The Newest Cinderella Story: A Review of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1
Graphic by Maya Pegues
Watching the first part of Netflix’s new season of Bridgerton feels like a sweet treat at the end of a hard day. Even though it’s another Cinderella story, I’m eating it up. Lead characters Sophie “get out of your house” Baek and Benedict “yes of course, I’ll leave right now” Bridgerton are an iconic addition to the well-known Cinderella and Prince Charming archetypes. Better, season 4 offers a nice balance in its storytelling. Some of the magic I felt was lost in the previous season seems to have been restored. All the moving parts that make Bridgerton flow come back together: the costumes, the music, the cinematography, interesting but not consuming side plots, and most importantly, the main couple at the center of it all.
Audiences are quickly introduced to the season’s main tension: a rigid class divide. Whereas, in earlier seasons, the audience fell in love with the glamour of the Regency-era upper class. Now, the camera focuses on the characters working behind the scenes for the ton. This introduction establishes an important element of our main couple before seeing either of them. That is, Sophie and Benedict are from two drastically different worlds. One, a maid, must be constantly aware of and in service to the other, while the other, an aristocrat, has the privilege of glossing over the face of the person pouring them their tea.
Early on, the audience views all these social nuances through Sophie’s eyes. The montage that leads us into the masquerade ball is a masterpiece in its own right. The chandeliers, candles, and the floor painted to resemble the night sky create the illusion that these extravagantly dressed, ornamented dancers are spinning through the night sky. The regency-era grandeur is only emphasized by Sophie’s awestruck reaction. Audiences appreciate her ability to enjoy the event rather than help service it. In contrast, we watch Benedict, who has become numb to it all, immediately drawn to the joy radiating off her. Just like the viewers watching at home, Benedict’s perspective of his world begins to shift.
Though our main couple isn’t the only one shining in this new season. The side storylines are just as compelling without overshadowing the lead couple’s narrative. I immediately think of a scene between two key characters, Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, in which we watch them struggle with their relationship. Power, social class, and friendship are explored through the relationship between these two women. Another amazing side storyline follows matriarch Violet Bridgerton as she seeks a romantic connection. We see her struggles as a widow and mother as she redefines her place in the world and with herself. On screen, it’s so rare to see older women given the space to evolve as characters. It’s refreshing to watch, and I’m excited to see how each storyline develops in the second half of the season.
All in all, Part 1 of season 4 lays out some amazing groundwork. I am hopeful this level of care continues into the second part of the season. Even more, I am excited to follow Sophie and Benedict’s complicated love story, though I cannot help but worry about how it will end. With her wicked stepmother moving right next door, there’s definitely a lot that can go wrong before things go right for our dear character, Sophie.
