Bridgerton S4’s treatment of the upstairs-downstairs issues and dynamic is just brilliant.
Yerin Ha really anchors it as Sophie Baek, and I adore the way Jess Brownell et al use her role as a POV character to introduce a whole expanded world & style of shooting that world, whilst still tying it into the Bridgerton style. It feels less like a “new world” and more like an extension of the world that we’ve just never seen before, still beautiful but also more grounded.
The way the background characters of the past 3 seasons become POV characters? GOD, it did something to me. Really highlighted the way servants are mostly furniture in the world of the upper class. Gorgeous work.
We finally get to see the Bridgertons as mostly spoiled and a bit useless, whilst remaining as loveable and complex as ever. Ben is WILDLY naïve about basically anything practical, and particularly about Sophie’s position in society. This is treated as his arc to overcome, alongside his own fundamental mismatch with the Expectations of Society (TM). Perfect use of the conventions of the romantic male lead to explore class themes.
The mistress issue is SO well done. The highlighting through Sophie’s backstory that being a mistress is a second-rate relationship that does not guarantee permanent safety for women or their children, versus the way it is presented to Ben by other rich men as a way to find genuine love without disappointing his mother. The scene where we get the big romantic swelling and confession of love, and then Ben asks Sophie to be his MISTRESS?! And he means it so sincerely, not having a clue how un-romantic that offer is? I love you Jess Brownell, this is wonderful narrative work.
Also, and this could easily be a whole post in itself: THE MAID WARS.
The whole team are exploring labour rights, consent and class issues with a far more unflinching approach than I expected. It’s still Brigerton — optimistic, tongue in cheek, fun, stylised and beautiful — but it’s also more mature, more grounded, and better for it.
GOD I love the romance genre when it’s done right.
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