Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 Review: An Enchanting Beginning to a Cinderella Tale

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the entirety of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1.

Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 begins the tale of Sophie and Benedict’s love story with their dazzling first meeting at the masquerade ball. Benedict comes away from the evening unable to think of anything but her, his mysterious woman in silver.

As far as meet-cutes go, it’s perfect for several reasons. Romance aside, the masquerade ball does a phenomenal job of introducing Sophie Baek and making us fall for her alongside Benedict.

Introducing the love interest of the season is no easy feat, and Sophie being in disguise and posing as someone other than herself could’ve made things much more difficult for us to get a sense of who she is, but thankfully, that is not the case.

Her awe at the glamour of the ball is so endearing, but Bridgerton also shows us that just because she has a childlike wonder about her doesn’t mean that she is someone who can be walked all over. She’s quick on her feet and will find a way to get out of a situation that she doesn’t wish to be in.

And then, we get to the joy of watching Sophie and Benedict meet when Sophie is not in disguise, and we’re treated to seeing their banter and chemistry unfold outside of the fairytale.

One of the joys of Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 is how many people Benedict ropes into his quest to find his mystery woman. It becomes a family affair, which, for those of us who love the Bridgerton clan, is the best thing.

We’re treated to so many great scenes from Benedict and Eloise going to Penelope for help, to every moment that Violet gets to be a part of the search. We need more Bridgerton family antics in Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2.

One of the biggest hurdles going into this season is showing that Benedict Bridgerton is not an aimless rake; he’s a gentleman fit to be this season’s leading man.

Yes, this was also something that had to be done with Anthony and Colin, but, at least for me, this was more of a pressing concern because we’ve had three seasons of Benedict’s rake-ish antics and him avoiding society and marriage.

His season being pushed so Colin and Penelope’s love story could happen sooner did not help matters.

Thankfully, Bridgerton does a fantastic job of showing us who Benedict truly is and explaining perhaps why he has shied away from society and lived his life in less than proper means. This reveal doesn’t happen quickly and doesn’t feel forced. It comes out naturally through moments of vulnerability, allowing us to get to know Benedict better.

However, he is far from perfect. And while he recognizes that he wants to enter into a meaningful relationship with Sophie, on Bridgerton Season 4 Episode 4, “An Offer from a Gentleman,” he asks her to be his mistress, not his wife. 

It would have been too quick if Benedict decided to buck societal norms and ask Sophie to marry him. Men in his social standing have mistresses; in fact, Anthony even had one prior to falling in love with Kate. It’s a somewhat normal thing for high-standing men to do at that time.

Benedict still makes lots of progress throughout these first four episodes, and Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 is sure to feature even more growth on his part. I, for one, can’t wait to see it.

As for Sophie’s response to Benedict’s proposal, it’s pretty obvious what her answer will be. The show wisely uses flashbacks to help us get to know Sophie more and understand her views on society.

While she can still be enraptured by the beauty of it all, she understands the harsh truth of societal hierarchies. And due to Lady Araminta Gun’s treatment of Sophie after the death of her father, Sophie will never want to be Benedict’s mistress, nor put any potential future child of hers in the position she was in growing up.

This means Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 ends on a frustrating note because Benedict and Sophie are so close to being together and in love, and then Benedict goes and says the wrong thing.

But we have four more episodes of their love story still to go, so here’s hoping Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 is everything we want and more.

Stray Thoughts

• The upstairs/downstairs focus is a lot of fun and gives us a different look at some of our favorite families of the ton.
• All Hyacinth wants is to bond with Eloise, and it breaks my heart that Eloise doesn’t realize that’s what’s happening.
• I continue to grow more and more fond of Francesca and John.
• Enchanted by Taylor Swift is definitely Sophie and Benedict’s song; I love that it is featured in the season. 
• Bridgerton has finally learned how to include Alice and Will in a way that doesn’t feel like they are off on their own separate show.
• Benedict and Sophie stressed me out; I was afraid that someone would catch them together.
• Thank goodness we did not have to witness another Bridgerton courting the wrong sibling. I was worried when Benedict had tea with Posy.
• Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree are the best.
• Cottages are for soulmates, as proven with My Cottage and with Shane’s cottage on Heated Rivalry.

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Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 streams February 26 on Netflix.

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