‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 finally wants to talk about class

After three seasons of circling it, Bridgerton finally take a lesson Downton Abbey and correctly target the c word: section. But it’s complicated.

Although the Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes has long been comfortable in ballroom clothes, glittering tea sets, and manicured lawns of the nobility, it has avoided any direct confrontation with the complex social structure of Regency society, instead living in a dream for three seasons. I multiracial simulation you have risen discussions about historical contextbut class politics did not play a major part in the narrative, only being briefly reviewed by characters such as Lady Whistledown’s printing press and Featherington’s loyal housekeeper, Mrs. Varley (Lorraine Ashbourne). The capitalists have had their moments – the position of the Mondriches (Martins Imhangbe and Emma Naomi) rose in Season 3 – but the working class has never starred in their storylines.

So Season 4 comes as a refreshing surprise, like Bridgerton actually provides airtime (again names) to the people who keep Thoko and the houses of the officials running. Namely, the classy Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a Cinderella-channel maid in disguise who meets Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) at her family’s fancy masquerade ball. You know who you are. He has no fog.

“Having one half of these Bridgerton The pair quickly infused the show with new energy,” wrote Mashable’s Belen Edwards in his review. Downton Abbey-esque move offers a much-needed new perspective on Ton, where we see the work that finally comes to fruition. It also prepares the audience to see the world through Sophie’s eyes.”

Although it was not perfect in representing class divisions, Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey it was similar to its public commentary on the overlap between officials and their servants under the same roof, “upstairs” and “downstairs.” Love Bridgerton, Downton somewhat unfairly presents members of the English aristocracy as benevolent friends of their servants, while the social line between them still exists. Story lines involving the upper classes are undoubtedly prioritized in both series, and everyone always dreams of climbing up, of “improving” themselves. As Lady Whistledown writes in Season 4, episode 1 of Bridgerton“This writer knows best that a small amount of pretense often has the power to recreate reality to lift us from the drudgery of a humdrum existence.” Girl, be strong.

This season, our couple comes out of two houses, both of which are similar in appearance, but they sleep on different floors – one upstairs, one downstairs. Using Sophie’s complex social backstory and Benedict’s immediate privilege, the show asks interesting questions about class, heritage, and Regency society. And it’s not just that Benedict can’t marry someone from a lower social class; we have seen this love story before from Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (although the heroine Elizabeth Bennet is from the country, not the working class). Bridgerton it depends more on the practical consequences of the division between the protagonists. Sophie needs a steady job to survive, period – Season 3 also explored the sexist links between romance and “financial security” for women. When Benedict saves Sophie from an abusive employer, she is devastated to learn that she has little chance of finding another job. yes, Bridgerton it is a dream, but it makes sense for this woman to fear losing her role, despite the obvious threat to her workplace. Benedict jumps into savior mode, recruiting Sophie into his home while foolishly pretending that the unequal dynamic won’t affect their crush on each other. You are wrong.

Wait, isn’t this from “Downton Abbey”?
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

As this Cinderella story goes, it’s wise for showrunner Jess Brownell to take a leaf out Downton and spend the original time “down.” (Even Jane Austen herself he made room to acknowledge the inability of the rich to work without workers.) So, we meet the staff of Bridgerton House, including the housekeeper, the lady’s maid, and the master of ceremonies Mrs. Wilson (Geraldine Alexander). From director of photography Jeffrey Jur and editor David Greenspan, we’re treated to images of servants punching pillows, dusting pianos, folding sheets. We follow Mrs. Wilson we will enter the kitchen, pantry, and carving areas where napkins are pressed, pheasants are formed, dough is rolled, and workers are disciplined for leaving bootprints in the hall. We’re looking at who’s bringing the desserts and dance cards for the Bridgertons candy ball. “It’s fun for them, it’s chaos for us,” says Footman John (Oli Higginson).

Like the famous iron board of Downtonwe see how many staff rooms there are Bridgerton must control, with various shots of bells connected to Lady Violet’s (Ruth Gemmell) bedroom, dressing room, and children’s bedrooms. We later see a similar iron service setup in the servants’ quarters of Lady Araminta Gun’s (Katie Leung) home, Penwood House. In these places, we meet servants such as Celia (Sophie Lamont) of Bridgerton House, and Sophie’s co-workers Alfie (David Moorst), Irma (Fiona Marr), and Hazel (Gracie McGonigal), who get their own scenes, especially mocking their employers – and, Mrs. and listen to their cries.”

Oli Higginson, Sophie Lamont, and Geraldine Alexander in “Bridgerton.”
Credit: Liam Daniel / Netflix

Sadly, the servants see behind the curtain in immaculate Regency apartments (they are the ones who paint, after all). The importance of keeping up appearances can easily become gossip among the housekeepers – and as Lady Whistledown can testify, knowledge is powerful, especially in the realm of marriage. Mrs. Varley would do anything for the Featheringtons to protect them from public ruin, and he has. In Season 4, we see the Bridgerton staff, including the valet Hatch (Esh Alladi), talk about Benedict’s dirty behavior more than once. Mrs. Wilson is a close confidant of Lady Violet, becoming the last wife. Actually, Bridgerton fights for the importance of servants so hard this season focuses on a story Lady Whistledown calls “The Maids’ War,” where servants are so scarce that families fight for them.

Make no mistake, Bridgerton Season 4 still holds the aristocracy as its core, desirable class, as it were Downton he did. In fact, Lady Araminta tells Sophie that pretending to be noble is “a crime.” However, it is time for the show to give dialogue to the working class characters and the importance of the narrative thread. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 starts on February 26.