The wait for the second half of Bridgerton Season 4 just got more intense. Netflix released the official trailer for Part 2 on February 13, giving viewers a look at the emotional turmoil awaiting Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek. The streaming platform will drop the final four episodes of the season on February 26, 2026, continuing the Cinderella-inspired story that has kept fans talking since Part 1 debuted in January .
The nearly two-minute trailer picks up right where the midseason finale left off. After sharing a passionate kiss with Sophie, Benedict makes a proposal that leaves her shocked and heartbroken. Instead of asking for her hand in marriage, he suggests she become his mistress. The trailer opens with Benedict questioning why Sophie did not respond to his letter, and she makes her feelings clear. “Because I do not wish to see you,” she tells him flatly. In her response, Sophie adds that being a mistress is the last thing she wants, setting the stage for the conflict driving the remaining episodes .
The Core Conflict Between Fantasy and Reality
Showrunner Jess Brownell shared some insight into what drives the central couple apart this season. “Benedict lives in a fantasy world. Sophie lives in a hard reality,” Brownell explained. “You have two characters who are at opposite ends of a pole, and rather than either of them needing to get all the way to the other side, they both need to travel to the middle. Between fantasy and reality, true love lies in the middle — neither one creates the circumstances for romance to bloom. You have to embrace a little bit of both” .
This tension plays out clearly in the trailer. Benedict wrestles with what society expects from a Bridgerton son. He struggles to accept that he could marry a maid, even though his feelings for her are real. Sophie, on the other hand, carries the weight of her past. Her own mother was a servant who had a child with an aristocrat, and she has seen how those stories usually end. Actor Yerin Ha noted that Sophie does not trust easily because she has constantly faced obstacles and has never seen promises from the upper class actually come true .
What Happened in Part 1
For those needing a quick refresher, Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 introduced viewers to Sophie Baek, a maid working for the formidable Lady Araminta Gun, played by Katie Leung. At a masquerade ball hosted by Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) , Benedict becomes captivated by a mysterious Lady in Silver, not realizing she is Sophie in disguise. When Sophie flees at midnight, leaving only her glove behind, Benedict begins a quest to find her.
Their paths cross again when Sophie is cast out after her stepmother discovers she attended the ball. Benedict rescues her and eventually brings her into the Bridgerton household as staff. He feels a strange connection to her but does not connect the maid before him with the woman from the ball. Their romance builds until the fateful staircase scene where Benedict, instead of proposing, asks her to be his mistress. Sophie runs away, leaving both of them confused and hurt .
Other Storylines to Watch in Part 2
While Benedict and Sophie’s romance takes center stage, the remaining episodes will also check in with other Bridgerton family members. The trailer offers glimpses of Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley) returning from India with their baby, bringing the Viscount and Viscountess back into the family fold .
Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John Stirling (Victor Alli) continue adjusting to married life, but complications arise when John’s cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza) arrives in London. The trailer shows Francesca looking shocked, hinting at developments that fans of the books may recognize .
Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) face new challenges in their marriage now that Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown is public knowledge. The fallout from this revelation adds another layer of drama to the season .
Violet’s own romantic story with Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) also continues after their intimate tea moment in Part 1 .
Fan Reactions to Production Issues
Not all the attention on Bridgerton Season 4 has been positive. After Part 1 dropped on January 29, sharp-eyed viewers spotted several production issues that sparked discussion on social media .
One of the most talked-about moments involves Katie Leung’s character Araminta. Viewers noticed what appeared to be a modern band-aid on her ear, presumably covering a cartilage piercing that would not fit the Regency era. Fans took to TikTok and X to share screenshots, with one user joking, “Bandaids in this era?! The ton want to know.” Another suggested the production team could have used an ear cuff or other jewelry to hide the piercing more effectively .
Beyond wardrobe concerns, multiple viewers criticized the visual effects used in certain scenes. A carriage ride featuring Benedict and Sophie drew particular attention. One fan posted clips on X showing the couple approaching the Bridgerton home against what looked like an artificial backdrop. “No, I’m actually p—ing myself at the green screen background,” they wrote. Another agreed, saying, “The fake backgrounds were very obvious this season.” A third viewer compared it unfavorably to older television, commenting, “There are Doctor Who episodes from the 70s with more convincing green screen omg Netflix is frying their own IP” .
The criticism extended to Reddit, where one user expressed concern about how much green screen the show uses despite having extensive sets available. Another frustrated fan wrote, “This is just a Netflix problem at this point… even in shows like Stranger Things, the CGI was so bad.” Some viewers questioned the production timeline, noting that fans waited over 18 months between seasons only to see what they considered subpar visual effects .
Neither Netflix nor the cast members have responded to these complaints so far.
Episode Release Details
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2 consists of episodes 5 through 8, completing the eight-episode season. The episodes will be available to stream on Netflix starting February 26, 2026 .
For viewers around the world, the release times follow Netflix’s standard schedule. The episodes drop at midnight Pacific Time (PT) on February 26, which translates to 3:00 am Eastern Time (ET) . International viewers can expect the episodes at these times: 4:00 am Brasilia Time (BRT) , 8:00 am British Summer Time (BST) , 9:00 am Central European Summer Time (CEST) , 12:30 pm Indian Standard Time (IST) , 4:00 pm Japan Standard Time (JST) , 5:00 pm Australian Eastern Time (AET) , and 7:00 pm New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT) .
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The Source Material
Bridgerton Season 4 draws its story from An Offer From a Gentleman, the third book in Julia Quinn’s bestselling eight-novel series. The book is itself inspired by the Cinderella fairy tale, which explains the season’s themes of masked balls, a cruel stepmother, and a romance that crosses class lines .
The series continues to be executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen, with Jess Brownell serving as showrunner .
Netflix has already confirmed the show for two more seasons. Seasons 5 and 6 will likely focus on the remaining Bridgerton siblings, with Eloise (Claudia Jessie) and Francesca (Hannah Dodd) as probable leads for future installments .
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