Dearest Gentle Reader, the time has come to finally revisit the affections of Benedict Bridgerton. An eligible bachelor he may be, but with a sea of unreturned affections around him, this author is wondering as to whether his heart is somewhere society deems unacceptable…
The Heart of a Mistress
When we left Part 1 Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) had asked Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), his sisters’ lady’s maid, to be his mistress: three little words that no-one wants to hear. Sophie is adamant that she won’t serve as Benedict’s mistress, as she knows what it is like to be treated as a ‘secret’. Yet despite being unaware of her identity as The Lady in Silver, he is physically unable to stay away from her nor contain his feelings. Even an almost scathing pep talk from Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) – freshly back from India with wife Kate (Simone Ashley) and baby son – doesn’t scare Benedict away from the idea of a happy ending, notably one with Sophie.
Read more: ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Review: Yerin Ha and Katie Leung Sparkle in a New Era of Regency Romance
While the first half of the season brought a lighter tone in their relationship, the societal pressures ringing in Part II bring out a deeper layer of heartfelt yearning between them, enabling Thompson and Ha’s chemistry and delivery to shape the show’s most captivating romance yet.
Grief and the Patriarchal Lens
Outside of Ben and Sophie’s romance, Part II explores the significance of family and grief due to a sudden loss in the ton. The aftermath of the events challenges the unsaid emotions of quieter characters such as Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt), subtly demanding the audiences’ attention.
Meanwhile, Benedict’s struggles with holding the family together are contending with the confines of a patriarchal society. Between his inability to publicly show his feelings for Sophie and his difficulties in supporting his sisters, leads to a gentle, endearing recognition: the world is not kind to women. This realisation fuels a rebellious rebellious side, forward-thinking streak in Benedict that is a joy to witness.
The Gun Family: A Cultural Triumph
Part II brings greater depth to the Gun family, which sees Araminta (Katie Leung) step up her efforts to secure a match for Rosamund (Michelle Mao) while belittling Posy (Isabella Wei). The matriarch’s conviction allows Leung to bring empathy to an embittered character, balancing Araminta’s fears of being a widowed single mother with the need for love and support.
The tension here strikes a personal chord, it evokes a tension between Asian mothers and daughters (similar to Joy and Evelyn in Everything Everywhere All At Once), where the idea of perfection is a constant yet overbearing goal. Nonetheless, this allows some tender moments between Leung and fellow ESEA co-stars, especially Wei, who offers a touch of sensitivity and conviction as Posy finally finds her strength. Combined with additional touches of ESEA culture, including an all-too-brief exchange in Cantonese, the Gun family ensures that they make their mark in society so there is hope that they continue to fly the flag in terms of Asian representation in Bridgerton.
Part II of Bridgerton season four undoubtedly delivers some of the show’s most nuanced moments, with the new cast members adding heart and the occasional spunk to the romantic drama.
