Bridgerton Season 4 looks like it is finally diving into Benedict and Sophie territory, which means we might be in for one of the book series' tougher storylines. If Netflix sticks close to Julia Quinn's 'An Offer From a Gentleman,' there is a very real chance Sophie spends part of the season in a jail cell. Fun! Well, not for her.
Spoilers for 'An Offer From a Gentleman' and potential Season 4 plot ahead.
The book version: Sophie's lowest point, and Benedict's big move
In Quinn's novel, Sophie's stepmother, Lady Araminta, is not content with garden-variety cruelty. She falsely accuses Sophie of theft and gets her locked up. Araminta even drops by the cell just to revel in it. Subtle, she is not.
- After Sophie is arrested on a bogus jewelry theft charge (we're talking missing shoe clips), Benedict learns about it through Lady Whistledown's Society Papers.
- He rushes to the jail with his mother, Lady Bridgerton, and storms into the magistrate's office.
- To cut through the noise, he introduces Sophie as his fiancee on the spot, forcing everyone to take him seriously.
- Araminta doubles down, insisting Sophie stole from her, but Lady Bridgerton backs Sophie without blinking.
- The twist: Araminta's daughter, Posy, owns up. She is the one who took the shoe clips.
- With Posy's confession, the magistrate orders Sophie released. Araminta is left fuming, and Benedict's loyalty basically flips their whole relationship into endgame territory.
Will the show actually go there?
Netflix hasn't confirmed whether Sophie's jail arc will make the jump to the series, but Season 4 is expected to follow Benedict and Sophie's love story from 'An Offer From a Gentleman.' If they include this sequence, it would hand the season a heavy dose of heartbreak and a big cathartic payoff. I would not bet against it.
Jonathan Bailey is already hyped about Season 4
Anthony Bridgerton himself, Jonathan Bailey, teased what is coming at the 2025 TIME100 Next event. He says he has seen the Season 4 premiere and, well, he did not undersell it:
"I've seen the first episode, and it's phenomenal. It's really, really good."
"There's one shot that happens quite early on in the episode that will blow the fans' minds. It takes everyone on a journey to new parts of the household."
"Oh no, I've just said too much."
Bailey plays Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton and head of the family. Season 2 was his and Kate's season, and both he and Simone Ashley are expected back for Season 4.
When to watch
Bridgerton Season 4 is scheduled to hit Netflix on January 29, 2026.