‘Bridgerton’ season 4 rebounds as audience scores rise after review bombing
TOI GLOBAL | Feb 02, 2026, 21:40 IST
Bridgerton season 4 poster
Bridgerton Season 4 has seen its audience ratings rebound after an initial wave of negative reviews. As viewers settle into Benedict Bridgerton’s Cinderella-inspired love story, reception appears to be improving despite early criticism.
Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton appears to have weathered an unsteady start to its fourth season, with audience ratings rebounding sharply days after early review bombing dragged down its reception on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season 4, Part 1 of the Regency-era romance premiered last week and quickly surged to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in the United States and several international markets. However, despite strong critical approval, the series initially faced a wave of negative audience reviews that briefly overshadowed its return.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Bridgerton Season 4 debuted with a “certified fresh” critics’ score of 80%, while the audience score dropped as low as 34% shortly after release. The disparity prompted discussion among fans and industry observers, many of whom attributed the early decline to coordinated review bombing rather than broad viewer dissatisfaction.
As more viewers completed the first four episodes over the weekend, the audience score steadily climbed, reaching 69% by Monday. The recovery suggests that broader viewer sentiment has grown more favorable as the season’s storyline unfolds.
Season 4 shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson, the family’s free-spirited second son. The narrative follows Benedict as he encounters a mysterious masked woman later revealed to be Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha — during a masquerade ball hosted by matriarch Violet Bridgerton. The storyline draws inspiration from Cinderella, blending class divides, secrecy and romance within the show’s familiar high-society setting.
While some early audience reviews criticized the pacing and emotional intensity, describing the season as “exhausting,” others praised its slower, character-driven approach. Several user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes highlighted the chemistry between Thompson and Ha, with one calling it “the best season so far” and another applauding the show’s “slow-burn tension and fairy-tale romance.”
Critical response has remained largely positive. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus described Season 4 as “sweet, steamy and engrossing,” noting that while the storyline may be predictable, it continues to deliver on the fantasy that has defined the series since its debut.
Reviewers have also pointed to the introduction of Yerin Ha as a significant strength. Critics noted that Sophie’s storyline offers a deeper look at social class within the Bridgerton universe, expanding beyond the aristocratic focus of earlier seasons.
In a review for Collider, critic Carly Lane awarded the season an 8 out of 10, writing that Part 1 “raises the bar” by pairing a compelling new romantic lead with a renewed emotional focus. Lane added that the show remains committed to its central appeal the pursuit of love against seemingly impossible odds.
Netflix has yet to comment publicly on the early review fluctuations. Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 4 is scheduled to release later this month, with expectations that audience response may continue to evolve as the full story is revealed.Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton appears to have weathered an unsteady start to its fourth season, with audience ratings rebounding sharply days after early review bombing dragged down its reception on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season 4, Part 1 of the Regency-era romance premiered last week and quickly surged to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in the United States and several international markets. However, despite strong critical approval, the series initially faced a wave of negative audience reviews that briefly overshadowed its return.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Bridgerton Season 4 debuted with a “certified fresh” critics’ score of 80%, while the audience score dropped as low as 34% shortly after release. The disparity prompted discussion among fans and industry observers, many of whom attributed the early decline to coordinated review bombing rather than broad viewer dissatisfaction.
As more viewers completed the first four episodes over the weekend, the audience score steadily climbed, reaching 69% by Monday. The recovery suggests that broader viewer sentiment has grown more favorable as the season’s storyline unfolds.
Season 4 shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson, the family’s free-spirited second son. The narrative follows Benedict as he encounters a mysterious masked woman later revealed to be Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha during a masquerade ball hosted by matriarch Violet Bridgerton. The storyline draws inspiration from Cinderella, blending class divides, secrecy and romance within the show’s familiar high-society setting.
While some early audience reviews criticized the pacing and emotional intensity, describing the season as “exhausting,” others praised its slower, character-driven approach. Several user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes highlighted the chemistry between Thompson and Ha, with one calling it “the best season so far” and another applauding the show’s “slow-burn tension and fairy-tale romance.”
Critical response has remained largely positive. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus described Season 4 as “sweet, steamy and engrossing,” noting that while the storyline may be predictable, it continues to deliver on the fantasy that has defined the series since its debut.
Reviewers have also pointed to the introduction of Yerin Ha as a significant strength. Critics noted that Sophie’s storyline offers a deeper look at social class within the Bridgerton universe, expanding beyond the aristocratic focus of earlier seasons.
In a review for Collider, critic Carly Lane awarded the season an 8 out of 10, writing that Part 1 “raises the bar” by pairing a compelling new romantic lead with a renewed emotional focus. Lane added that the show remains committed to its central appeal the pursuit of love against seemingly impossible odds.
Bridgerton Season 4 has seen its audience ratings rebound after an initial wave of negative reviews. As viewers settle into Benedict Bridgerton’s Cinderella-inspired love story, reception appears to be improving despite early criticism.
