Bridgerton‘s fourth season is off to a crackling start thanks to an endearing love story that builds momentum with stolen glances, secret meetings, and a torrid liaison that has been in the making for a while. But this is not just a reference to Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), whose pairing is admittedly the strongest reason to watch the show. Volume one also spends time on another striking relationship, one that gives Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) an overdue spotlight. While helping her son find his mysterious “lady in silver,” she embarks on a delightful side quest: Can she pursue a one-night stand—or possibly more—with a hot crush while keeping her nosy children and the gossip-loving ton out of her personal business?
In episode four, “An Offer From A Gentleman,” Violet braces herself for a clandestine meeting with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) at her house. Right before his arrival, Violet, clad in sexy lingerie and bursting with anticipation and nerves, pauses to look in the mirror to see a woman she doesn’t fully recognize anymore. That’s because ever since her husband died decades ago, she’s forgotten to put herself and her wants first. Like most mamas of Mayfair, her sole purpose has been to marry off her children (ideally for true love, and not just for status, as she kindly keeps reminding them). She’s dedicated herself to that goal throughout the show’s run. With this subplot, Violet gives herself the permission to chase her desires, and Bridgerton expands its romantic lens to tell the type of moving story it hasn’t gotten to yet.
Like a lot of Regency era-set pop culture, from Pride & Prejudice to Sanditon, this Netflix series mostly caters to younger folks’ relationship dramas. The adults are mostly there to facilitate. And in Bridgerton, sex plays a pivotal role as a way for characters to learn about their identities and desires, as seen with how Simon (Rege-Jean Page) encourages Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) to pleasure herself in season one, or how, in season four, Francesca (Hannah Dodd) struggles to reach her “pinnacle.” Violet, for the most part, is also relegated to finding suitable partners for her kids. She’s the picture-perfect mom and dowager viscountess. In season four, she finally begins to seek a change outside of this image. Her sneaky relationship with Lord Anderson gives her the rare agency to rediscover herself without being worried about what others think. (“I am the tea that you’re having,” she confidently tells her beau before the two finally end up in bed in episode four.)
Violet isn’t the only older female protagonist to undergo a necessary transformation. Season four deepens the years-long friendship between Queen Charlotte (Golda Roshuevel) and Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), whose origin story was told in the franchise’s 2023 prequel series. This time around, there’s more focus on their individual struggles and co-dependent dynamic (in a way that might feel slightly familiar to fans of The Gilded Age). Agatha is ready to step away from hosting balls at Mayfair and seeks a change, hoping to spend the last stage of her life exploring the world instead of being the Queen’s only companion. But when she expresses her intentions, Charlotte dismisses them entirely, afraid to face the court without Agatha by her side and be on her own for a change. Plus, the Queen isn’t used to anybody standing up to her, even if it’s her own best friend. Their back-and-forth eventually helps both of them evolve, particularly Charlotte, who tearfully admits her weaknesses in a moment of self-awareness.
All three characters’ experiences with loss and loneliness finally start to inform their decisions here. Season four isn’t only about what they’ve gone through because the show at last begins to imagine what their futures might look like too. And it’s a far more interesting series because of it.
Saloni Gajjar is The A.V. Club‘s TV critic.
Keep scrolling for more great stories.