Dearest gentle reader, with the start of Bridgerton season four, we are welcomed with a scandalous Cinderella story. The first ball of the season, hosted by Lady Bridgerton: a masquerade. The ton’s newest debutants and suitors are looking to marry; the market drama has begun.
Ever since I started watching Bridgerton, I have loved the whimsical scenery and clothing. I also appreciate how it has stayed the same throughout all four seasons. From the beautiful dresses that the debutantes wear to the well-suited gentlemen of the ton, the attire in Bridgerton is one of my favorite aspects of the show. One of my favorite dresses is seen when we meet our Cinderella of season four. Also known as the Lady in Silver, the mystery woman serves as a maid who snuck into the Bridgertons’ masquerade ball. Seen in a glittering silver, empire line style gown, extremely popular in the 1800’s. Also referencing the original Cinderella story, the Lady in Silver wears sparkly silver heels, stolen from her evil stepmother. The Lady in Silver’s masquerade attire is the first reference to the real Cinderella story we see in season four.
One thing that is different in season four is Queen Charlotte’s pickings for the season. Queen Charlotte’s role is to pick the diamond of the season (the most eligible woman on the marriage market). However, this season Queen Charlotte picks the most eligible suitor. Benedict Bridgerton, an outcast of society. He spends his days inconsiderately with women, he is constantly late to society events and isn’t often seen by his family. I love how the Prince Charming of season four (Benedict) is painted as an outcast. Much different from the original Cinderella story, where Prince Charming is seen as the perfect bachelor.
As the show goes on, we continue to notice small aspects of the Cinderella story sprinkled into the season. After meeting Benedict at the ball, The Lady in Silver has to leave when the clock strikes 12, in fear that Benedict will know she is a maid after she takes her mask off. Benedict is left with nothing but her glove to identify her. I love the originality of using a glove rather than a shoe, like in the real Cinderella story, yet we can still tell what they are referring to. After the Lady in Silver’s magical night, she must return to reality. A reality where she serves as a maid at the Penwood house to her evil stepmother and stepsisters.
And so the hunt begins to find Cinderella. Benedict draws pictures of the mystery woman, he and his sister, Eloise, go promenading every day in search of her. He asks Lady Whistledown to write in her column, calling for her, all in desperation to know who this mystery woman is. And while I love the commitment to find the woman he loves, this hunt spanned across way too many episodes. A hunt that was beyond obvious, as his Lady in Silver was always right in front of him.
It isn’t until The Lady in Silver is fired from Penwood house then is hired by the Cavender family when Benedict and his mystery woman meet again. Even after The Lady in Silver is hired and works in Benedict’s home, he still hasn’t realized who she is. The amount of time Benedict took to find her just felt like a space filler that could have featured someone or something else. However, the storyline began to build back up when Benedict began to grow a fond connection with The Lady in Silver during her time working for the Bridgertons.
This is where I became confused, as Benedict and The Lady in Silver have formed a connection, I thought Benedict knew this was the woman he fell in love with at his mother’s masquerade ball. However, it wasn’t until the second-to-last episode that Benedict connected the dots to realize the glove he was left with after the ball belonged to this maid he formed a connection with (The Lady in Silver).
Even though I had a lot of built-up frustration towards Benedict and his inability to look at what’s in front of him, I really enjoyed this season, and I think it was a good change to the normal storyline of Bridgerton.
