I realize it has been four (FOUR?!) years, but I wanted to get back into blogging while revamping my website. I will have another post soon about blog changes, but in the meantime, let’s talk about what has been consuming my brain for the last few years: Bridgerton! Focusing specifically on the first half of Season 4, which tells Benedict and Sophie’s love story.

Benedict and Sophie’s romance is one of my favorites in the series, but I’ll definitely consider making a separate post for my Bridgerton rankings. An Offer From a Gentleman is one of the best Bridgerton books; easily a top three (and it’s definitely in my top three). I’m a sucker for fairy tales, love at first sight, and magical soulmates, and Benedict and Sophie checked off all those boxes and more.

However, An Offer From a Gentleman is so much more than its tropes. Sophie is one of my favorite characters in the entire series (along with Penelope, Hyacinth, and Kate). It’s impossible not to fall in love with Sophie’s character. The juxtaposition of being a romantic dreamer while forcing herself to face reality is highly compelling. I also adore characters who remain kind no matter what life throws at them, and Sophie is undoubtedly an excellent example of that.

I was not a big fan of Benedict in the book, but I did like how his arc revolved around Sophie. Of all the Bridgerton books, this is probably the only one where the love interest is more central than the Bridgerton sibling, and rightfully so. Sophie deserved her own spotlight, and Benedict moved aside to give it to her. While some of his actions were distasteful (to say the least), the show has adapted An Offer From a Gentleman while leaving his toxic behavior behind, as they do with all the male leads.

The secondary characters were fun too; I loved Sophie integrating into Benedict’s family, especially with his mother and sisters. The book had some iconic moments that rank among the best scenes in the entire series (I’m looking at you, jail encounter). Overall, I have been anticipating Bridgerton Season 4 for a long time, and it definitely didn’t disappoint!

Before I dive into my thoughts on Bridgerton Season 4, I want to talk about why I find this universe so enchanting. Both the show and the books are so much more than a typical historical romance. The show—despite its racist issues (Feminegra has several excellent articles on the subject, starting with this one)—has diverse representation that makes many marginalized communities feel seen. Some great articles on the subject from Mamamia, University of Alberta, Town & Country, Medium, and Entertainment Weekly.

As for the books, I enjoy historical fiction and romance, but I do not often read novels that combine the two genres. Bridgerton is a wonderful exception; each romance is significantly different, with its own tropes, stakes, and conflicts. However, what I love most about this series isn’t even about the romances—it’s about the family dynamics.

Each book relies heavily on the Bridgerton family’s relationships to execute the primary romance. In The Duke and I, Anthony, Colin, and Violet (with a little Benedict) push the romance between Daphne and Simon forward. In The Viscount Who Loved Me, it is Benedict and Colin, but the show gave their roles to Daphne. An Offer From A Gentleman sees Violet, Colin, and the Bridgerton girls play pivotal parts in securing Benedict and Sophie’s happily ever after. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton has Eloise, while To Sir Phillip, With Love has Penelope and the Bridgerton boys. When (S)He Was Wicked has Violet and Colin, while It’s In His Kiss has Violet and Anthony. The Bridgerton series ends with On the Way to the Wedding, which features Kate and Colin as key figures in Gregory and Lucy’s romance.

None of the central love stories would be what they are without the roles the Bridgerton family members play. This family is tightly knit and rich in love and laughter. Romance may be the core of each book, but it is the compelling and captivating Bridgerton family that makes this universe worth it.

I really loved how Bridgerton adapted An Offer From a Gentleman. My only issue with the book was Benedict’s toxic and borderline abusive behavior, from his appalling blackmail to the incessant sexual harassment of Sophie. I had hoped for an accurate adaptation that removes these elements, and I am thrilled to say that Bridgerton Season 4 delivers on this hope.

Yes, Benedict asking Sophie to be his mistress is distasteful, but that is the point of the book. From this moment onward, Benedict embarks on an arc that allows him to grow as a person and understand Sophie. His growth pushes him to realize he would rather be shunned by society than lose Sophie altogether. I was only worried about the blackmail and Benedict’s inability to prioritize Sophie’s well-being over his sexual feelings. Thankfully, the show adapted the narrative in such a way that it eliminates these problematic aspects. It also strengthens the conflict because Benedict truly wants to be with Sophie, but he cannot see any other way.

