Bridgerton has never had a post-credits scene — until the season 4 finale.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Bridgerton season 4 part 2
Eagle-eyed viewers who stuck around after Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha) celebrated their engagement at the ball were in for a surprise when a bonus scene wrapped up the fourth season.
In a post-credits moment, Benedict and Sophie’s loved ones were seen gathered at My Cottage where the happy couple were getting ready to tie the knot. Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) was by Benedict’s side as Kate (Simone Ashley) and the rest of the Bridgertons speculated who from their group would be tying the knot next.
Eloise (Claudia Jessie) had a surprising change of heart when she expressed interest in more weddings. Meanwhile Francesca (Hannah Dodd) made it clear she wouldn’t be getting remarried while still mourning the death of her husband, John (Victor Alli).
Sophie then walked down the aisle as she and Benedict made their relationship official. The camera then panned back into their home where a painting of Sophie as the Lady in Silver — but this time with her face fully shown on screen — was hanging proudly on the wall with Benedict’s signature on it.
The fictional pair got their happy ending after a season full of ups and downs. Based on Julia Quinn‘s third novel An Offer From a Gentleman, season 4 focused on Benedict and Sophie’s forbidden love, which started when he met a mysterious woman in a Cinderella-inspired meet-cute but didn’t realize it was Sophie.
Book fans knew that the season would be building up to an offer from Benedict to Sophie, which showrunner Jess Brownell defended after fan backlash.
“In the time period, it was not unreasonable for Benedict to think that this was the right ask,” Brownell told TVLine in February about Benedict asking for Sophie to be his mistress while admitting it was “a huge mistake for Benedict to make.”
Brownell acknowledged that viewers rooting for the fictional romance may not be thrilled, adding, “He should be seeing Sophie as more than her class. For him to make that ask in that moment, outrage is absolutely the right reaction.”
Brownell went on to explain why the character reverted back to traditional values when it came to finding a wife.
“A lot of his progressiveness, not with his sexuality, but in other ways, has been performative,” she noted. “He is incredibly privileged and hasn’t really reckoned with that privilege. He has enjoyed life to the fullest, but has never done anything really scary.”
The second half of the season showed Sophie seriously considering Benedict’s offer before shutting him down. They were ultimately able to overcome the societal rules keeping them apart by lying to cover up that Sophie was illegitimate.
Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.
