Bridgerton Season 4 Feelings (Spoiler Heavy)
Okay, so I’m posting this like a literal month after the season fully came out (I've been writing it since I watched the finale), even though I watched it the day it came out. I suppose I needed to digest (and rewatch) before giving my opinions.
I give this season a 10/10. It was my absolute favorite season of Bridgerton so far (I don’t think I had a favorite before. I had things I liked about all of them…actually, the Queen Charlotte spinoff was absolutely my favorite before), even if things didn’t necessarily go how I wanted/expected in all regards. I made a previous post about my theories and hopes for S4, and I’m very happy some of them came true, but I also have so many things that actually happened that I want to talk about…
This season just felt very queer-friendly. I think it was because of all the subtle things Alfie said, he’d also, maybe it was because the characters weren't all a part of high society, so the environment was more open and accepting (maybe that is to build for a new season with Francesca...)
This was something I dreamed about and thought was so crucial. I couldn’t decide whether it was fundamental for it to happen or just something I was deeply hoping, like I couldn’t tell if the creators of the show thought it was as important as I did. I'm so glad they did.
Who is the new Whistledown?
My top contenders are Hyacinth and, of course, Lady Mondrich, and here is my reasoning behind both:
Hyacinth: She wants someone to write about her season. She has always loved Whistledown, ever since it was first introduced in season one; she was very interested. She wants to discover more about herself, her words after her talk with Eloise.
Lady Mondrich: She wants to do something greater/make more of an impact than just being the Queen's lady. I’ve heard people say the language of Whistledown has changed to point to an author with a different, less “raised in high society” accent, though I didn’t notice that at all. That to me doesn't define who Whistledown could be; there are many high society, but less well-read people than Penelope, which could impact the new voice of Whistledown.
Michaela's characterization!!!
I love her. I was expecting a social butterfly after her debut at the end of S3 (how she introduced herself to Eloise and Francesca), but she leads a room gracefully and energetically. I love her relationship with John. John was like my favorite man (I stand by that, RIP <3), and I saw a devastating edit of that Taylor Swift song with the lyrics "I don't mean to make this all about me, but who am I supposed to talk to" over John and Michaela, soul-crushing.
That beautiful ruby dress, she is so amazing, I am very much looking forward to learning more about her and why John was so adamant about Francesca not setting her up with a suitor (I deeply hope he knew and didn't care, I wonder if she knew he knew, or she finds out he knew. They were so close, like he was the only person she could be honest with adn I think part of that comes with knowing each other fully
The guilt she had/will have for loving his wife...ahhhh. Leaving after Francesca grabbed her hand oooo.
I've seen the ads where Michaela says she doesn't enjoy the mundanity of society life, so I deeply wonder what she does in the places she visits, what she is running away from, etc. (I wonder if she regrets not spending more time with John while she could (more grief yay!))
I am sad but not disappointed like I thought I might be.
The way he left, looking at Michaela and Francesca, like he knew they would be okay, and he was so happy the people he loved most in the world loved each other.
I have nothing! I saw a devastating edit to a Whitney Houston song (yes, that one and the “I have nothing”s lined up perfectly, it was *chefs kiss*).
Francesca's fertility struggles idk how much they are meant to be discussed in the book, and I don't know if everyone will be satisfied if it ends here, but it doesn't have to if the writers don't want it to. I think it would be interesting, also, will her season be in Scotland, away from her family and all of the children/couples (aka constant reminders of what she doesn't have)?
Still, I really loved that moment between Violet and Francesca, and Fran is holding so much guilt that she betrayed John by not giving him children. During that breakdown, all I could think about was how devastated she sounded that she had somehow hurt/betrayed John by not being able to give him the life he wanted. I think part of her season should be about her realizing she was everything he wanted, because her recovering from that guilt and grief is the best way to move forward.
The flirting Hazel did to make him leave his post was amazing (what a girls girl), and the eye contact during the wedding, I didn't realize how low my bar was, but I was somehow satisfied by that at least for right now. They are so cute!
Also, when the staff, including Hazel, had to interrupt the Briderton family's spiral when they thought Sophie had left. I thought that was a good example of the new relationship between the family and the staff (they can speak up and interrupt the family so these rich dummies get their sh*t together). They would literally be helpless without their staff.
Alfie walked her down the aisle! We got the perfect wedding of my dreams, the Bridgerton family and staff (out of work clothes) alike. And Posy and her, I am assuming, new husband were there, which to me totally means he is a good man, considering he sat on the Sophie/staff side of the wedding attendees.
Anthony talked about Sienna.
It was in like the worst way possibly, honestly, so disappointed in you, Anthony. Do better, you can admit she wasn’t your true love, but don’t act like she was the one holding you back from finding it 😒.
Glad he admitted he was wrong in the end after Benedict and Sophie got married.
Possibly unpopular opinion: I really like Araminta.
I think it's really easy to hate her, similar to how people hate Lady Featherington, but I always find it hard to fully hate women in shows like this. Of course, they do awful things, and of course, they are products of their environment, but they also have those moments where they are just very human (Lady Featherington's: I am a mother! moment and Araminta's anger at Lord Featherington for leaving her with Sophie and the burden of his past mistakes).
I can love them as complex female characters and still think they are both jerks, though. :)
Also, Varely and Lady Featherington! They held hands and were so great after the forgiveness/apology.
Her manipulating Posy was awful, though, but I did enjoy the kind of sister solidarity between Posy and Rosamund, where when Posy asked about the dowry, Rose looked a bit guilty and shocked by her mother's actions.
Those two were great siblings. When they were in the Bridgerton house, trying to subtly argue across from Eloise and Hyacinth, it was great.
Violet, you were my goat this season.
I was irritated by your classism, I am always annoyed when she is a little closed minded, especially when you find out how open minded she was in Queen Charlotte (I need a Violet prequel during the wait for one of these next seasons! Especially after she dumped Anderson/Danbury's brother becuase she doesnt know if she wants to be a wife again) but I hope opening her arms to Sophie at the claim of love will help her accept Francesca next season (yeah, I waited so long to post this that season 5s main character was announced 🤦)
The goodbye, dear lord, that scene where she nodded a goodbye at Charlotte and Brimsley, was the closest I was to crying the entire season, and constantly seeing that painting of a young Danbury and Charlotte. Their friendship is so amazing.
I also enjoy the side relationship between Brimsley and Danbury (he said he always liked her during the Queen Charlotte show, which is why he advised Charlotte that Danbury was a good lady to trust). They take care of their queen so well. Now it is just Brimsley and Mondrich. I am really interested to see how it goes. Also, I stand by that I want Brimsley to know about Francesca and Michaela. If the Queen will have any part in this season, I need Brimsley to be there too; that actor can really show his whole heart through his expressions(side note: isn't it book canon that George and Charlotte saw Brimsley and Reynolds dancing together, why is it different in the show? Or is it not different and Charlotte will reveal it later god I would love that (maybe if George died... no, she would be too angry to hide the pain to sympathize with others, I think)).
I wish Francesca got a season on her own (as a background, but then again, she has been a background/subplot character throughout the last two seasons) as a subplot where she grieves and, you know, grows on her own. But that is just because we barely got to know Francesca on her own because she was barely in seasons 1 & 2, but I am very excited to see what they do with the season and to learn more about Francesca and Michaela.
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