Dearest gentle reader, a new phenomenon is sweeping Bridgerton’s ton in Season 4 – fairy-tale magic in the form of Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek’s romance. Netflix and Shondaland unveiled the first look at masquerade masks and “My Cottage” core at its Bridgerton Season of Love Fan Celebration. With season leads Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha in attendance alongside showrunner Jess Brownell, the conversation revealed more than one dance at a ball might.
Queen Charlotte herself, Golda Rosheuvel, asked all the right questions to tease what’s next for Benedict after that, as Brownell described, “little flicker on Benedict’s face at the end of [last] season.” That flicker of something more around the corner preceded the official announcement that Benedict would lead the fourth season. That scene revealed as much in its context, with Benedict and Eloise discussing their attendance at Violet Bridgerton’s upcoming Masquerade Ball. Brownell confirmed that the set piece would be in Season 4’s first episode – specifically, a “very large chunk” of the season premiere.
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Bridgerton Season 4’s Masquerade Ball
It’s no wonder that most of the first footage of Season 4 is of the hotly anticipated ball. From the dresses to the masks to the details in the sets themselves, it is evident that a lot of work went into creating the spectacle. Every component, including Sophia Baek’s gorgeous mask, sparkles like any good fairytale should. After all, Julia Quinn’s An Offer From a Gentleman brings a Cinderella-style twist to the Bridgerton world through Benedict and Sophie’s interclass romance. It feels like only yesterday that Thompson and Ha read the book’s first page to stir excitement about their season – and that inciting event.
Readers of Quinn’s book will know that their “forbidden love” story starts on that fateful night at the Masquerade Ball. Brownell, who confirmed Season 4 to be the most accurate to its book, shared that the masquerade balls were a real part of the Regency era. They became a place where society’s rules were “a bit looser.” So, it tracks that Bridgerton is making its take on the ball “dark and mysterious and fairy-tale like,” according to Brownell. From clouds and constellations painted on the floor to A Midsummer Night’s Dream vibes, there is plenty to anticipate from the Masquerade Ball. The Season of Love event leaves fans hooked on every enchanting detail.
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Benophie’s Fairy-Tale Romance
A photo of Benedict Bridgerton reveals his Romeo-inspired look (if you ask Thompson) or Zorro-inspired attire (if you ask Rosheuvel). Ultimately, it comes down to “whatever you think,” per Thompson. Sophie Baek becomes the Lady in Silver in a stunning dress and mask. Brownell clued fans into paying extra close attention to the costumes – some of which come from Quinn’s book – as they reveal a lot about the characters. For Benedict and Sophie, their breathtaking costumes are the start of a Cinderella-inspired fairy-tale romance for the ages.
Brownell assured fans that even though Bridgerton Season 4 uses the Cinderella trope, Sophia Baek “is no damsel in distress.” Ha described her character as an “independent” woman who won’t surrender everything because Benedict swoops into her life. Meanwhile, Thompson described Benedict as having to confront his fears of commitment, which may be inevitable, considering Thompson hinted that Benedict is “slightly blinded” by his heart-eyes (like the emoji) for Sophie. Ha and Thompson’s comments found a unifying theme in the vulnerability of love. Benedict and Sophie’s love story only happens to have a fairy-tale backdrop. That frame brings undeniable magic to Bridgerton. It’s already a thrill to be swept away by Benedict and Sophie’s hopeful love story.
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Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.
