With season 4 about to begin filming many in the Bridgerton fandom are turning their attention to what they want to see in season 4. Whilst there are things we want to see that are connected to our favourite characters, sometimes we overlook what plot points are needed for storytelling purposes. The scenes we need to see may be big or small, they may be to move a story forward, to complete a character arc, or to show a character's growth.
Below are five things that I believe we need to see in season 4:
Image Credit: Netflix
Kate and Anthony with baby Edmund, and potentially baby number 2 on its way (or being born)
This is something that I believe has more importance than some may want to acknowledge. During season 2 we saw Kate yearn for a child - not in so many words, but it was obvious in her expressions. More than just Kate yearning for a child of her own to love, Kate needs a way to belong, to feel loved unconditionally, and whilst she is finding that with the Bridgertons to an extent, they are not her blood relatives. Kate seemingly has no blood relatives left - at least no full blood relatives, and a child of her own will mean that there is a piece of herself - and her parents - continuing into the future. But baby Edmund isn't something that we need for just Kate's storyline, Anthony has many 'daddy issues' (to use a modern phrase), and Edmund will help him moving past those and perhaps finally being able to give in to his grief over his father's death and move forward knowing that Edmund's legacy is continuing. A lot of Kate and Anthony's story is about their past, and Edmund will be the final push for them to look more towards the future and less into the past. Finally, Kate and Anthony's story arc in season 3 was about having the heir, and Kate being pregnant, by not showing us baby Edmund the writer's failed to complete the story arc they began - which I find both unprofessional and sloppy - so in order to truly complete Kate and Anthony's story arc from season 3 we need to see them with baby Edmund, and with a potential timeskip we can see them with baby number 2 on the way (and being born).
In a postscript (of sorts) it is pertinent to note here that having Kate give birth onscreen was actually something that the writers of season 3 should have included for the continuity and rounding out of Anthony's story, and potentially beginning Eloise's. In season 2 we saw the trauma of Hyacinth's birth, and whilst that appears to be being kept for Eloise, it also impacted Anthony, so seeing him deal with Kate giving birth could allow him, and Eloise, to deal with the trauma they both experienced from Hyacinth's birth.
Penelope apologising to Kate for the slur she used in season 2
One thing that has not been addressed, (and most likely will never be addressed), but is very much an issue with some fans, is the slur used by Penelope when talking about Kate in season 2. Many (myself included) was hoping against hope that a production that claims to be all about diversity would show some courage and awareness, and deal with this issue in the most recent seasons, but they didn't. Many fans need to see Penelope show that she has grown as a character, something that the writers of season 3 failed at, and one way they can show a new maturity and self awareness in Penelope is by having her be accountable for her blatant racism in the Lady Whistledown column. Whilst many don't see what Penelope said as terrible, and don't believe she owes Kate any kind of apology, I believe that view just exposes an underlying racism within the fandom, and it appears to be one that is present in the writer's room. There is very much a perception that they don't believe a white woman should be apologising to a woman of colour for the use of a dehumanising slur. However, these characters are now sisters in law, and this slur still lies between them, anything less than acknowledgement of it and an apology by Penelope will certainly be viewed as the writers brushing racism under the carpet and not treating it seriously - worse it may look like they put more value on a white character over a character that is a woman of colour. Penelope said in season 3 that she had changed, that she understood the harm she did with her Lady Whistledown column, well let the viewers see that she does truly understand that harm and show Penelope having a heartfelt conversation with Kate about her use of the slur, and let Kate be hurt and reluctant to have Penelope in her home without an apology. One of the worst aspects of season 3 was the way none of the Bridgertons cared that Penelope was Lady Whistledown and not one stood up for Kate, whom they claimed they all loved, whilst the writers sent Kate and Anthony away before the denouement of Penelope in order to not have to deal with that aspect. The writers ensured all the discussions that about Lady Whistledown and the hurt she caused focused primarily on the white members of the Bridgerton family - Daphne, Eloise and Colin, with not one mention of the racism towards Kate and Penelope's deliberate dehumanisation of her.
Queen Charlotte's death
If season 4 shows the two year time jump then it will take the show to 1818, which will nicely lead into the death of Queen Charlotte, especially if they keep the show centred in Autumn/Winter as suggested by Jess during season 3 press. Queen Charlotte's story was told in the spin off, which ended inexplicably with the Duke and Duchess of Kent announcing they would be having a girl, potentially 2 years before Queen Victoria was even born! We have seen Queen Charlotte's arc in Bridgerton play out with the unveiling of Lady Whistledown, and with no Bridgerton girls debuting for many years there is very little space for her in the show.
The end of Lady Whistledown
I believe one of the mistakes in the writing of season 3 was having Penelope continue with Lady Whistledown, the most toxic part of Penelope's personality. By continuing to write the column she is hanging on to that toxicity, and we can't be sure she won't go back to what her column was before. Season 3 showed us that, for Penelope, Lady Whistledown is the most important thing in her life - even more important than Colin as she was willing to give up Colin to keep Lady Whistledown, this is the manifestation of a toxicity in Penelope, but also an addiction. In season 2 the viewers were shown that Lady Whistledown isn't needed to drive the plot forward, the narrative did not contribute to Kate and Anthony's story. In order to truly grow and love herself Penelope needs to move on from the toxicity of Lady Whistledown and put her talents into a different focus.
Marina's death
Eloise's story will most likely be season 5, (assuming Bridgerton gets renewed), which means to set up her story we need to see the death of Marina. I think that could work well in season 4 with Eloise as the B plot, and allow Eloise to begin her correspondence with Philip on learning of Marina's death.
And now for two things I want to see in season 4:
Anthony calling Newton 'our dog' when talking to Kate
I can't claim full credit for this, someone I am acquainted with on Social Media actually said this, and I was very much like 'yes'! Whilst this is a tiny thing, I think it will also show Anthony's growth, his acceptance of Newton as a part of his and Kate's family, especially after previous seasons where he made a point of calling Newton Kate's dog.
Image Credit: Netflix
Kate and Gregory relationship
Kate and Anthony are the couple that made Gregory believe in love, it was them that showed him what he wanted when finding a partner in life, and I would like to see this shown a bit in season 4. Also, to see Gregory enamoured with Kate and willing to do anything for her will be a joy to watch.
Will we get to see any of these in season 4? Probably not, but that doesn't mean we can't express what we think needs to be present in order to make the show something we will want to come back to again and again.
