Bridgerton 4 is like Cinderella, but with something extra This time it's the turn of Benedict and Sophie, a nobleman and a maid who fall in love with each other
Before the fourth season of Bridgerton, the first part of which is available on Netflix from January 29, it was Downton Abbey that took us into the secret corners of English servant life. A game of upstairs-downstairs, in-and-out, of drawing rooms and teas served in the most elegant parts of the house, and long communal tables where one could laugh at the lords and gossip about the aristocracy’s hypocrisies. And, indeed, Bridgerton is mainly about gossip, a flagship of the platform that continues its mission of matchmaking all eight Bridgerton siblings. This time, it’s the turn of the second-born Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson.
Bridgerton is basically Cinderella, especially in the fourth season
As many have already noticed, from Julia Quinn’s novel (An Offer from a Gentleman, the third published), the story focused on the young man and his future bride is a reimagining of the Cinderella fairy tale. However, the series begins where the tales, as told by the Brothers Grimm among others, ended. The loss of a glove (instead of a slipper) by the maid Sophie, played by new addition Yerin Ha, triggers a frantic search by the dashing libertine, who meets a mysterious lady in silver during a masked ball and cannot find her once everyone returns home. Mr. Bridgerton does not know that the girl who has stolen his heart is inappropriate for his social rank. Sophie, in fact, serves one of Mayfair’s families, and pursuing a relationship with the gentleman would be unsuitable for both the nobleman and the young woman.
The rich and the poor: Bridgerton season 4 plot on Netflix
The rich and poor trope was certainly missing in the previous seasons of the Netflix show, and it must be said that the focus on the hidden rooms of the servants is indeed the most enjoyable part of Bridgerton’s return. Once again, the series preserves every hallmark it established since its 2020 debut. Here, the desire to marry is more a wish of the mothers than of the young people involved, yet the rule remains that everyone will eventually meet the love of their life and walk down the aisle. Like the rakish Benedict, who in the previous three seasons had declared he would never marry. Both Julia Quinn and now Netflix (as well as Mama Bridgerton) had other plans for the character, turning him into the romantic lead of a story focused on class differences, complicating the pursuit of his unexpected new goal.
Season Review: effective but not refined
The fourth season shifts to a different perspective, handled with the series’ writing style, which is not exactly refined but always effective given the romance genre it belongs to. The series explores the consequences of a love story when it involves two different worlds. It’s not just a matter of social rank, which seems insurmountable, but also the dignity of a woman who, in a subordinate role, must be careful not to fall victim to retaliation. This position highlights the power imbalance that Benedict must be cautious about if he wants to be a true gentleman and not force a subordinate. It’s also a risk for Sophie’s future, alerting the audience to what could happen to a servant whose reputation is tarnished, forced to fend for herself and potentially lose her livelihood because of the stigma others may assign to her.
Part two will be released at the end of February 2026
Although we will have to wait for the second part of Bridgerton 4, arriving on February 26, we cannot ignore what will happen to Benedict and Sophie. What’s more interesting is the surrounding context than the actual love story, as it encourages reflection on the role of women and those who, not born into nobility, must carefully maintain their place in society.
