Bridgerton Season 4: A Familiar Fairy Tale That Benedict Bridgerton Was Never Meant to Star In
Home page (Smart links) |
| A Familiar Fairy Tale That Benedict Bridgerton Was Never Meant to Star In |
Bridgerton Season 4 leans into a fairy-tale romance, but Benedict Bridgerton’s long-standing lack of identity raises questions about whether he can ever be the show’s Prince Charming.
What Is Bridgerton Season 4 About?
Bridgerton Season 4 signals a shift toward a more traditional fairy-tale romance, placing Benedict Bridgerton at the emotional center of the story. Long teased as the “free spirit” of the family, Benedict finally steps out of the background and into a leading role. The season frames his journey like a classic romantic arc—self-discovery, longing, and the promise of true love. On paper, it sounds like a natural evolution. In practice, it highlights a problem the show has quietly struggled with for years: Benedict has never been fully defined.
Why Benedict Bridgerton Feels Like the Wrong Prince
Benedict was never going to be Prince Charming—and not because Luke Thompson hasn’t tried. Thompson brings warmth and sincerity to the role, but the character itself lacks the sharp edges that make Bridgerton leads compelling. Anthony is deeply flawed yet commanding. Penelope is clever and brave. Eloise bristles with wit and rebellion. Even Violet clings fiercely to tradition. Benedict, by contrast, floats.
For three seasons, his defining trait has been his absence of definition. Labeled a “free spirit,” he drifts between art schools, parties, and affairs without clear ambition or inner conflict. Freedom, without resistance or consequence, quickly becomes dull. When Season 4 asks viewers to invest in Benedict as a romantic hero, it also asks them to forget how little emotional groundwork has been laid.
Where the Story Struggles
The fairy-tale framing works against Benedict rather than elevating him. Bridgerton thrives when it subverts romance tropes with sharp dialogue and messy emotions. By leaning into a familiar “dreamer finds love” narrative, Season 4 exposes how interchangeable Benedict’s journey feels. There’s no strong ideology he’s rebelling against, no belief system he’s risking. Without that tension, the romance lacks urgency.
When the Problem Became Clear
The issue didn’t begin in Season 4—it simply became impossible to ignore. Across the first three seasons, Benedict existed in narrative limbo. He wasn’t burdened by duty like Anthony or constrained by society like Eloise. His conflicts were fleeting, often resolved off-screen or abandoned entirely. Season 4’s attempt to retrofit depth onto him feels late, especially compared to how carefully other characters were developed before their romantic spotlight.
How Bridgerton Could Have Done Better
Benedict didn’t need to become Prince Charming; he needed to become someone specific. A clearer artistic philosophy, a moral stance, or even a controversial belief could have grounded his arc. Romance in Bridgerton works best when love challenges identity. For Benedict, there was too little identity to challenge.
