- - Is “Bridgerton ”Season 4 Based on “Cinderella”? All the Fairytale References in Benedict and Sophie's Love Story

Jordana ComiterJanuary 31, 2026 at 5:30 AM

0

Yerin Ha as Sophie Beckett and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in episode 401 of 'Bridgerton' ; Prince Charming and Cinderella in Disney's animated film 'Cinderella'

Liam Daniel/Netflix ; All Star Picture Library via Alamy

Bridgerton season 4, which premiered on Jan. 29, sees Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) get his turn in the spotlight

The season sees the free-spirited, second son go on a quest to find the mysterious Lady in Silver, whom viewers know is Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha)

Benedict and Sophie's unexpected romance is a twist on the classic Cinderella tale

Bridgerton has always told fairytale-like romance stories — but season 4's might seem a bit familiar.

On Jan. 29, the fourth chapter of the beloved Netflix show returned with the release of its first four episodes. This time, the free-spirited, artsy Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) — who is the second-eldest among his siblings — gets his turn in the spotlight in a romance based on Julia Quinn's third Bridgerton novel, An Offer from a Gentleman.

After years of mocking the idea of settling down, Benedict meets a Lady in Silver at the first ball of the season (a masquerade!), setting him on a path to figure out the identity of the mysterious woman who may have captured his attention enough to change his ways. But, there's one problem: Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), the woman behind the mask, is a maid from the working class who would never be accepted in Benedict's world.

As season 4 explores their unexpected romance, it also focuses on the larger distinctions between the working class and upper class — and whether or not an upstairs-downstairs relationship could ever be more than a fantasy. The story has many parallels to the folk tale of Cinderella, which has been adapted several times since the 1950 classic film.

So, is Bridgerton season 4 based on Cinderella? Here's everything to know about the inspirations behind Benedict and Sophie's love story.

Warning: Bridgerton season 4, part 1 spoilers ahead.

Is Bridgerton season 4 based on Cinderella?

Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton in episode 401 of 'Bridgerton'

Liam Daniel/Netflix

If you think season 4 of Bridgerton is feeling like Cinderella, you're not far off: Thompson confirmed that the story line is a "bit of a twist" on the classic fairytale.

"You remember being told those stories as a child — the magic and the romance of them," the actor told Netflix's Tudum in January 2026. "It’s really exciting to have that weaved into the world that we know of Bridgerton ... It’s such a great story, but it’s also, I hope, really relatable."

Showrunner Jess Brownell spoke about the trope during a January 2026 conversation with Australian outlet Mamamia, reflecting on the age-old dilemma that men in Cinderella stories have faced about not being able to recognize a woman — despite only a bit of fabric covering half her face.

"Well it's a little, hopefully, willing suspension of disbelief. You know, we are in a fantasy world," Brownell said. "But, I think it hopefully does provide a commentary on the power of class in that era."

She notes that a big part of Benedict not recognizing Sophie upon re-meeting her is that he would "just never imagine that this masked woman, a lady, who he has been looking for the last few months, could possibly be a maid."

Lucky for Ha, who takes on the leading lady role, Cinderella was her favorite princess as a young girl.

"I was using the kind of magicalness of the ball in channeling her ... I watched [the 1950 Disney version of Cinderella] so many times," she told InStyle in January 2026.

How does Bridgerton season 4 resemble Cinderella?

Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek in episode 402 of 'Bridgerton'

Liam Daniel/Netflix

There are several elements in Bridgerton season 4 that resemble the story line of Cinderella, from enchanting balls to gloves and slippers — and even an evil stepmother.

Most notably, both stories follow a leading man's quest to find a mystery woman whom he meets at a ball. While the classic Cinderella tale doesn't see its leads meet at a masquerade, 2004's A Cinderella Story — starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray — does.

At the start of the season, Sophie — who was born out of an illegitimate relationship between her father, Lord Penwood, and her mother, his maid and mistress — is living with and working for Lady Araminta (Katie Leung), her father's widow. While Lady Araminta resembles an "evil stepmother" in a lot of ways, she also has two daughters: Rosamund (Michelle Mao) and Posy Li (Isabella Wei), both of whom at one point are vying for Benedict's affections.

On a deeper level, Bridgerton season 4 also explores the idea of a wealthy man from the royal, upper class falling for a woman from the working class, much like Cinderella.

"This season is a lot—is darker the right word?—for Bridgerton," Ha told W Magazine in January 2026. "There’s something in the class struggle and the class divide, and opening up the Bridgerton universe to the downstairs universe, that made it more grounded. There are actual societal stakes at play."

How is Bridgerton season 4 different from Cinderella?

Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek in episode 403 of 'Bridgerton'

Liam Daniel/Netflix

During her conversation with InStyle, Ha said that the season mainly pulls from Cinderella in two instances: the masquerade ball and Benedict trying to find Sophie. But after that moment, "it veers off into a completely different story."

Unlike the classic story, there is no fairy godmother (though she does have some supportive co-workers!) to magically save the day or a magical carriage that brings her home before she turns into a pumpkin. Rather, Sophie is a hard worker and dedicated employee who faces the consequences of her actions head-on.

"Sophie, she is based in a Cinderella trope, but she is no damsel in distress," Brownell told Collider in February 2025. "She is someone who has chess moves, who is always thinking two, [or] three steps ahead, so she is absolutely going to throw Benedict for a loop and Yerin just brings this incredible feistiness, humor and vulnerability to the role."

Given that part 2 of season 4 doesn't premiere until the end of February 2026, viewers still have to wait and see if Sophie gets her happy ending with her Prince Charming, just like Cinderella.

What has Bridgerton author Julia Quinn said about writing a Cinderella-inspired story?

Gracie McGonigal as Hazel, Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek and Oli Higginson as Footman John in episode 404 of 'Bridgerton'

Liam Daniel/Netflix

In April 2022, long before Benedict was the lead, Quinn spoke to Business Insider about fans might be able to expect when he does get his chance in the spotlight. She explained that while she wasn't sure at the time how it would be adapted, she wrote his novel as a "real Cinderella story."

"I would get a lot of comments from people about historical accuracy. Like, 'Your characters are too modern!' " she said, explaining how having Benedict ask Sophie to be his mistress, rather than his wife, was a conscious effort to make it more "realistic to the time."

"People got so mad at me about it. They were like, 'Why would he do that? He disrespected her!' and I'm like, 'You guys, no,' " she said. "Sophie, in the book, is of illegitimate birth and would not be considered an acceptable wife for a Bridgerton. It's a Cinderella story, but it's also looking at differences in social class and how that affected them in that time period."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”