“Bridgerton” Season 4 released in two parts on January 29 and February 26, had many fans excited to watch the story unfold. Set in an alternate 19th-century London Regency Era, the series explores love with a gossip-driven marriage market.
The show revolves around the wealthy family, the Bridgertons, and their lives as they navigate high society and find true love. Season 4 revolves around the second Bridegerton son, Benedict, played by Luke Thompson. Benedict is portrayed as a free-spirited non-conformative artist, where in this season he explores class differences and social privilege. Unlike previous seasons, where the romantic arcs were of similar or high nobility, this season breaks the boundaries of social status, with Benedict falling in love with maid Sophie Baek.
“Season 4 is my favorite! Benedict likes Sophie not because of her social status, but because of who she really is,” Spanish teacher Dr. Pincay said. “Their relationship shows that people can truly connect even if they come from different social backgrounds, and through Sophie’s story, we see how unfair and restrictive society can be, especially for women without status.”
Inspired by the “Cinderella” storyline, Sophie sneaks into the Bridgerton masquerade ball as the “Lady in Silver.” She dances with Benedict but vanishes at midnight, leaving only her glove. Unlike typical fairytales, their romance critiques social hierarchies rather than serving as a fantasy escape.
“Season 4 was really different because of how it shows the dynamics between high and low status characters,” senior Allison Sanassi said. “The way they film the show has a really good balance between royal life and the working class and seeing those two worlds collide is such a great dynamic that we haven’t really explored yet in the show.”
The addition of secondary storylines aided in the expansion of Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury’s friendship, Violet Bridgerton’s relationship with Lord Marcus Anderson and the development of sisters Hyacinth and Eloise. Each subplot addresses challenges such as power, social standards and femininity.
Through Sophie’s presence in the servant headquarters, audiences get to see an extensive view of the Regency era in both capacities, and the stark contrast between both high-nobility and low. This romantic storyline asks the question of whether true love is worth breaking the barriers of society.
The musical score also impacts the movements of the Bridgerton storyline, using classical covers of popular songs like “360” by Charli XCX and “bad idea right?” by Olivia Rodrigo to be a relatable aspect of the show for fans.
“The modern musical covers helps the story line as it creates a relatable feeling and more connection to the younger audience, even though it takes place in the past,” junior Aniya Varghese said.
Season 4 of “Bridgerton” continues blending romance and modern elements within a historical setting, while emphasizing the challenges of relationships across divided social classes.
