The ton is hopping again this weekend as Netflix rolls out the second half of Bridgerton Season 4 all the more hyped. After Part 1 had us reeling over Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) controversial proposal to Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) to be his mistress, Part 2 plunges headfirst into all the fallout. Yet as the plot of “Lady in Silver” gets its sparkling crescendo, this season is yet another of struggle piled on top of a gargantuan cast.
The Plot: Forbidden Love and Friction in the Family
The second half of the season explores the evolution of Benedict and Sophie’s forbidden romance. Their relationship is no longer a passing fantasy at a masquerade ball but a brutal realization of Regency-era class structures. The couple has crucial, intimate conversations not only about Sophie’s unknown, secretive identity as the Lady in Silver, but on Benedict’s very fluid queerness, a narrative point which adds contemporary nuance to his quest for his own identity.
But the “happily ever after” is a hard-conserved good fortune. Violet (Ruth Gemmell) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) are tradition’s anchors, holding Benedict to account for the social destruction that comes with marrying or even holding onto a maid. Outside the Bridgerton drawing room, Sophie’s vengeful former employer Araminta Gun (Katie Leung) looms and the younger siblings, Eloise and Francesca, are at their crossroads as well.
Writing and Direction: A story bursting at the seams
Showrunner Jess Brownell has a bang-up end that is definitely packed. The ambition to grant every Bridgerton a moment in the sun is noble but the storytelling often feels as though it is gasp. These more emotionally complex beats would land more strongly on the ground, if this show got a wider episode count. That said, that direction goes very much in good with the visual storytelling. Lighting contrasts the stark reality of Sophie’s world her scenes tend to be shadier and darker-looking, visually anchoring the audience to the hardships of the working class. It’s a jarring contrast that makes the “glittering” world of the ton feel even more of a gilded cage.
Technical Information: New Sparkle and Lavish Balls
Season 4 Part 2 will also take the look and feel of “Regency-core” a step further, with a contemporary tone in Season 4 Part 2. There will be a flood of glitter-hued eye makeup and costumes and new costumes, especially at the extravagant Penwood bash that is sure to make viewers drool. Curiously, the show purposely allows former main ladies to “lose their shine” in the wake of marriage as the spotlight of the series turns on new debutantes and their costumes dimmer and muted.
Performances: Thompson and Ha Lead the Way
The stars of the show are clear cut: Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha. Thompson serves as Benedict’s existential crisis through heartbreaking nuance; Ha is a revelation as Sophie, striking a balance between a fierce independence and the frailty of being a woman confined by her station.
Ruth Gemmell and Hannah Dodd also deliver stellar performances, handling tough character development with grace. Sadly, the size of the cast means prior leads like Simone Ashley and Luke Newton have been relegated to just filler roles. Jonathan Bailey returns as the voice of reason yet his presence is more of a plot device than a character arc.
Final Verdict
After all, Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 offers Benedict and Sophie an incredibly satisfying ending. Their chemistry takes the season to a true “happily ever after.” But the series is beginning to get overwhelmed. If the series seriously wants to retain what Julia Quinn loved most and honor novels, it’s likely going to have to consider spinoffs or special holiday episodes. You don’t want those side stories to take over, but on balance so that they don’t overshadow the central Bridgerton romance.
