The first episode of Bridgerton’s fourth season is “The Waltz,” aptly titled for Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek‘s masquerade dance that was very highly anticipated by fans. Not only was it featured heavily in marketing, but it’s one of the most well-loved moments in An Offer from a Gentleman, and the scene was more than worth the wait.
Our Cinderella love story begins when Benedict, who has reluctantly arrived at his mother’s masquerade ball, becomes entranced at first sight by Sophie, who has rebelliously snuck into the party to live out a fantasy for one incredible evening. Benedict swoops in when a boring lord is also intrigued by this Lady in Silver; he and Sophie engage in the requisite banter, and we’re off. For the first time ever, Benedict actually wants to dance with a woman at a ball, but Sophie turns him down, claiming she doesn’t know how. Benedict’s a smooth operator, though; he can salvage this, so he convinces Sophie to escape to the private terrace with him, where he can give her a dance lesson away from the stares and whispers of the guests.
How Benedict and Sophie’s Masquerade Dance Sets the Scene
Benedict and Sophie run out to the terrace playfully, laughing and still buzzing from their flirtatious repartee inside the Bridgerton ballroom. The whole scene will take place in the gazebo, which acts almost as a little floral snow globe of sorts, keeping them safe from the scrutiny of the ton. Already smitten, Benedict gives Sophie what he feels is a compliment: “You are not like the other young ladies, you know. It is a relief.” But Sophie knows better than to take it as such, chiding him with, “What is wrong with the other young ladies?”
Like many men in his position, Benedict has the tendency to assume that much of the behavior from debutantes is a matter of personality alone, instead of the natural consequence of a society that teaches its women to stifle and hide anything about themselves that might hinder their chances of finding a husband — the single thing they’ve been raised to do. Sophie isn’t on the marriage mart and believes she’ll never see this man again; thus has no fear of calling Benedict out for his viewpoint. So that’s exactly what she does. It highlights the beautiful irony of the masquerade.
Benedict and Sophie not only see each other perfectly despite the masks, but also because of them. Were it not for her disguise as the Lady in Silver, Sophie would never be attending this ball, let alone be able to speak so freely. That small bit of protection allows them to be open with one another this way. Sophie has no desire to be noticed herself and tells Benedict she feels horribly out of place in society. As the audience, we know why, but Benedict does not, and he becomes increasingly fascinated to learn more, especially after he realizes that Sophie had no idea he was a Bridgerton.
The scene takes on a new tone now, the two whipping questions and answers back and forth as Benedict tries to pry details from this woman he’s become desperate to know. With this crackling energy, it feels like watching lightning strike in slow motion. Sophie puts Benedict off balance again with her spot-on perception of him: “Is that something you do?” she asks, “Put all the attention on others so no one might see beneath your surface?” It is something he does. We’ve watched this man use charm and affability to keep others at a distance for three seasons now, but Benedict certainly isn’t going admit that, so instead:
“Sometimes it is easier to stay in shallow water. Warmer. More pleasant. I like warm and pleasant.”
It’s a charmingly phrased response. Benedict uses it to deflect, but it’s revealing nonetheless. Sophie continues with Benedict’s metaphor.
“Will you not wade out deeper with me?”
For non-readers, it’s a cute continuation of the repertoire they’ve quickly developed, but those familiar with An Offer from A Gentleman will also recognize this question as a display of who Sophie is, of why she was able to gather the courage to come to the Bridgerton ball for one magical night. She has been in the deep end her entire life. Tossed in at an early age, she was forced to tread water and keep herself afloat. Sophie’s entreat to Benedict works, and he does finally let his guard down a bit by revealing something vulnerable.
In addition to sharing his fear that debutantes only want him because he’s a Bridgerton, Benedict tells Sophie that he prefers to keep things “shallow” because he feels like an impostor, even, and perhaps especially, in his family home. He has been the odd-one-out unconventional brother since the beginning of the series, and while his family is a very loving one, love does not always mean understanding. But Benedict has waded enough and pushes those emotions away for the time being to focus on teaching his ethereal Lady in Silver how to dance. Dancing at balls is what well-brought-up gentlemen are trained to do, after all, and as Benedict points out, he is only “a mere mortal.” Sophie is only human, too, and when a handsome man wants to teach you how to dance on the greatest night of your life, you don’t resist.
The Waltz
Benedict tries to keep it light, making Sophie laugh with his overly exaggerated bow, but as soon as their hands touch, everything shifts. They get into their starting position slowly and purposefully, each taking in what it means. Here in the capsule of the gazebo, physicality gets added to the alchemy between them. As Benedict leads Sophie through a sweet and clumsy waltz, the score is perfectly delicate and simple. This gossamer bubble could pop at any time (we shudder to think of how London high society’s mamas would react if anyone were to come upon them now), but the scene so perfectly captures the feeling of a fairytale that there’s no anxiety. We can simply experience the wonder as a viewer alongside Benedict and Sophie as they experience it themselves.
The masquerade dance continues, and though Benedict still thinks Sophie is putting on an act, it doesn’t matter. The attachment they both feel isn’t an act at all. When Sophie steps on Benedict’s toes and adorably squats down to rub them, there’s no awkwardness. Benedict couldn’t care less about a small social faux pas, and Sophie is relieved to not be torn down like she would have been at Penwood House. It’s perhaps because of that small reminder of her life at home that Sophie decides to close her eyes and sear everything into her memory to create a keepsake of this night, even if it’s one she can only hold in her heart.
“I am trying to remember this moment exactly so that if I wish… I can escape here.”
The Spell Breaking
Benedict is in a daze as he and Sophie continue their ambling waltz at the masquerade ball.
“You are perhaps the most intriguing person I have ever met. If I cannot know your name, or where you live, however am I meant to call on you tomorrow?”
This is from the man who just confidently told his mother that he would most likely never marry.
It takes all the manners that have ever been drilled into Benedict to pull himself back from kissing Sophie, but he can’t help himself entirely (“Mere mortal,” remember?), leaning down, he presses his lips to her cheek. Sophie doesn’t pull away or voice any kind of objection, and Benedict is either emboldened or too far gone to care, because he throws any remaining semblance of propriety to the wind. He slowly removes Sophie’s glove, brings her wrist to his face, and breathes her in.
Benedict begs Sophie to tell him her name one last time, and we’ll never know if Sophie was about to finally relent. The bell alerting ball guests that midnight is upon them rings out, and our Cinderella is out of time. The score begins to pick up along with her nervousness to escape, and crescendos as she decides she needs one last thing to complete this dream — Sophie hurries back to Benedict and boldly kisses him. Even as she tries to pull away, he moves with her, trying to keep contact as long as he can. Benedict calls after Sophie as she flees the Bridgerton house, but his mysterious Lady in Silver is gone. He stands briefly stunned with nothing left of her but her glove before he snaps out of it and tries to go after her, with no way of knowing that fate will bring them together again in a way he could never imagine.
The entirety of Bridgerton Season 4 rests on this scene, and it was wise to never cut away. We need to be with this couple, uninterrupted, as they experience the beginning of the rest of their lives. Both Benedict and Sophie will emerge from this night transformed forever, and while there are many more important scenes for them in other episodes (the kite, the lake, the stairwell, as yet unknown but sinfully teased delights in Part 2), their dance in “The Waltz” will always be singular.
Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 will be released on February 26th. What are your thoughts on Benedict and Sophie’s masquerade dance? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX