u/IllustriousGlove3

I started thinking about this a few weeks ago. Somebody mentioned either here or on Twitter that Benedict showed up on time for Hyacinth's dance recital after showing up late for all other recent events according to Violet. Granted there wasn't a minute to spare but he was there before the dancing had begun.

It made me think about the other ways Benedict seemed to changed during the course of the season even though Sophie never asked him to do anything. I've only watched this season but these were my observations after reading posts here, Twitter, Discord and TikTok..and watching season 4 a very healthy number of times 🤭

1. Stopped sleeping around - after showing him having multiple partners in the first 20 minutes of the first episode, no recent bedmates appeared so I'll assume he didn't sleep with anyone else since meeting Sophie.
2. Showed up for family events in a timely manner . He just made it to Hyacinth's recital before the dancing begun. He was at least 2 hours late to the Masquerade ball and presumably didn't show up at all when Eloise and Francesca returned from Scotland.
3. Cut down on his drinking - Anthony mentioned it and he confirmed that he was trying to keep a clear head. Also, when he saw Hiscox in episode 5, he wasn't interested in drinking as much as his friend did.
4. Became a more diligent and focused temporary Viscount - he was acting "inspired" according to Hatch.
5. Did not avoid confrontation - I know I've seen the clip from a previous season (2?) when one of the sisters said he tended to avoid confrontation. In the scene from episode 5 where Sophie was asking him why he felt it was OK to kiss her, he ran off. I think everything that happened after Sophie left the ball and he followed was Benedict going against his normal inclination. He didn't leave when she pushed back and didn't let her go when she asked him when he ever thought about her.Also, when Anthony confronted him after Cressida's ball. He could have left but stayed to fight with Anthony about Sophie.
6. He used the Bridgerton name to save Sophie - this I picked up from comments. Apparently Benedict wasn't the type to drop the Bridgerton name in previous seasons? But he did when it would possibly help Sophie.
7. He fixed the kite for Sophie - that was presumably the beginning of Benedict finishing things he started but abandoned.
8. Painting - he started painting again. Sophie recognized him as an artist and that seemed to light a fire in him that resulted in the most swoon worthy ending of a season ever with the last scene of Season 4 focusing on his completed picture of his now wife 🥹

If I've missed any, please share or correct any mistakes I've made ☺️

As I rewatch (again 🤭) I try to keep track of my questions for one big post of questions but this one has been confusing me.

When is the Masquerade ball supposed to have happened? When Violet is scolding Benedict about his slutty ways, she says he was "debauching himself this Summer" as if it were weeks earlier. Then when John and Francesca are talking about staying in town for the season, he also makes reference to the previous summer but it feels like its supposed to be a few weeks earlier as opposed to 6-7 months? Are they referencing the previous year, even though its likely still Spring?

Doesn't the season start in the late Winter, early Spring?

Also, when Violet is talking to Benedict at the Masquerade, she says to him:
"I have planned this carefully. Your very presence here implies to the ton that you are back in society"

Where was he? Do they all just disappear after the season has ended? Or was this a particular Benedict thing?

This is the first season I've watched so I guess this could be how they handle each season but I have no plans to watch the other ones at the moment.