Dearest gentle reader… the time has come once again: another season of Bridgerton is upon us. This time, fan-favourite Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) steps into his own Cinderella fantasy, finding himself in a conundrum as he is swept off his feet by the enigmatic “Lady in Silver”, then captivated by an unassuming young maid – unbeknownst to him, both identities belong to Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) .
It is when the narrative diverges from the predictability of the Cinderella cliché that the series begins to shine. The confines of class and social convention are briefly non-existent in the sanctuary of “My Cottage” ; allowing quiet affections to be exchanged, sheltered from the watchful gaze of Lady Whistledown. While fantasy and reality are entwined time and again, reality comes crashing down upon Benedict’s utterance of the words “be my mistress”. Perfectly timed with the abrupt halt in music, leaving silence to hang heavy, this moment has caused viewers genuine distress – and understandably so.
The side plots of this season have been mostly engaging. Hyacinth’s expanded role feels overdue; her growing tension with Eloise and pointed critiques of her sister’s self-interest have left a strong impression. Violet Bridgerton’s tentative sexual reawakening, paralleling Francesca’s questions about reaching her ‘pinnacle’, neatly explores female desire across generations. By contrast, Lady Danbury’s quarrel with the Queen feels extraneous, functioning primarily to underline the Queen’s anxiety over King George’s declining condition.
With its familiar filming locations, extravagant costumes and characteristic sweeping string orchestra arrangements – notably Taylor Swift’s ‘Enchanted’ and Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Bad Idea Right?’ – this season feels like a natural continuation of what came before. After mild reviews for the third season, this latest chapter has been extremely well received so far, with its closing moments stirring anticipation as the final part of the season comes out on 26 February.
Illustration by Katya Roberts (@katyaillustrates)