Bridgerton season 4 part 1 ending explained: Benedict’s poor decision-making reaches all-time high

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Please be aware that this article reveals major plot details from the fourth and final episode of Bridgerton season 4, part 1, titled “An Offer from a Gentleman.” Spoilers ahead!

The last episode of Bridgerton season 4, part 1, definitely delivered on its promise, especially with Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha). His surprising announcement – essentially a marriage proposal – left both Sophie and the audience speechless.

The first part of the series ends with a lot of unresolved questions, both for the main romantic pair and for the wider social scene, as new families arrive at Grosvenor Square.

Now that Benedict has returned from the countryside with Sophie, he convinces his mother to hire her at the Bridgerton estate. Sophie is hesitant at first, but she takes the job and begins to settle in. However, just as she’s getting comfortable, Benedict unexpectedly makes her an offer that throws everything into question.

Thompson recently discussed his Season 4 connection with Ha in an interview with TopMob magazine. He explained that despite initially worrying about building chemistry over Zoom, he discovered it was possible. He felt a strong, mysterious connection with Ha during their first read-through, suggesting there was a lot of depth to explore between them – exactly what he hoped for.

Good news: there are still more episodes of Bridgerton coming – including the rest of season 4, and two additional seasons with confirmed main actors. Want to know what happened in the first part of Bridgerton season 4? Here’s a complete recap.

Bridgerton season 4 part 1 ending explained: What happens between Benedict and Sophie?

When Sophie returned to London, she was surprised to learn Benedict wanted her to work for his mother at their family home. Although she was hesitant at first, Sophie needed a job and decided to accept the offer.

Once Sophie enters the Bridgerton home, Violet warmly welcomes her and believes she’d be an excellent lady’s maid for Eloise and Hyacinth. Benedict follows through on his promise and hires Hazel as well, showing Sophie he’s a man who keeps his word. Sophie quickly adjusts to life with the Bridgertons and becomes close friends with the two sisters.

Violet attempts to help Benedict find the intriguing woman he met at her party, but isn’t successful. Meanwhile, she’s secretly planning a date with Marcus and asks Mrs. Wilson to help her find a way to get the kids out of the house so she can have some time alone.

One night while out with friends, Benedict discovered Lord Hiscox was content with his affair. This sparked the idea for Benedict to pursue a similar arrangement with Sophie. The conversation highlighted that, among their social circle, affairs were common because marriages weren’t always based on genuine affection, especially when considering social standing.

One evening, Benedict and Sophie are sharing memories of their time in the country, and Benedict tells Sophie he doesn’t want her to go. Sophie has been offered a permanent job by Violet, but she’s unsure if she should accept it because of her feelings for Benedict. Despite this, Benedict assures her he won’t risk her job for the sake of their connection.

Alice (played by Emma Naomi) believes she’s identified the mysterious Lady in Silver as Miss Hollis. However, when Benedict and Violet meet Miss Hollis and her mother, they discover she wasn’t at the masquerade ball, proving she isn’t the woman they’re looking for. Sophie is visibly upset by this failed attempt and sharply tells Benedict he should return to his own place, especially since she’s happy with her new job and doesn’t want him disrupting things at home.

Sophie told Mrs. Wilson she’d be staying, which pleased her, as everyone enjoys having Sophie around. The rest of the team were happy to hear they had the night off and that Sophie would be joining them for a drink.

That evening, Violet orchestrates a meeting between Marcus and herself, leading to them becoming intimate. Meanwhile, Benedict is restless at home, obsessively sketching Sophie. He impulsively rushes to the Bridgerton house, hoping to find her, but discovers she’s out. Unaware of his arrival, Sophie is on her way upstairs when she unexpectedly runs into Benedict. The encounter quickly turns passionate, and Benedict confesses he can’t stop thinking about Sophie, admitting he searches for her everywhere he goes.

Sophie was completely stunned by his confession, but Benedict unexpectedly ruined the romantic moment by bluntly asking, “Sophie, be my mistress.” The shocking request hung in the air, leaving Sophie with a blank expression. She didn’t say a word, simply grabbed her coat, and walked out.

The finale had another unexpected twist: the new neighbors are revealed to be Lady Araminta (Katie Leung) and her daughters. Lorraine Ashbourne’s character, Varley, now works for them, and with their home so close to Sophie’s new job, it seems likely to cause problems.

What happens between Francesca and John?

Okay, so the final scene between Francesca and John? It’s…awkward. She makes a move, clearly hoping for things to get intimate, but it’s immediately obvious they’re not on the same wavelength. The chemistry just isn’t there, and it makes for a really uncomfortable, yet honest, moment.

John and Francesca finally talked openly about their issues and realized they needed to be better at sharing their feelings. Francesca admitted she hadn’t been fully satisfied lately, and believed that might be why they were having trouble getting pregnant. The conversation was very honest and seemed to bring them closer together as a couple.

Our family was all set for dinner, but then we got a surprise guest! When we went to the door, it was John’s cousin, Michaela. She immediately turned to Francesca and said she looked like she’d seen a ghost – it was a really strange moment, and honestly, a bit unsettling!

What happens between Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury?

While hosting a party, Lady Danbury learns that Alice wants to find a role in high society. This inspires Danbury to suggest Alice become the Queen’s new Lady-in-Waiting. Alice is taken aback by the proposal, and Danbury later goes to her home to try and persuade her to accept the position.

Alice insists she’s never wanted to be one of the Queen’s Ladies-in-Waiting, but Danbury points out that her strong reaction actually shows she’d be perfect for the job. Whether this new relationship will cause problems later in the series remains to be seen.

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The first part of Bridgerton season 4 is now available on Netflix, and the second part will be released on February 26th. All previous seasons (1-3) are also currently streaming on Netflix. If you’d like to read the books that inspired the show, you can purchase the Bridgerton series on Amazon.

Don’t miss Bridgerton! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-01-29 15:39