Netflix has yet to comment publicly on the early review fluctuations. Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 4 is scheduled to release later this month, with expectations that audience response may continue to evolve as the full story is revealed.
Season 4, Part 1 of the Regency-era romance premiered last week and quickly surged to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in the United States and several international markets. However, despite strong critical approval, the series initially faced a wave of negative audience reviews that briefly overshadowed its return.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Bridgerton Season 4 debuted with a “certified fresh” critics’ score of 80%, while the audience score dropped as low as 34% shortly after release. The disparity prompted discussion among fans and industry observers, many of whom attributed the early decline to coordinated review bombing rather than broad viewer dissatisfaction.
As more viewers completed the first four episodes over the weekend, the audience score steadily climbed, reaching 69% by Monday. The recovery suggests that broader viewer sentiment has grown more favorable as the season’s storyline unfolds.
Season 4 shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson, the family’s free-spirited second son. The narrative follows Benedict as he encounters a mysterious masked woman later revealed to be Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha — during a masquerade ball hosted by matriarch Violet Bridgerton. The storyline draws inspiration from Cinderella, blending class divides, secrecy and romance within the show’s familiar high-society setting.
While some early audience reviews criticized the pacing and emotional intensity, describing the season as “exhausting,” others praised its slower, character-driven approach. Several user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes highlighted the chemistry between Thompson and Ha, with one calling it “the best season so far” and another applauding the show’s “slow-burn tension and fairy-tale romance.”
Critical response has remained largely positive. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus described Season 4 as “sweet, steamy and engrossing,” noting that while the storyline may be predictable, it continues to deliver on the fantasy that has defined the series since its debut.
Reviewers have also pointed to the introduction of Yerin Ha as a significant strength. Critics noted that Sophie’s storyline offers a deeper look at social class within the Bridgerton universe, expanding beyond the aristocratic focus of earlier seasons.
In a review for Collider, critic Carly Lane awarded the season an 8 out of 10, writing that Part 1 “raises the bar” by pairing a compelling new romantic lead with a renewed emotional focus. Lane added that the show remains committed to its central appeal the pursuit of love against seemingly impossible odds.
Netflix has yet to comment publicly on the early review fluctuations. Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 4 is scheduled to release later this month, with expectations that audience response may continue to evolve as the full story is revealed.Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton appears to have weathered an unsteady start to its fourth season, with audience ratings rebounding sharply days after early review bombing dragged down its reception on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season 4, Part 1 of the Regency-era romance premiered last week and quickly surged to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in the United States and several international markets. However, despite strong critical approval, the series initially faced a wave of negative audience reviews that briefly overshadowed its return.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Bridgerton Season 4 debuted with a “certified fresh” critics’ score of 80%, while the audience score dropped as low as 34% shortly after release. The disparity prompted discussion among fans and industry observers, many of whom attributed the early decline to coordinated review bombing rather than broad viewer dissatisfaction.
As more viewers completed the first four episodes over the weekend, the audience score steadily climbed, reaching 69% by Monday. The recovery suggests that broader viewer sentiment has grown more favorable as the season’s storyline unfolds.
Season 4 shifts the spotlight to Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed by Luke Thompson, the family’s free-spirited second son. The narrative follows Benedict as he encounters a mysterious masked woman later revealed to be Sophie Baek, played by Yerin Ha during a masquerade ball hosted by matriarch Violet Bridgerton. The storyline draws inspiration from Cinderella, blending class divides, secrecy and romance within the show’s familiar high-society setting.
While some early audience reviews criticized the pacing and emotional intensity, describing the season as “exhausting,” others praised its slower, character-driven approach. Several user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes highlighted the chemistry between Thompson and Ha, with one calling it “the best season so far” and another applauding the show’s “slow-burn tension and fairy-tale romance.”
Critical response has remained largely positive. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus described Season 4 as “sweet, steamy and engrossing,” noting that while the storyline may be predictable, it continues to deliver on the fantasy that has defined the series since its debut.
Reviewers have also pointed to the introduction of Yerin Ha as a significant strength. Critics noted that Sophie’s storyline offers a deeper look at social class within the Bridgerton universe, expanding beyond the aristocratic focus of earlier seasons.
In a review for Collider, critic Carly Lane awarded the season an 8 out of 10, writing that Part 1 “raises the bar” by pairing a compelling new romantic lead with a renewed emotional focus. Lane added that the show remains committed to its central appeal the pursuit of love against seemingly impossible odds.
Bridgerton Season 4 has seen its audience ratings rebound after an initial wave of negative reviews. As viewers settle into Benedict Bridgerton’s Cinderella-inspired love story, reception appears to be improving despite early criticism.
Netflix has yet to comment publicly on the early review fluctuations. Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 4 is scheduled to release later this month, with expectations that audience response may continue to evolve as the full story is revealed.