The fourth season of Bridgerton, the series that follows the lives of eight siblings in Regency-period England (1795-1837) and premieres next week, has a “dark and brooding” tone and goes beyond British high society romance to delve deeper into the complexities of its main characters and the relationships between them.
This was stated by actresses Katie Leung (Lady Araminta Gun), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) and Adjoa Andoh (Lady Agatha Danbury) in an interview with EFE on the occasion of the launch of the new season of the popular series on the Netflix platform.
The show follows the love affairs and dramas of the eight Bridgerton siblings, children of Viscountess Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell).
Benedict Bridgerton, center of season 4
The series, based on the book by Julia Quinn, has the particularity of focusing on a brother in each season. In the fourth season it will be Benedict Bridgerton’s turn, who will meet Sophie Beckett (Yerin Ha), illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Penwood, at a masquerade ball. After the death of her father, Sophie’s cruel stepmother – Lady Araminta, Penwood’s widow – relegates her to the role of a servant in her own house.
As if it were a Cinderella story, Benedict meets Sophie at the ball and falls in love with her, without knowing her identity because the girl leaves when the clock strikes midnight, leaving behind a white glove -instead of the white shoe of the popular fairy tale-.
This season will be more than just a continuation of Regency opulence and romance, as it has “a darker and more melancholy tone,” nuances that will “set it apart from its predecessors,” Katie Leung told EFE.
The same was expressed by Rosheuvel and Andoh, who stressed to EFE that the series is loaded with “intrigue” and takes a broader look at Regency homes and friendships.
“It’s not just about lovers. You get a broader view of homes, the world of the times, the world of work, the world of friendship,” Rosheuvel said.
For Leung, the atmosphere surrounding the plot is “daring” due to a change in the dynamics of those who work for high society.
About the character he plays, Leung asked for empathy for him as the clear cruelty towards Sophie is actually “an armor born out of desperation.”
Widowed with two dependent daughters and no male heir to secure the estate, Lady Araminta finds herself in a state of “survival”, as her obsession is to marry off her daughters.
“She doesn’t do it out of malice, but as an act of love and protection to ensure her family’s financial stability in a society unforgiving to women without male breadwinners,” she explained.
“The stakes are high, but she means well,” said the actress, who hopes that the audience, understanding the pressure she faces, will feel greater empathy for Araminta.
The friendship between Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury
Two other central characters are Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury, who form a decades-long friendship that began when both were young, forged through court politics.
In the fourth season, the friendship between these characters is crucial, Rosheuvel explained, as the queen faces emotional difficulties and feels that her best friend is hurting her by wanting to leave, so she plays “the authority card for the first time.”
“Because of emotional difficulties, he has to play that card or he feels he has to play that card: the power card. And I think it’s definitely the first time that card has been played with these characters. It’s really interesting,” Rosheuvel added.
One of the particularities of the series is the presence of Asian women and women of African origin. This racial diversity in the cast is a decision by the creators (Shonda Rhimes and Chris Van Dusen) to reflect today’s society and not a historically accurate representation of Regency England.
In that sense, Leung highlighted the value of sharing space with other Asian women in this production.
The actress praised the real commitment to inclusion and diversity, not only in the cast, but also in the creative team, giving opportunities to new directors and emerging talent in each shooting block.
“We can tell stories in a new and different way, and we can bring joy, intrigue and excitement, and there is a lot of love from us to the audience and from the audience to us,” said Andoh, reported Agencia EFE.
Here you can watch the trailer for the fourth season of ‘Bridgerton’.
Find out more at ‘QueOnnda.com’.
