If you know me, you must know my love of the show Bridgerton, so trust me when I say that I had my calendar blocked off for the release of the show’s fourth season. After my binge-watch of the first part of season four—and given the occasion of Valentine’s Day—I feel compelled to share my thoughts. Therefore, here’s my review of Bridgerton season four, part one:
*Disclaimer: There will be spoilers.*
I absolutely ADORE the way Sophie and Benedict met. In a classic Cinderella move, Sophie sneaks into a masquerade ball where she catches Benedict’s eye. It’s cliché but perfect. Something that I really liked about the way they met was that it was not love at first sight. While I definitely understand that some people might view it as such, I would simply describe it as intrigue. Benedict’s character is one of carefreeness; he is part of high society but does not care for the rules of it. He is imaginative and likes to live life on his terms. This is a nice parallel to Sophie who—by attending this ball against her rank—is also doing so because it is her dream. Benedict wants to learn more about Sophie because she acts very different in comparison to the usual members of the Ton. I especially enjoyed the forbidden chemistry they shared when he taught her to dance in private.
From that point onward, Benedict started on his search for this mysterious lady in the silver dress, and despite crossing paths with Sophie multiple times, he fails to recognize her. While I feel that Sophie could’ve simply said something, I understand that her position as a maid kept her from doing so. Nevertheless, I really liked how friendly and respectful Benedict was towards Sophie despite their difference in class, going as far as to protect her and granting her a job in the Bridgerton House when she was let go from her previous employer. I also liked that, aside from their attraction to each other, you can see a friendship between them. This might be a hot take, but I think Benedict and Sophie are doing a better job at an unintended “friends to lovers” compared to Colin and Penelope in season three.
I thought the story was going pretty well until Benedict ruined it with the words “be my mistress.” Obviously, it makes sense for Benedict to say this, as Sophie is a maid and he is a member of the nobility, and therefore, they cannot marry. Additionally, Benedict didn’t want to marry until he met the enchanting lady in silver at the masquerade ball. Benedict doesn’t know that the woman he is looking for is Sophie, but nonetheless, you can see the hurt on Sophie’s face. Given her mother’s background as a maid and her father’s mistress, Sophie understands that it would be a lose-lose situation for her. I’m hoping in the second half, Sophie truly gets what she deserves, and Benedict grovels and redeems himself.
