SPOILERS BRIDGERTON SEASON 4 - Benedict’s story

[IWantToHibernate]

I couldn’t see a thread so thought I would start one.

The first 4 episodes drop on Netflix tomorrow (29th Jan). We will then need to wait until 26th February for the other 4.

We all know it’s not a realistic period drama but it’s great escapism and I’m looking forward to binging the first 4 eps.

I binged all 4 yesterday but got stuck overthinking when Sophie forgets her coin purse, has rendezvous with Benedict on the stairs midway and then leaves to re-join her friends, still WITHOUT HER COIN PURSE. Did they just buy Sophie her drinks all night?

I realise I’m straining at gnats. 😂

OMG, same, it really bothered me 😂

It would have worked better if Benedict had gone looking for Sophie slightly later; if she'd already got her coin purse and was on her way back down the stairs, while he was going up to find her. I suppose they wanted the symbolism of Benedict being physically higher and Sophie being physically lower, reflecting their class status.

I do think it would have made more sense if they’d skipped forward a year so it makes sense that he doesn’t recognise Sophie - but I guess that wouldn’t work with the other storylines going on at the same time

Yes, it was 2 years in the book. They should have included the masked ball bit last series.

How did Benedict know which room was Sophie's? In my head the housekeeper would have been in charge of allocating servants rooms.

My main issue was that Benedict opened her bedroom door and left it wide open.

Is it just that he’s a man who never has to close his own doors?

I’m glad it wasn’t just me! I was thinking that back at The Tavern, all the other servants would have labelled her a cheapskate for ‘forgetting her purse’ AGAIN. 😂

Me too. I think there’s plenty of chemistry going on and loving this series. Series 2 was my favourite, wasn’t so keen on Daphne or Penelope as the lead women, but I’m enjoying the Cinderella vibe.
My goodness, Lord A’s bottom- lucky Violet!

Same, I love the chemistry in this season. Violet is fabulous, I love her storyline so far!

Can anyone remember Elouise and the boy from the book store I was hoping that would be a story

I have read the book and watched part 1 of season 4 twice now. I haven’t overly focused on the details and have enjoyed the first 4 episodes. I love the My Cottage and lake scenes and think Yerin and Luke have done a great job. You have to suspend belief a bit over the fact he doesn’t recognise Sophie as the lady in the Silver dress but I guess the story would be over. I think the Queen is brilliant in this and wonder if the death in part 2 is the King? Other options are Lord Kilmartin. Maybe Marina but I don’t think Lady Bridgerton would go to her funeral as she was a Featherington cousin.

I like to see the bonding scenes with Penelope and Francesca and the increased screen time for Hyacinth. Eloise is annoying me this season with her constant put downs of Hyacinth, Penelope and Francesca. Love the Pinnacle discussion and the lovey dovey Colin and Pen. I am definitely looking forward to Part 2 especially as Anthony and Kate are in it. I also really want to see Araminta get her comeuppance.

I have finished the 4 episodes and really enjoyed them. I am going through a very busy time at work and watching an episode each night after a long day of doing complex tasks that require absolute concentration may have added to my enjoyment because they have been the perfect antidote I needed. Proper switch your brain off and enjoy the silliness and beauty type tv.

But they are intended to be fun and fluffy and no way historically accurate, so I am surprised at the comments on here picking holes and focusing on things like the horses being wet or how unrealistic some aspects are. Though I admit I did feel a jolt about the coin purse - but I think it’s due to my own horror at the idea of not being able to pay my own way and people thinking I am being CF!

I also think the posters complaining about it being woke should calm down. The fact that some of the cast are ethnic minorities or have disabilities is frankly the least of the issues regarding historical accuracy. And why are you still watching it 4 seasons in, when it has always been like this? Are you hate watching so you can grumble about brown people on your telly? Give it up!

I'm not shocked at him asking her to be his mistress.. Just disappointed 🤣

It's more the hypocritical double standards, that add to B being an unattractive 'hero' for me - he's presented apparently the good guy, the one we are meant to root for, who values maids and will defend their honor. Yet, while he chases after the mystery woman who he thinks is of his class, it's all yearning and gentle hand kissing, Sophie as a maid gets a quick tuppenny upright on the back stairs and an offer to be another one of his side pieces...

They will inevitably end up together but only because she's 'not really' a maid but an earls natural daughter, and her lineage and education make her a 'suitable' match. While he may develop a conscience and some sort of character there will then need to be some sort of shenanigans that sanitise her to the ton and shore up the perfect bridgerton family reputation , other it wouldn't be a happy ending.

I will of course be watching the rest though,🤔 critical as I am, because I now need to see just how crass Netflix can get with its clunky attempts at preachy relevance. And I love crafting a good rant.

To be fair, all the men in Bridgerton are the same with their double standards. Remember Anthony and Sienna. It’s probably more a symptom of the class system than anything else. They knew they couldn’t upset a noble family by ruining a debutante’s reputation, as it would harm her prospect of making a ‘good’ marriage. Perhaps the lower class ‘peasants’ didn’t care so much about it.

The printer? I thought he was going to radicalise her but it got put on the back burner.

@JustFish a tupenny upright 😂
See thing is he found her coin purse didn't he...

We still don't know what was in that magical bottle that healed his wound so wonderfully but I think Sophie should keep hold of it so he do a daily dunk of his meat and veg because that will need some magical healing...it's clappier than a koala!

I read something interesting that the costume designers have purposefully reflected the personalities of each child in Violet Bridgerton dresses and style, for each season.

• Season 1: Daphne - Soft, muted, supportive. Soft blue and lilac, elegant but restrained. Like Daphne taking finding a husband seriously but romantic.
• Season 2: Anthony- Mature, elegant, rich in texture. Same soft blues and lilac, but with more embellishment. To copy Anthony's head of family mature view.
• Season 3: Colin - more daring, but still refined, more vibrant colours. Reflects Colin adventurous side.
• Season 4: Benedict - Sophisticated, sexy but romantic. Deep lavender and purple and hair down. Reflects Benedict's wild side.

I'm at the part with the poor horses. But also why did they light the fire in the room and then immediately retire to bed?

That’s what I said 🤣🤣🤣☹️

There was probably some poor stable boy who lives in the hayloft over the stables, who came out for the horses.

A longer trailer for part 2 is out. It shows Benedict’s reasoning for the mistress proposal.

For those who have read the books - do the Mondriches have more of a role/make more sense in them? Because they seem so random here. Lady Danbury is so sidelined as well compared to the first season. Although maybe that's the point: she's ruled the roost for a long time and is now wanting something new. I get that they're trying to show her grooming Alice to take over her role, which in theory could be an interesting story, but it feels like so long since she's had a decent plotline that the stakes of a new 'Lady Danbury' are pretty much non-existent. I think also with Benedict choosing Sophie, and Francesca potentially choosing Michaela, it feels like we're moving into an era of Bridgerton where the whole diamond/Queen's approval thing has become a bit irrelevant to the central storylines.

The Mondriches are not even in the books! And I don’t understand why they have been added to the series as they add nothing. The books have enough material without adding in needless characters.

The Mondriches don’t feature at all. Neither does the queen for that matter, or Lady Danbury. No love interest for Violet.

The books really don’t have sub-plots or extra characters.