Key Takeaways
- The fourth season of "Bridgerton" focuses on Benedict’s story, which is a challenge to adapt due to his bland and annoying character.
- The season’s plot is a Cinderella-like story, which doesn’t gel with the show’s aesthetic and feels like a letdown after previous seasons.
- The season’s subplots, including Penelope’s gossip gathering and Lady Danbury’s attempts to retire, feel forced and try-hard.
- The show’s format has a flaw in that its most interesting characters get their happy-ever-afters and then leave the show, making it difficult to maintain momentum.
- The season has its moments of heat and intrigue, but overall it’s tiresome and slow-going.
Introduction to Benedict’s Story
Benedict Bridgerton, the second son of the Bridgerton family, has always been a challenging character to adapt for the Netflix series. Despite the best efforts of Luke Thompson, the actor who plays him, Benedict lacks a firm personality and has been portrayed as a "free spirit" who delights in sexual escapades. This makes it difficult to create an interesting story for him, especially when compared to other characters like Anthony, Penelope, and Eloise. The show’s writers faced an additional challenge in adapting Benedict’s story from the Julia Quinn novels, which is a literal Cinderella story.
The Cinderella Story
The fourth season of "Bridgerton" takes a beat-by-beat approach to retelling the Cinderella fairy tale, with Benedict as the prince and Sophie Baek, a maid, as the silver-clad ingénue. While great TV shows and films have borrowed from fairy tales or adapted them outright, this approach doesn’t gel with the "Bridgerton" aesthetic. The show’s romantic and escapist vibes are shattered by the realistic portrayal of inequity and class differences. The plot feels like a letdown after previous seasons, which had more original and captivating storylines.
Subplots and Character Development
The season’s subplots, including Penelope’s gossip gathering and Lady Danbury’s attempts to retire, feel forced and try-hard. The characters’ storylines lack the depth and complexity of previous seasons, and their motivations are not well-developed. The show’s format has a flaw in that its most interesting characters get their happy-ever-afters and then leave the show, making it difficult to maintain momentum. Anthony and Kate are conveniently "in India" all season, Colin only shows up to make out with wife Penelope, and Daphne hasn’t been seen since Season 2. This makes it challenging for the show to introduce new characters and storylines that are engaging and interesting.
The Season’s Shortcomings
The fourth season of "Bridgerton" is tiresome and slow-going, with rare moments of real heat and intrigue. The lackluster subplots and character development make it difficult to become invested in the story. The show’s writers seem to be twiddling their thumbs, waiting for a more interesting Bridgerton sibling to take over the main story. The season’s reliance on the Cinderella story feels like a cop-out, and the show’s attempt to address inequity and class differences falls flat. Overall, the season is a disappointment, and it’s unclear if the show can recover from this lackluster season.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
Despite the season’s shortcomings, it’s possible that the show can turn things around. With four episodes debuting in February, there are opportunities for the writers to introduce new characters and storylines that are engaging and interesting. The show’s ability to adapt and evolve is crucial to its longevity, and it’s possible that the writers can find a way to make the Cinderella story work within the "Bridgerton" universe. However, for now, the season feels like a letdown, and it’s unclear if the show can regain its edge and become the captivating and romantic series that it once was.
