Dearest Gentlereader, for anyone in search of a sweeping period romance that doesn’t shy away from discussing more serious topics—such as class divides and even death—Bridgerton season four is perfect for you. The second half of the season was released on Netflix on Feb 26; check out The Highlander’s review of the first half!
The main focus of the season continued to be the love story between Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, and Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha. Backpeddling from his monumental misstep in the first half where he asked Sophie to simply be his mistress, Benedict Bridgerton reaffirms his love for her but explains the main issue coming between their love story: while Benedict Bridgerton has status as a gentleman, Baek is confined to her station as a servant. Any love between them could be a scandal worthy of ruining the future prospects of Benedict Bridgerton’s younger siblings.
Another problem keeping the two apart is Baek’s past. Her mother, who died when she was a child, was also a servant, while her father was a gentleman. The trauma this caused Baek in her upbringing with her evil stepmother Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung, is expertly handled throughout the season, looming behind each decision Baek makes that leads her further from Benedict Bridgerton, but simultaneously causes her to fall deeper in love with him. Distance does, in fact, make the heart grow fonder.
While Baek and Benedict Bridgerton’s love story is the main focus, multiple other storylines expand throughout the episodes. Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, has her life upended when her husband, John Stirling, played by Victor Alli, suddenly dies of an unknown illness. Her grief is especially heartbreaking due to her lack of an heir prior to his passing.
Through Francesca Bridgerton’s era of mourning, John Stirling’s cousin, Michaela Stirling, played by Masali Badusa, remains by her side, helping bring joy back into her life through a joyous celebration of life after the devastating funeral. While Francesa Bridgerton is still deep in the throes of grief, sparks do begin to fly between the two women, continuing to set up their love story for the later seasons.
Bridgerton has always done an excellent job of LGBTQ+ representation. Francesca Bridgerton and Michaela Stirling’s blossoming relationship is an example of this; two women finding love together during the Regency Era is typically unheard of, but Bridgerton is delivering that storyline expertly. Another way the series has highlighted the experiences of LGBTQ+ people is through Benedict Bridgerton, who has a heart to heart with Baek during the second half of the season, where he opens up about his bisexuality and Baek expresses her belief that love, whether it be traditional or untraditional, is still love.
The climax of the story comes in the form of an arrest, of all things. Gun continues on her quest of ruining Baek’s life, and has her arrested for the shoe clips that were gifted to her by her step sister Posy Li, played by Isabella Wei. Simultaneously, Benedict Bridgerton discovers that Baek is his Lady in Silver just before Gun reveals the secret to the court. The Bridgertons save Baek from potential prison by threatening to reveal the secret that changes the future of Baek and Benedict Bridgerton’s entire relationship: Gun stole Baek’s dowry and lied about it.
The Queen, partially in support of any good drama and partially convinced that Baek is actually a noble, supports the union, and the two are finally able to marry, free of any additional scandal. Seemingly out of nowhere, Michaela Stirling abandons Francesca Bridgerton, setting up the love story for the next season. And finally, although the ton has been free of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers for the past few months, a new mystery writer appears to take up the mantle of Lady Whistledown.
