The hit Netflix period drama “Bridgerton” returns for its much ballyhooed fourth season. Look forward to new stories and dynamic new players! Set to premiere on January 29, the first four episodes will explore the lives of the Bridgerton family as they navigate romance, societal expectations, and personal aspirations. What’s most significant about this season, though, is its focus on love at all stages of life, presenting a refreshing variety of relationships.
Ruth Gemmell returns as Lady Violet Bridgerton, matriarch of the Bridgerton clan. Joining her is Luke Thompson, who stars as her son Benedict Bridgerton. Benedict, fortunately for us, has an artist’s spirit and the spirit of a rebel. Now, he’s embroiled in a Romeo and Juliet-like romance that defies the expectations of their warring families’ class divisions. He meets Yerin Ha‘s character, Sophie Baek, a maid who attends Lady Violet’s grand masquerade ball in disguise.
Sophie Baek’s character is delightfully drawn, with what Yerin Ha calls a “fun, play-like quality.” The resulting masquerade ball marks a significant turning point for all characters alike. It challenges them to explore their emotions amidst the overall scale of the event’s magnificence. That plotline nails exactly what I think fairy tales should do, describing it as something like a real world Cinderella story.
Hannah Dodd replaces Ruby Stokes as Francesca Bridgerton, and we see Nicola Coughlan return to her role as Penelope Bridgerton. Both characters play integral roles in their development and ultimately charting new paths for the growing Bridgerton family. The series continues to expand its multi-racial ensemble cast with the addition of Katie Leung (Harry Potter) as Lady Araminta Gun.
As the season progresses, Lady Violet Bridgerton encounters the prospect of a new romance. She has her sights set on ambitious banker Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis). Their relationship is the most poignant and important part of the narrative, as it explores vulnerability and acceptance despite societal expectations. As Daniel Francis reminds us, it was a complicated thing—Violet and Marcus’s love story.
“One of the important things about their relationship is that, with everything they carry, that you see them explore this in a kind of very vulnerable way, find acceptance and attraction and spark and chemistry and all these kinds of things.” – Daniel Francis
Perhaps the most notable aspect of “Bridgerton” inclusivity is in the show’s extensive web of relationships. The goal of the series is to connect with a wide audience demographic, especially youth who often don’t see themselves represented in romantic storylines.
“We recognize the fact that our age group is a demographic that is probably quite large in our audience, and so it’s nice to kind of represent them — well, represent us. I mean they’re our age, we’re not dead yet,” – An unnamed female cast member
The reality of age representation brings along the beauty of wisdom, experience, care and understanding. The show aims to acknowledge all types of love – including platonic, familial, and romantic – without having to overly explain or defend itself.
“It’s just so nice to be able to explore that without having to over-explain and exist and breathe life, and actually just tell a love story between two people,” – An unnamed female cast member
Golda Rosheuvel, the actress who plays Queen Charlotte, stresses that the series is more about class struggle than a Romeo-and-Juliet tale.
“And it’s interesting as well to open up the class element to their story, to their Cinderella story, and to open what happens, the upstairs, downstairs element in the season,” – Golda Rosheuvel
Class distinction complicates the romantic desires of both Benedict and Sophie, amplifying them exponentially. It’s a powerful hand in how public policy says who gets to be normal on how we love.
“I think that adds to the love affair of who is allowed to be in love in this world,” – Golda Rosheuvel
Luke Thompson shares how his character Luke is dealing with his romantic feelings for Sophie Baek. He reflects on the irony that though Benedict appears soft and warm, his life was laid out in a way to prevent love.
“It’s funny isn’t it? Because it was actually sort of like a life designed to avoid love, I think,” – Luke Thompson
As the season progresses, viewers will be treated to a nuanced exploration of love and friendship—one that doesn’t rely solely on romance to make an impact. Each character struggles with their own unique challenges and dreams while developing friendships beyond one another.
Hannah Dodd shares that she is proud to be part of a show that promotes exploration and the beauty of different kinds of love.
“I’m really proud to be a part of that. I think this is a show that celebrates all kinds of love,” – Hannah Dodd
