One thing I do really like about season 4 is how they explore the class disparity. The upstairs downstairs thing is probably one of the most compelling new aspects of the show. I love how they're fleshing out the characters of the maids and the footmen and really contrasting the lives of the people who actually do all the work to make anything happen with the rich nobility who live lives of leisure and comfort. The shaving scene in particular really drove home how even the Bridgertons, who have been shown to be kind to their staff, can still be inconsiderate and unaware of the work it takes to keep everything moving around them. Like yes it was a sweet moment between the brothers, but were they the ones who cleaned up after? Of course not. The thought probably never even occured to them. But Sophie noticed. Sophie understands the disparity between herself and the members of the ton probably better than anyone else. She's always exisited between two worlds, not quite a lady, but the circumstances of her birth and upbringing make it hard for her to truly fit in among the servants either.
What I think they've done well is to show exactly why Benedict thinks it's a great idea to make Sophie his mistress as he tries to have his cake and eat it, and also why Sophie would never agree to it. Benedict, for all his kindness and for all his feelings of being out of place, does not truly understand what his offer means for Sophie. The real choice for her is to either work to support herself, or to allow herself to once again be at the mercy of a man's whims, which may buy herself some time in luxury, but Sophie has been disappointed by men who promised to always support her before. Her father (as far as she knows) left her with nothing even after all his promises. No matter how she feels about Benedict, if she says yes to being his mistress, she will always be under his power. She won't be able to be a maid ever again. No one would ever hire her. And she would always wonder, always be afraid of what would happen if Benedict loses interest in her, or meets someone else. A constant sword hanging above her. And what if she has a child as Benedict's mistress? She could be condemning them to a fate similar to her own, or maybe even worse, depending on what Benedict chose to do.
I do really like Benedict and Sophie. I think they're both very good leads and I like their story a lot so far. It's very sweet and charming. I'm looking forward to part 2.
