Benedict Bridgerton's journey unveiled in Netflix's season 4 teaser
Benedict and Sophie, It's time for their story on the Bridgerton series.
Image: Supplied/ instagram
Netflix has released a new teaser for Season 4 of Bridgerton, turning its focus to another of the Bridgerton brothers — Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson. The season will be released in two parts, with the first four episodes dropping on January 29, 2026, and the remaining four on February 26, 2026.
This season teases the start of Benedict’s long-awaited love story. In the new footage, he is seen encountering a masked woman at a lavish ball — Sophie Beckett, played by Yerin Ha. For readers of Julia Quinn’s An Offer from a Gentleman, this setup will feel familiar.
The book, loosely inspired by Cinderella, follows Benedict’s romantic pursuit of Sophie, an illegitimate daughter of an earl who lives in service to her stepmother. It’s a fan-favorite among the original novels, often praised for its balance of romance, class conflict, and character growth.
In the show, Benedict has been portrayed as a free-spirited artist with a disregard for societal expectations and marriage conventions. Over the past three seasons, he’s explored his identity through relationships with Lucy Granville, Genevieve Deacleroux, and Lady Tilly Arnold — the latter involving a controversial polyamorous invitation that prompted wide viewer speculation. His ongoing resistance to commitment has made his arc distinct, but this season signals a possible shift toward emotional depth and maturity.
Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha, is their match going to bring back the spark the fans have been longing for since season one?
Image: Supplied/ Instagram
While excitement is building, many fans continue to compare upcoming seasons to Season 1, which introduced audiences to the emotional intensity of Simon and Daphne’s romance. Their storyline, particularly the moment they were forced to prove their love match to Queen Charlotte, remains a high point in the series. Simon’s confession — “Romance was entirely out of the question for both of us. But in so removing it, we found something greater. We found friendship” — is still frequently quoted by viewers.
Yet, not all fan reactions to the new season have been enthusiastic. On social media, particularly TikTok, some users voiced frustration at Netflix's decision to release the season in two parts and limit it to eight episodes.
One user wrote, “Release the season faster, stop splitting it into two parts. I'm gonna be in my 50s by the time you finish all the books.” Another comment read, “Bring back the showrunner from the first season,” a reference to Chris Van Dusen, whose original tone and pacing some viewers prefer over the direction under current showrunner Jess Brownell.
There’s also criticism over the slow promotional rollout. Fans are calling out Netflix for releasing only short teaser clips instead of a full trailer. “You guys must release the trailer NOW,” read one of the most-liked comments under the teaser post. While these comments reflect impatience, they also highlight the strong investment audiences continue to have in the franchise.
As Bridgerton returns, all eyes are on Benedict. Whether the show stays faithful to the book or takes new liberties, one thing is clear: even amidst criticism, fan engagement remains high — a testament to the series' enduring grip on its global audience.
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