A new season of Bridgerton is finally upon us with a new member of the Bridgerton family ready to step into the spotlight for a new sweeping love story!
After being skipped over in season 3, Benedict Bridgerton is taking center stage as the lead of Bridgerton season 4. The new season adapts the third book in Julia Quinn’s hit series, An Offer from a Gentleman, in which Benedict’s world is turned upside down at a masquerade ball where he meets Sophie Baek.
Like with season 3, Bridgerton season 4 will be split into two parts with the first batch of episodes arriving on January 29 and the final episodes of the season arriving on February 26. Ahead of the show's return, Netflix hosted a global premiere event in Paris which concluded with a special presentation of the premiere episode which introduces us back into the world of Bridgerton with a masquerade we won't soon forget!
The season opens with a very unique intro as we watch Violet Bridgerton preparing tea ahead of her daughters’ arrival home. In a fitting nod to the season’s upstairs, downstairs dynamic, we get a glimpse into the downstairs quarters as the staff prepare for their arrival.
The celebration is in part to help welcome Eloise, Francesca, and John arrive back from Scotland. Joining the celebration are Penelope, Colin, and their baby as well as Lady Featherington. We learn in conversation that Kate has also given birth, but in India, a quick update that hints we won’t see Kanthony in the premiere episode.
Violet quickly takes notice that Benedict is missing and calls for a carriage to go gather him, frustrated that he’s once again missed a family obligation. She finds him naked in bed with one young woman by his side and a second lying on a chaise nearby. After the encounter, Violet reminds Benedict that his actions can have a negative effect on the family, and he still has two sisters who need to marry. She reminds him that he’ll need to marry someday too and he cannot get a reputation as a rake. Benedict tries to shut the idea down, but his mother is not having it and makes it clear his presence is required at the masquerade ball she’s hosting.
The Ton is abuzz for the first ball of the season, but Queen Charlotte is not among those looking forward to the event it seems. She seems frustrated that Lady Danbury is not hosting the first ball of the season as she anxiously waits for Lady Whistledown’s arrival. Lady Danbury tries to remind the Queen that her presence at the masquerade would be a notable sign of support for Lady Violet. The conversation pivots, though, when Penelope arrives for an audience with the Queen. It seems Queen Charlotte is eager for the latest gossip from Lady Whistledown – only she doesn’t want to wait for the column, she asks Penelope to give her an early preview with all the bells and whistles of her column.
Before the ball, Benedict makes a quick detour at one of his art parties which results in him showing up fashionably late to the masquerade. Speaking of which, the masquerade ball arrives and everyone in the Ton pulls out all the stops with their elaborate and stunning costumes.
Among those arriving for the ball is the mysterious Sophie Baek, who we watch arrive in her carriage. Before she heads in, her carriage driver reminds Sophie to keep a low profile and to be sure to leave before midnight arrives. She then heads in quietly and takes in the grand ball around her, before getting distracted by a glimpse of a trio whose presence startle her.
As Violet goes to find Benedict she sees Queen Charlotte enter the ball. She quickly calls for Penelope and is ready for some gossip. We learn the queen is ready to shake things up this year and find a suitor to fire up the season rather than a debutante. She ponders whether there is anyone her worthy of her interest and begins her hunt to find a suitor worthy of her attention.
After showing up fashionably late, Violet tasks Benedict with mingling with the debutantes in the room, much to his chagrin. Benedict begins to mingle as Violet is approached by Lady Penwood who introduces her daughters before she quickly questions whether Violet thinks she’ll succeed in marrying off Benedict this season. When Violet excuses herself, Lady Penwood spots Benedict in the crowd and it becomes clear they have their sights set on him and his name.
The Bridgerton season 4 premiere reveals how Benedict and Sophie meet
Elsewhere in the ballroom, Penelope begins listening in for gossip before spotting Eloise in the crowd. As the two friends catch up, Eloise tells Penelope that her time in Scotland gave her time to reflect and she realizes there is no reason to antagonize suitors as she’s made a decision: she’s on the shelf. Speaking of decisions, as Eloise informs Penelope of her desire to take herself off the marriage market, John informs Francesca of his plan to remain in town for the season – an idea that she is particularly fond of as he mentions distance between her and Michaela back in Scotland.
