If you get your tea from Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, you’re in the right place. A new season of Bridgerton arrives this week, and with it a brand-new love story for Shonda Rhimes’ Regency series.
The Cinderella-esque romance plot, based on Julia Quinn’s 2001 novel An Offer From a Gentleman, centers on forbidden love and will be at the heart of this high-society social season in Mayfair. This time, Luke Thompson’s Benedict Bridgerton will be the one swept off his feet by a character new to the series, whom he initially only knows as a woman behind a silver mask.
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in Bridgerton’s Season 4. (Liam Daniel/Netflix)
Do grab your parasol — let us promenade and discuss.
When will Season 4 of Bridgerton grace Netflix?
Bridgerton Season 4, dear readers, will be Netflix’s event of the season, consisting of eight episodes. The first half premieres this week on Jan. 29 at 3 a.m. ET, and the second half arrives on Feb. 26, the streaming service announced back in October.
What are the names of the episodes in Season 4?
Part 1 (Jan. 29)
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Episode 1: “The Waltz”
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Episode 2: “Time Transfixed”
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Episode 3: “The Field Next to the Other Road”
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Episode 4: “An Offer From a Gentleman”
Part 2 (Feb. 26)
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Episode 5: “Yes or No”
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Episode 6: “The Passing Winter”
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Episode 7: “The Beyond”
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Episode 8: “Dance in the Country”
Where did things leave off with the ton in Season 3?
At the end of Bridgerton Season 3, Penelope Featherington Bridgerton came clean about being Lady Whistledown, the ton’s detailer of gossip and builder-destroyer of relationships extraordinaire. Penelope’s truth came out in the middle of a ball attended by Queen Charlotte, who had been pursuing Lady Whistledown’s identity throughout the show’s seasons.
This cleared up a few conundrums:
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Penelope and her husband, Colin, no longer had to keep such a deep secret.
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Cressida, who discovered Penelope’s true identity, could no longer blackmail Penelope in exchange for money.
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Lady Featherington, who was accused of fraud by a solicitor, now believes the Featheringtons’ money came from Lady Whistledown’s earnings.
Penelope also promised Queen Charlotte that she would use this writing power more responsibly and issued her first paper under her real name: Penelope Bridgerton, “previous wallflower, current columnist and observer.”
Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) married John Stirling (Victor Alli) rather quickly at a small wedding at the Bridgerton family home. The Season 3 finale revealed a plot twist in Francesca’s love story when John introduces her to his cousin, Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza). Sparks of chemistry fly for Francesca upon meeting Michaela, marking the first time a queer romance will play out in the Bridgerton series.
Francesca and John are headed to Scotland, where the Stirling home is located. They are joined by Michaela and Eloise Bridgerton, Francesca’s sister.
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in Bridgerton’s Season 4. (Liam Daniel/Netflix)
(Liam Daniel/Netflix)What can fans expect in the new season?
Season 4 will focus on the long-awaited love story of Benedict Bridgerton, second-eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, who is portrayed as a “bohemian” who does not feel bound by society’s expectations.
On Dec. 25, the series released its full trailer. It opens with Benedict still up to his playboy ways, much to the disappointment of his mother, Violet (Ruth Gemmell). While Benedict’s older and younger brothers are happily married, Benedict is dragging his feet and refusing to settle down. But in Season 4, he meets his love interest, a mysterious “lady in silver,” at his mother’s famed masquerade ball. Her name is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), and she is revealed to be a maid with a hidden past.
Can these two turn their fairytale beginnings into a romance that goes the distance and defies society’s rules?
“The main thing we can expect [this season] is a really nice mix of fairy tale and reality,” Thompson said. “We’ve got this fairy-tale love story, yes, but it’s also got the Bridgerton element of trying to tether [that story] to some sort of reality as well.”
Who is in the Season 4 cast?
Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton and Ha as Sophie Baek will be the diamonds of this season. In the books, Benedict’s love interest is named Sophie Beckett. Netflix confirmed the character’s name was changed to Baek to reflect the actress’s Korean heritage.
Yerin Ha. (Liam Daniel/Netflix)
“To make Sophie’s name fit someone who looks like me is really empowering,” Ha said. “It’s a really nice way for me to feel like the role is fit for me, rather than me having to fit a certain mold.”
The following fan favorites will also reprise their roles for Season 4:
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“Kanthony”: Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton (Benedict’s older brother)
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“Polin”: Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington (aka Lady Whistledown) and Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton (Benedict’s younger brother)
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Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton (Penelope’s bestie)
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Ruth Gemmell as Lady Violet Bridgerton (Benedict’s mom)
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Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury (Lady Violet Bridgerton’s bestie)
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Daniel Francis as Lord Marcus Anderson (Lady Violet’s potential love interest and Lady Danbury’s brother)
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Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte (deemer of debutante diamonds)
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Julie Andrews as the voice of Lady Whistledown (the show’s narrator)
Netflix offers a complete list of the actors set to return in Season 4.
Are there any new characters?
Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), flanked by Sophie’s two stepsisters (from left: Posy Li, played by Isabella Wei, and her sister, Rosamund, played by Michelle Mao). (Liam Daniel/Netflix)
Fans can expect some delicious drama from three new characters associated with Sophie’s backstory, according to Netflix:
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Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung): Sophie’s stepmother is a twice-widowed noblewoman who is presenting her two other daughters on the marriage market. She’s determined to get at least one of them married off to a nobleman in high society.
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Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao): One of Sophie’s stepsisters and Araminta’s eldest daughter. Like her mother, she is determined to get what she wants, and she has set her sights on Benedict this social season.
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Posy Li (Isabella Wei): Sophie’s other stepsister, who is also making her debut into society, although Lady Araminta rarely throws the spotlight on her.
Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton. (Netflix)
(Netflix)Where is the new season filmed?
A newly constructed lot at Shepperton Studios, outside London, features replicas of Georgian and Regency architecture, including homes, buildings and the bustling thoroughfare of Mayfair.
Will there be any more seasons of the show?
Yes! Netflix announced that Bridgerton will return for Seasons 5 and 6.
What can I do until Season 4 drops?
The first three seasons of Bridgerton are currently streaming on Netflix, should you want to binge again or watch them for the first time! You can also watch the love story of a young Queen Charlotte and King George of England in the limited Netflix series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
If period drama shows are your cup of tea, Season 3 of The Gilded Age is streaming on HBO Max to help tide you over.