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Yerin Ha plays Sophie Baek in the latest season of Bridgerton.Netflix
The Bridgerton children continue yearning for spouses when the fourth season of Netflix’s period drama returns, and this time the story sets its sights on the second oldest son, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson).
In the past, Benedict was tied with Eloise (Claudia Jessie) as the least likely Bridgerton to chase marriage, given his penchant for the clubs, his inability to take anything seriously, and his sexual adventures. That all changes in this adaptation of Julia Quinn’s An Offer From a Gentleman, when a stranger appears at the Bridgerton Masquerade Ball and catches Benedict’s eye.
Suddenly, he’s obsessed with learning the identity of the mystery lady who has him re-examining things he has taken for granted. In reality, that lady is a maid named Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) and her past motivates her to keep her identity hidden, even when she learns Benedict is looking for “The Lady in Silver.”
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In Season 4, Benedict Bridgerton wants to uncover the identity of a woman from the Bridgerton Masquerade Ball.Netflix
It’s another story of unrequited love made possible by poor communication, the avoidance of social scandal and undeniable chemistry, which is exactly what you want from a season of this steamy series. And while there are fewer carriage rides of note in Season 4 than in the previous instalment, Ha and Thompson are riled up with enough chemistry to become the subject of infinite reels and re-enactments on social media.
Sophie is an easy character to root for with her strong morals and work ethic, and is exactly the kind of person who can put Benedict in his place. She may begin as a Cinderella type, but she quickly becomes the hero of her own story. Benedict’s attractions are more concerning given the edit the series has given him over the past three seasons, but it’s clear his meeting with the masked woman has altered him. Meanwhile, his eventual scenes with Sophie the maid are meant to show that Benedict is interested in more than the chase.
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Yerin Ha’s character starts off as a Cinderella type but soon becomes the hero of her story.Netflix
Meanwhile, Sophie’s stepmother, Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung, known for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter franchise), is a wonderful antagonist alongside her daughters, Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei). They too are derived from Cinderella tropes, but bring more nuance and depth to the characters as the series unfolds.
Structurally, Sophie’s addition also brings in perspectives the series hasn’t yet explored. There’s a Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs vibe to the season as scribes follow the help and even explore a Maid Wars storyline that showcases how much the elite rely on the men and women under them. Going downstairs at the Bridgerton home is a fascinating journey, especially in the premiere as everyone prepares for the anticipated Masquerade Ball.
Unfortunately for those seeking updates on the other Bridgerton siblings, there is no Jonathan Bailey or Phoebe Dynevor in the first half of the season, although Anthony and Daphne still exist in this world. Instead, Bridgerton shifts focus to Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and how she adjusts to married life in the bedroom, Eloise, who has decided on the spinster life, and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), who gets screen time as she longs to be a part of society.
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Victor Alli as John Stirling and Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton in the latest instalment of the series.Netflix
Even the eldest Bridgerton, matriarch Lady Violet (Ruth Gemmell) has romance to pursue as she continues getting to know a certain gentleman from Season 3. Of course, her main concern continues to be marrying off Benedict, this season’s most eligible bachelor, according to the Queen and Lady Whistledown.
One of the biggest questions facing the series after Season 3’s public reveal that Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) is Lady Whistledown is how that affects the show’s premise itself. It was always a risk to unmask Whistledown too soon, but the series handles it well enough. There are answers in the opening episode, and yes, Julie Andrews returns to narrate after a quick and clever transition.
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Ruth Gemmell returns as Lady Violet Bridgerton alongside Daniel Francis as Lord Anderson.Netflix
What does shift as a result is Penelope’s relationship with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), who is desperate for gossip. Almost immediately she insists on an editorial oversight of sorts, which Penelope has no choice but to follow. Meanwhile, people somehow still don’t see her lurking in the shadows at balls, and gossip continues to come easily.
While the censorship isn’t a huge part of the story, at least not during the first half of the season, it does touch on some real-world parallels that might make some uncomfortable. Smartly, the series doesn’t push far into that thread, however, and continues to be the escapist retreat viewers crave, particularly in turbulent times. That’s the beauty of television, and streaming in particular. When the real world gets too heavy, why not watch beautiful people in beautiful costumes parade about and find love during simpler times?
In that respect Part 1, Season 4 of Bridgerton comes at exactly the right moment. The hardest part about watching along as the romance unfolds will be waiting for the second part to drop on Feb. 26.
