The second part of Bridgerton season 4 came out a few weeks ago, and it was certainly interesting. While I am a big fan of the show, and I did enjoy this season as a whole, I do have some thoughts to share. Spoiler warning for the rest of this article!
The first thing I want to comment on is the pacing of the second half of the season. While I felt the first half was paced beautifully, I do have to say the second part felt a little rushed in some places. The last episode especially felt like a lot was going on with barely any time to fix anything. I think they managed to wrap up the plot nicely by the end, though I do wish more care was taken to avoid having the pace of the story feel this odd. I do have to say the one month gap in between releases may have contributed to this. The second half of the season was weaker than the first, in my opinion, and the gap only emphasized that. Had it all been released at once the second half of the season could have carried on with the momentum of the first half’s success, making it more enjoyable.
This is not to say I did not like this season. My season rankings have actually changed, and this season beat season 1 for me. Though season 2 will always be first place in my heart, season 4 is definitely my second choice. While I loved Daphne and the whole aesthetic of season 1, the story was a little boring for my taste. This season certainly beats it in terms of plot, especially with the exploration of class disparity and forbidden romance. I also appreciated how realistic this season was. I was worried the season would end with some fantastical declaration, like the Queen putting an end to all class differences and making everyone rich. This would have really annoyed me, because it would completely collapse their society, and would just be too unrealistic. Though I was hoping Sophie would be legitimized through the will, I wasn’t mad about her getting the dowry. I think as a whole the drama of the season was well done, I just wish more time had been spent on it rather than cramming it all into a short period of time.
Another thing that was done really well this season was the implementation of the side character’s stories. I definitely think the writers accepted some of the feedback from last season, as I think there was more focus on the main couple this season. The side character’s stories were all done really well, and ultimately all came together in a way I could appreciate. I also like how we can already see how they are developing the stories for the upcoming seasons, and starting to highlight the characters that we need to focus on. Francesca and Michaela, for example, already have an interesting story lined up, and all that’s left is for their season to explore it. Eloise, as well, who I’m hoping is the season 5 lead, has already undergone some character development that signifies she is ready to realize love and feminism aren’t conflicting forces.
The one thing I will complain about concerning this season is the costuming. Though it was much better than last season, there were still things that could have been fixed. Mrs. Mondrich, for example, is for some reason given a smokey eye in every look. This is not really a big problem, it’s just a little jarring in comparison to all the other characters who have more natural makeup. I also hated Sophies final outfit. I don’t understand why the dress was off the shoulder, as it didn’t really suit her at all. I also didn’t like the hairstyle, which was just too similar to the hair she wore as a maid. The makeup also just didn’t match the vibe of her outfit. Yerin Ha is incredibly beautiful, so it’s annoying to see how dirty she was done in this final look. Her other fancier outfits, especially the ones she wore at My Cottage, were absolutely gorgeous, so I wish they had replicated those.
Well, that is my opinion on the new season of Bridgerton. I really enjoyed it, despite there being a few minor things I would tweak. I can’t wait for season 5, though unfortunately, unlike with seasons 3 and 4, you guys won’t be able to read my opinions on it. Here’s to hoping it stars Eloise!
