Bridgerton. Is. Back.

I am no Lady Whistledown, but I love to write about the Bridgertons. I have been a Bridgerton fan since the first season, eagerly waiting for the day the hottest son got his love story. To my surprise, especially after last season, season four was amazing. I was glued to my seat for its entirety. I have so much to say, from the wardrobe to the story line, so let’s talk about it!

First, the love story. I truly could not have asked for anything better than a Cinderella retelling from Shonda Rhimes. Like, hello?  I feel like she chose the best brother for this kind of story. Benedict has such a prince charming vibe and natural curiosity, so him going on a goose chase for a woman seemed so fitting. That said, I do really like that the woman came out of nowhere.  The “diamond” story line wasn’t really of importance this time around and Sophie Baek was an absolute joy to have on my screen. She is honestly one of the most level headed female characters I’ve had the pleasure of watching. I feel like with a Cinderella story, it’s very easy to get frustrated with the pacing of the romance and waiting for their paths to cross again, but she made that time feel purposeful. She didn’t want to rush to be a mistress or lose her self respect and I loved that. She put herself first in many ways and as a woman I just had so much appreciation for her. Additionally, Benedict and Sophie’s scenes felt very bookish. As in, it felt as if they were falling off a well written page. Her coming to his aid in the middle of the night and the meeting in the stairwell felt like flipping a page and being met with a wonderful surprise. Yes, I am aware that the show is based on the books, but this season, unlike the others, truly felt like it was written. The message that love transcends all boundaries was just so strong and well illustrated.

Beyond the main couple, this collection of episodes brought forth so many new characters and perspectives to the Bridgerton world. Seeing the behind the scenes of how these high society homes run was magical. The bell system, kitchens, and maid wars was something I didn't even know I needed. Understanding more of John's life, a character we have seen since season 1 was great. And of course Alfie was no exception, I adored him, from his accent to his support of Sophie. Everyone needs an Alfie. I hope this underclass perspective is something the writers continue to do moving forward. Though unfortunately, I think it would be very easy for them to associate this new world with Sophie’s storyline and shut it down as we move on. However, we did see some insight in Queen Charlotte, with the royal footmens’ love story, so I have hope.  

Now, let’s get into this wardrobe. Bridgerton is one of my favorite period pieces because it’s not truly a period piece. It puts a modern twist to everything and I love it! I believe that’s why it has managed to do so well in comparison to similar shows. It’s digestible and easy on the eyes. Families are easily distinguishable by color palettes, and oftentimes those unique colors reflect the characters they’re associated with. For instance, one of my favorite things this season was Araminta. She was an excellent evil step mother and her dresses reflected it well. They almost took a Maleficent route with her clothing items, as seen in the shoulder pads, angles, and constant wear of black. Although the black was assigned because she was a recent widow, it went along perfectly with role in this Cinderella story. Another thing that caught my eye was Penelope. Her color palette switching over to the softness of the Bridgerton house caused her to be in large contrast whenever she re-entered the Featherington house for tea. I adored this small change that soloed her out because it represented her new place in society as a married woman. It also shows the difference in the judgmental, sour-green attitude of the Featherington’s to the soft, kindhearted nature of Penelope. Many people may overlook wardrobe in film, but it can be just as storytelling as the written lines.

The music this season was also spectacular. Even now, while writing this post I am listening to the covers. I feel so bad saying that I had forgotten how much joy Bridgerton renditions bring me. Now, although nothing can outdo “Wildest Dreams” and “Halo” from both the first season and Queen Charlotte,  hearing “All I Wanted” and “Enchanted” brought such a big smile to my face while watching. Also Hyacinth's miniature ball was the absolute cutest. I was so shocked to hear “360” by Charlie XCX, but not surprised at all to hear “Birds of a Feather” because I think it is much easier for the creators to get rights to Billie Eilish songs because she produces them herself with her brother. There are quite a couple re-makings of Billie songs throughout the franchise and I am not complaining because she is one of my favorite artists. Just like I was saying before with the modern twist of the series, adding these popular songs are integral to the magic and romance. After watching Bridgerton, there will definitely be a violinist at my wedding. 

Some may say this is Bridgerton's best season, but for me nothing has topped the first. However, this has become third in line after Queen Charlotte for me. This season just gave me all the romantic feels and happiness. From start to finish, all I wanted was Sophie and Benedict to be together happily. There was never a moment where I doubted their chemistry or story, and for me, that is all I look for in a romance.