Through the crowd, Benedict spots Sophie, though her identity is very much a mystery to him in the moment. He watches as another man comes up to ask for a dance and spots her hiding her dance card up her sleeve before he steps in to offer a distraction and claim he found the dance card and is up next. Benedict is taken by the joy she has for being at the ball as he takes her hand and leads her to the dance floor. She notes she’s not looking for a suitor and then looks for an excuse to leave as the music begins, but she says she can’t dance. He whisks her away to the private terrace.
It’s at that moment that Queen Charlotte notices how the man on the terrace has caught the attention of several debutantes below. The Queen quickly focuses in on Benedict and it becomes clear that he is about to become the equivalent of the diamond of the season in the Queen’s eyes.
Speaking of the Queen, Queen Charlotte gets quite a surprise when Lady Danbury tells her the reason she handed over the first fall of the season is because she’s considering playing less a part in society this season. While she’s enjoyed being part of society and the friendship she’s shared with Queen Charlotte, it’s time for her to take a step back to enjoy time traveling. She wants to leave at the end of the upcoming season, but it seems the Queen is not sold on this idea making it clear that Lady Danbury does not have her permission to do so.
Meanwhile, Benedict and Sophie escape to the garden where they enjoy a much more intimate conversation under the night sky. As they talk, she reminds him about all the work the women put into the season all in the hope that a man such as Benedict might notice them. He questions whether she is not also hoping to be noticed and is surprised when she claims she’s just there to enjoy herself. She admits to feeling out of place at the function and admits that she feels more comfortable appreciating the details of an event than participating. Benedict jokes that he won’t tell his mother, and she finally realizes that Benedict is a Bridgerton.
Sophie notes he is exactly how Whistledown describes him, and he’s fascinated by the fact that she did not immediately recognize him. She challenges him noting that it can be dull to swim in the same waters. He notes that perhaps the reason he stays in shallow waters is he too feels like an imposter, even more so at his family home.
He reminds her that he owes her a dance lesson and begins to guide her, taking her hand in his hand and pulls her in closer as they move into frame. The pair begin to dance as he sweetly walks her through the steps as she closes her eyes and tells him she’s trying to take in every moment so that she can escape here. He asks how he is to call on her tomorrow if he does not know her name, to which she remains firm it is not possible for him to do so. He leans in and offers her a kiss on the cheek and begs for her to tell him her name. Just then the clock begins to strike midnight, and she races off before revealing herself but not before planting a passionate kiss on his lips that leaves him stunned – a feeling Benedict is not used to feeling. All she leaves behind is one of her globes, a clear nod to the Cinderella story.
Benedict chases through the house looking for Sophie, but she is nowhere to be found. We watch as she races home and begins taking off the beautiful mask and gown she wore to the ball as she changes into a maid’s uniform. Before she can tell her friends who helped to cover for her, Lady Penwood and her daughters arrive home and Rosamund begins noting that Benedict showed interest in her… Or he will once he’s no longer in the presence of the woman who stole his eye at the ball.
As the premiere comes to a close, Queen Charlotte pulls Penelope aside and Penelope tries to discourage her from focusing on Benedict this season. She tries to warn the Queen that of all the men of the Ton, Benedict is the least likely to marry this season. The Queen immediately takes the bet literally and asks Penelope what she would be willing to wager on her bet. Later, Penelope writes that she does not wager Benedict will take a wife, but she knows best that a small amount of make-believe often has the power to remake reality. As she narrates we see Sophie clutching onto the glove she wore to the ball and smiles before hiding it under her bed. Her Cinderella moment may have passed, but it’s clear that Sophie has caught feelings for Benedict – and it’s a feeling that is mutual.
Benedict’s encounter with Sophie left quite an impression on him and it’s clear the mystery of figuring out her identity is one that will remain with Benedict. Though finding Sophie is not likely to be made easy with Benedict about to be the focus of the Queen’s attention and Violet set on marrying him off this season.
It’s going to be exciting to see how Benedict and Sophie’s story will play out in the season ahead, but we’re ready to go on this Cinderella journey and see how the pair get their happy ending!
Bridgerton season 4 part 1 premieres January 29, 2026, on Netflix!