By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
Netflix released the much-anticipated Part 2 of the fourth season of “Bridgerton” on Feb. 26, about a month after the release of Part 1. The regency-based series left viewers on a cliffhanger with unanswered questions at the end of episode four, “An Offer From a Gentleman.” With the offer being Benedict asking Sophie to be his mistress, fans had been eagerly awaiting her reaction.
Throughout the last four episodes, the two attempt to navigate the nature of their relationship and court despite the expectations of a rigid, monarchical society looming over them. The subplots feature Lady Danbury’s attempt to retire although the Queen disapproves, tension between Eloise and Hyacinth, Violet and Marcus’ relationship and tragically, the death of Francessca’s husband, John.
In episode five, Sophie and Benedict confide in Alfie and Will Mondrich, respectively, in consecutive scenes about their feelings for one another and the predicament they have put themselves in.
The topic of being a mistress and its downfalls are expanded on when Lady Whistledown reports that a member of the Ton, who partially inspired Benedict’s “mistress” idea, has one of his own. Having not been subtle in public, the mistress in question is easily identified and she is outcast in society, foretelling the consequences Sophie might face.
The two share a moment in the dark in Benedict’s office where Sophie finally expresses her grievances with Benedict for putting her in such a burdensome position. “You are asking me to relinquish my virtue, my dignity, my self-respect, all to be reduced to a glorified courtesan who will never be able to marry,” she tells him. He leaves with an apology and the tension remains unresolved.
Sophie’s stepmother also finds out about her employment at the Bridgerton House through her new maid who used to work for Lady Featherington, giving her ammunition to conspire against Sophie once more. Meanwhile, the main couple finally get together at the end of the episode with a classic Bridgerton love confession and the following explicit scene.
The next episode introduces a pregnancy scare with Sophie counting the days until her next period, which is something that has not been talked about much in the show yet. The concept of Sophie tracking her period is an empowering representation and allows for the topic to be more normalized.
Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley also make long-awaited cameos as Viscount Anthony and Viscountess Kate Bridgerton. With Season 2 being a fan favorite, many were excited for the couple’s reappearance, as well as their son, named Edmund after the late Viscount Bridgerton.
Another more shocking reappearance is made by Cressida, who has found a love match. At her ball, Penelope steals the spotlight with a new edition of Lady Whistledown that declares she will be putting her pen down. While this may come as a surprise to viewers, it is true to the books; Penelope stops being a gossip columnist after marriage and begins to write novels.
Penelope’s retirement encourages Queen Charlotte to allow Lady Danbury to retire, which is a decision she initially opposed passionately. Although fans may miss the beloved friendship, series showrunner Jessica Brownell revealed in an interview with The Wrap that Lady Danbury will be returning next season.
Towards the end of the episode, Benedict and Sophie say goodbye as she plans to leave Bridgerton House and go to the United States, which no one knows yet. This sets the somber tone of the last scene in which Francessca finds her husband John dead.
In episode seven, “The Beyond,” Hannah Dodd’s acting as Francesca stands out. Her initial suppression of her sadness and later outburst at Violet is devastating and full of emotion. She expresses her feelings of inadequacy at being a wife as she was not able to give John children before his death.
The show also explores the invasive medical procedures women had to go through. When Francessca believes she is pregnant with John’s child, she is forced to get a physical examination to confirm if it is true. The scene is uncomfortable and dismal, especially when it is revealed that she is not with a child after all.
With the house in mourning, Sophie stays behind for a longer period than she intended. This unfortunately gives her stepmother the perfect opportunity to put her in jail by claiming Sophie stole her shoe clips, which had really been stolen by Posy and given to Sophie.
The last episode, “Dance in the Country,” resolves this issue with the help of Alice Mondrich, Queen Charlotte’s new lady-in-waiting. She works with Violet and Benedict to get Sophie out of trouble and blackmail her stepmother to lie about Sophie being a distant relative, which allows her to finally be recognized as a Penwood. In a post-credit scene, Sophie and Benedict marry.
While the romance in this season is done well, there was a welcome focus on character dynamics, especially between women. Season 4 dissected several relationships between female characters and showed audiences the different ways women interact. The friendship of Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte, Eloise and Hyacinth’s sisterhood, Lady Penwood’s hatred of Sophie and even the complex ex-friendship between Eloise and Cressida are examined through a nuanced lens.
Compared to last season, Season 4 seemed to follow a much more structured and efficient narrative. The last episode wrapped up current storylines and gave viewers hints to what will be further explored in the next season, such as a new Lady Whistledown. Fans can look forward to seasons 5 and 6, which have been confirmed by Brownell in “Bridgerton: The Official Podcast.”
