'Bridgerton' Season 4 premiere recap – An actual Cinderella story

Spoiler alert! The following contains details from Season 4, Episode 1 of "Bridgerton," "The Waltz."

Get your orchestral covers of pop songs, dazzling empire waist dresses and marriage betting books ready, because "Bridgerton" is back.

Yes, Netflix's Regency-era romance drama (Season 4 Part 1 now streaming) has returned for a new year of lustful glances, hopelessly star-crossed lovers and absolutely absurd balls for a fourth go-round, this time with a story all about the second Bridgerton son, Benedict (Luke Thompson).

Everybody's favorite rake takes center stage in the new episodes, with a whip-smart and challenging love-interest to match in Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a lady of mysterious origin who finally makes the career bachelor think about settling down. And in the first episode of the series, it's all about fairy-tale meet-cutes (literally) and a set up for a season of keeping these two crazy kids apart until they figure it all out in the end (we assume).

So grab your ball invitations and buckle up for "Bridgerton" Season 4. See if you get as swept off your feet as all the young ladies of the ton as you watch the episodes in Part 1. The second half of the season, episodes 5-8, will stream February 26.

Where is Benedict Bridgerton?

All is sunny, well and happily-ever-after vibes as Season 4 kicks off, and we check in on the fine, fair set at Bridgerton House, with a trip to the "downstairs" servants' area, where the baking, cleaning and serving is done with military precision and aplomb. Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) return from their winter adventures in Scotland, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) is showing off the latest Bridgerton grandbaby with husband Colin (Luke Newton) and Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) is happy to have her ducklings back in a row. Well, all of them except Benedict, the family's second son, resident playboy and the sibling we'll be spending the most time with this season.

After pulling him and his two (!) companions out of bed, Lady Bridgerton demands that Benedict whip himself into shape for society, stop sleeping around and get married. Benedict, ever the free spirit, says he simply is too smart and cool for the boring, matrimony-minded ladies of the ton. Then he insults his mother even further by showing up late to the Bridgerton Ball, the first party of the season and a glittering masquerade. (He's tardy because he makes a stop at some den of iniquity and to share a passionate kiss with his one-time male lover —a tepid balm to the many fans who hoped Benedict's official love interest would be a man).

Meanwhile, Penelope is settling into her new role not just as Lady Whistledown, columnist, but also as Queen Charlotte's (Golda Rosheuvel) personal gossip monger. Her majesty is also, for some reason, intent on championing a suitor to make a match this year, and for reasons of plot convenience, she decides on Benedict. Now Penelope, Lady Bridgerton and the Queen of England are all invested in getting Benedict down the aisle. Nothing could go wrong, right?

Also interested in Benedict's prospects are a new family in the ton, the Penwoods, who have villainy written all over them even if matriarch Lady Penwood (Katie Leung) weren't dressed in all black.

Cinderella at the ball

Of course, just when Benedict says he will never find a woman in the ton worthy of his affections, he does just that. But who is this enigmatic maiden concealed behind a mask and uncharacteristically nervous about the ball? Why is she so taken with the evening, and why doesn't she have a chaperone or answer to "my lady"? You don't have to be Lady Whistledown to figure out that she is going to be Benedict's love interest this season, and that there's something odd about her.

Benedict is, of course, smitten at first sight as she takes a moment to admire a crystal chandelier. They (sort of) dance, talk, and kiss (gasp!), but then, at the stroke of midnight, when everyone is meant to reveal themselves, the silver-clad lady runs away, leaving only a glove behind.

If this all sounds a little familiar, that's because it is literally the Cinderella fairy tale, right down to when we see Sophie's secret identity is that of a maid in the (of course) Penwood household. Do I dare say the icy Lady Penwood even has evil stepmother vibes? Yes, yes I do.

Queens, friends and spinsters

Elsewhere in Mayfair, the wheels are turning on the subplots of the season. Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) expresses her desire to the Queen that she retire from her role as the grand madame of the social season and return to her ancestral homeland in Africa, to which the queen says a firm "no." The Queen may have the power, but I wouldn't bet against the formidable Lady Danbury when she has her heart set on something.

Eloise Bridgerton, the society-defying sister of the bunch, has also made a big decision about her life: She's not getting married. Not that the bookish and nonconformist Eloise ever had any interest in suitors in her two seasons of being "out" in society (aka "Bridgerton" Seasons 2 and 3); she's just making it official to her friends and mother, calling herself "on the shelf." That she has no concerns about her financial security or social prospects is just one more reminder that "Bridgerton" is often more fantasy than historical fiction. (Another glaring head-scratcher: second son Benedict would not inherit any of the family wealth, and wouldn't be such an eligible bachelor if the series was attempting historical accuracy).

And in the sweetest bit of romance so far, Lady Bridgerton herself seems one step closer to acting on her attraction to Lady Danbury's brother Lord Anderson (Daniel Francis), with the two sharing a (scandalous) moment of hand-holding at the ball.

Holding hands, terrace kisses and renegade servants? What other appalling moments of impropriety can "Bridgerton" possibly bring us as the season goes on? We can't wait to see.