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.

Sophie was really stupid not to ask to see a copy of the will sooner

Who would she ask though?

That sounds about right 🙄

A legal person, her father must have had a lawyer?

She was just a child when her father died though. She was probably kept away given that her dowry was being hidden from her?

Yes I suppose I was thinking if she hadn't been acknowledged as his it might make it tricky to demand to see his will.

Of course he made the classic mistake of trusting his wife to look after his daughter.

Just finished last night, delighted to hear about the wedding scene, I would have totally missed that.
I enjoyed it, but less than the others.
Why did they not film Anthony and Kate at John's funeral when they were available for other scenes?
Why did Violet change her mind? Did she decide she didn't really love him?
Must read Bendicts book and Pen and Colin now

I read an interview with the producers about Benedict needing to step up. If Anthony was there he would have done the funeral speech, taken charge with dealing with Parliament. It serves Benedict’s story better if Anthony’s absent or for Anthony to serve as an antagonist to his brother.

I thought Violet changing her mind was great - she probably loved him but wanted to rediscover who she is outside of being a wife and mother.

Rochester had quite a lot of red flags really didn’t he….

i did enjoy this series

did we deliberately not see the Duke, Cressida’s husband

did i misunderstand, I thought Sophie’s father was legitimately married to her mother but she died and he then married Araminta

did we deliberately not see the Duke, Cressida’s husband

He got out of the carriage before Cressida didn't he?

I thought Sophie’s father was legitimately married to her mother but she died and he then married Araminta

No they were never married.

Was he a Duke? I thought he was merely an Earl (Thumbs through Debretts Peerage)

He was also at Cressida’s ball - she was talking to him when fretting about the Queen not being there and when she said she’d have to make a speech. It’s a shame he was just window dressing, no lines.

I can’t remember if Cressida said it was a love match of any kind - only that he was very taken with her when he visited her in Wales.

Did the different titles actually confer different responsibilities or indicators of wealth? Or were they just ceremonial/symbolic by this point? I’m curious what it all meant in the Regency period/what it means now practically, beyond all hierarchy and the particulars of how to address each other.

By that time they were pretty symbolic. They were obviously indicators of social status but you could have a commoner who was worth more than a Duke at that point but a Duchess would outrank a plain Mrs at any social event.

The titles and degrees of precedence would have meant a great deal, socially and certainly in the marriage mart - but it was more complicated than that.
Social acceptance and marriage eligibility was mulidimensional and could be influenced by fortune and social standing eg an Earl might outrank Baron by precedent, but an impoverished or scandal beset earl, with a poor reputation would not have been considered a good match when compared with a Baron with unencumbered estates, adequate fortune and good reputation.
Quite a few plain Mr's without title, but with fortune and breeding were leaders of society whole dukes and other nobility could be shunned for certain behaviours and situations.

Thanks that’s very interesting.

In terms of responsibilities, was their role only to manage their estates? John was the only one I can remember who mentioned attending parliament.

Also thinking about Sophie’s comment about the endless free time Benedict has - I can’t imagine being so rich and having nothing to do unless you had an estate to manage. Do they really just spend time on hobbies and socialising throughout their lives?

Was there some mention about Simon going to Parliament in the first series? As a Duke he would have had a seat in the House of Lords, but Viscount Bridgerton wouldn't automatically have had one.
A second son would probably have been forced into a career in the navy or army (and this is the time of the Napoleonic wars, so many opportunities for rapid advancement). Third sons would probably go into the church.

I think Viscount Bridgerton might have been eligible to sit in the House of Lords as the viscountcy doesn't appear to be a courtesy title attached to an Earldom. Also viscounts with courtesy titles (sons of Earls often) were eligible to stand for the House of Commons - and with the Regency being the era of the Rotten Borough - they were almost assured of being elected (especially if their father controlled the votes 😉)

While it was common for some younger sons to follow the Army-Church-Law (but only as a barrister as solicitors were too close to "trade") - some very wealthy families had subsidiary estates for they younger sons - I presume Benedict's My Cottage produces an income. Colin and Penelope presumably have use of the Featherington Estate as their son is the heir.

So it’s been confirmed: season 5 will be Francesca’s story.

I am disappointed. I think they needed to leave a bit of time after John’s death before her story, and also her story has featured heavily over the last 2 seasons. Season 5 should have been Eloise with Fran absent or just in the background.

Do you think we might see Eloise starting to write to Sir Philip? Inky fingers (so people wonder if she's the new Lady Whistledown), lots of mysterious time at her writing desk etc. And then that come to fruition in s6?
Agree though, years are meant to pass between Francesca being widowed and being ready to look for love again.

Yes perhaps. I wonder why they’re waiting so long to do Eloise’s story when it feels overdue now. Fran was in mourning for a while, and didn’t Michael(a) go away for a couple of years abroad?

Philip has children though, so they need time to get into the story (without spoilers). Also she starts writing to him after the death of his wife and for quite a while, so that story needs setting up too.

I can sort of see why - Francesca’s story has been going for two seasons already, so time to wrap it up? Whereas there hasn’t been any buildup for Eloise yet, apart from her softening on marriage.

Do you think they will actually film in Scotland?? I was thinking I was looking forward to the scenery but then I remembered how much cgi Bridgerton uses 😅