Bridgerton season 4: Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek reshape the ton’s romance

The first half of Bridgerton season 4 arrived in late January with a masked-ball meet-cute, a Cinderella-style class divide, and a new leading pair that immediately sent viewers hunting for answers: when does Part 2 drop, what time does it come out in the UK, and what exactly does “my ward” mean in this story?

With four episodes already out and four more on the way, the season’s rollout has become almost as conversation-heavy as the romance itself.

Bridgerton season 4 release date and times

Season 4 is split into two parts, releasing in the early morning in the United States and later in the morning in the United Kingdom. Part 1 has already premiered; Part 2 is scheduled later this month.

That answers the most common timing searches: what time does Bridgerton come out, what time does Bridgerton season 4 drop, and Bridgerton season 4 release time UK. For anyone asking about Bridgerton season 4 part 2 release date, it’s Feb. 26, 2026, with the same early-morning ET drop.

Benedict Bridgerton’s new era

This season centers on Benedict Bridgerton, played by Luke Thompson, shifting him from witty observer to romantic lead. The story leans into his fascination with art, fantasy, and reinvention—then tests it against a reality he’s spent years skimming past: the labor and rules that keep Mayfair’s glamour running.

The hook lands quickly. At a masquerade, Benedict meets a mysterious woman in silver, becomes obsessed, and then collides with the same person later in a completely different social role—without realizing it. The show uses that blindness as a feature, not a bug: it’s a class story disguised as a romance story.

Sophie Baek, the “Lady in Silver,” and the new cast

The season’s heroine is Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha. She is introduced in two lives: the enchanting figure at the masquerade, and the young woman working inside the Penwood household, navigating status, secrecy, and survival.

Key supporting players returning or appearing prominently this season include Ruth Gemmell as Violet Bridgerton and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton, adding family pressure and context around what “marrying well” means inside this world.

Viewers familiar with the Bridgerton books will recognize the skeleton of the plot from An Offer from a Gentleman, but with notable updates—especially the show’s reimagining of Sophie’s name and background.

What is a ward in Bridgerton?

A “ward” is a person—often a child or young adult—placed under the legal protection and responsibility of a guardian. In plain terms, a ward is someone whose life decisions are formally controlled by another person.

That’s why the phrase “my ward” carries extra weight. It doesn’t just mean “someone I look after.” In a Regency setting, it can imply:

• who controls a young woman’s money or inheritance

• who decides where she lives

• who approves (or blocks) marriage prospects

• who holds social power over her future

So when people ask ward meaning, my ward meaning, or what does my ward mean, the practical answer is: it signals legal authority and social control, not just affection.

In season 4, Sophie’s status as a “ward” is central to the tension—she’s close enough to the aristocratic world to understand it, but not protected by it in the way a recognized daughter would be. That gray-zone status is exactly what makes her vulnerable.

What to expect in Part 2

Part 1 sets up three engines that Part 2 must resolve:

1. Recognition: whether Benedict finally identifies Sophie as the woman from the masquerade.

2. Power and protection: what Sophie’s wardship truly means, and who benefits from keeping her position ambiguous.

3. Class consequences: whether Benedict’s affection survives contact with the ton’s rules—and whether Sophie can accept love that may come with strings.

There’s also a bigger franchise note: the series has already been renewed through Seasons 5 and 6, and Season 4 is positioned to quietly lay groundwork for which sibling leads next.

Sources consulted: Netflix Tudum; People; Radio Times; Forbes