Netflix's 'Bridgerton' returns for a fourth season, shifting focus to the bisexual second son Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) as the Ton's most eligible bachelor. The season opens with Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) hosting a masquerade ball, where Benedict reluctantly attends and meets a mysterious Lady in Silver who flees at midnight. Unbeknownst to him, she is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a maid working for the formidable Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), aka Lady Penwood.
Despite strong performances from Ha and Leung, the central romance between Benedict and Sophie lacks the heat and chemistry of previous seasons. The show's signature steamy scenes are instead reserved for newlyweds Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin (Luke Newton), while the true romantic highlight is the burgeoning connection between Lady Violet and Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis). The split-season format also harms pacing and romantic tension.
Other compelling elements include the exploration of female friendships, such as that between Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), and the evolving sisterhood of Eloise (Claudia Jesse) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt). Showrunner Jess Brownell also delves into the lives of household staff, offering a downstairs perspective on the elite world.
