Bridgerton‘s previous season reveals Penelope Featherington-Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan) as the pen behind Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews). Penelope, despite that unmasking, is still able to carry influence within London society and protect her family and others. She serves as a confidante to Francesca (Hannah Dodd), in London faking her happiness with her ohn Stirling (Victor Alli). She helps her brother-in-law Benedict (Luke Thompson) in search of a mysterious Lady in Silver at the Bridgerton ball. As it turns out, that Lady in Silver is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a stepmother of Araminta Gun(Katie Leung).

Viewers probably see Penelope as a fan favourite but some gossip and story lines are out of her reach, for now at least. That’s probably a good thing because the Dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) needs her free time. Those are at least three of the four important plot arcs in the first part of this new season. All of them are developing at their own pace, some more frustratingly slow than others, I’d like to admit. This might be a controversial take especially with the Franchaels, but the next season better be about Francesca instead of it being another B-plot to the season about Eloise (Claudia Jessie). Bridgerton‘s tolerable D-plot involves Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) relinquishing the role of organizing the inaugural ball this season.

But Bridgerton‘s fourth season, after all, is about Benedict’s search for a woman who is elusive for reasons obvious to us viewers. Part of his search involves talking to Araminta’s biological daughters Rosamund and Posy Li (Michelle Mao and Isabella Wei). Araminta passing Sophie off as her maid means that the latter, in theory, isn’t a viable option for Benedict. For the book readers out there, yes, the show race bends Sophie Beckett into Sophie Baek, but the fact that the Baek-Gun-Li family is Asian gives this Cinderella plot a meta feel. The show also makes this season’s protagonists relatable. This season is probably more class conscious than Season 2, beginning by showing the downstairs people in a sympathetic light.

Some of the class distinctions disappear when, for instance, Benedict and Sophie are alone, showing each other their vulnerable side. Class dynamics are a give and take as Sophie remembers, especially from Benedict’s country maid Mrs. Crabtree (Susan Brown). Sometimes it’s age that’s the hurdle, stopping Violet from pursuing Lady Danbury’s brother Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis). But unlike Benedict who is a boy, Marcus is a man and doesn’t fumble it with Violet, making sure their arrangement stays intact. At least that’s true for now – anything can happen after the first part of this season, but this is a show that likes its happy endings. Also, the needle drops and Violet’s lines have the potential to go viral.

Netflix is the only place to watch the first part of Bridgerton‘s fourth season.