‘Bridgerton’ Episode 4 Recap: The Duel

Whew, Bridgerton Episode 4 (“An Affair of Honor”) is a LOT. For reasons Violet cannot understand, Daphne and Simon haven fallen out, and Daphne now seems determined to marry Prince Friederich. Something I appreciate about Bridgerton is that Friederich is a good guy. It would have been so easy to make him smarmy or just a little too insipid, or anything to make him Obviously Not The One, but Friederich is kind and funny, and he hopes for a large and a happy family, just like Daphne. Indeed, on paper, Friederich is a good match for Daphne. They have similar expectations in life, similar priorities, they get along well. Barring grand passion, this is the kind of perfectly acceptable marriage proposal Daphne—or any young lady—would be glad to accept. She would have a pleasant, comfortable life with Friederich, perhaps even a happy one, especially once there are children to bond them even further. But there would be no longing glances, no bosom-swelling imaginings after dark, no fiery confrontation in the form of a dance. Friederich is everything Daphne should want, but it’s Simon she can’t stop thinking about.

But Simon is determined to leave England, and Daphne, behind. To stop him leaving, Lady Danbury gives him a completely bizarre speech about how “love elevated us”, implying that because King George married Charlotte—who in the multicultural world of Bridgerton is a Black woman—that Black people have been given the enormous opportunity and privilege to ascend to the highest levels of English society. This is a totally bonkers scene that seems to exist solely to explain why there are BIPOC characters playing historically anachronistic roles in Bridgerton, yet this is a show that is very lavish and detailed in its period trappings but also has anachronistic pop songs on the soundtrack. Netflix is famous for its hand-offs approach to handling creatives, but this scene smacks of studio notes, of someone needing explained why there are prominent BIPOC in Regency England. No one needed it explained! This is not a true story! It’s a romance novel for crepe’s sake, it’s a FANTASY! Though it is, not unlike with Hamilton, a neat way to acknowledge that BIPOC have always existed in this society but have been largely ignored by historical depiction.

Anyway, Simon is prevented from leaving England by his friend, Will, a boxer trying to start a gym to rival the famous—and historically accurate—Gentleman Jackson’s boxing salon. Will needs Simon, his most prominent friend and pupil, to show up at his match to promote his gym, which means Simon gets to watch Daphne and the prince getting cozy at the match. No matter what he tries, Simon can’t quite break away, which leads him to attend the Trowbridge ball. There, Daphne staves off a proposal from Friederich and dashes into the garden, and Simon follows. Interestingly, the score, which has so far been lushly orchestral, whether it’s Kris Bowers’ original compositions (he also did the music for When They See Us), or the aforementioned pop arrangements, takes on a martial beat this episode. And episode director Sheree Folkson puts the camera in the middle of the boxing match, a dance at the ball, and a duel, which really underlines that all of this is fight, that the entirety of London society is a battleground. 

Daphne and Simon are caught in a passionate embrace by Anthony, who challenges Simon to a duel and whisks Daphne away. But worse, Cressida Cowper, a calculating miss who rivals Daphne on the marriage mart, might have seen Simon and Daphne alone in the garden. Whether she actually did see them or is just making an astute guess doesn’t matter—she will undoubtedly gossip, which would ruin Daphne, and her family by extension. Simon must marry Daphne. But he won’t! He would rather shoot fancy guns at Anthony! What is WRONG with Simon? We, of course, know the vow he made to his awful father, to never marry or have an heir. But Daphne only knows that Simon would rather risk death than marry her. The reason he finally gives her is that he can’t have children, and thus he would deprive her of the family for which she longs. Note his wording: he CANNOT have children. Save that for later.

But of course, Simon isn’t as unfeeling as he would like, and he ultimately gives in, sparing Anthony from the duel and, if not exactly agreeing to marry Daphne, he at least doesn’t argue when she announces they will wed. This is, obviously, the best outcome for everyone…except Siena Rosso. For a brief moment, Siena and Anthony lived with the possibility that should he win the duel, Anthony would be forced to flee England forever. He could then live in sin with Siena abroad. But of course that doesn’t happen, and Siena is right back where she started, needing the protection of a rich man to ensure her safety and comfort in life. Also spared is Benedict, who would have been screwed either way. If Anthony lost and died, Benedict would become Lord Bridgerton and take on all the responsibility that entails. If Anthony won and fled, he’d still have to take over the duty of managing the family, if not the title. Either way, Benedict’s dream of pursuing art would be at an end. Daphne has it right, this duel is not about her or anyone else, it’s just Simon and especially Anthony caught up in their pride.

Elsewhere, nothing is going particularly well for anyone in this episode. Marina is being shoved at one Lord Rutledge, a crass old fart who literally only cares about Marina as a brood mare. (Also, the Featheringtons are having Money Trouble, which is why they took in Marina in the first place, it’s a way of repaying one of Lord Featherington’s debts.) Believing Sir George Crane has abandoned her, Marina knows she must marry, but she would prefer anyone other than gross Lord Rutledge. She sets her sights on Colin Bridgerton, the fun and handsome “youngest” of the elder Bridgerton boys (the next brother down is Gregory: a child. He doesn’t count). Colin has only just completed university, and by the standards of Regency society is “too young” to seriously consider marriage, but he obviously likes Marina, and he isn’t a total monster, so as far as Marina is concerned, he’ll do. But Penelope, who has a giant crush on Colin, is devastated. Derry Girls‘ Nicola Coughlan is delightful as Penelope, and this episode really gives her something to chew on, as she must confront the possibility of spending the rest of her life watching Colin married to a woman she knows to be using him, and as she also confronts Eloise in a poignant scene.

Eloise is caught up in solving the mystery of Lady Whistledown—she thinks Lady W is the Bridgerton housekeeper and is roundly put in her place, as servants would not have time to write daily gossip papers while doing all their other work. But Penelope, heartbroken, doesn’t care about Lady W. Eloise and Penelope are life-long friends, but relative maturity levels are starting to separate them. Eloise hasn’t been presented at court yet, and she’s obviously not emotionally ready to look for a husband, as Penelope is. Nothing about Eloise is settled or grounded, she is a jittery mass of nerves and sharp edges, clearly afraid of being trapped by marriage and men. Penelope, however, longs for the romance and intrigue of a love affair, though she is self-aware enough to know Colin doesn’t love her as anything more than a friend. Still, Eloise picks the exact wrong moment to come to her friend with her Lady W musings, and they have a fight, just one more duel for the books. This is actually quite a terrible episode, and nobody really gets what they want from anyone else.

Sarah Marrs is a film critic and writer at LaineyGossip.com and co-host of The Hollywood Read podcast. She also has bylines at Pajiba, SYFY Fangrrls, and Consequence of Sound. She can be yelled at on Twitter @Cinesnark. Sometimes she goes places and does things, though not so much in 2020.

Watch Bridgerton Episode 4 ("An Affair of Honor") on Netflix