Many passages of Julia Quinn’s An Offer From a Gentleman make their way from the page to the small screen in Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1. The show is certainly for those who haven’t read the book, too. Those who have, though, will notice scenes that practically fell out of the book. Other sections evolve to adhere to the medium and the characters as they exist in it. The reality is that there is so much in these four episodes that is faithfully similar to the source material. The essence of the book is everywhere, so these are just a few examples where differences and similarities to it make this season better.
Bridgerton Season 3, Episode 8, “Into the Light,” confirms that the masquerade ball is coming. Bridgerton Season 4, Episode 1, “The Waltz,” delivers on the details. Like in the book, Eloise Bridgerton goes to the event as Joan of Arc. The costumes evolve with the show’s history as Colin and Penelope Bridgerton wear pirate costumes. Meanwhile, Bridgerton Season 4, Episode 2, “Time Transfixed,” reveals that Posy Li planned to go as a mermaid, as she does in the book.
Bridgerton’s creative team – writers, directors, actors, so on – visually grasps the joy that Benedict sees in Sophie before they even meet. Quinn writes, in part, “She was utterly radiant, and Benedict suddenly realized that it was because she looked so damned happy. Happy to be where she was, happy to be who she was.” Smaller but still meaningful bits like Benedict stepping in as Sophie’s dance partner and her not calling his bluff make it to the screen.
Sophie puts together who Benedict is without the help of Colin’s presence. The Lady in Silver still steps on Benedict’s shoe, and Benedict says, “My sisters have done far worse.” There is a bit more physical intimacy on the private terrace in the book. “The Waltz” conveys everything it needs to with Benedict removing Sophie’s glove and kissing her. Then again, Sophie doesn’t go back to kiss Benedict in the book, and that last grasp at the fantasy is an excellent addition for Bridgerton.
Sophie still runs into Araminta, who says, “Watch where you are going.” Alternatively, Bridgerton diverges from Quinn’s book when Benedict, with the help of Violet, doesn’t see the initials on the glove on the same night as the ball. That choice lets the masquerade ball exist on its own and prolongs Benedict’s search.
In the lead-up to her and Benedict’s time at My Cottage, Sophie steals Araminta’s shoe clips. The show makes a change to benefit Sophie and Posy’s dynamic, with Posy giving them to Sophie. It doesn’t take two years after their first meeting for Benedict and Sophie to cross paths again and go to My Cottage. Also, Sophie doesn’t break down in tears in front of Benedict after the dangerous and tumultuous events before Benedict re-enters her life. Still, Bridgerton shows how Sophie gradually becomes comfortable at My Cottage through her interactions with the space and conversations with Mrs. Crabtree.
Meanwhile, Bridgerton’s fever scene is extremely different from its book counterpart. On the surface, Sophie doesn’t wear men’s clothes that don’t fit and continually fall off her. There’s also no kiss between Sophie and Benedict and no declaration of love from Sophie. Benedict still begs for her to kiss him, but, rightfully so, Bridgerton maintains the yearning without crossing a boundary when Benedict is sick. While in Benedict’s room, Sophie doesn’t see the drawings of herself, which raises hopes that Sophie may still see them in the second part of the season.
There’s also no mention of Benedict’s bowl of rocks. That’s not all that surprising since Bridgerton changes Benedict’s whereabouts when Edmund dies. The Season 2 flashback shows Benedict at Aubrey Hall when Edmund is stung. In the book, Benedict is away horse racing with Anthony when Edmund dies – Eloise is the one who sees Edmund die. Still, Benedict keeps a rock from the hike on the day that Edmund dies. There isn’t an exchange about as much in the show, but Sophie does admire a rock on her walk to the lake, which may be a nod to that book detail.
As in the book, Lady Whistledown writes about Benedict being in the countryside. Plus, Sophie and Mrs. Crabtree’s dynamic feels very similar to how it exists on the page. Sophie’s internal dialogue about her place often plays out through externalized conversations with Mrs. Crabtree on the show. Mostly, Bridgerton recognizes that My Cottage is the place where Benedict Bridgerton falls for Sophie Baek.
Unfortunately, Bridgerton does not have Luke Thompson as Benedict climbing out a window and scaling My Cottage to get to the lake. Again, Benedict’s grief isn’t explicitly explored much at all yet in these first four episodes, so any tingling he may experience, as he does in the book when Edmund dies or when he suspects Sophie is the one watching him, doesn’t exist in the show.
