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.
Masquerade Meet-Cute
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.
My Cottage
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.
The Lake
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.
If anything, Benedict seems more surprised to learn that Sophie is there. His swim is more of a reprieve after being stuck in bed, but Benedict likes that My Cottage causes him to slow down in the book.
Quinn writes that “…the best part of his recovery, by far, was Sophie,” later adding that Benedict “…liked her far better when she was spitting fire than when she was meek and submissive.” The latter’s language doesn’t age the best. Nevertheless, Sophie and Benedict’s banter shines at the lake. It culminates with Sophie blurting out, “I cannot help but notice you.”
As for the rest of this scene, Bridgerton makes improvements from the book. Benedict is much kinder and more playful than in the book. Sophie doesn’t call Benedict by his name for the first time. While Benedict doesn’t say that Sophie is crying after their kiss, those tears are visible in Yerin Ha’s eyes. Not to mention, this scene isn’t where Benedict’s offer to Sophie arises in the show.
Therefore, the scene is far less patronizing and uncomfortable than it can be in the book. It’s more romantic and self-aware in “The Field Next to the Other Road.” That said, there is one exchange from the book that is missing from this scene that is hopefully coming in Part 2.
Bridgerton House
Because Benedict has yet to ask Sophie to be his mistress, Sophie’s arrival at Bridgerton House has a different, far less manipulative context in the show than it does in the book. Benedict doesn’t threaten to turn Sophie in for a crime she didn’t commit if she doesn’t accept his job offer. Though it doesn’t amount to much in the book, Bridgerton is also right to throw out Rosamund and Phillip Cavender’s pairing.
Bridgerton Season 4 Episode 4, “An Offer From a Gentleman,” keeps the essence of the book. In it, Quinn writes that Bridgerton House “had been Sophie’s dream house, quite literally,” and the episode captures that. Yes, it misses out on Benedict and Sophie’s banter about the front entrance and the servants’ one, but their sense of humor is intact. The episode also shows how Sophie admires Violet and the family, and seeing a mother’s love is important to Sophie in the book, too. Bridgerton effectively shows Sophie enjoying this job and the life that it gives her, which makes her dedication to keep it translate well on screen.
Another big change comes with Benedict and Sophie’s scene on the servants’ staircase. In the book, Benedict is quite inconsiderate and short-tempered. Bridgerton makes it far more romantic. The setting acts as a place for Benedict and Sophie to meet in the middle. Although there is plenty of figurative and literal work for the characters to do from this point, this scene is still intimate and special. It’s here that Bridgerton has Benedict present his offer to Sophie. All of which proves the show knows how to improve on the book’s faults and work in favor of these versions of the characters and the narrative.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 is streaming on Netflix now.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 premieres on Thursday, February 26, on Netflix.
