The New Love Story in the 18+ Period Drama Bridgerton Is Criticized as Bland
After nearly two years, Netflix’s beloved 19th-century–set series Bridgerton has returned with a new couple, bringing a Cinderella-like fairy-tale romance.
Photo: Netflix
Over the previous three seasons, audiences have become familiar with how the “Bridgerton universe” operates. Each season focuses on a different aristocratic, wealthy, and beautiful child of the Bridgerton family. Every romance begins with a chance encounter, develops through the suspenseful “will they or won’t they” phase, erupts into passion mid-season, briefly falls apart after an argument or the revelation of a dark secret, and is then mended in time to end with a perfectly happy marriage.
The male lead of season 4 is Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson), the second son of the prestigious family—a talented artist with bisexual tendencies. Now, in a season that feels entirely different from those before it, he steps into the spotlight as the most sought-after bachelor of the family. Part 1 of season 4 offers a slight twist on the Cinderella fairy tale, but according to Variety, the romance between Benedict and the maid Sophie Baek (played by Yerin Ha) is the least interesting aspect—feeling safe to the point of blandness.
The main couple of Bridgerton season 4 (Photo: Netflix)
Across four episodes, Sophie struggles between the fleeting, magical romance she shared with Benedict and the exhausting reality of life as a maid. One of the most compelling elements of the season is the exploration of the newly introduced Penwood family legacy. Katie Leung—who played Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series—delivers an impressive performance as the formidable Lady Penwood, Araminta Gun.
The introduction of the Penwood household brings an intriguing new breeze (Photo: Netflix)
Actress Yerin Ha also shines as a sharp, sincere young woman determined to seek happiness for herself. However, based on what is shown in Part 1 of season 4, the romance between Sophie and Benedict lacks the heat and seductive “chemistry” that characterized the show’s previous lead couples. Their connection does not leave a particularly strong impression on screen. Bridgerton is famous for its steamy scenes between its main couples, but the first half of season 4 notably lacks them—and even includes some controversial handling.
In the first half of season 4, the lead actors have yet to create the kind of passionate, sizzling romance viewers expected (Photo: Netflix)
That said, season 4 does open up new bright spots beyond the usual aristocratic world. Viewers are taken into kitchens, laundry rooms, and the private spaces of those who keep aristocratic life running smoothly. Seeing their worries, hardships, joys, and immense workloads expands the world of Bridgerton in a way that feels necessary to sustain audience interest in future seasons.
