I just watched Bridgerton season 4: thoughts beyond the lead characters

This author is about to get scandalous.

Glimpse from Bridgerton season 4, episode 7 (Image credits: Lady Whistledown, Facebook)

Dearest Gentle Reader, 

You may be quite surprised as to find this author penning about a rather unusual and compelling piece on my blog, away from the good girl image of the one writing all things science and technology. This author is venturing into something scandalous, something the ton can’t stop talking about and the YouTube feed exploding, once you have watched Netflix #1 show, Bridgerton season 4.

Part 2 is fire.

There will be plenty of spoilers as I unravel my thoughts over a cup of tea. I mean tea with biscuits. Not the kind Violet Bridgerton shares with Marcus Anderson. Though I particularly found their storyline quite endearing from start to finish. One of my favourite scenes with Violet this season, among many specially her supporting Sophie, was her confessing to Benedict, “Anthony is just like your father, but you… you are my son, through and through.” Her seeing the reflection of her wild side in Benedict was a beautiful representation of ‘the free spirited’ whether it is a man or a woman, whichever phase of life. After a series of exciting and roller coaster emotional moments (like the farewell conversation between Lady Danbury and the Queen, and the final coming together and recognition by the Queen of Sophie and Benedict), the ending with Violet Bridgerton and Marcus Anderson is the one I found particularly bittersweet. On one hand as a writer, I understand that that ending between them kept the roller coaster of the emotions going with the high and the low, I also found Violet’s refusal for marriage even in the long run slightly misplaced and unexpected given she was the one who suggested that idea, so as to not have to sneak away to drink “tea.”

The friendship and acting between the Queen and Lady Danbury was simply marvelous. For me, they were the highlight of this season, the diamonds of the season. And Brimsley’s comforting presence and expressions, always. The internal conflict the Queen faced letting her friend go, embracing the desire her friend yearns wishing to return back to her homeland, the initial moment where the Queen gets the better of herself mistreating her friend, and the friend, Lady Danbury so bravely handling and forgiving it. Forgiveness and freedom, isn’t that what everyone wishes in a friendship? Lady Danbury and the Queen’s conversation and the laughter they shared as if there is no one around (in a ball of probably thousand families) and simply being themselves in that moment will be the scene I will cherish and remember for a long time, after everything becomes foggy from the show and probably up for a rewatch. Shonda Rhimes bringing these two amazing women and actors on the same screen, unapologetically themselves, seeing two women of colour shining in the space as strong characters not completely dependent or made for uplifting other main characters, was so cathartic and it probably does a lot more for representation than changing Francesca’s love interest, Michael to Michaela.

Now I haven’t read the books, so I am not so mad moving away from the books and adding its own Shondaland spirit and flavours.

Though there is a plot line from the book I found out while reading the thousand comments under YouTube videos and Reddit, that somehow feels like a missed opportunity that I will unravel later as I rant.

Not gently speaking, the first four episodes of the season 4 were average, as they were following the Bridgerton formula from what worked well in the previous seasons, the need to put the equivalent of Polin’s carriage scene as Benophie’s staircase scene, which to be honest is not really the most comfortable position for pleasuring a woman as they showed (I wonder what the intimacy coordinator thought), though I did like the poetic metaphor and camera work in the staircase scene Benedict walking the stairways up and Sophie coming down, as if merging their worlds together as each one steps closer to the world of the other. There was even a repetitive carriage scene from Polin, which was unnecessary or lazy when thinking what to do with Polin again this season, even though the carriage scene was relishing in the last season. There were plenty of moments with the lovely Polin, though I wouldn’t have minded a few of those being replaced with MORE OF KANTHONY! Where were they this season? I know Anthony has become a big star post his Bridgerton fame, including filming for Jurassic Park, but c’mon how hard is it to give them a few more dialogues when everyone knows the couple’s chemistry is just naturally electrifying of all the Bridgerton couples! Call me biased but it would also have been sweet to hear Anthony or Kate share a dialogue on their trip to India. Someone from the many fan theories I have been reading also suggested that the scene where Francesca is forced into a pregnancy examination after the death of her husband Lord Kilmartin, would have been much more powerful had the scene been delivered by Kate instead of Benedict standing up for Francesca. I couldn’t digest that a mere contractor/lawyer had more command than Mr Bridgerton, the second son of the family and person in-charge of the royal affairs at the time.

