When Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 hit the screens on January 29, it did what the show always did… went on to become one of the most-watched series on Netflix in its first week. In fact, it racked up tens of millions of views right out of the gate, and honestly, not for lack of reason. That usual Regent-era flair was there, and a romance that was unlike any other the show had ever served up. For the most part, critics liked it, placing it in the high-70s on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is currently 67%, the lowest the franchise has seen since the day the first season dropped.
While there are many reasons for this, ranging from a lackluster passion to the absence of familiar faces, one major reason is the way the season is being handed to viewers. Splitting four episodes now and four later has become a trend on Netflix, but for a show that relies on emotional build and momentum, it feels like an interruption rather than your run-of-the-mill anticipation. Fans immediately took to social media to complain that stopping the story mid-arc disrupted the rhythm and sapped excitement, especially given the change in pace. Others argue that splitting eight episodes into two releases drags out a journey that should not feel fragmented. All in all, something is off, and there is no doubt that the two-part season has something to do with it.
Splitting Eight Episodes Into Two Parts Undermined the Season’s Biggest Moments
Watching Bridgerton has always been sort of a cultural moment for… well, everyone and anyone who misses good old-fashioned cheesy romance novels. These narratives often thrived on misdirection and a fair amount of tension building. That’s why the season split is such an issue; it kills the tension that’s built up. Back in Season 3, when Netflix first tried the split format, viewers on social media said the story felt like two almost unrelated chunks. People pointed to the carriage scene in Episode 4 as a kind of peak for Part 1, so when Part 2 arrived much later, the emotional payoff in those episodes felt diluted. Now, we face the same phenomenon with Season 4.
The first part of Season 4 dips into specific beats that on a normal day should be memorable, from the fact that Benedict (Luke Thompson) doesn’t know Sophie (Yerin Ha) is the Lady in Silver to the whole “Be my mistress” debacle. However, a forced month-long break means those scenes aren’t experienced as part of one continuous story. No doubt the season had a few high and low points, but it’s safe to say the drastic drop in the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is due to the season format. Here’s the thing: when you stretch an eight-episode arc into two pieces, there’s a natural disconnect. Fans have to revisit their motivation, relearn relationships, and wait weeks for the next development, and at some point, anticipation wears thin… for many. Considering that Bridgerton is a romance-driven show where emotional investment is hard currency, split seasons are a calculated risk that may not always pay off.
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Key ‘Bridgerton’ Family Subplots Suffer Pacing Issues Due to the Split
Bridgerton has always thrived on the fact that the entire family moves forward together. Right on par, Season 4 Part 1 sets several of those journeys in motion but halts them before they can fully land. It’s easy to fall into a “we demand satisfaction” moment because of that. Now, let’s spell it out, Violet’s (Ruth Gemmell) growing closeness with Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) is introduced with care. It’s painfully obvious that she is drawn to him, yet holds back a bit because of her commitment to Edmund (Rupert Evans). Their quiet glances and coy touches may fly under the radar for most, but head housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson (Geraldine Alexander) sees it all and helps in her own way. We reach what is definitely a climax in their “will they, won’t-they” dynamic, then poof, the season is on a break. Guess we won’t be having “tea” soon.
There’s also that whole thing with Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John (Victor Alli); the early episodes hint that their connection is a bit lacking. They work through things and seem to settle into a comfortable acceptance of who they are together. Then, boom, in drops Michaela (Masali Baduza), visibly throwing Francesca off again. But then what? The break keeps people hanging once again. Even Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie) situation feels similarly suspended, albeit on a lesser scale. She returns from Scotland more certain than ever that the spinster life is the way to go. Just when Hyacinth puts her in place and drags her out of Eloise-land, we get the break.
In theory, this was a perfect point to stop in everyone’s story; the suspense alone should keep people on the hook. But for a whole month? We will just reiterate that Season 3 faced the same criticism when its split separated major family developments; now Season 4 repeats the pattern, with these personal stories pausing midway, weakening the emotional continuity that has always made their story feel real.
Camp out with us as we wait for Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2. The show is currently streaming on Netflix.
