Netflix’s Bridgerton is back for its fourth season, bringing fans another swoon-worthy tale of love, drama, and social intrigue. This time, the spotlight falls on the charming eternal bachelor Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), the illegitimate daughter of an earl who comes to work as a maid for the Bridgerton household. Like previous seasons, the series is based on a Julia Quinn novel—in this case, An Offer From a Gentleman, published in 2001.
Season four’s storyline evokes a Cinderella-like romance. At a masquerade ball, Benedict falls for a masked woman—Sophie—without knowing her true identity. Following her father’s death, Sophie is forced to serve as a maid by a cruel stepmother. After being fired by Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) for posing as nobility, Sophie finds herself in a dangerous situation with a new employer—but Benedict steps in, rescuing her and securing a position for her with his mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell).
The season’s most talked-about plot point revolves around Benedict making a controversial offer to Sophie early in their story. Constrained by Regency-era class norms, he initially asks her to become his mistress rather than his wife. This moment has sparked backlash among some fans: “Benedict treats Sophie like utter trash,” reads a Goodreads review. “He blackmails her to either become his mistress or move into his family’s house as a servant because he won’t even entertain the idea of marrying someone as lowly as her.”
The series adaptation softens Benedict’s more controlling tendencies from the book. In the show, he is portrayed as socially liberated and engagingly complex, having explored a queer throuple in the previous season. Some readers note the difference: “Where is that artsy, coy, carefree, bisexual Benedict we saw on the streaming series? In the book, he is a manipulative, controlling jerk,” wrote one reviewer.
Understanding Benedict’s actions requires a lens into early 19th-century societal expectations. Julia Quinn explained at a 2023 book event that while modern audiences may see his proposal as problematic, it reflects the reality of the era: “Even if he thought he loved her desperately, marriage would not have been the first thing on his mind because that’s just not how society worked then.” By the story’s end, Benedict reforms his rakish ways, and he and Sophie eventually marry. Their life together remains constrained by social norms, living quietly in the country because their union is not fully accepted by society.
Fans can expect a season full of romantic tension, period drama, and the luxurious visual style that has defined Bridgerton. From sweeping ballrooms to private family moments, season four balances the emotional stakes of forbidden love with the series’ trademark wit, opulence, and modern sensibility.
For viewers, the evolution of Benedict’s character offers a compelling arc. While he begins as a flawed, socially rigid man, the story tracks his growth into someone capable of love and empathy, bridging the gap between regency convention and contemporary storytelling. Meanwhile, Sophie’s journey from servant to equal partner in love highlights themes of resilience, self-worth, and challenging societal constraints.
Season four demonstrates that Bridgerton continues to combine historical intrigue with modern perspectives on romance and power. As audiences follow Benedict and Sophie’s path, the series explores timeless questions about love, class, and personal growth—all wrapped in lush period settings and unforgettable costumes.
