Dearest Esteemed Readers,
I am writing to inform you of the arrival of the latest episodes of the fourth season of Bridgerton. Of course, I must also caution you about the presence of spoilers, the choice to proceed with the article is entirely yours.
What can I say? The writer seems disappointed by the rapid pace of events throughout the season. During the last episodes, I had the opportunity to observe how the characters and their feelings evolved and, at times, matured.
Eloise Bridgerton: A Change of Heart
For instance, Eloise Bridgerton transitions from being strongly opposed to marriage and despising Penelope to actually seeking her help to safeguard her and her family’s reputation against the imposter posing as Lady Whistledown. One wonders: how can a girl with such firm principles and a determined character go against her own pride and resume talking to Penelope purely for personal gain?
Cressida Cowper: The Struggle for Freedom
We then see Cressida Cowper desperately trying to escape a family overly fixated on marrying her off at any cost. A girl left to her own devices, who, after losing her chance with the Prince in the first season, is not even seemingly helped by the Duchess who promised to support her in finding a good match. Cressida has always been a product of a family that, deep down, never loved her and never tried to understand her. Initially, Eloise befriended her solely out of a desire to harm Penelope, and within society, Cressida has always been either ridiculed or feared.
Now, I wonder why a girl like Penelope can make the mistake of venting her anger through Whistledown, but someone like Cressida cannot have the chance to redeem herself and change her life.
Colin Bridgerton: An Unexpected Hero
The only person who seems to understand Cressida’s state of mind is Colin Bridgerton, and for the first time, I see a Colin Bridgerton truly worthy of note. Speaking of Colin, it seems he has had the worst fate of all. In love with his best friend, he discovers he has been deceived all along, both by his future wife and by his sister. In the end, he decides to forgive Penelope and understand her, to give her the space she needs and to love her regardless. I believe this deserves at least some compliments.
Kate Sharma and Lord Anthony: The Perfect Couple
Kate Sharma/Bridgerton, the current new Viscountess, and Lord Anthony Bridgerton are seen little, but even those brief moments suffice to show they are almost certainly the diamond couple of this season as well. Immersed in their love bubble, they are not intrusive but rather loving and expecting a baby. They almost have a keener eye than Lady Violet Bridgerton herself and gradually take on the role of advisors guiding others towards the best choices. If before we saw Lady Bridgerton focused on guiding her children through the intricate court life, now we see her lighter, more willing to think about herself, perhaps giving herself a second chance at love.
Lady Bridgerton and Lord Marcus: A New Love
In this regard, the timely arrival of Lady Danbury’s brother, Lord Marcus Anderson, is notable. Lord Marcus immediately shows his interest in Lady Bridgerton, but Lady Danbury, torn between the fear of losing her friend and her ongoing conflict with her brother, tries to keep them as far apart as possible throughout the episodes. Eventually, Lord Marcus decides to confront his sister and tells her how much he actually respects and admires her. The two reconcile, and I’d say we have a well-deserved happy ending, with Lady Danbury approving the relationship between Lady Bridgerton and Lord Marcus.
Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton: A Deep Bond
In one of the last episodes, we see Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton discussing the entire situation, and here we get a reference to what happened in the Queen Charlotte series, where Lady Danbury had a secret affair with Lady Bridgerton’s father. The two decide not to speak of it and agree that what truly matters to them is their friendship.
Lady Featherington: A Protective Mother
Throughout the season, a character who particularly struck me is Lady Featherington. The growth of her character is incredible. She opens up more and more, to the point where we see the true love she has for Penelope, and that she has probably always wanted to protect and keep her close (albeit in a somewhat toxic way).
However, I am surprised by how she opened up in the small conversations we saw with Penelope. She then says, quite sadly, in the sixth episode, that “women don’t have dreams, they have husbands,” which nearly breaks the heart to see her so disappointed by her life and the choices she has made, both in terms of her husband and her personal decisions. I actually enjoyed discovering a woman capable of love, of wanting to change, of wanting the best for her daughters, and a woman capable of remorse.
The Fate of Other Characters
The rest of the characters had less screen time, and perhaps I would have liked to discover more about them. I miss something about Francesca Bridgerton, but perhaps her minimal presence aligns with her character, quiet and reserved. Her marriage was unexpected for me; I thought she would ultimately decide to remain single and dedicate herself to her own life. Her departure to Scotland after the wedding was disappointing but predictable given her solitary nature. Benedict Bridgerton, on the other hand, seemed open to new experiences and new loves, free but nonetheless very confused and alone. Some sources predict that the next season will focus entirely on him, but we shall see.
We see less of the Queen Charlotte, more saddened, lonelier, preoccupied with discovering the identity of Lady Whistledown but more bored and disinterested than usual. Nonetheless, I am pleased with her final decision to give Penelope a chance and understand the reasons behind her actions.
Penelope ultimately gets her long-awaited love, gives birth to the new Lord Featherington (while her sisters, despite becoming pregnant, both gave birth to girls), and even seems to make an effort towards her sisters by secretly paying for the party they decided to organize.
We shall see what new developments the next season will bring, and we are already eagerly awaiting to discover the fate of all the characters in the series.
For now, I bid you farewell.
Yours sincerely,
Agnia Zimak
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