Everyone loves a masquerade, where one gets to be someone completely different – at least until the clock strikes midnight. 

In this season opener, the questions of who we are, who people see us as, and who we’d like to be start early, as one magical evening kicks off a series of events that are sure to turn the Ton a-tizzy. Benedict is a rake, Sophie is a servant, and somehow Lady Whistledown is still a main character.

It’s season four, and we’re about to go downstairs.

Featuring:

• So many servants

• Definitions of a rake, definitions of self

• Finding the right person

• Introducing the boy diamond

• Big villain energy

• Curiosity, fascination, surprise

• A Cinderella story

Here are is the media we talk about in this episode:

• An Offer from a Gentleman, a book by Julia Quinn

• Romancing Mr Bridgerton, a book by Julia Quinn

• Bridgerton, a television series

• Jodi’s WWDD episode on virginity

• Jodi’s WWDD episode on romance series

• The Consummate Virgin by Jodi McAlister

• The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

• When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

• It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn

• Lord Byron

• Heated Rivalry, a television adaptation

• Queen Charlotte, a mini-series

• Queen Charlotte, a WWDD special episode featuring Maxine Beneba Clarke

• Cinderella, a fairytale

• Joan of Arc

• A Midsummer’s Night Dream, a play by William Shakespeare

• The Princess Bride, a film by Rob Reiner

• Cleopatra

• Marc Antony

• Zeus

• ‘Life in Technocolour’, a song by Coldplay

• ‘Masquerade’, a song from The Phantom of the Opera, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

• The Bachelor, a reality TV show

• The Bachelorette, a reality TV show

• ‘DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love’, a song by Usher

• ‘Never Let You Go’, a song by Third Eye Blind

• Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz

• Ever After, a film by Andy Tennant

Some extra notes:

• Both Mrs Wilson and John the Footman have been regulars since season one

• The Queen is dressed as the Queen of Hearts at the masquerade

Our guest host this episode is the seriously smart, seriously sassy Jodi McAlister. You can hear more from Jodi by following her on instagram and tiktok and by reading her latest novel, An Academic Affair. For your TBR, Jodi has recommended Power Moves by Leesa Ronald. Jodi says the characters ‘sprang to life’ for her and called the book ‘compelling’. 

Don’t forget you can find us on facebook @bridgertonpod and instagram and bluesky @wwddpod and join the conversation using the hashtag #WWDDpod. Please follow us on your favourite podcast provider! Leaving a 5-star rating and a review will not only help us find more listeners, but also help you find joy and beauty in your world. 

This episode was recorded on the traditional and unceded land of the Kaurna, Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung people.

Our editor is Ben McKenzie of Splendid Chaps Productions. If you need production work completed, you can find them here: splendidchaps.com