in this episode that Sophie’s mother was also a maid and her father’s mistress, which made her unable to marry Sophie’s father. Therefore, Sophie is an illegitimate child.
This serves as a constant reminder of the social class division for Sophie, which plays an important role in her and Benedict’s romance and foreshadows the last episode. “Bridgerton” is known for deviating from both history and the books with its diverse casting and how it deals with racial issues. Fans are anticipating how the showrunners will go about the class separation.
By the end of episode two, the “Cinderella” inspiration is mostly gone. Sophie is fired by her stepmother for attending the ball in secret. She meets Benedict again in the countryside after being hired by a family whose party he attends. After an altercation with the host, Sophie is fired once more and Benedict is hurt.
The two go to the Bridgerton cottage nearby, and episode three depicts the two bonding during their stay through a rather refreshing and playful lens compared to the typically dramatic scenes the series has. The visual change from busy regency buildings to a more natural environment surrounded by greenery adds an atmosphere the show hasn’t explored before.
While Sophie and Benedict develop feelings for each other, Violet attempts to explore her own sexuality back in town for the first time after her husband’s death. On the other hand, Francesca Bridgerton faces struggles in her sexual life to reach her “pinnacle,” which has now become a fun buzzword for fans.
The two stories are unique and frequently overlooked in mainstream media, and “Bridgerton’s” willingness to show them is exciting for viewers. This, along with having an openly bisexual male lead for the season and an East Asian female lead, conveys the showrunners desire to diversify the series and represent people who have not existed in media for a long time.
The fourth plot this season focuses on is Lady Danbury’s desire to retire from the social scene as she tries to find a lady-in-waiting for Queen Charlotte, who will then need a friend. Having these four storylines occur at the same time may seem like a lot, but this season has seemed much more focused than the last, which many criticized for being convoluted and rather messy.
When Benedict and Sophie return to Mayfair in episode four, Sophie is employed by the Bridgertons as she had been blacklisted by her stepmother. Although the two shared a kiss in the Bridgerton cottage, they are back to their social statuses and Benedict returns to his search with Violet’s help this time.
The episode leaves on a cliffhanger with Benedict asking Sophie to be his mistress. Netflix released a teaser for the second part on Feb. 3. Fans have been sharing their excitement, impatience and what they are looking forward to.