I adored the little elements Bridgerton added for Benedict and Sophie’s romance. The show utilized Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted,” a staple song for Benedict and Sophie, at an unusual but well-timed moment. The other instrumental song covers were also brilliant, from Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” to Coldplay’s “Life in Technicolor.” Bridgerton expands on Sophie’s character and creates meaningful friendships for her outside of the titular family. While I did miss some iconic book quotes, the masquerade was enchanting and aesthetically pleasing. Overall, I am thrilled with how Bridgerton has adapted Benedict and Sophie’s timeless love story into a charming fairy tale.

Despite how much I loved Benedict and Sophie, I felt that Bridgerton Season 4 continued a disappointing trend that began in Season 3—the slow erasure of the Bridgerton siblings. Naturally, I do not expect everyone in the family to be present 24/7. In fact, it is not even like that in the books. However, Netflix has adapted the show in such a way that allows for at least a couple of family gatherings every season, but it does not capitalize on these opportunities.

The show has expanded the narrative’s scope to include secondary characters and side plots. I am a firm believer that side plots are great if they contribute to the main romance (or prepare the next Bridgerton sibling’s story), and for the most part, they did. For example, the maid wars are relevant to Benedict and Sophie’s story, and I am glad the show included this plot. But for the life of me, I cannot figure out why Varley gets more screen time than the Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton. It is strange that John Stirling will die without Daphne her sister’s husband. Why is Colin frolicking with the Featheringtons at the expense of his own relationships with his siblings? Where are Daphne and Kate when Eloise and Hyacinth fight? Why is Anthony not present for Gregory’s first shave? These may seem like insignificant moments, but they are part of what makes Bridgerton so compelling. The family dynamic is the real magic of Bridgerton, and the show is forgetting that by writing out Daphne and excluding Anthony and Kate from the first half of Season 4.

It would not bother me if the show did not pride itself on having multiple storylines, but it does. I adore some of the original characters, such as Will and Alice Mondrich, and they are a great addition to the narrative. Lady Danbury’s presence is always a highlight, and she is one of the most amusing characters in the books. However, what began in Season 3 by writing out Daphne has turned into Bridgerton Season 4, where Anthony and Kate are nowhere to be found when their family needs them most. Bridgerton always has unnecessary characters taking up too much screen time when we can see more of the family together. What was the purpose of Jack Featherington in Season 2? Theo Sharpe has become entirely irrelevant. Cressida is an entertaining villain, but Bridgerton Season 3 spent way too much time on her. She is even expected to return in Season 4, and I have no idea why. Bridgerton writes out family members but keeps characters that do not matter. And the longer the show does that, the more heart and soul it will lose. I dread seeing what the final season will look like—how many family members will be left? And how many unnecessary characters will still be there?

Will Anthony and Kate ever get to run Bridgerton House, the home that is rightfully theirs? Will they ever get to act as the heads of the family? Will Daphne and Eloise ever get to interact again? Will we ever meet Daphne’s second child and know their name? These are questions Bridgerton must answer, especially considering how beloved these characters are. They are the characters that matter the most outside the season’s central romance, but the show does not treat them as such.

I am excited to see Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 and how the show will adapt the end of Benedict and Sophie’s love story. I am also looking forward to the dynamic between Francesca, John, and Michaela. I am eager to meet Anthony and Kate’s little Edmund and watch them be parents for the first time. I am also hopeful for more Bridgerton family interactions. Unfortunately, I do not expect Daphne, and her absence will be glaringly noticeable when John dies or when Benedict and Sophie get married. The reality is, Bridgerton events do not feel authentic (especially family gatherings) unless all the family members are there.

If this lengthy post was not obvious, I am very much invested in Bridgerton, even if the show does not always make good narrative choices. I do not have previous posts to talk about since this is my first post in four years, but I hope to revamp my blog officially in the next couple of weeks. I have lots of fun ideas planned that I cannot wait to share with you all. I promise I will not disappear on you again. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts, and I’d love to hear what you have to say in return!