'Bridgerton' Season 4 Keeps Getting Better - And It's Not Even Here Yet
On 20 years of Shondaland and two new photos from Bridgerton Season 4
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I promise I didn’t plan to write about every development in the lead-up to Bridgerton Season 4. But this newsletter is about following stories that bring me joy, and Bridgerton Season 4 brings me so much joy, and it’s not even here yet.
The latest sneak peek of the season that centers on Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek’s love story came from Entertainment Weekly to celebrate 20 years (!) of Shondaland. The outlet’s coverage of the milestone featured retrospectives from Shonda Rhimes herself and creates in front and behind the camera of some of the media company’s best shows and most memorable episodes.
I’m still working my way through all the articles. If you’ve read even a few posts on this newsletter, you’ll know I’m an avid Shondaland fan. I still remember driving around to all the places where magazines were sold in 2015, searching for EW’s Shondaland cover. Somehow, I managed to find the one with Rhimes, Ellen Pompeo, Kerry Washington, and Viola Davis on the cover. I still have it!
I’ve been a loyal admirer of Shonda Rhimes and her work before I even knew who Shonda Rhimes was. Her creative expertise captured my heart with The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004. If you’ve read even a few posts of this newsletter, you know that Private Practice is one of my favorite shows of all time, and I rarely miss an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. I loved sitting down and watching TGIT (!) programming, urging people not to bother me for the three hours that Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder gripped me.
I adored Station 19, I wished For the People and Still Star-Crossed got more time, and I thought The Catch was such a great time.
Then Shondaland entered its streaming era, and Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story absolutely gripped me. Like many others, I was social distancing at home in December 2020, and Bridgerton’s debut season felt like a breath of fresh air. I became obsessed, like buying-all-the-books and rewatching-the-season-as-often-as-possible obsessed. I loved how Bridgerton approached historical romance. I loved the characters. I loved the storytelling. I loved that THE Dame Julie Andrews was the voice of Lady Whistledown. I was enthralled.
So, I’m not even surprised that I want to write about two new photos from Bridgerton Season 4. I know there’s not as much to write about them (at the moment) as there is, say, Season 3’s incredible hot air balloon scene. Still, there are little details in these photos that I want to appreciate. I hope you enjoy!
Peneloise Is So Back!
I have always admired Bridgerton for making Penelope Bridgerton, neé Featherington, and Eloise Bridgerton’s friendship a love story in its own right.
I like that the show has always been interested in exploring all forms of love.
Its dedication to Eloise and Penelope’s friendship, in particular, makes their monumental break-up in the Season 2 finale all the more heartbreaking. After two seasons, this beautiful friendship becomes fractured, seemingly beyond repair.
For that reason, every step — backwards and forwards — that Bridgerton Season 3 (Parts 1 and 2) makes to heal their friendship becomes as important as watching Colin Bridgerton finally fall in love with Penelope, who has loved him for years.
Showrunner Jess Brownell told EW:
“They’re more bonded than ever! Their trials and tribulations last season have added new depth to their friendship, and we’re excited for viewers to see how their relationship looks now that they’ve each grown up a little.”
I think that maturity is represented in their costumes. Season 4’s costume designer is, once again, John Glaser. I always find the details of the costuming on this show to be so fascinating. I like the pattern of Eloise’s dress — and not only because it makes me think of Sir Philip, who I hope makes a return in Season 4 if Eloise’s season is meant to be next (Who knows!). It looks confident, and I think it pushes back against the usual silhouette of Regency era debutantes, which is so Eloise. I also like that the shade of green isn’t that far from Bridgerton Blue.
As for Penelope’s coat dress, it reminds me of Viscountess Kate Bridgerton’s coat dress from Bridgerton Season 3’s premiere. Then again, that could be because Kate is never too far from my mind — simply one of the best Bridgerton characters. When will we get a glimpse of Kate and Anthony in Season 4? Soon, I hope!
Okay, I digress. I love how happy Penelope (and Eloise) is. She’s beaming! I like that this photo suggests that she’s telling Eloise fun news — perhaps an update about how Lady Whistledown is going now that she has revealed her identity. I spot an embroidered detail that looks like a masquerade mask, and I’m obsessed.
Nicola Coughlan recently shared a bit about Season 4’s costuming:
“The designs this year are softer. She’s definitely leaning into motherhood, so there are a lot more updos and things like that. It’s a lot simpler this time, but she’s a busy lady.”
This photo really feels like such a great tease for where Penelope and Eloise are in Bridgerton Season 4 — Episode 4, according to the photo’s description. That timing puts this interaction at the season’s mid-season point. If the show goes with the two-part release schedule that Netflix seems to enjoy nowadays, then there’s a great chance this interaction could be one of the last Penelope and Eloise interactions before the time (It was a month last time) between parts.
Rosamund and Posy Are at Bridgerton House
This photo has my head spinning in the best ways. I can’t stop thinking about it. What do you mean Rosamund and Posy Li are at Bridgerton House in Bridgerton Season 4, Episode 6? Since I recently wrapped up my fourth read of Julia Quinn’s An Offer from a Gentleman, I’m convinced I know what this scene is.
Let me start with what Brownell revealed to EW:
“The Li sisters are just making their debut into society this season, and their mother has raised them to be perfect debutantes. But while Rosamund has become her mother’s mini-me — a marriage mart pro chess player — Posy is dreamy and often unserious, much to her mother's disapproval.”
Rosamund and Posy are perfect debutantes with perfectly inverted dresses. Like their masquerade dresses, these remind me of the step sisters’ attire in Cinderella. Disney’s 1950s cartoon Cinderella and (my favorite!) 2015’s live-action Cinderella.
Regardless, those descriptions of Rosamund and Posy really build on Brownell’s comments from the Season of Love event in February. Brownell said the season will work to understand why characters make the choices they do, even if we disagree with them. Brownell also spoke to the humanity that Katie Leung brings to Araminta Gun, Posy and Rosamund’s mother, and the same for Mao with Rosamund. I like knowing that a character will exist in all their complexities.
“Araminta and Rosamund are so focused on their own goals that, frankly, the Bridgertons don't register much for them at first. Beyond the fact that Benedict proves to be quite the catch this season.”
There’s a chance that Posy is looking at Benedict in this photo. By Episode 6, there’s a nearly perfect chance that Posy, Rosamund, and even Araminta have shared a number of scenes with the Bridgertons. My best bet, though, is that this is Bridgerton’s take on a very pivotal scene from the book. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read An Offer from a Gentleman.
Otherwise, I love seeing Eloise and Hyacinth together. I remember Brownell — at the Season of Love event in February — teasing that the sisters will share more scenes as Eloise “is in her mother’s clutches again.” Going off of Eloise’s expression, her involvement in this exchange could be one of those moments.
I could totally be reading into a choice Florence Hunt unconsciously made, but I don’t want to discredit her or any of those behind the camera if it is on purpose. But, as for Hyacinth, I really like that her feet are in and out of her shoes. It makes me think about how Hyacinth, who has grown into a character that is so eager to be a part of society, is starting to fill those shoes. Of course, Bridgerton has a long way to go before it gets to hers and Gregory’s seasons, respectively.
I think this photo made me realize how much time the show has spent and will get to spend with the Bridgertons before their seasons come around. As someone who really loves these characters and this show, I’m excited about every second.
Until next time,
💌 Shelby