While I found the first four episodes of the season beautiful but average, the last four episodes of the part 2 is why I would call Season 4 the best of all seasons! It simply took everything that Bridgerton stands for to the next level. For me, that is romance and representation.

Speaking of the missed opportunity from the books, I found out that the moment that hits Benedict that Sophie is the lady in silver is when one day she was playing with some children who covered her eyes. I think that could have been quite a scene, recreating Sophie’s mask look in the ordinary day to day moments, and Benedict coming to realization as he sees her. While the necklace scene was probably easier to fit the script, I do not remember Benedict noticing the necklace during their encounter at the ball and perhaps a compliment from Benedict on her necklace could have been critical in episode 1. Or did he notice the necklace when they first met? I don’t remember.

Coming to the leads of the show, Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson, two wonderful theatre actors, nailed the role as individual characters on the show. Together, I did not find their chemistry as electrifying as Daphne and Simone or Kate and Anthony.

Benophie were probably more electrifying than Polin, but that’s because Polin’s relationship started with friendship, which they played beautifully. Luke absorbed himself in the skin of Benedict Bridgerton taking the lead, we always wanted him as the lead and he did not disappoint, and Sophie whose subtlety and delicacy in her role spoke volumes for her character, as the ward (I am still not sure what was meant by that in the episode with the father).

Now the lack of chemistry I found between them could be due to either of the two reasons: Bridgerton going overboard with the intimacy scenes particularly sex, which sort of takes away the charm. Even though we know the audience wants that, perhaps the build up for the scenes was too rushed and the pursuit is where the anticipation, fun and butterflies lie. Or the other reason could be Bridgerton going mad with the press outings and interviews they make the lead actors do promoting the season specially between the part 1 and 2 one-month long break (why did Netflix not drop part 2 on the weekend of the Valentine’s Day?). Having watched almost every single one of the interviews of Luke and Yerin together, which is very well part of their acting job, but sometimes they have more chemistry in their interviews together than in the season, simply as two human beings coming together, interacting with each other and being joyful together. I remember every frame that Anthony and Kate would come on the screen together was a delight. That magic was missed this season.

Anthony of course stole the show with his ONE LOOK near the desk seeing Benedict’s sketches of the mask lady.

All being said, I can’t go without praising the dance at the funeral and the episode 7 being the best of all in this season and perhaps of all seasons. It was heartbreaking, everyone’s complete switch of dresses in black and navy blue beyond Araminta’s, and Francesca’s role brings sort of this anticipation every moment you watch her on the screen keeping it exciting, and wondering, how is she feeling, is she mourning or is it her attraction to this cousin? I know a lot is being said on the gender change of her love interest character, but I found the scenes between Francesca and Michaela very well thought and put together, be it from the slight moment of them sitting together close to each other, or to their dance scene at the not-so-proper funeral. Although I cannot imagine a whole season with them.

I am rooting for the next season to be of Eloise, but I sure want to see Francesca and her love story continue that is known to be the most beautiful in books. I am curious how they will present it with the twists and challenges the show writers have brought upon themselves. I am sure they are having fun creating the Bridgerton world.

This author is yearning some freshness from the coming seasons, it doesn’t need to be the Bridgerton formula, nor even the formula from the original books, but something truly authentic to the characters of the story in all their messiness on their journey of discovering love.

And of course, who is the new Lady Whistledown? Another brave move to move away from the books.