The main poster for season 4 has been released, and it is everything that we want for a poster of a romance series. So let's break it down.
Image Credit: Netflix
Benedict and Sophie:
We see Benedict behind Sophie slightly turned looking down at her as he leans in, with Sophie's head turned so she is looking up at Benedict, giving the impression that they are looking into each other's eyes, though it could be interpreted that Benedict is in fact looking at Sophie's lips. Benedict's hand is gently clasping Sophie's upper arm, while Sophie is holding one hand up clasping her glove (this is an easter egg for the book - and potentially the show). This pose gives classic romance novel pose, which works well for a season based on a romantic fairytale.
Benedict and Sophie are dressed in their Masquerade costumes, however, unlike the teaser poster Sophie is wearing her mask. Benedict is in his simple black shirt and pants, but is not wearing his mask, which is a simple black mask. We see that long silk/satin evening gloves for the ladies have returned after last season. As mentioned in my post on the teaser poster here, Sophie's mask is a half face mask, more in line with the late Georgian period than the regency period, this suggests that instead of the Georgian dress in the books Sophie instead wears a masquerade mask that is out of date and old fashioned.
One interesting thing to note, which could be an easter egg, or could be nothing, is that Benedict is wearing his signet ring in the poster on the ring finger of his left hand, this is different from season 3 where he wore his ring on the little finger of his right hand, and in seaosn 2 where he wore his ring on the little finger of his left hand. Further the ring in the poster appears to be different to the ring he wore in previous seasons. Something to watch out for when the season releases.
The Surroundings:
As with the teaser poster the balcony setting is used for this image, with Benedict and Sophie framed from above by Wisteria. Again, the Wisteria is losing petals pointing towards an Autumnal feel for season 4. Again we see the white roses with teh petals starting to curl, and the leaves on the rose bush are starting to turn yellow as if this is the beginning of the Autumn.
The colour of the sky in both this poster and the teaser poster suggests that this is dusk or sunset, and at first glance looks like the same colour, however, on a closer look it appears the purple in the sky is slightly darker, suggesting a shifting of time further into the night. A subtle difference, but one that could be signalling the passage of time in the story of Benedict and Sophie.
As with the teaser poster it is hard to ignore the fairytale elements in this one, and the symbolism of the flowers and colours of the night sky. Combined this leans into a very romantic promise for season 4.
